Finding Felicity

Chapter Thirteen

Ethan alighted from the cab and thanked and paid the driver. He was left alone on the snowy, secluded Knightsbridge street. There was barely a sound except the steady drip of melting snow from tree branch to the ground.

In front of him was number seven Rutland Square. The square was very pleasant, a small green in the middle enclosed by black fencing. The house itself was stylish too. Terraced, tall and thin, neo-classical with its white paint and the two Doric columns supporting the portico above grey stone steps leading up to a polished black door.   The columns on the façade of the first floor were Corinthian, and there were black wrought iron railings edging the three first floor windows and extending out on top of the portico.

The Harringtons evidently had style, and money too.

Ethan stepped up onto the portico.  He was still peeved that Felix had run away from him at the station. Given that he had been told such mysterious things about the apparent family taboo on the subject of Felix, Ethan thought he at least deserved a partying explanation.

Once off the train in London, Ethan had not seen Felix there either. So he had duly got in a cab, went to his family’s own home in Wilton Crescent to pick up the luggage that would serve him for their stay with the Harringtons and then made his way to Rutland Square.

The door opened. A footman took his trunk and coat, presumably to put them in a cloakroom. A maid lead them down the hallway and through to the drawing room.

It was large and spacious. A pine tree festooned with baubles stood in the corner. His mother and father and brother were all there. He also recognised Luke.

His mother stood as soon as he walked into the room and rushed over to hug him.

“Oh, Ethan. I am so glad to have you back. Are you tired? Oh, you look tired. Come, sit down.”

Already he found his mother’s fussing over-bearing. He loved his mother and she loved him, but she could be a little too extreme in expressing her love sometimes.  

From a seat near the fireplace, a tall, dark-haired man had stood up. He was impeccably dressed, his features sharp and stern. Behind him stood a small woman, also with dark hair. She was smiling, a little too eagerly it seemed.

“Mr Palmer-Grey, it is a pleasure to meet you.”

“You too, sir.” Ethan replied, shaking Mr Harrington’s hand. It was large, cold and strong. His eyes were steely grey, but his mouth was softened slightly into a smile.

“May I introduce my wife, Annabel, and my daughter, Grace.” Mr Harrington first gestured to the woman behind him, who nodded with an ingratiating smile. Then he turned to a small settee, on which the most stunningly beautiful young woman lounged. She smiled timidly at Ethan, her eye-lashes fluttering delicately, dimples appearing on her rosy cheeks.

He was so taken-aback that he nearly forgot to bow to her as well as her mother. She simply radiated beauty.

As soon as he turned his back to greet his father and brother, the green eyes of Grace and Mrs Harrington met, and they smiled.

The group were enjoying warm refreshments, chatting idly, when something struck Ethan as not quite right.

Felix had spoken of not one sister, but two. Grace was the only one present. Perhaps Felicity was upstairs. The way Felix had described her she seemed more the type to read than witter her life away with aimless talk in a drawing room.

Mr Harrington was sitting nearest to him. Ethan leaned over to ask.

“Mr Harrington, may I ask where-“

“I’ll show you!” From across the room, Luke had leapt to his feet and was bounding over the carpet to Ethan.

“I suspect you are very tired after your journey. I can show you to your room for the night if you would like to get some rest before dinner.”

The grip on Ethan’s arm told him not to argue or protest as he was lead out of the drawing room and up the stairs to the second floor. Luke pushed him through a door and kicked it shut behind him.

“Do not ask about Felicity. She is already at Lydcombe, which is all you need to know. Get some rest, I’ll send someone to wake you in good time before dinner.”

Luke exited the room. Ethan heard him sigh. “Oh, what have you done?”

Then his footsteps retreated, and Ethan was left alone.

Dinner was interesting. Grace was seated next to him. She was still as beautiful as when he had first seen her, if not more so, but her constant simpering and smiling was beginning to get on his nerves.

Eventually tired of the endless talk, of politics and money, furnishings and households, Grace’s achievements and Grace’s ability to do anything exceptionally well, Ethan excused himself, citing tiredness once again.

He was not looking forward to the train journey down to Marksford. The Harringtons had managed to procure a first class cabin to the entire group. There would be no escape. He really did have to get a start on this reading over the holidays. He was sure Felix would have begun on the train!

Grace was far too excitable for such an early hour and ahead of such a formidably boring journey. Eventually the party were stowed away on the train and it pulled out of the station.

Ethan observed the changing landscape, from industry to farmland to forests and pastures, and then back to farmland as they entered Devon.

By mid-afternoon, the train was at Marksford station. The town was fairly small, but bustling none-the-less. However, Ethan was quickly whisked away from this scene as they all clambered into the coaches assembled to take them to Lydcombe House.

Just his luck, Grace managed to squeeze herself into the second coach with Ethan and in such a way that she was sitting next to him. Yet, Ethan managed to strike up a conversation with Andrew and Luke that was far above her understanding. Her interruptions were, as such, limited, and more prone to make Ethan laugh at her than admire her.

The coaches started up the driveway and Ethan eagerly peered out of the window. The house was simply fabulous. Magical.

He was already missing Felix. Felicity would be the closest thing to Felix, and Ethan was determined to befriend her, despite Felix’s insistence that she was probably also best ignored. Ethan could imagine Felicity, though he knew not what she looked like, he saw her reading a book in a warm room by a fireplace.

“I do love the country-side. I love horse-riding too. I’m awfully skilled at horse-riding; we really should go and out explore the estate one day you’re here.”

Ethan sighed. He wished he had a book to hit against his forehead. Grace was fast becoming intolerable.

A/N: VOTE, COMMENT, FAN. GO, GO, GO!

Ahhh, I'm so super duper excited for Felicity to meet Ethan.

Also, I've submitted my university applications! But because I'm applying for Oxford, I've got tests and and interview (hopefully!) so it's not over yet :(

What do my readers want to study/do study at university?