Oxford Blood Read Online Free Page B

side, Josh laughed. “It’ll be warmer and friendlier
inside the hall I promise.”
    They reached the sweeping stone staircase to hall. People
were already queuing to get in. As soon as they ascended, they were hit by a
welcome blast of warm air from the kitchens.
    As she walked into the hall, Harriet stared in amazement. It
was huge – long and wide and high ceilinged. Windows decorated with various
crests alternated with giant portraits of kings and soldiers and famous alumni.
Some, like Queen Elizabeth I she recognised immediately; others were a puzzle. Long
wooden tables filled the hall, each of them covered in candles and silverware
and seating around twenty people.
    At first, she just stood there staring, until she noticed a
large noticeboard on which a seating plan was pinned. People were grouped with
others reading the same subject as them. She quickly found her name and spied Olamide
sitting under a painting of a Civil War soldier with a few other history
students that she vaguely recognised from that afternoon. She went to join
them, reluctantly saying goodbye to Josh who had been placed at the opposite
end of the hall with the other music students. She took her place, between a
quiet, studious boy called Callum, and Caroline, a bubbly blond posh girl, whom
she’d spoken to briefly earlier in the day but not had a proper conversation
with.
    “Sooo, you settled in now?” she drawled, in a tone that
Harriet couldn’t quite decided whether to regard as mocking or friendly.
    “Just about. I’m definitely feeling settled enough for a bit
of dancing after tea. I mean dinner.”
    “Excellent. Good to know you’re not one of those people who
just don’t want to leave their room.”
    Olamide sat opposite her, but she was already so deeply
involved in a very academic sounding conversation with the middle-aged tutor to
her right that she seemed entirely unaware of the presence of any other
students at the table.
    Harriet was torn between trying to speak to a tutor herself
and maybe impressing them, and just chatting to Caroline and soaking up the
ambience. A waiter came round and poured some white wine. Harriet took a few
sips in quick succession and felt herself beginning to relax.
    There was a large amount of cutlery and glassware. Harriet
wasn’t entirely sure which to use first. At the start of each course, she took
a surreptitious glance at Caroline and copied her. The blonde girl appeared to
not even be consciously thinking about the issue, as relaxed as though she was
at her local pub. Harriet’s thoughts drifted back to the Draughtman’s, and the
leaving party they’d thrown her a few days previously. It all seemed a million
miles away.
    “You just start from the outside and work your way in,”
Caroline whispered kindly but with a hint of amusement, catching Harriet’s eye
as another course began.
    “Well, that’s simpler than I thought,” she replied, trying
not to sound too embarrassed.
    The food was delicious. There was a spiced soup followed by
chicken in a mushroom sauce, and finally a raspberry torte. As they eat and
drank, Harriet found herself talking to Caroline as easily and naturally as if
she’d known her forever. So far, her conversations with her fellow students
hadn’t moved much beyond the level of small talk, but the two of them talked
about their life before they’d arrived, their thoughts about Oxford and on into
music and plans and gossip.
    “There’s someone we’ve got to keep an eye out for tonight,”
Caroline said conspiratorially. “He’s a law student so he’s sat right at the
other end of the hall for now, but in the club I’m going to track him down.”
    “So what’s Mr Lawyer’s name?” Harriet replied.
    Caroline giggled and took a few sips of drink. “I probably
shouldn’t say actually.”
    “Oh come on,” Harriet answered. “You can’t tell me this much
and then stop.”
    “Okay fine. He’s called Ben, but for goodness sake don’t
tell him I