Chapter 37: Adelina’s ambition

Adelina’s birthday was around the corner, the birthday when she came of age as a young lady of influence. On the surface all seemed well.
She enjoyed playing with her nephews and got on well with the rest of the family. William even invited his academy friends to the estate to meet her, secretly hoping for a match. But Adelina did not seem to fancy anyone. Little did the family know, Adelina was deeply depressed. She hated life as a woman of leisure, feeling purposeless. She was sent to visit the local doctor, but he was of little help. He told her she was simply being stubborn and refusing to accept that as a woman – a woman of colour no less – she should be grateful for her lot in life. Marissa, a working woman herself, was much more sympathetic. When she became aware of Adelina’s condition, she presented her with a gift. It was a lamp, the same lamp that had helped her years before. When the genie appeared and asked Adelina what her wish was, Adelina broke down in tears. “I wish I wasn’t purposeless, uneducated and uninspired.” Suddenly, she started to feel better. She spun around and saw her flower-arranging desk and had the most wonderful idea. A few hours later she went downstairs and announced to the family, “I want to open a florist”. She purchased a tiny property with a large front yard and set up shop. Adelina proved to have a keen business sense and soon business was booming. Meanwhile, the family continued to expand. Amice had been hoping for a little girl, but she was still delighted when she gave birth to baby Jonny. Read from the beginning

Chapter 35: Dangerous brew

Amice and William’s second child was also a little boy

who they called Harry.

It was around about the time of his birth that the family discovered what that little machine that had been sitting on the bar for the last few years was used for – coffee!

They started to love coffee.

Love it.

LOVE it.

(Seriously, it became a bit of a problem).

Thankfully, James was immune to its seduction (being a child) and had the good sense to hide the machine when no one was looking, saving everyone from an endless cycle of drinking and peeing.

In time they’d come to understand the life they were missing out on when they were so terribly addicted.

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The truly weird thing is that I had absolutely nothing to do with this addiction at all, despite it being truly historically accurate. The espresso maker has been there since the principal’s visit a generation ago and for some reason they suddenly discovered it now. Ah, Sims. You never fail to surprise me!

For those interested, the vintage coffee maker is from here.

Streets are now all cobbled thanks to Stev84’s Terrain Mod: Victorian Cobble Streets for Grass Neighbourhoods.

Chapter 34: Golden child

James grew into an adorable child who shared his mother’s blonde locks.

He also shared Amice’s pleasant nature and was very well loved.

By the time he was old enough to go to school, Amice was pregnant with a second child.

It was a happy time for everyone.

James thrived academically.

And he was good at sports.

But there was something ominous ‘brewing’…

Read from the beginning

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All the custom clothes in this post are from All About Style.

Chapter 33: Family business

Amice was so excited about the expected bundle of joy that she wouldn’t stop talking about it to anyone who’d listen.

Late one night when she was down in the pantry getting herself a midnight snack, she went into labour!

She delivered a bouncing baby boy who they called James.

Everyone in the family was besotted with the child – to the point where Amice had to lock herself in the nursery to get any alone time with her son at all (and also so that poor James could get some sleep and not have relatives playing with and feeding him 24/7).

Meanwhile, Adelina had grown into a beautiful and ambitious young lady.

She enjoyed flower arranging.

She’d sworn to herself that she’d never be poor as her parents had been, so she decided to start selling her arrangements – even though the family had no need of any financial contribution from her at all.

Adelina had seen how volatile wealth could be and she feared that Marissa and Simon would pass away, leaving William – a falconer of all things – as the sole provider for his expanding family.

She set up a small flower shop at the edge of the property, selling her arrangements on weekends.

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Start reading at the beginning

Adelina’s stunning dress is Teen Regency Dress from All About Style.

Chapter 32: Family matters

Amice settled in well with the rest of the family.

William took up a position as falconer for a local lord, which gave him the opportunity to study birds and spend time outdoors.

Amice spent her days reading

 Or painting

Or taking the air by the pool.

One evening, when preparing to retire, she noticed she was looking rather pale. This surprised her as she’d been spending time outdoors.

The next morning she woke up feeling ill. She did some calculations in her head and realised she might know why.

She was due to go out for a walk with William later that day, so decided she’d broach the subject with him then. However, as they talked the subject left her mind. It was only as they returned the the house, when a wave of light-headedness hit her, that she remembered.

“William, there is something I would like to share with you,” she said.

And then she fainted.

William began to panic.

He called madly for help.

Then Amice stirred.

“Oh my darling!” William exclaimed. “Are you alright?”

“William…” Amice said weakly.

“Are you feeling ill?” He asked.

“William…” she said, with more strength.

“Was the walk too strenuous for you?” He asked.

“William!” Amice climbed to her feet. Before he could protest, she blurted out. “I think I’m pregnant”

William’s concern melted away into joy.

Of course he insisted that she get into bed and rest while they awaited confirmation from the doctor. He refused to move from her bedside until the word came.

Amice was with child!

Start reading at the beginning

Chapter 31: Wedding!

When Amice wrote to her father of her engagement, he was so delighted that he decided to sponsor a wedding gift (of her choosing) on top of her handsome dowry.

Amice elected to have the piece of land where William had proposed turned into a small lake that let out into a swimming pool. This gave William – who loved the outdoors – the ability go fishing whenever he desired…

Amice a pool to bathe in…

and the couple a beautiful location for the nuptials.

William’s friends from the academy attended.

It was a stunning Spring wedding.

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Amice’s wedding dress is Meryton Ball from AllAboutStyle.

