Page 116 of Save You
He pushes his way past the paparazzi and gestures to Lin to wind down her window.
“Drive through the gates and up to the house, miss.These people know that they’ll be trespassing if they follow you, so they won’t do it.”
Lin nods, and once Percy’s moved the press out of the way, she drives into the grounds.The driveway is so long and wide that it’s more like a country lane through a park, with frost-covered lawns on either side.In the distance, I can make out a big house.It’s square, two stories high, with a gabled roof.The gray slate roof is as gloomy-looking as the rest of the granite-clad façade.Despite its cheerless look, you can tell that rich people live here.I think it fits Mortimer Beaufort to a tee—cold and forceful.It’s much harder to imagine Lydia and James feeling at home.
In front of the house, the driveway opens out into a courtyard, where Lin parks behind a black sports car outside one of the garages off to one side.
“Do you want me to come in with you?”she asks, and I nod.
The air is icy as we get out and hurry toward the front steps.Just before we reach them, I grab her arm.My friend turns and looks inquiringly at me.
“Thanks for the lift,” I say breathlessly.I don’t know what will be waiting for me in this house.Having Lin with me takes some of the fear from that, and that’s really good.At the start of term, that would have been unthinkable—back then I kept my private and school lives strictly separate and told Lin practically nothing personal.That’s all changed.Mainly because of James.
“Any time.”She takes my hand and gives it a quick squeeze.
“Thank you,” I whisper again.
Lin nods, then we walk up the steps.Lydia opens the door before we have time to ring the bell.She looks just as messed up as three days ago.And now I understand why.
“I’m so sorry, Lydia,” I mumble.
She bites hard on her bottom lip and lowers her gaze to the floor.At this second, I don’t care that we’re not close, that we barely know each other.I stumble up the last few steps and give her a hug.Her body starts to shake the moment I put my arms around her, and I can’t help thinking about Wednesday.If I’d known what had happened and what state she was in, I’d never have left her alone.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper again.
Lydia digs her fingers into my jumper and buries her face in my collarbone.I hold her tight and stroke her back as I feel hertears soak into my clothes.I can’t imagine how she’s feeling at this moment.If my mum died…I don’t know how I’d survive.
Meanwhile, Lin has quietly closed the front door.Her eyes meet mine as she stands a few feet from us.She looks as shaken up as I feel.
Eventually, Lydia lets me go.Her cheeks are flushed a deep red, her eyes are bloodshot and glassy.I lift my hand and stroke a few wet strands of hair from her cheek.
“Can I help you at all?”I ask cautiously.
She shakes her head.“Just get my brother back for me.He’s totally out of it.I…” Her voice catches, hoarse from so much crying, and she has to clear her throat before she can go on.“I’ve never seen him like this.He’s killing himself and I just don’t know how to help him.”
Her words make my heart pound painfully again.I feel an overwhelming urge to see James and hold him in my arms, like Lydia—but I’m scared of meeting him.
“Where is he?”
“Cyril and I got him up to his room.He passed out just now.”
Her words make me flinch.
“I can take you up, if you like,” she continues, nodding toward the staircase that curves up to the first floor.I turn to Lin, but my friend shakes her head.“I’ll wait here.You go.”
“The boys are in the sitting room, if you want to join them.I’ll be down in a minute,” Lydia says, pointing across the entrance hall to a corridor that leads to the back of the house.Lin hesitates a moment, but then she nods.
Lydia and I walk up the broad, dark brown staircase together.I notice that the Beauforts’ house is way friendlier on the insidethan it looks from outside.The hall is bright and inviting.There might not be family photos on the walls, like there are in our house, but at least there are no oil paintings in golden frames, portraits of long-dead ancestors, like the ones at the Vegas’.The pictures here are colorful and impressionistic, and while they aren’t particularly personal, they at least convey a welcoming atmosphere.
At the top of the stairs, we turn down a dark landing; it’s so long that I can’t help wondering what’s hidden behind all the doors we pass.And how it’s possible that a single family lives here.
“Here we are,” Lydia murmurs suddenly, stopping outside a large door.For a moment, we both stare at it, then she turns to me.“I know it’s asking a lot, but I get the feeling he really needs you.”
I can hardly untangle my thoughts and emotions.My body seems to know that James is on the other side of that door—I’m drawn to him like a magnet.And even though I’m not sure that I can help him in the way Lydia is clearly hoping for, I still want to be there for him.
Lydia touches my arm for a moment.“Ruby…There was nothing between James and Elaine except that kiss.”
I stiffen.
