The Secrets of Whitelea

|Chapter Four|

"Thank you," Bella said, leaning through the window of the car. "for the lift. You really didn't have to do that."

"You think I was going to let you walk home by yourself?" Douglas grinned from the driver's seat. "Get inside before your sister thinks somebody kidnapped you."

"I'm not a little girl, remember. I can look after myself."

"I don't doubt that you can. I just don't want the wrath of Elizabeth Hamilton following me for the rest of my life."

"The wrath of Elizabeth Hamilton?" Bella raised her eyebrows. "That's a thing?"

"It is if your name is Georgina Roux." Douglas said with a chuckle. Then he sobered up. "It's best you don't get your name added to the list."

"I could just leave again."

"And that would make things better?"

"It would mean I got away from it."

"Go on, get inside."

"Call me and we can have a drink sometime." Bella said with a wink. Douglas smiled and shook his head.

"I know with you that one drink means half the alcohol a pub has."

"I did not drink half a pub's worth of alcohol."

"That's what you think."

"If I drank that much, where's my hangover?"

"You must be able to work miracles. Now," Douglas pressed a button inside the car and the window Bella was leaning against jerked upwards. "stop stalling and go inside." Bella straightened and backed away from the car. The window rose to the top, sealing off the outside world. Douglas pulled away from the house and Bella watched him go. He raised a hand in farewell in one of the mirrors and Bella raised one in response.

"You stink." Tessa said. Bella rolled her eyes. She was stood next to the kettle, heels in hand, waiting for the water to boil.

"No kidding." Bella had to refrain from swearing. Tessa was only ten after all.

"Lizzy's mad at you."

"I have a feeling Lizzy has been and always will be mad at me." Bella concluded. She poured boiling water into a mug and swirled the liquid around with a teaspoon. The smell of coffee wafted through the air. Tessa wrinkled her nose.

"Your drink stinks."

"You're not old enough to appreciate coffee." Bella said, turning so she was facing where Tessa was sat and folding her arms, one hand still gripping the mug.

"And you aren't old enough to be concerned for your wellbeing." A new voice joined the room. Elizabeth took a seat next to Tessa. She was dressed in light blue jeans and a off-white top covered in multicoloured butterflies. Her hair was tied up into a loose ponytail to keep it from falling into her eyes.

"Since when did you become a mother?" Bella asked, raising her eyebrows at the outfit.

"Since when did you get back?"

"About ten minutes ago."

"Thanks for the 'I'll be out all night, don't wait up' text." Elizabeth was frowning.

"Sorry, mum, didn't realise that I had to let you know my whereabouts every second of the day."

"I just wanted to know you were okay. You just walked out of here and it was Mum's funeral and-" It was then that Elizabeth noticed the bandage wrapped securely around Bella's hand. "What happened to you?" She asked, rising from her seat. Bella looked down at her hand.