Page 7 of Staging Love
"Uncle Robert," Camilla said, returning the embrace. "It's wonderful to see you too." She stepped back and gestured to Jade. "I'd like you to meet my fiancée, Jade Thompson."
Uncle Robert's eyebrows rose slightly, but his smile remained warm as he turned to Jade. "Well, well. It's a pleasure to meet you, Jade. Welcome to the family."
Jade stepped forward, her smile bright and confident. "Thank you, Mr. Parkes. I've heard so much about you. Your chocolates are divine, by the way."
Robert chuckled. "Please, call me Robert. And I'm glad you enjoy them. We have plenty of them here." He put his arm around a dark-haired woman who joined him. “And this is my wife, Lara.”
Next to step forward was an elegant woman with perfectly coiffed blonde hair and impeccable makeup. "Camilla, dear," she said, air-kissing both of Camilla's cheeks. "You look fabulous as always."
"Thank you, Aunt Vivian," Camilla replied. "You're looking well yourself. Jade, this is my Aunt Vivian, founder of Vivian's Glow cosmetics."
Vivian's eyes swept over Jade, assessing. "Lovely to meet you, dear. I must say, your skin is absolutely radiant. I’d love to know all about your skincare routine."
Jade laughed. "Camilla actually gave me some of your products. They're wonderful."
“Excellent.” Vivian beamed. "I think you'll fit in just fine here."
Camilla felt Jade's hand, clasped in hers in between handshakes, growing slightly clammy, but the actress maintained her composure.
Lastly, Theresa emerged, looking impeccable as usual and flanked by her husband, Mark.
"Camilla, Jade," she said, plastering on one of her fabricated smiles. "So glad you could make it. I hope the flight was pleasant?"
"It was fine, thank you," Camilla replied coolly.
Theresa's eyes swept over Jade, sizing her up from head to toe. Her gaze lingered on Jade's outfit and perfectly styled hair. "Well, Jade," she said with a hint of amusement, "I must say, you're not quite what I expected when Camilla said she was engaged to a woman."
Jade raised an eyebrow but maintained her composure. "And what exactly were you expecting?"
"Oh, you know," Theresa waved her hand vaguely, "something a bit more... stereotypical, I suppose."
Camilla set her jaw. "I wasn't aware there was a dress code for being a lesbian.”
Theresa's smile tightened slightly. "No need to get defensive, cousie. It’s just a compliment to your... fiancée." She turned back to Jade. "So, tell me, how did you two meet? What do you do for a living, Jade?"
Before Jade could answer, Camilla stepped in. "I think we can save the interrogation for later, don't you? We've just arrived, and I'd like to show Jade around."
Theresa's eyes narrowed slightly, but she nodded. "Of course. We'll have plenty of time to chat over dinner. I'm looking forward to hearing all about your whirlwind romance."
As they entered the house, Camilla squeezed Jade's hand reassuringly. She could feel the tension in Jade's grip and knew they'd need a moment alone to regroup.
The great room boasted soaring ceilings with exposed wooden beams, a massive stone fireplace, and floor-to-ceiling windows that offered breathtaking views of the snow-capped mountains. Leather sofas and armchairs were artfully arranged around the fireplace, creating cozy seating areas on the polished hardwood floors. Rich, jewel-toned rugs added warmth and color to the space. In one corner stood a grand piano, its glossy black surface reflecting the warm glow of the fireplace.
"This is the heart of the house," Camilla explained. "We spend most of our time here when we're not outdoors."
She led Jade through to the formal dining room, where a long, polished mahogany table dominated the space. "And this is where we have dinner. Though sometimes we prefer to eat more casually in the great room."
Camilla gave Jade a quick tour of the gourmet kitchen. Stainless steel appliances gleamed, and the marble countertops were impeccably clean. "You don't need to worry about coming in here," she said. "If you want anything, you can simply ask one of the staff members. They're always discreetly around to attend to our needs. We have chefs, housekeepers, and even a private ski instructor. Everything's taken care of, so all we have to do is relax and enjoy ourselves."
Jade nodded, looking slightly overwhelmed by the grandeur and the concept of having staff at their beck and call. "This place is beautiful," she said.
Camilla smiled, leading her through the house. "My father, my uncle and my aunt bought it together when I was fifteen so it’s like a second home to me. There are seven bedrooms in the main house, plus an outbuilding with another two for the kids."
“Kids?” Jade asked.
“Yeah. They sleep in the outbuilding with a nanny so their parents get a break. Theresa and Mark have a seven-year-old daughter and a nine-year-old son. They’re probably outside playing, you’ll meet them later. Theresa is Aunt Vivian’s daughter, and Uncle Robert and Aunt Lara never had kids.”
As they made their way upstairs, Camilla marveled at the winter wonderland outside the large windows. She always treasured the crisp mountain air, the blanket of snow covering everything in sight - it was like stepping into another world. But for more than one reason, she was far from at ease this year.
