Ella hunched over on her roommate's bed, her eyes flicking over the invitation again. She'd read it several times now, but something still seemed amiss.
"Anything interesting?" Felicia said, resting her leg against Ella's back.
Ella looked at her and scoffed. "Nothing, it's just, hey!"
Felicia snatched the note from her hand, a smile broadening on her pink lips as her pretty eyes read the words. "Ooh, fancy! Beaumont wants you to meet her favourite rich bitch. Look at you, you little debutante!"
"Knock it off!" Ella groaned. "That's our professor you're talking about." She reached up to fix her hair, which was spilling out of her headband in golden waves. "Some women want to achieve something with their lives, not just sit around all summer doing nothing."
Felicia bristled. "Fine, Professor Beaumont, then. All I can say is that woman gives me serious mommy vibes."
"Felicia Rose," Ella said, her tone petulant, "why do you always have to make everything sexual, huh? Just because she's got, well, quite large..."
"Tits? Hips? Everything?" Felicia said, dreamily.
Ella rolled her eyes, though she had to admit, she had caught herself checking Evelyn Beaumont out more than once during class. "Just because she's younger than most professors, doesn't mean she isn't any less good at what she does. We shouldn't demean her just because you wish she invited you instead."
Felicia still had that annoying look in her eyes. "Sure, whatever you say." And then she added, 'Teacher's pet."
"I don't want to know about your dirty thoughts, Felicia. Please keep them to yourself. I'm sure it'll be a delightful and friendly afternoon."
It was a bright summer's day when Ella Williams walked her bike through the gothic gate of her professor's mansion. A withered tree gave her a sudden sense of unease as she passed through the gate, but she was sure she was just being dramatic. Something white darted off to her left and she spied it out the corner of her eye. "Huh," Ella muttered, "could've sworn that was a rabbit..."
She walked up to the door with perkiness in her step and rang the bell. After a few moments, the doors swung wide. A tall woman stood there, her dark hair falling to her shoulders. "Ah, Miss Williams, I'm so very glad you could make it." She poked her head out of the door. "Such a lovely day for a tea party! I see you brought your best summer dress, as instructed. Please follow closely now. The house is rather old and we've had guests lose themselves before." She laughed, her eyes never leaving Ella's face.
In Evelyn Beaumont's mind, she imagined a leash stretching from her clasped hands, tied to a collar around Ella's neck. As Ella, beaming with her thanks for the invitation, entered the hallway, Evelyn couldn't help but smile to herself, feel the leash growing taught.
Ella followed Evelyn through a maze of hallways and doors, before finally being shown into the sitting room. Evelyn placed her hand on Ella's shoulder as she shut the door behind them, discreetly locking it.
"Ooh," Ella said, shuddering. "Is it me or is it a little chilly in here all of a sudden?" She pulled down the hem of her dress, it having ridden a bit too high above her knees.
"These old houses can get drafty, even during the summer. We really should have some work done, but alas, my teaching consumes most of my time." Evelyn led an awkward Ella into the sitting room, where her friend waited. "May I introduce you to Lady Regina Godfrey?" she said, smiling widely.
Lady Regina, in her late thirties, wore a stunning pink dress that hugged her figure. Her hair was tied up, drawing attention to a beautiful pearl necklace that sat just above her ample chest. "Miss Williams," she said warmly, "so glad to at last make your acquaintance. Professor Beaumont tells me so much about you. You seem to be quite the adventurer?"
"How do you do?" Ella said, trying to be as upper class as she could manage. Evelyn had thrust her forwards to grasp the woman's hands. She couldn't help but feel awkward under that unyielding stare, but, energetic as she was, she put on her widest smile and let the woman guide her to the table, where Evelyn served her some tea.
"Professor Beaumont tells me you're a detective," Lady Regina said, pouring the hot tea into Ella's cup. "I must say, it does sound quite exciting, doesn't it? But surely it's terribly dangerous for a young lady such as yourself. Do you ever get afraid?"
Ella sipped the tea carefully, as it was still quite hot. "Well, sometimes I find myself in some shady places, but I never feel unsafe." She pursed her lips and blew softly on the liquid, before taking another sip. "Currently I'm working on a missing person case. The police just gave up on it -- can you believe that?"
Evelyn's smile grew wider. "I'd be careful if I were you," she said playfully. "Regina's husband is quite high up in the department."
Ella blanched. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to offend!"
"You haven't," Regina reassured her. "I've been complaining to him for months now. Someone really ought to do something about these missing person cases. I'm glad we have a young, passionate girl like you, someone willing to get their hands dirty."
Ella beamed, her composure recovering a bit. "I think I can really make a difference with my work, you know?"
Evelyn stood behind Regina, one hand on the older woman's shoulder, a smug smile playing on her lips as she watched Ella drink the tea. "Ella's truly one of a kind."
"Isn't she just?"
"I made her tea extra sweet," Evelyn said.
"Oh, you didn't have to, but thank you very much."
"I had no idea how adorable she is," Regina said. "Can we keep her, Evie?"
Feeling herself blush, Ella tried to divert the subject to something away from herself. "What nice artwork you have around the manor, Lady Regina. It's all so beautiful." But she couldn't shake a funny feeling she felt rising inside her.
"Thank you dear," Lady Regina replied, her leg touching Ella's beneath the table. "It's the family history. Many centuries worth, but I won't bore you with the details."
Ella took a deep breath, her hands feeling fuzzy. She tried to think of a new topic. "I read that book you assigned, Professor." She smiled again, eagerly awaiting the praise Evelyn usually doted on her.
"Yes, it is a simple but excellent read, I find."
"What was it?" Lady Regina asked.
"Alice in Wonderland."
"Ah, yes, a delightful tale."
"I'm not sure I fully understand what it has to do with your chemistry class, however," Ella added. "But I enjoyed it a lot."