Hustle & Bustle | Jacob Frye x OC

Introduction.

My day starts at first light, around 5:00am or sometime thereabouts.
My first chore is to light the fire - despite it being May, the air was nippy enough to send shivers down your spine. Being in a farm house, very little carpet paved the way around the house so I'd tip-toe along the stone, as if the floor were a frozen-over river.
Next on my list was to wake my elder sister and younger brother, my Father already being out in the fields by that time.
Then I'd wash myself with a cloth and basin of warm water, then dressing in a grey blouse, a navy blue work-skirt and a large, plaid shawl to drape over my shoulders. My auburn hair would be pinned up into a tight bun.
Once my sister and I were dressed and ready for the day, once our brother was fed and tending to his pigs, we would strip and make the beds - Step by step.
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"James!" I called to my brother. "The Chicken coop is buggered again!" I growled. I threw the last of the chicken feed to the hens and stomped back into the house.
My dear sister appeared with my pinafore in her hand, handing it to me with a smile. I tied the pinafore around my waist and brushed it out smooth.
"Right, we need to make more Chutney with the spring berries that we picked yesterday before they go old. You will read the recipe and I will do the handiwork." My sister, Adelaide, told me.
With that, Peeled the pages of Mrs Beeton's book of household management back until I found the desired recipe. Being the only child of the Edwards family who could read, I read out the words in recipe - step by step.

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It was no doubt that I had gained our Father's favour after our Mother left him. He taught me to read and to write, unlike my siblings. He felt guilty because of his evident favouritism towards me, yet he could not help himself.
He was a tall man, with broad shoulders and large workmans hands. Despite his intimidating figure, he always had a smile on his face.
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"I don't know what I'd do without you girls, the men that marry you will be the luckiest in all of the empire" Our Father said, fondly, placing a hand on both mine and Adelaide's shoulder - a smile pulling at his features as we worked to finish preparing the dinner for this evening.

Just before we served the boiled mutton onto plates, our younger brother - James, trudged into the house. He was covered in muck, a usual occurence because of the barmy pigs he loved so dearly.
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James truly was the baby of the family, despite his growing height. He was quite tall for his age, towering above me even though he was 3 years younger than me.
The Eldest of the three, Addy-we nicknamed her, was only older than me by a year. She had just turned Nineteen in middle of January. It was almost about time that she got a husband.

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"Addy," Father called, my sister turned to him as he entered the room. I knew what he was about to inform her of.
A few weeks ago, Father had asked me to write a letter to Uncle Jeremiah - asking if my older sister would be able to travel to London and have Aunt Cynthia pick out a suitor for her. This process was usually reserved for those of an upper-class stature, however our Father wished for Addy to have a better future - to have an upper-class husband.
Uncle Jeremiah had replied not long ago, saying that it would be quite alright for Addy for come over, and that I was also welcome to come.
After a while of writing letters back and forth, we agreed to catch a train to Kings cross station tomorrow morning.
"You should go to your room and pack, you as well, Britannia" Our Father intructed, using my proper name too.
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Annie was only a nickname, given to me when my proper name became to tiring to say. For farmers daughters, Adelaide and I had names far above our station. I was given the name 'Britannia' after the great and noble country that we lived in.
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My sister and I trudged upstairs to pack our bags, ready for London. Aunt Cynthia told us to only pack our best clothes, not wanting us to be seen in farmers rags when we were with her.