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
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
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