 

Chapter 30: Amice

William graduated from Guildenstern Academy at the end of the year.

He parted reluctantly from his friends, with promises to write often and to invite them to visit at the estate.

His heart was not too heavy though. He was taking the girl he’d been courting, Amice, home to meet his family!

He introduced her to Marissa first.

Marissa was immediately impressed.

“You should marry this girl,” she said. “She’s good-natured, from a good family.”

William was doubtful at first – he was so young! But the more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea of having Amice join the family.

He took her for a picnic in the field beside the house.

And while they sat under the blue sky, he started making vague inquiries about whether her family would be open to the match.

She revealed that her father had already returned to her home country. She’d been meant to join him, but had elected to rather visit with William.

“I’d find it very difficult to be parted from you,” she confessed, colour rising in her cheeks.

William thought that was the perfect opening to get up on one knee…

Amice jumped to her feet in surprise. Then…

She said she’d be delighted to accept.

William was a bit concerned that he’d rushed things. He cared very deeply for her, but he feared he might not be ready for marriage.

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I’m convinced William has found the prettiest NPC in the entire game. Amice’s outfit and hair is by JenFold.

Click here to start at Chapter 1.

 

Chapter 29: Guildenstern Academy: Part two

The following entry in the Legacy Family annuals takes the form of a letter home from William, still studying at the prestigious Guildenstern Academy.

Dearest Mother and Father,

I hope all is well back at the estate and that young Adelina is continuing to excel in her schooling.

The Academy is most agreeable. I am not wanting for intellectual stimulation or comforts.

I wrote to you last that my associate, Mr Rosencrantz Speare, professed himself quite well-traveled and well-versed in matters of the heart.

It seems the boot is on quite the other leg. I have since discovered that he spends the majority of his days in deep study.

His roguish attitude is but a sham he spins in the hopes of attracting impressionable young ladies!

I wrote to you also that my associates were dangling after our local bluestocking, Hawise – the dean’s daughter. Her intellect is impressive and I must admit that I, too, held a little torch for her.

We all expected she would choose the affections of our resident gabster, Mr Romeo Prince. I dare say no one was more surprised than the man himself when she approached Mr Heath Cliffe and gave him a kiss!

She is a thoroughly modern women, but even so none of us can comprehend why she should choose to be so free with her affections when it comes to old Cliffe! The man is committed to his studies, I’ll give him that, but some of his ideas seem dangerous.

Why, just the other day he managed to make his entire body invisible! It was quite the sight to behold. I do not blame you if you do not believe me, had I not seen it myself I would be very skeptical indeed.

I hear that Mr Speare felt rather desperate after Hawise’s revelation and took himself down to the wishing well at the bath house to plead fate for a match. What he wouldn’t tell me is what the outcome was.

Apparently – and this is word from Romeo Prince so take it from whence it comes! – his wish was granted in the form of an old woman of 60  years! Apparently – and again I would not necessarily trust Mr Prince’s word on the matter – they shared a romantic interlude. I do not know whether Speare will pursue this relationship. 

Speaking of relationships, and do forgive me for taking so long coming to this piece of news, I have met a young lady myself!

Her name is Amice and she is the daughter of a highly regarded diplomat who was visiting the academy. 

If you approve, I will be bringing her home to meet you when I complete my studies next month. 

Kindest regards, 

Your affectionate son,

William

Chapter 28: Guildenstern Academy: Part one

William took residence with four other young gentlemen and a young lady who had been granted special dispensation to study at the college as her father was the Dean.

He quickly became friends with a group who called themselves the “young romantics”.

Rosencrantz, whose room was next to William’s, was a philosopher who wanted to travel the world and capture the beauty of life in art.

Heath was an anxious young man who wanted to build the machines of the future. “Steam is the future,” he’d tell a disinterested William. “We can harness the power of the sun to build machines of im…immense power.”

Romeo was the least complicated of the three. He liked women. All women.

The four would study together and talk philosophy late into the night.

Meanwhile, back at home, the estate seemed very empty with only Simon and Marissa living there. Marissa had grown too old to have more children, but she longed to hear their laughter echoing down the halls.

When she discovered that a man killed in an accident at the docks had a young daughter who he’d been raising alone, she knew she had to take her in.

Her name was Adelina.

 

Marissa soon came to love the little girl as her own.

 

Click here to start at the beginning

 

Chapter 27: Where there’s a Will…

With Anita and the twins’ departure, Legacy Estate was quieter than it had been in years.

(With the exception of regular ghostly encounters).

While Simon tried to impart as much wisdom as he could to his son, William was just not challenged enough and struggled academically.

The family wanted to send him to a local, highly-respected, tutor. Unfortunately the family had gained a reputation. With Anita’s bastard children and Marissa working (!) for her father, the tutor declared that this was “not the sort of family we want associated with our establishment”.

Marissa was upset and quite inconsolable at the thought that she was preventing her son from having the education he deserved. Luckily, as she was walking in the garden one night she came upon an old lamp…

As she examined it, she saw an engraving and attempted to rub some dirt away to see it.

A genie appeared!! It asked her what she wanted most in life and she said “peace of mind.” Her wish was instantly granted and she never worried about a thing again. (Although to some it might appear as if she had spent some time in an opium den, as she began to walk around with a little smile and a far off look in her eyes.)

William started to show a keen interest in the outdoors and as he grew it became clear that birds were a firm favourite.

The family elected to send him away to the highly respected Guildenstern Academy to learn more about the animal world (and the world in general).

 Click here to start at the beginning