I marveled at the intricate patterns on the gates as we approached Wellington House. The sun had began to sink into the clouds and its orange glow made the gates twinkle. Alan stepped out of the car to ring a bell located to the right of the gates. Another man who looked similar to Alan, though a little older came out to open them. Alan stepped back into the car and drove to a parking place beside the house.
The clean white bricks had an orange glow due to the setting sun and the terracotta rooftop made the whole building look warm and inviting.
‘Alan, would you bring Jane’s things to Mrs Williams and ask her to put them in Jane’s new room’? Elenor handed Alan the paper bags.
‘No problem’. Alan turned to me as a small smile crept across his face. ‘I’d wish you good luck Miss Jane, but adventurers don’t need luck. Just a bit o’ courage.’
With my things under one arm and the empty sandwich basket in the other, he turned and entered the house through a small oak door.
‘Mrs Williams….’ I turned to Elenor. ‘Is that…..’?
‘Farmer Williams wife, Yes. She is a maid here.’ Elenor held out a hand. ‘Come, let’s go inside.’
We began to walk in a different direction to where Alan had gone.
‘Why are we walking this way’? I asked a little confused.
‘Alan entered the house through the staff entrance. You are family, so you will enter and exit through the front entrance. Since I am helping you, I am permitted to also enter there.’
Elenor was wonderful at explaining things and did it in such a way that put me at ease every time. As we walked around the house, we approached some stone steps which lead to a beautiful door that matched the terracotta roof.
‘Wow.. how pretty’! I stood for a moment to admire the house and it’s surroundings. There were two stone flower boxes either side of the steps, planted with yellow and white flowers. A lantern hung next to the door and a pull rope with a complex knot at the end, which I assumed was the door bell, hung on the opposite side.
‘Are you ready?’ Elenor asked softly. ‘First I will show you your room. You will need to change into another dress before meeting your new parents’.
I was still wearing the yellow work dress that I had put on this morning. It didn’t look at all neat. Not fit for wearing if I am going to meet my wealthy parents.
‘Elenor! I only have my school dress or evening attire and they are not much better than……’
‘Calm, Jane’. Elenor put her arm around me. ‘Don’t worry, I will help you make sure you look presentable’.
We climbed the stone steps and entered a large hallway where a tall spiral staircase made from oak wood towered over us. The walls, not damaged like those at Waywood, were painted beige and the floor decorated with small black and white tiles.
‘Ok adventurer’. Elenor smiled. ‘We are going to need to climb the staircase then follow the hallway to the left. Your room is behind the last door on the right hand side. Do you think you can conquer that’?
‘Oooh that’s a tough challenge.’ I giggled. ‘Though I’m sure since I conquered the car, I can conquer this’.
The first step creaked as I placed my foot on it. I hesitated. There will be no sneaking out of here at night unless I learn to jump over that last step. I continued the climb, which was surprisingly easy considering the height of the staircase. My feet landed on soft brown carpet and I continued to follow Elenors instruction. Down the hall to the left and the last door on the right. Found it!
As I stopped before the door to gather my thoughts, I realized Elenor had only now begun her ascent up the staircase.
‘Your first adventure alone’! Elenor smiled as she reached the door. ‘That is something to be proud of.’
‘You deliberately waited?’ I felt confused.
‘Of course. Here there will be many things you will do alone. Or you will need to call a maid to ask for assistance. Remember what I said in the car. Here there are no consequences for speaking up. Asking questions or calling for help is encouraged. That’s how Wellington House works. It’s what makes Wellington House work. So what shall we do? Will you enter your room by yourself or would you like me to open the door for you since it’s your first time’?
I thought for a moment. ‘I am used to entering my own room as there are no maids or any assistance at Waywood. I suppose I can continue to do that here’.
‘Perfect’. Elenor nodded. ‘I will wait here until you are ready to invite me in’.
