Staverton

by Caidan Trubel

  Chapter 10

  Caroline and I sat side by side on the train to Devon with our heads bent over a piece of paper, giggling.

  “He’s got it bad,” said Caroline, shaking her head. “You’re so lucky.”

  I smiled and looked down at the note from Jason. “It’s understandable,” I said, fluttering my eyelashes. “I am irresistible.”

  At that, we both dissolved into giggles again.

  A business man dressed in a navy-blue, pinstriped suit, peered over the top of his newspaper at us. He scowled and snapped his newspaper shut. He got to his feet, grabbed his briefcase and stalked into the next carriage.

  “We weren’t making that much noise,” I said.

  Caroline yawned and settled back against the seat. “It’s what happens when you get past forty, you forget what it is like to have fun.”

  I fingered the note from Jason, a smile playing on my lips. He wanted to meet up this summer, which was impossible. I’d be in Devon this week, then Scotland for the rest of the summer break, but it was nice to be asked. I glanced over at Caroline whose eyes were closed.

  I angled my face to feel the warm breeze coming through the train windows. The air-conditioning wasn’t working, and the passengers had opened all of the windows on the train to keep cool. Despite the breeze, the sun shone relentlessly into the carriage, and my tee-shirt, damp with sweat, stuck to my back.

  Caroline’s head lolled to the side. Breathing deep and steady, she nodded off to sleep.

  I stretched out. The sun beating through the windows made me feel sleepy. I closed my eyes and wondered what Freddie would be doing right now. I smiled. I would see him in a couple of weeks, and then a few weeks later, I would be enrolling in university. The year had gone by so quickly. It was hard to believe a year had passed since my parent’s accident. They would have been pleased I’d gone back to St. Catherine’s, and I was sure they would be proud of my university acceptance.

  All I needed to do now was get the grades.

  I leaned over until my head rested on Caroline’s shoulder, and I tried to forget about exam results and university courses, and enjoy the fact I had a long hot summer ahead of me.

  I felt like I had only just closed my eyes when Caroline said, “Hey, sleepyhead, this is our stop.”

  As I woke, the train came to a juddering halt. The brakes squealed in protest. Caroline reached up for our bags on the luggage rack, and I stood and took each bag as Caroline handed them to me.

  Carrying the bags, we disembarked the train and stepped down onto the platform. Staverton-on-Sea Station was tiny. Only one other person got off the train, and there were no rail staff that I could see. The station sign was attached to an old stone wall, and hanging baskets full of flowers adorned each side of the sign.

  “It’s small,” I said.

  Caroline nodded. “Yes, tiny. There isn’t even a ticket office anymore, and there’s only one train an hour, even at rush hour. My parents hardly ever take the train these days.”

  Caroline set off towards the exit, and I followed. The bags pulled at my arms already, and I hoped we didn’t have to walk a long way. “How far is it?”

  “About a ten-minute drive. I sent Mum a text to tell her which train we were getting.” Caroline turned and smiled. “Hopefully she’ll be waiting for us.”

  As we rounded the corner, entering the car park, Caroline let out a whoop of delight. She dropped her bags, and ran to hug a dark-haired man, standing by a green Porsche.

  He staggered backwards against the car, laughing at her enthusiasm.

  “Hello, Caro,” he said and returned her hug.

  As they chatted to each other, I hung back near the car, still holding the bags, wondering whether I should introduce myself.

  But before I could decide, he turned to me. “Who’s your friend, Caro?”

  Caroline turned. “This is Lucy, my best friend from school.”

  “Nice to meet you, Lucy,” he said. “I’m Jake, Caroline’s brother.” His eyes were warm and full of laughter.

  Jake, at twenty-five, was the elder of Caroline’s two brothers, and I had never met him before. I met her other brother Michael a few years ago when the Harringtons invited me to visit the South of France with them. I flushed at the memory, remembering my thirteen-year-old self trailing around after Michael like a lovesick puppy.

  Before I’d met Michael, I expected both brothers to be male versions of Caroline, with red, frizzy hair, but they were both dark-haired.

