A perfect line of staff awaits Eliza as they drive up the wide pebble pathway. The white stone monstrosity that is Elsick house stands behind them, with enormous stone columns jutting several stories above them into the clear blue sky. Eleven heads watch in anticipation as the soon-to-be Lady Bradshaw pushes her motor car door open. She is halfway out of the cab by the time the driver arrives to hold her hand and the full weight of where she is finally hits her when the housekeeper steps forward to greet her.
"Lady Winter, welcome to Elsick house," she greets warmly with a nod of her head as Colin strolls up alongside her.
"Mrs. Davies, the formal welcome was hardly necessary. My father won't be arriving until late next week."
"You sir, are head of the household and will be treated as such," Mrs. Davies reminds him with a stern look. Eliza knows that she and Colin will be expected to act as such as well. The butler strides over and lands next to Mrs. Davis and Colin nods to the tall, gangly man in a black wool suit, "Mr. Hughes."
"We have supper waiting for you when you're ready, my lord," Mr. Hughes tells him and Mrs. Davies adds, "And we have rooms prepared for both you and your lady's maid, my lady."
Eliza gestures toward her maid, "That's Miss Lucy, she's coming with Lord Bradshaw's valet."
Colin leans into Eliza, "I'm still Colin here you know? I shan't be calling you Lady Eliza because Mrs. Davies is here now."
"I expect you to follow the rules," Eliza murmurs and Mrs. Davies quickly adds, "As do I." Colin smirks at her and I am sure she has made up a room far from Colin's bedchambers for her. Eliza turns toward the rest of the staff, still lined up like statues, and notes all of their expressionless faces. The footmen have already wandered off toward the coachmen to grab the trunks of luggage and Colin watches as they march around to the back of the house. There is suddenly quite the hustle going on around them.
Colin then grabs Eliza's hand and asks, "Shall we have Mrs. Davies show us around?" Eliza eagerly nods and loud gravel crunching under the scattered help's shoes is the only noise that fills the tense air. The rest of the staff are still quiet as they are led inside and she realizes this is the first main difference from Winter House. She's known the staff there since she was in the nursery and it's always a jovial welcome when the Winters return home.
A massive wood-paneled hallway with arched wooden ceilings greets the new couple and Eliza's eyes wander around the massive colored tapestries displaying the Duke's family tree and coat of arms. Medieval weaponry is displayed proudly amongst the flags and she wonders how much of the decor she'll be in charge of in their own home.
"Do you keep all of your military memorabilia on display in Sussex?" Eliza curiously asks and Colin laughs, "No. Tristan and I sent anything worth displaying to my father, who displays it in Kinnaird." Eliza nods and is grateful their entryway won't be so bleak. She was hoping for bright wallpaper and fresh flowers in their foyer.
Mrs. Davies continues down the wide hallway, but the dark paneling continues into the hall that leads to the left wing of the house. Eliza's heels click loudly against the cream marble and Mrs. Davies's voice reverberates throughout the hall as she maps out the house to Eliza. Apparently, Elsick house has thirty-three rooms and much of the decoration and style were influenced by the Duke's preferences. Eliza knew Colin had said his father was hardly warm or welcoming, she just wasn't expecting his house to match his lackluster personality.
It wasn't until they reach the ballroom, which interconnects the drawing-room and outside terrace that Eliza feels any sunshine. Bright light floods the space, being drawn in from all of the tall windows and the light blue brocade that covers the wall bounces the sunlight around. Eliza wants to reach out and touch the cream silk curtains that travel upwards toward the opulent painted ceiling, but her gloved hand stays pinned to her side. She drops her head back to marvel at the Roman Gods and Goddesses interlaced and sprawled out across the entire ceiling.
