The Marchioness

chapter 4 21st june 1867

As the Carriage pulled into the manor courtyard the only sound to be heard was the horse's hooves clopping along against the long winding cobblestone path. the three siblings still sat in silence as a feeling of guilt washed over them, their actions finally catching up with them as they remorsefully reflected. Mrs Jenkins and Mrs Jones stood waiting for the children the look of confusion on their faces as to why they were home so soon. The carriage came to a halt at the doors and the driver Mr rees climbed down and approached them explaining the events that had taken place at the party. Mrs Jones was not shocked by the actions of the twins at all they were always troublesome, but Aurelia? Mrs Jones and Mrs Jenkins both as stunned as each other.

"How on earth did this happen?" Mrs Jenkins asked in pure shock.

"Well, you see I'm not too sure how it began but I know it took two grown men to separate them" replied Mr rees.

"Typical of them, I will give them a piece of my mind those boys are always fighting and it's abo..." Said Mrs Jones but not before Mr rees could interject.

"No no not the two lads. It was Idris and Aurelia they had to separate.

The pair is even more stunned and confused by this.

" ar..are you sure you mean Aurelia? She's only a small thing...what could she possibly have done?"Mrs Jenkins asked with her eyes wide in a bewildered gaze.

"She lunged at him and was sat straddling him while thumping him over and over." Mr rees responded trying to hold back a snickering grin.

Mrs Jones began to giggle to herself turning away from the carriage so as not to be seen, but this got them all giggling and snickering. The twins would terrorise the manor and its occupants so the idea of this little gold haired angelic child beating one of them in a fight was like that of an elephant battling a mouse it was unthinkably funny.

When they finally finished giggling Mr rees opened the doors of the carriage and as soon as they opened up the twins were first to step out with their heads hung to the floor. Mrs Jones was used to their behaviour by now so she grabbed the pair by the napes of their necks and marched them into the house muttering away a few choice words of disappointment. Mr rees helped Aurelia out of the carriage and she too hung her head in shame she could not bring herself to make eye contact with Mrs Jenkins. She had never known these feelings of guilt or remorse before. Aurelia rushed past Mrs Jenkins and ran straight to her bedroom and threw herself onto her bed as she quietly sobbed into her pillow. It felt good to finally beat the twins at something but at what cost she thought to herself.

Back at azure lagoon lodge, the party was back in full swing lord Mansfield and all the other guests were getting ready for the summers great feast. Spreading across the yard as far as the eye could see was The largest oak table you could imagine dressed with a beautiful extended silk table cloth so long it was like that of a bride's wedding veil cascading. The table was adorned by an assortment of beautiful summer flowers there was an array of colours bluebells, primroses, welsh poppy, and daisy all intertwined creating a border around the table's edges that looked to grow down the legs. there were bowls and plates filled with all sorts of juicy ripe summer berries, fruits, vegetables both boiled and roasted, beautiful rich cheeses, clotted cream, scones and in the centre a large golden spit-roasted hog with vegetables garnishing the platter and in its mouth sat a rose-red apple. It was a feast fit for a king!

Lord Mansfield took a seat at the table next to his business partner lord Howell he was a local coal mine owner and the owner of the nearby manor of caeth gachar. It was a huge grey manor that sat upon a hill overlooking the sea not too far from the azure lagoon lodge. He wasn't the best looking man at all he was a big built gentleman with mutton chops and a slightly receding hairline he was a short cocky man with an attitude but a bloody good businessman at that. His wife lady Edwina Howell a thin, pale, stern brunette lady whose face seemed to be locked in a permanent frown, lord Mansfield jokes that she has probably never cracked a smile in her life and if she did she would surely explode.