The Little Secret Read Online Free

was partly scary, and partly silly.
    â€œBut please don’t be nervous. She’s really all right when you get to know her.”
    The elevator took them to a corridor, full of hush and polish.
    Staffa opened a door. “Sorry we’re late,” she said. “Here she is.”
    â€œWell, well,” said a deep, rich, plummy voice. “So this is your friend Jane.”
    Jane, feeling that her flaming face was as red as her hair, mumbled, “How do you do — er — Lady Matilda.”
    â€œOh, this is very good,” said Lady Matilda. “Very good indeed. Well done, Staffa.”
    Staffa’s mother sat on a velvet chair that was a kind of throne. She was a large lady, with a steep slope of a bosom. Her hair was like Staffa’s — black and glossy and curiously lifeless. Her wide lips were painted bright red. She wore a long gown of bright blue satin. It was hard to tell how old she was. She looked older than Jane’s mom, yet there was not a line on her white skin. Lady Matilda’s skin was dead white. So were her large teeth, but it was a flat sort of whiteness, that reminded Jane of bathrooms.
    â€œI’m thrilled to meet you, Jane.” Lady Matilda held out her hand. Her large fingers sparkled with jewels. Jane managed to shake hands, still blushing furiously.
    â€œSit down. Staffa will make us some tea. What kind of tea do you like, Jane? I can offer Assam, or Darjeeling — or my own particular favorite, a tea made from the bitter Haw-haw, which grows only in the gardens of my mountain home.”
    â€œMother, don’t be silly,” Staffa said. “It’s too hot for tea. We’ll have fruit juice.”
    â€œOh, suit yourselves.” Lady Matilda’s glassy blue eyes flickered with annoyance. “You can make me a cup of Haw-haw with six sugars.” Her huge red-and-white smile snapped back. “What wonderful hair you have, Jane — why, you’re quite a beauty! How stupendous you’d look in a lime green ball gown!”
    Staffa said, “Really? I see her more in bright blue.”
    â€œOh no, dear — such an unforgiving shade! Kingfisher, perhaps.”
    Nobody had ever discussed what kind of ball gown Jane should wear. Feeling very shy, but also rather pleased, she sat down in the armchair opposite Lady Matilda. Staffa gave her a glass of cool, sweet mango juice. She lit a gaslight under a large brass kettle, which hung on a special little stand on the low table.
    â€œStaffa has told me about your home,” Lady Matilda said. “Six brothers! What does your father do, my dear?”
    Jane told her that her dad was a postman, who also worked some evenings at the local pub and did people’s gardening. He was a popular figure in Lower Lumpton, and she was pleased when Lady Matilda said he sounded like a “splendid fellow.”
    Staffa went into another room and came back pushing a large trolley. It was laden, top and bottom, with the most incredible afternoon tea — toast and crumpets on special hot dishes, plates of cream cakes, jam tarts and chocolate meringues. Jane began to relax. Lady Matilda was very kind and flattering, and she told Jane to eat as much as she wanted. Jane ate the delicious cakes, trying not to answer Lady Matilda’s questions with her mouth full.
    Lady Matilda seemed to have a great fondness for sugar. Her big white teeth chomped pastries and custards and chocolate creams in a way that made Jane think of Leonard the horse. When she saw that her nosiness was making Jane uncomfortable, Lady Matilda stopped asking questions. Sipping purple Haw-haw tea from a cup the size of a soup bowl, she began to tell fantastic stories, all about the northern land where she and Staffa lived. She described winter skating parties, summer balls that lasted all night, and water carnivals on the lake beside her mountain castle. It sounded wonderful.
    Could it possibly be true? Jane