***
Harriet spent Thursday morning looking at the work she’d been set. In all the excitement of freshers’ week, she’d almost forgotten that, officially at least, she’d gone to Oxford to study. Despite her incredible nerves about her first essay, sitting down with an interesting book and having some time to herself soothed her after the non-stop meetings with new people.
For the first term, each student had to select a period of British history to learn about. Harriet had chosen the sixteenth and seventeenth century option – Henry VIII and his wives and reformations; Elizabeth I showing just what sort of power a female ruler was capable of; the British Civil War and Charles I being beheaded; and finally, the glamour and debauchery of Charles II’s court.
The tutor had asked Harriet to focus her first essay on the reasons for Henry VIII’s break with Rome. She got quite a lot of reading done, and glowed with pride by the time she finished for the evening, despite knowing her aunt wouldn’t approve of the way she’d left books and notes scattered haphazardly all over her desk and floor.
That evening, Harriet attended College Family Dinner. Each new student had been allocated a “mother and father” from the year above to induct them into college life, introduce them to the older students and answer their questions. Harriet’s were an English student called Christine, and David, a Historian. Harriet had exchanged a few emails with them in the weeks before starting, but she’d never met them in person before. They seemed as kind and helpful as their messages had suggested. So many members of the college chose the same cheap and cheerful Indian restaurant for their family meals it might have well have been Lilith’s Hall.
“Do you know Tom Flyte?” Harriet asked after a couple of drinks and a lot of small talk. “He must be in your year, so I thought you might know a bit about him.”
Christine laughed. “Have you got a bit of a crush going on? You and everyone else. I don’t know him very well at all, but he’s certainly pretty good looking.”
David screwed up his face. “He’s just your classic rah type. He doesn’t really bother with people like us. The only thing I know about him is that he’s in the Cavaliers. Which says it all really.”
Harriet racked her brain, but couldn’t remember ever having heard of the Cavaliers and didn’t want to show her ignorance. “So any tips for my first tutorial?” she asked, in an attempt to change the subject.
After the meal, her group went back to the college bar. The second years drifted off to do whatever second years did, and Harriet tracked down Ola and Caroline.
“How did Tom’s party go?” she asked Caroline, trying to make it sound as casual as a simple enquiry about the weather.
“It was fun. Not hugely eventful.”
Presumably, that meant that Caroline and Ben still hadn’t got together. “Did you manage to speak to Tom?”
“Briefly. Between the noise and all the people, I couldn’t really have an in-depth conversation. I’m surprised the porters didn’t break it up, to be honest. You know there’s that rule about no more than ten people in a room at once and not playing loud music after eleven.”
“But did you at least find out...” began Harriet.
“...whether he’s got a girlfriend?” Caroline finished. “Well, I tried to ask subtly, and it seems that he hasn’t. I’d better warn you though, Katie flirted with him all evening, and he didn’t exactly push her away. I’m fairly sure nothing happened, but if I were you, I’d move fast tomorrow night at the bop before she gets her claws into him. I went to school with her, and she’s not the sort to waste time if she likes a guy.”
All the warmth left Harriet’s body at the thought of trying to compete with the super-glamorous rich girl.
Caroline instantly put her arm around her. “Don’t panic. You’re more than a match for anyone. Don’t you think, Ola?”
“Absolutely,” the quieter girl said. “And we’ll all be there to give you support.”
Harriet smiled. Even if things didn’t go to plan, the bop would be fun with her new friends there. “Me and Caroline haven’t shut up about our crushes. Have you got your eye on anyone?”
Olamide looked down at her plate. “Maybe. But I don’t think he’ll be coming to the party. I’d probably have better luck catching him in the library.”
“Oh, who?” asked Caroline, a determined look on her face, but Olamide wouldn’t reply.
Oxford Blood (The Cavaliers: Book One) Page 10