Blue Moon (Book One in The Blue Crystal Trilogy) by Pat Spence Page B

look at him, I knew he was feeling as happy as I
was. I purposefully didn't look in the driver’s rear view mirror
and risk seeing Aquila’s scowling, angry face. Why spoil a perfect
moment with his unpleasantness?
    It hardly seemed to take two
minutes before we’d arrived back in the village and I was giving
Aquila directions, although I got the sense he already knew where I
lived, for all the attention he gave me. The sleek black Jaguar
pulled up outside my house, and Aquila unwillingly got out of the
driver’s seat and opened my door, looking at me coldly.
    I swung my legs out and turned
to say goodbye to Theo, but the seat was empty. Amazingly, he was
already standing alongside Aquila, taking my hand and helping me to
get out of the car.
    “How did you get there so
quickly…?” I started to say, but he put his finger to his lips
conspiratorially.
    “I’ll walk you to your door,”
he said gallantly, picking up my backpack.
    I turned to say thank you to
Aquila, but he was back in the driver’s seat and I was glad I
didn’t have the opportunity to speak to him. He was one nasty
individual.
    As we walked up the driveway,
the front door opened and my mother and Granddad peered out,
looking intrigued at the sleek black car outside the house and the
stunning boy who stood next to me.
    “Mum, Granddad, this is Theo,”
I introduced him proudly, and Theo stepped forward to shake their
hands.
    “Mrs Morgan, pleased to meet
you… Granddad… delighted…” He beamed at them and I knew my mother
was instantly sold, judging by the slight flush that crept into her
cheeks. Gramps was a little more reticent, taking Theo’s hand with
a curt “likewise”, and obviously sizing up the beautiful creature
that stood before him.
    “Would you like to come in for
a cup of tea, Theo?” asked my mother. “Perhaps your father would
like to come too, and is that your sister in the car?”
    “Yes, that’s my sister,” smiled
Theo. “But that’s not my father. Aquila is our chauffeur, and he
most definitely doesn’t take tea.”
    “Oh, your chauffeur… of course
…” My mother looked visibly impressed and I stepped in to spare her
or Theo further embarrassment.
    “I don’t think they can come in
today, mum, they need to get back, don't you Theo?” I looked at him
pointedly.
    “I’m afraid so,” said Theo,
taking the hint. “Perhaps another time?”
    “Of course, any time,” said my
mother, more than a little flustered, “any time at all, Theo…”
    “Yes, pop in,” said Granddad.
“It’ll be good to have a chat with you….”
    “Goodbye, Theo,” I said,
determined to put an end to this doorstep charade. Talk about
embarrassing families. These two were impossible.
    “Bye, Emily,” said Theo, giving
me a quick peck on the cheek. “I’ll call you later. Lovely to meet
you, Mrs Morgan …. Granddad…”
     
    Once the front door was closed,
the questions came.
    “How long has this been going
on for?” “How old is he?” “Is it serious?” “Where do they live?”
“How rich are they to afford a chauffeur…?” My mother couldn’t get
her words out quick enough. Granddad stood by, watching, saying
nothing.
    I put my hands up. “Stop, Mum.
Just stop. His family have bought Hartswell Hall, so yes they’re
wealthy. He’s nineteen and we haven’t even had a date yet, so
please don’t worry. It’s not serious. We’re just getting to know
each other.”
    “Sorry, Emmie, I can’t help
it,” said my mother excitedly. “He’s so gorgeous, and so charming.
Almost too good to be true… Those blue eyes, and that skin… He’s
beautiful. And to think his family are renovating Hartswell Hall.
How exciting.”
    My Granddad was a little more
circumspect. “Good looks and wealth are all very well, Emmie, but
you know as well as I do they’re not important. I hope there’s a
bit more substance to him.”
    “Of course there is, Gramps,” I
said defensively, but in my head, a little voice still