  After shaking Jake’s hand, I took the chance to study him as he talked to his sister. He was tall and very slim, with black hair he pushed back from his face. His skin was almost olive. With Caroline standing next to him with her bright red hair, pale skin and freckles, it was hard to believe they were brother and sister.

  Caroline had moaned to me that her brothers treated her like a baby. But now she seemed to be playing up to that, hugging Jake and jumping up and down like an excitable puppy.

  I wondered what Michael would look like now. I hadn’t seen him for four years.

  “I’ll take those, shall I?” Jake said.

  I stared at him for a moment, before realising he meant the bags. “Oh, right. Yes, thanks.” I handed them to him.

  Caroline looked at me curiously.

  We managed to fit all the bags in the car, and I wedged myself into the tiny back seat of the Porsche, insisting I didn’t mind the cramped space.

  We travelled with the roof down.

  “You’re not bothered about your hair, are you?” Jake asked. “Seems a waste to put the roof up on such a lovely day. I would ask Caroline, but her hair is always a mess anyway.”

  Caroline, sitting in the front passenger seat, delivered a playful punch to her brother’s arm.

  “No, I’m fine,” I said.

  Jake caught my eye in the rear view mirror. “Are you sure you’re all right back there?”

  “She’s fine,” Caroline said.

  “You should have let her sit in the front. She’s your guest,” Jake said.

  “I’m fine, really.” My words were carried away by the wind.

  Jake accelerated, and the breeze caught my hair, whipping it around my face. At this rate, when I got out of the car, my hair would look like a bird’s nest. Jake’s hair looked casually windblown. I dug around in my pockets. As my fingers closed around a hair band, I smiled with relief and tied my hair back.

  We sped through narrow, country lanes and hedges and shrubs on either side almost touched the car. If it were my car, I’d be terrified of scratching it.

  I tried to make myself more comfortable in the back. I angled my legs so I could keep my knees together. Sitting with my leg’s akimbo was not a good look. Luckily I hadn’t worn a skirt today.

  Jake braked as we neared a tight bend in the road, the roar of the engine reduced to a deep rumble, and I took the opportunity to talk to Jake and Caroline. I leaned forward and said, “This is a great car, Jake. Unusual colour for a Porsche.”

  Caroline turned to look at me, frowning. “Since when have you been interested in cars?”

  I slumped backwards. “Well, I’m not...but...” I saw Jake, his face reflected in the rear view mirror, struggling not to laugh.

  Undeterred, I leaned forward to try again. “It is an unusual colour for a Porsche, though.”

  Caroline cupped a hand to her ear. “Sorry, what was that?”

  “Oh, never mind,” I said.

  I watched as they chatted to each other, but their words were whipped away by the wind before I heard them.

  As the countryside flew past, I forgot about missing out on Jake and Caroline’s conversation. The lanes were lined with trees, hedgerows, wild grasses and cowslips. Rich, red earth showed through between crops in the fields that stretched away from the road.

  I took a deep breath of the fragrant summer air. The trees grew more numerous as we drove along the road, and dappled sunlight fell on the sports car. I tilted my head up to see the green
canopy of trees arching over us.

  I could smell the sea before I saw it. As we rounded the next corner, I caught the first glimpse of blue. The sun glinted on the surface, and the white crested waves rolled into the bay. I thought of Scotland, of Freddie and his cottage by the sea, and wondered whether he would like it here.

  Jake steered the car into a sharp turn, and I had to hold on to Caroline’s seat to steady myself.

  “This is it, Lucy,” Caroline said, turning around in her seat to face me, grinning.

  I looked ahead, anxious for my first sight of Staverton House. I saw a large stone cottage sat at the side of the road. It was very pretty, with roses trailing around the front door, and the garden was a glorious riot of colour, but I was surprised. From Caroline’s description, I had expected something a little grander.

  Caroline looked back at me again and laughed. “Not that one, silly. That’s Staverton.”

  Chapter 11

  Caroline pointed to a driveway that led past the cottage.