I took hold of the round, brass door knob and turned it, then slowly pushed the door open. I was greeted by beautiful green walls. In the corner stood a four poster bed with a fly net draped around it. Next to it a night stand complete with two drawers to store things. On the opposite side a wardrobe with a complex pattern carved into the doors. My mouth dropped a little when I saw the matching dresser with mirror standing next to it. In the corner by the door, stood a small writing desk with more drawers. I suppose my unfinished sewing projects could live in one of those. All of the furniture was made out of natural wood. Stained to bring out the lines and knots, further enhancing its beauty.
‘Goodness! It’s beautiful’. I turned to Elenor to invite her to come inside and gasped in surprise as I saw the wall at the foot of the bed. Painted on the beautiful green background, was a spectacular oak tree. Full of realistic detail with its branches full of leaves towering up to the ceiling.
‘Elenor. Come, look at this.’ Elenor stepped inside and stood next to me to admire the tree.
‘Gosh’. She sounded almost as surprised as I was. ‘That is wonderful. There is definitely much talent in this family’.
‘Did someone in the family paint it’? I walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge. ‘How do they know I love nature so much’?
‘Someone in the family did indeed paint it. There has been communication between Mrs Platt and your new parents for several months. They know a lot about you Jane.’
‘I’m surprised Mrs Platt had any news to tell of me. Though I am glad she did, the tree is fantastic!’
I looked at the paper bags with my things on the bed and looked up at Elenor. ‘Can we… could you… please hang my other dresses. They are sure to wrinkle if they aren’t freed from these bags’.
‘I can, of course’. Elenor replied with a smile. ‘Though first I think you might like to open the wardrobe’.
Being so used to instruction and feeling comfortable with Elenor’s polite way of suggesting rather than instructing, I stood without hesitation. I took the handle and opened the door. To my surprise, there hung a beautiful blue evening gown. Decorated around the edges with glittering gold thread.
‘Elenor.. is this….’?
‘For you’. Elenor stepped towards the wardrobe and removed the gown so I could see it properly.
‘Oh it’s wonderful’. I looked down, hesitating to touch it for fear of ruining it and realized as my eyes lowered, that I was still wearing the necklace Alan had given to me this morning. I caught a glimpse of the blue pendant with the golden dragon clasping the flag in his claw and immediately looked up at the gown again.
‘It matches my necklace’. I said in shock.
Elenor nodded and smiled. ‘Yes it does, I believe it was an intentional choice.’ Elenor returned the gown to the wardrobe and walked over to my bed where she put my other dresses on hangers and hung them for me.
‘You’ll be allowed to have dinner in your room this evening. Mrs Hughes will bring it up shortly. She informed me this morning that it would be lamb casserole. I hope you will like it’.
‘It sounds delicious’. I picked up the tangled pile of sewing projects and propped them into the bottom drawer of my writing desk.
‘Good. After you’re finished eating, I will prepare you a bath and assist you with putting on the gown. After which, you’ll be able to meet your parents’. Elenor placed my shoes in a neat row on a shelf in the wardrobe as I laid my drawing book and pencil which I have never used, on the writing desk.
I turned to Elenor. ‘Assist me with putting on the gown? What do you mean’?
‘I am sure you’re used to putting on your dresses by yourself. This gown however, is a little heavier and has a complex fastener. You’ll require assistance. You will get used to it. I will be assisting you a lot from now onwards. Remember, you are an adventurer.’
‘That is true’. I replied with a smile. ‘I can conquer anything’!
‘Absolutely’! Elenor approached the door to leave. ‘I will let you rest before Mrs Hughes brings dinner. When you are ready, just pull on the bell’. She pointed to a rope similar to the one I saw outside by the front door. ‘I’ll hear it and come to you right away.’
‘Ok. Thank you Elenor for all of your help’. I sat back down onto the bed.
‘It’s no trouble at all’. She passed through the door and turned to close it behind her.
The bed was very comfortable. Feeling my eyes get heavy, I lay my head onto the thick, soft pillow and drifted into sleep.
CRS Life 