At the Estate everyone was busy and Mrs Lambton was more nervous than usual, making everyone nervous as well. All of that disarray was due of the Sunday gala which of course was in Durham. The 5th Earl's family had to went back to their actual house, or better, palace. The Sheffield Estate was just another property of the Lambton's, more like a country Estate for summer and holidays. It was, of all the others, Joan's favourite, of course because she could see Margaret. They had been childhood and best friends since ever. In Durham the Lambton sister couldn't have any fun, and any pleasant activity was strictly prohibited. Sheffield was a happy place for Joan and Kathleen and they used to spend as much time as possible there since their mother's demise. Joan's biological mother was Diana Mary Farquhar, a beautiful and brave women who deceased giving Kathleen to life. It was the 18th November 1946, Joan was 12. After Diana's death, Mr Lambton remarried to another women, Hermione Bullough, mostly to take care of the new born, Mrs Bullough had also another son from a previous marriage, Hon. John George Lambton. John was 2 years older than Joan but they never really considered each other as siblings. I mean, they didn't have a bad relationship they simply ignored each other most of the time, and they almost never lived in the same place, another excuse for Jo to go to Sheffield. Sadly, as daughters of the 5th Earl of Durham, Joan and Kathleen presence was required at every meaningless reception, gala or after party as well. Even if it could seem like and exciting and lucky life, Joan found it extremely boring and she would find any way to escape it. Sheffield was one.
That Sunday there would have been a gala to reunite all the South Yorkshire and other England's Earls, Counts and Barons, something big. The main gala was on Sunday but the after party would have been at least of three days. Being the older male child, forced John to be always busy in Durham or nearby, meeting politicians and other high level people. What is more, he soon would have needed a wife, so Mrs Lambton, John's biological mother, was very busy trying to find the perfect girl. They had been searching for 2 years now. It's not like John is not a good boy, he's just a bit solipsist and really boring, some time might seem kind childish and his look didn't help. Anyway, John and Mr Lambton were in Durham yet, the rest of them would have travelled by train and would have arrived Thursday evening, the following day. But in Jo's view, the worse thing of these meetings between riches was seeing the relatives, uncle, aunts and cousins, dozens and dozens of people she barely remembered or knew. And then, the suitors. It's like if the moment you turn 18 everyone is allowed to annoy you, strutting around all the lavishness they own, endless talks of what they have and they would offer you to get married. Which is the reason Joan made a plan of excuses to attend just at the first part of Saturday gala, which was also the main part.
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