The Marchioness

Chapter 2- June 21st 1867

As Dawn broke over the manor the glistening morning sun shimmered over the pond in the courtyard as the ducks began to fly in for their morning feed as Mrs Evans the maid always fed them the scraps of oats. The lawn of the manor illuminated by the small diamond-like beads of morning dew sat upon the lush viridescent blades of grass. The peonies and roses slowly begin to open up and greet the first day of summer. The clean warm air filled the village of uffern.

Inside the manor, the Mansfield family were all in a rush as they awaited the biggest event of that summer, it was the grand garden party where all the people of the village came together at the azure lagoon Lodge to welcome in the summer. There was a massive buffet held with all of the food people had Brough and made or had harvested and They would dance, sing and play games into the evening and the night the wealthy families would get to get her and attend the Mansfield ball at briallen Manor.

The lagoon Lodge was home to the Howard family that was made up of Lord James Howard and lady Ophelia Howard and their 3 children mavis 7, Allister 12 and George 6. George was was about the same age as aurelia and Allister the twins age.

Inside the manor, the chaos ensued the maid chasing after Isacc and Idris half-dressed and cover in mud brandishing sticks or swords as they would protest.
The maid pursued the chase but it abruptly ended as Idris and Isacc simultaneously collided with their father. Lord Mansfield's face was stern and ever so quickly becoming this scarlet shade of red to the point if you looked hard and long enough you could probably see the steam billowing out like a freshly boiled teapot.

"LIKE A PACK OF WILD CREATURES THE PAIR OF YOU. HOW DID I RAISE SUCH FERAL LITTLE GOBLINS... WHAT ON EARTH IS WITH ALL OF THIS RACKET AND WHY ARE NEITHER OF YOU DRESSED.." screamed Lord Mansfield with such a force he was breathless.

The boys stood there with a scowling look on their faces for a moment, but as Idris was about to open his cocky 11-year-old mouth their nanny Mrs Lewis had finally caught up to the duo and she stepped up behind them and cover their mouths.

"my lord I a..." she stammered but not before she was interrupted by the Lord.

"just get the feral beasts dressed ready and out of my sight. Honestly why can't you boys be more like your sister, ".he said in a disappointed tone. As He turned his back to them and walked off down the hall to the drawing-room.

"like a pair of wild piglets" muttered Mrs Lewis grabbing the troublesome two by their ears.

As Mrs lewis marched the muddy pair down the Hall another side of the manor towards the bathroom they passed the bedroom of the little 5-year-old marchioness. (although she would insist you know that she is 5 and a half and is almost 6 you see) she was a persistent little thing but even for a little thing she was very strong-minded and stood her ground.

Aurelia was sitting upon her parlour chair her little feet barely peeping over the edge in a beautiful sapphire blue pleated dress with matching cream and sapphire bonnet sat upon her lap as her nanny Mrs Jenkins unravel her beautiful golden locks from their tissue rag rollers.

"How much longer". Aurelia whined in a sulky tone.

"I won't be much longer now your grace there are five in the back left, ay what is the rush anyway we have much time yet and you are already dressed. What's the rush little one?"

"why do Idris and Isacc get to play". She pouted and crossed her little arms.

"they are wild troublesome brutes you mustn't be like them aurelia you are a lady. You must conduct yourself as graceful, not grotesque, one day you will marry a wealthy man and be a respectable lady of the manor," replied Mrs Jenkins in a soft tone.

"no, I will not". Snapped aurelia

I will not marry a man and I will not be a "respectable" lady she thought to herself. I want to be like the twins I want to be outside with the bluebirds and the oak trees and the ducks in the pond amongst the reeds.

Time passed fleetingly by and the Mansfield family were all ready to leave they walked single file one after another out through the large mahogany front door of briallan manor and down the cobblestone path to the horse-drawn carriage awaiting them as everyone's excitement grew for the garden party. This would be the first garden party that aurelia would attend so she wasn't sure what to expect. Her mother and father used to take the twins every year but since her passing they hadn't attended nore had the ball been held at briallan Manor so today was especially exciting.

As they sat in the carriage on their way to the party aurelia turned to her father and asked with curiosity in her eyes.
"father, what happens at a garden party?".

He looked down and his face of stone broke into a small smile as he softly explained "oh my child you will love it" he beamed. Aurelia and her brothers scooted in a gazed at their father excited to learn more.
"There will be singing, dancing, hoop toss, bean bag toss, jump rope, hopscotch, blind man's buff and there will be a great feast and a table as long as the garden itself," said the Lord with a great smile.

Aurelia's little face lit up in amazement at all of these activities and the idea of all of these people, she could not wait. Other than the staff or her family members she didn't tend to socialise with anyone other than her cousins Elsie and Rhodri but they were much older than she was so they were not much fun so the prospect of new friends sounded like a lovely idea.

As the horses drew the carriage trotted down the path at azure lagoon Lodge aurelias jaw dropped in amazement at the slight of the deep blue colour ocean simmering the light dancing on the surface of the water she had never seen such a thing her eye wider than ever before.

The carriage pulls into the courtyard and the mansfeilds step out they are greeted with this beautiful grey stone building adorned, with purple wisteria flowers and ivy vines climbing the walls reaching every corner as butterflies seemed to pass by in the dozens. she had never seen such a place.. she was spellbound.

They walked around the side of the building around the back where they were met with crowds of people enjoying the summer festivities as they played games and talked amongst themselves. Aurelia hadn't seen so many people before she thought to herself.
The field was bigger than she had once thought and at the end of the long field in the far distance was the sea the big blue waves beating against the rocks in the beautiful summer's sunshine.

The Lord was greeted by a group of his wealthy businessmen friends who all owned coal mines in the area. They often came to these things to try and convince the Howards to sell a section of the azure lagoon to them as on the right-hand side of the edge of the land was supposedly the best coal mine in all of the village of uffern. The race was on between them to see who could get them to sell. Mind you this had been an ongoing conversation between their fathers before him but their wife's admired their enthusiasm.

Aurelia was overwhelmed by it all the people and the beauty of the place itself... She had never seen such a place she found herself shy. Aurelia was a strong-minded outspoken little thing she had never been shy before what was this perplexing feeling? she thought to herself as she buried her head into her father's leg her arms clutching his thigh like the trunk of a mighty oak.
As Lord Mansfield continued his conversation with the group of men aurelia clutched at his leg, her grip gradually tightening as her anxiety grew.

"Aurelia darling please let go" whispered Lord Mansfield crouching down to the little marchioness's height.

Her grip grew tighter at the thought of having to let go. Her brothers had run off to play and join the party, she didn't know how to play any of the games and she didn't know anyone at the party... What was she to do she thought to herself now slowly thinking perhaps she would have had a more enjoyable evening if she stayed at the manor with Mrs Jenkins and her lessons. Aurelia wasn't much a fan of her lessons however she was a fan of Mrs Jenkins and it seemed a lot more peaceful at briallan... However, if she somehow made it home she would be met by the same large crowd when they come for the grand ball. She felt so trapped and scared as She spiralled in thought...

Then there it was a warm welcoming voice aurelia likened the warmth to the crackling fire in the drawing-room or the hot chocolate she would share with her father. This voice felt like home and it was beautiful like that of a songbird.