  I stared. How could I have missed it? The house was huge. Jake pulled into the driveway and drove slowly. Perfectly manicured lawns lined either side of the drive.

  “It’s ever so old,” Caroline said.

  “Built around 1720,” Jake said.

  The house was a spectacular sight, sitting up high, set back from the cliffs, overlooking the sea. I felt a pang of envy. How amazing it must have been to grow up in a place like this.

  The house, set out in an E-shape, looked like it was built from red-brick and white stone work. It was the most beautiful house I had ever seen.

  The Porsche’s wheels crunched over gravel. I swallowed, feeling a fluttering sensation in my chest. I had known Caroline’s parents were well off, as most parents with children at St. Catherine’s were, but I had no idea they owned a house like this. I thought of the clothes I had brought with me. Would they be too casual?

  After Jake pulled up at the front of the house, Caroline and I clambered out of the car, and I took a moment to stretch my legs.

  “I’ll sort the bags. You go and say hello to Mother,” Jake said.

  Caroline didn’t need telling, she was already halfway up the white stone stairs that led to the huge oak front door. I followed. When we got closer, I realised the massive door actually had a smaller, normal sized door within it. Caroline disappeared into the house, and I stepped through the entrance after her.

  The entrance hall had the same quiet quality I associated with museums. Caroline’s low heels click-clacked on the marble floor. My trainers just gave a muffled squeak.

  I turned in a slow circle, taking it in.

  A glittering chandelier, made from tear-shaped crystals, hung above us, emitting soft light that shone on the golden wood covering the walls. The floor was polished marble. A huge table stood in the middle of the entrance hall with a crystal vase full of flowers at its centre. The smell of lilies permeated the air, and I instinctively took a step back away from them. They weren’t the same as the ones at my parents’ funeral, they were bright orange, not white, but they smelled the same.

  Hearing more footsteps echoing on the marble floor, I turned and saw Caroline’s mother heading towards us.

  “Darling,” she said and kissed Caroline on the cheek. “And Lucy. How lovely to see you again, dear.”

  “Thank you very much for inviting me, Mrs. Harrington.”

  “Call me Angela,” she said, smiling. “As it is such a lovely day, I thought we’d have tea on the terrace.” She strode ahead, leading the way out of the majestic corridor and into a sitting room, decorated in creams and golds.

  Caroline followed obediently, motioning for me to hurry, leaving me a little disappointed as I wanted to explore more of the house. I blinked at the bright sunlight as we stepped through French doors to a raised stone terrace, where a table, laid for tea, waited for us. Angela indicated we should sit, and I did so, taking in the view of the lawn stretching down to the edge of the cliff and to the glittering, silvery-blue sea.

  “It’s so beautiful,” I said.

  Angela smiled. “Thank you.” The smile slipped from her face as her gaze rested on Caroline. “Caroline, don’t do that.”

  Caroline had taken two scones from the serving dish and was spreading them with a thick layer of jam.

  “Guests first, and take one at a time. Think of your figure.” Angela shot a pointed look at her daughter’s waist and pushed the pretty rose decorated serving dish toward me. “Please, Lucy, would you care for one, before Caroline eats them all?”

  Caroline ignored her mother and took a slow, deliberate bite of her scone, smudging her lips with jam.

  “Thank you,” I said and took half a scone.

  “The jam is home-made,” Angela said, placing the glass jam jar in front of me.

  The scones were deliciously buttery and crumbled in my mouth. I would have loved to take another, but I was sure Angela would not approve, so I settled back in my chair and watched as Caroline sucked her sticky, jam-covered fingers.

  “I’ll pour the tea myself, thank you, Magdalena,” Angela said, looking over my shoulder.

  I turned and was surprised to see a Filipina woman standing close to the terrace doors. They had a maid!

  Magdalena nodded and stepped back into the house.

  Angela picked up a broad-rimmed sun hat and placed it on her head. The hat combined with her large sunglasses, made her look like a fifties film star, so glamorous and chic. Her smooth skin and cool blonde looks reminded me of Grace Kelly.

