Chapter 12
Ruby
“We played tag around here when we were little,” James says as we get out of the car and walk up the broad gravel path to the front door.
“You could train for a marathon around here,” I say, looking around in amazement.
We’re in the middle of a huge meadow that stretches for miles on either side, dotted with cherry trees.
Most of them are bare, but a few green leaves are peeking out here and there.
Ophelia’s place in the country has massive grounds, and the house itself is pretty impressive.
It’s eighteenth-century and more of a stately home, really.
The layout of flower beds and shrubs around it reminds me of James and Lydia’s home, but the overall effect is much friendlier and more inviting.
“We used to spend loads of time here, but we’ve been less and less in the last few years,” James says.
“Mum once told me that Ophelia was really miffed at being left this place, because it signaled that she had to keep out of Beaufort’s business from then on.
I remember her coming for dinners and trying to convince Mum and Dad to let her be involved again.
Once, things escalated so much that she ended up leaving the room in tears.
After that, we barely ever came here and we’ve only seen her at ours, or in London for business meetings. ”
I glance sideways at him. “It must be really hard if you want to be part of something but just get relentlessly sidelined like that.”
For a moment, we walk side by side in silence, and then James exhales audibly. “On one hand, I have really great memories of this place, but then it also reminds me of all the times Dad and Ophelia got into fights. I don’t know how to feel about being here.”
James stares straight ahead, lost in thought. I can see that he’s trying not to let me see how much this whole situation bothers him. But he can’t fool me, and he knows it.
As we come to stand at the imposing front door, I take his hand and give him an encouraging smile.
He smiles back, takes a deep breath, and rings the doorbell.
In that moment, as I hear the deep clang echo through the house, I realize how keyed up I am. I’ve spent the whole time thinking about James and Lydia, and totally forgotten that I’ve never met their aunt before.
I hope she’s nice, I think.
Every time James has spoken about his aunt Ophelia in the last few days, it’s been clear that she means a lot to him. I don’t think I could bear it if yet another member of the Beaufort family couldn’t stand me—especially someone whose opinion is important to James.
The door opens with a loud creak, and I hold my breath.
“James, Ruby!” exclaims a woman in a dark green jumpsuit, beaming at us.
She looks almost identical to Cordelia Beaufort.
You have to look closely to spot the differences from James’s mother.
Her face is softer and younger looking, especially given the broad smile she’s greeted us with. “How lovely that you made it up here.”
James takes a step forward and gives Ophelia a quick hug. “This is Ruby,” he says, putting a hand on my lower back. “Ruby, this is my aunt Ophelia.”
“I’m so pleased to finally get to meet you, Ruby,” Ophelia says, holding out her hand.
I take it gratefully. “Likewise,” I reply.
Ophelia beckons us inside. “Come in, brunch is ready for you.”
We follow her down a long hall, and I look around curiously. The inside of the house is just as friendly and inviting, with modern, abstract paintings and colorful wallpaper. I feel instantly at home here.
“I hear you like reading manga, Ruby,” Ophelia says suddenly, and I look at her in surprise.
“Yes, that’s right,” I reply.
“Do you watch anime too?” she asks.
I catch up with her and James, and nod. “I love anime.”
“I adore cartoons, and I’ve been meaning to see how I get on with anime. But I know nothing about it. Maybe you could give me a few recommendations.”
I beam at her. “I’d love that.”
“You don’t know what you’re getting into, asking Ruby something like that, Ophelia. She’ll make you a list as long as your arm.”
“Hey!” I object.
James just grins.
“Well, that will keep me busy. Go for it, Ruby,” Ophelia says, smiling over her shoulder at me.
We reach the end of the hallway, and Ophelia opens a large, dark-painted door on the left-hand side, then waves us in ahead of her. I step into the cozy dining room—and come to an abrupt stop as I see who’s sitting at the lavishly laid table.
I’d been expecting to spend the day consoling a desolate Lydia. The last time I saw her, she was in hopeless despair.
I was not expecting to see Lydia sitting at the table, beaming. More than beaming—laughing. And I was even less prepared to see my history teacher sitting next to her, gently stroking his hand over her back.
“Hello, you two,” says James, who is—unlike me—apparently unfazed by the sight.
Lydia and Mr. Sutton turn around to face us. The next moment, Lydia jumps up. She flings her arms around James and hugs him tight. He hugs her back and closes his eyes.
