Read Online The Inheritance by Elaine Jeremiah - Free Book Online Page A

to Emma, or perhaps it was just her perspective.  It seemed an
age until the door was opened.  Standing in the hallway was a small woman dressed
in a black and white outfit that wouldn’t have looked out of place in an
Edwardian mansion.  She looked like she was from the Philippines or somewhere
in the Far East.  Emma assumed she was the housekeeper. 
    ‘You are Miss Campbell and Miss
Hamilton?’ she asked.  She had a thick accent which made it a little hard to
understand her.
    ‘Yes,’ Natalie said firmly as
though worried the housekeeper might slam the door in her face.
    ‘This way please,’ she said and the
two girls followed her in.  Emma tried to keep her mouth from opening like a
fish in amazement at the opulent surroundings.  The front hallway was very
grand with a patterned tiled floor.  The room seemed to go up and up, and Emma
couldn’t help but look upwards to see the large chandelier dangling delicately
from the ceiling.  There seemed to be endlessly huge rooms to traverse but
eventually the housekeeper stopped at a fancy-looking door and knocked.
    ‘Come in,’ a voice said and they
entered, Emma feeling a mixture of nerves and anticipation.  She was surprised
to see a girl sitting – or rather reclining – on a couch which looked as though
it were an antique from the Napoleonic era.  The girl, who she assumed must be
Rebecca, looked younger than Emma had imagined.  She could be no older than
twenty three.  Petite and pretty but not stunning, she was beautifully dressed in
a crisp white linen short-sleeved blouse, red skinny jeans and sky-high red
patent wedge heels.  Emma found it hard not to stare at her.   
    ‘Miss Campbell and Miss Hamilton,
ma’am,’ the housekeeper said and left the room.
    ‘Please sit down and make
yourselves comfortable,’ Rebecca said, gesturing to the couch opposite hers. 
    The two girls sat down.  By now Emma
was even hungrier than when she’d left the house and to her mortification her stomach
rumbled.  She pretended to cough to disguise it a little, but it didn’t work. 
She felt her face grow bright red as Rebecca turned to her and said,
    ‘Malaya has just gone to prepare
some food.  We’ll have lunch shortly.  Now, Emma you must tell me how you’re
settling in to London life.  Natalie’s been here a while so I’ve heard all her
gossip.’
    Emma thought she looked genuinely interested
to know, which put her at ease.  She told Rebecca all about life in London so
far, her trips into the heart of the city to see the many attractions, how much
she enjoyed travelling on the Tube, her nights out with Natalie at various bars
and nightclubs.
    ‘How fabulous!’ was Rebecca’s
response.  Emma smiled broadly.  ‘You know you must both come to Anaya.  I’m a
member so there’ll be no trouble getting you on the guest list.’
    Emma hadn’t heard of this club, but
when she saw Natalie’s face light up she knew it must be somewhere special.
    ‘Oh that would be wonderful if you
could, Rebecca!’ Natalie said beaming.
    ‘Of course I can.  I’ve been a
member for ages.  They know me well.  Ah, here’s Malaya with the food.’  Rebecca
uncrossed her legs elegantly and got up from the couch to pour the tea from the
teapot Malaya had put on the sideboard along with an appetizing array of beautifully
cut sandwiches.  ‘Thank you, Malaya.  You can go now, we’ll serve ourselves.’ 
Turning to Emma and Natalie she said, ‘Please help yourselves.’
    The girls began to eat their sandwiches. 
Emma had never tasted anything so delicious.  Some of the sandwiches were
salmon with soft cheese.  Others were cheese and pickle, but not just any
cheese and pickle.  Only the finest ingredients had gone into these sandwiches;
Emma could almost taste Rebecca’s wealth as she ate.  As the girls devoured their
lunch, they listened to Rebecca’s stories of a life of luxury.  Emma was a
little surprised to learn that the house they were in