And Peggy

My new home

I carefully take the delicate glass figurine of the dancing couple out of it's box and place it on the fire place shelf. I caress the outline of the people with my finger. Other various knickknacks find their way sitting over the fireplace too. A grainy photo from our wedding, a painted portrait of Stephan and I, a candle.
I stand back and admire it all. My new home.

Van Rensselaer manor is just one of the many properties that Stephan and his family own (being landowners). Luckily for us, it is not occupied by anyone so Catherine and Steve are letting us have it.

The manor is two story. There is a water fountain and a grand set of stairs out the front and a balcony just outside our bedroom. On the bottom story is a massive ballroom so that we can throw lots of parties to the left of the house and the kitchen and servants quarters are too the right. Upstairs is a study area for Stephan, a guest room and our bedroom.

Tiger loves prowling around the new space and since it has been abandoned, there are lots of mice to chase.

Angelica and Eliza stayed in New York long enough for me to pack and leave before going back to their lives. It was a teary goodbye. Mother and father are now alone in the empty mansion. I stuck out my head and waved goodbye until we drove over the peak of the hill and I couldn't see them anymore. Mother was crying into a handkerchief, father had his arm around her, Angelica and Eliza attempted to run behind the retreating carriage but stopped at the top of the hill and started jumping and yelling instead.

"Bye Peggy. Enjoy your husband!"
"Have a nice life!"
I think they were feeling giddy after the run up the hill.

Hannah and Amelia are staying at Schuyler mansion. I'm going to miss Hannah's kindness and even her lessons. And I already long for the delicious dishes and desserts that Amelia whipped up.

We have a chef and housemaid her at the manor. Ruby the chef has a very different style to Amelia. She adds lots of fancy sauces and herbs to add garnish to the meal. It's not what I'm used to and I think it takes away some of the main flavours.
The housemaid Tia seems nice but she doesn't make me laugh like Hannah and she is old fashioned so she feels that she has to consult Stephan about everything that concerns me. She is also against Tiger, claiming that animals belong outside, not in. I keep having to fetch my poor kitten from the backyard where she scratches and meows until she's let in.

Nevertheless, here I am at Van Rensselaer manor. It's not as nice or cosy as Schuyler mansion but I guess I'll adjust over time.

Hey guys
sorry that this is a short chapter. I just felt like I had to describe the new surroundings. Plus you get two chapters in two days. Big time skip coming up in the next chapter.
Thanks for reading. Please comment, it makes me happy.
Cocolocosam 🐔☺️