  “The sun is very hot today, girls. If you stay outside you must put on sunscreen and cover up, it can play havoc with your complexion. It’s never too early to guard against wrinkles,” Angela said and began to pour the tea.

  Caroline caught my eye and pulled a face.

  After we finished our tea, Caroline showed me to my room on the first floor. The bedroom looked out on the lawn and to the sea. I was in heaven.

  “It is amazing, Caroline,” I said.

  My feet sunk into the thick, cream carpet as I padded around the room. The wardrobe and dresser were made from a light wood, and a huge queen sized bed was set against the left wall. I sat on the bed. “Wow, it’s so comfortable.”

  Caroline sat beside me. “Yes it’s nice and soft. I hate hard beds, don’t you?” Without waiting for an answer, she got up and moved to the window. “And you’ve got a lovely view.”

  I went over to stand next to Caroline at the window and sighed. The heavy, cream and gold, brocade drapes were pulled fully back to let in as much light as possible, and Caroline was right, the view was fantastic.

  “I’ll be wanting to stay all summer,” I said and laughed.

  “That’s my cunning plan.” Caroline grinned and put an arm around my waist. “Seriously, though. I am so glad you’re here.”

  I turned to my friend and felt a lump in my throat, I didn’t know what to say. I squeezed Caroline’s hand. She’d helped so much in the past year, just by being herself. I couldn’t imagine how awful my last year at St. Catherine’s would have been without Caroline at my side. She had confronted other girls who’d made snide comments about the scholarship, and made me laugh at the craziest things.

  “Now, let me show you your bathroom,” Caroline said, pulling me away from the window.

  “My own bathroom. I could get used to this,” I said.

  The cream and gold theme continued in the bathroom.

  Caroline pulled open a cream cabinet with a mirrored front, revealing expensive bath oils and creams lined up in a row. “Help yourself to any toiletries you need, and I think Jake has brought your case up, already...”

  We walked back into the bedroom, and Caroline opened the wardrobe doors. “Yes he’s put it in here.” She pulled out the case, and I opened it, to begin unpacking.

  “I can’t believe you have servants,” I said, pulling out a black dress and shaking it to get the creases out.

  “Well, it’s a big place, and we only h
ave one maid and Mrs. Rivers, the housekeeper.”

  I said nothing, just smiled. When I had unpacked and hung up my clothes, Caroline suggested a swim.

  After I had taken off my jeans and changed into my swimming costume and summer dress, I padded down the hall to find Caroline’s room. Caroline’s bedroom was easily twice the size of the room I was staying in, and the walls were papered in cream with a delicate rose pattern.

  “How far is it to the beach?” I asked and helped Caroline with the zip on the back of her sundress.

  “Not far. We can get to it from the cliff path. It’s a bit steep but fine in the daylight, at night it’s a different story,” Caroline said. “I’ll get us a couple of towels.”

  As we made our way through the house, Caroline listed the extensive modifications her parents had made. I suspected traditionalists may not have approved of all the changes, but there was no denying the luxury of the décor.

  “It’s a listed building, you see, which limits the changes you can make. Mother had all sorts of trouble getting approval for some of the work, but she managed it and she’s happy with it now.

  “She hardly ever goes to London anymore. She prefers to stay at Staverton. She used to spend the week in London, with Daddy, then they’d only come back at weekends.”

  I could understand why Angela would want to stay. If Staverton were mine, I would never want to leave.

  Chapter 12

  Caroline and I left the house through the same French doors and headed towards the cliffs, walking over the soft green lawn. The cliff path was well-worn but steep and narrow. We walked in single file, following the path’s zig-zag trail down to the beach. Wild grasses and small blue flowers lined the edge of the path, and white, fluttering butterflies floated about, seemingly attracted by the flowers.

  Halfway down the cliff path, Caroline stopped and raised a hand to shade her eyes from the sun. I had been looking down, concentrating on keeping my feet safely on the path, and almost walked into her. Caroline squinted into the distance at a figure further along the top of the cliff. She whistled and waved, and the figure waved back.