Free Staverton by Caidan Trubel

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