“Thank you for telling him where to find me,” Lydia whispers.
“I hoped he’d come to see you,” James replies, so quiet I can barely hear his voice. But his words make Lydia smile. After a moment, she lets him go and comes to hug me too.
“It’s so good to see you,” I say.
“You too,” she replies, squeezing a little harder.
“Have a seat,” says Ophelia, pointing to the two unused place settings. “I’ll make a fresh pot of tea.”
I don’t move right away, and Lydia takes my hand to pull me to the table. “No need for introductions,” she says, looking at each of us in turn.
“Er, no,” I say, and James shakes his head. We sit opposite Lydia and Mr. Sutton, and then it gets weirdly quiet between us. I can’t help staring at my ex–history teacher. However much I know about him and Lydia, it’s still weird to see him in jeans and a T-shirt.
“Morning,” he says eventually.
“Good morning, Mr. Sutton,” I reply automatically, and then tense. Oh God, I sound like I’m in school.
Mr. Sutton pulls a face. “I think you’d better call me Graham, Ruby. After all, I’m not your teacher anymore.”
I think for a moment. “I’m not sure I’m quite ready for that. Or if I’ll ever be,” I say in the end.
His lips twitch slightly. “OK.”
“What are you waiting for?” Ophelia asks, coming back into the room with the teapot in her hand. She pours for us and then sits at the head of the table. “Dig in.”
I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t such a cheerful, relaxed meal.
I watch Mr. Sutton—Graham—pass Lydia a basket of toast, and Ophelia heap a mountain of scrambled eggs onto James’s plate, and I can’t help remembering that awful dinner with their father.
The atmosphere here couldn’t be more different.
I think James feels as weird as I do, because it’s a few minutes before I see his shoulders loosen up.
“There’s something I have to tell you,” he says after a while, turning toward Lydia.
She pauses, her knife stuck in the butter. “That sounds serious.”
James hesitates, then nods. He tells her about the events of the last few days.
When he’s finished, Lydia’s cheeks are flushed with anger and Ophelia is shaking her head in disbelief.
“Dad must be out of his mind,” Lydia says.
Ophelia wipes her hands on a cloth serviette and then sets it down beside her plate. “Typical Mortimer. If something doesn’t fit his plans, he wants to get rid of it. That’s the whole reason I landed up here in Beckdale.”
Silence spreads between us. Nobody takes another bite.
“Ruby,” Lydia says after a while. She glances at Mr. Sutton and then back to me. “Graham and I were talking yesterday evening. About Maxton Hall. And we’ve decided to tell Mr. Lexington about us. Tomorrow.”
I stare at her in amazement. “What? Are you nuts? I—”
“It’s the only option,” she interrupts.
“Your dad sent you here to keep things secret. You can’t go running back to Maxton Hall to tell Lexie, of all people!”
Lydia shakes her head. “I don’t care what Dad wants. I can’t let you be punished for my—our—mistakes.”
I look between the two of them in disbelief, then turn to James.
“What’s up with Cyril?” I ask him. “You gave him till Monday to tell Lexington the truth.”
James nods. “Wait a bit, Lyds. If Cyril digs out the original photos, nobody needs to be punished.” He turns to Graham. “And you can go back to work.”
Graham shakes his head. “I’m not going back to Maxton Hall either way.” His eyes slide to Lydia, and he smiles softly. “For the time being, I just want to be here for Lydia. And then we’ll see.”
“What Cyril did…” Lydia gulps. “I’d never have believed he’d be capable of a thing like that. And I refuse to leave Ruby’s fate in his hands.”
Her words give me goose bumps down my arms.
“Lydia…” James begins, but she shakes her head.
“I’ve made up my mind.”
James presses his lips together and stares back at her. After a few seconds, he exhales with a sigh. “Well, it’s your choice.”
“I didn’t want any of this to happen,” I say quietly.
“I really appreciate what you’ve done for me, Ruby,” Lydia says, reaching across the table to take my hand. “But it’s gone too far. I’m going to go and see Lexington in person tomorrow.”
“How do you even know where he lives?” I ask, my heart racing. It feels as though things really are going to change. Like I won’t be kept in suspense any longer, watching my future crumble away before my eyes.
“I don’t.” Lydia looks from me to James and back again, an almost-sly smile spreading over her face. “But luckily, I know exactly where Lexie likes to spend his free time—and who with.”