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.

snapshot_417a7978_e17b9688

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.

snapshot_417a7978_217ba4ea

snapshot_417a7978_e17b9ecd

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.”

snapshot_417a7978_a17ba254 snapshot_417a7978_a17b9618

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

snapshot_417a7978_e17b974a

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

snapshot_417a7978_017b980d

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.

snapshot_c07a927a_017e5987

Her name was Adelina.

snapshot_c07a927a_0177e299

 

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

snapshot_c07a927a_0177e5b0

 

Click here to start at the beginning

 

Chapter 10: The circle of life

One day while ashore from his trading, Orlando brought up the subject of children. He thought it was time to expand the family.

snapshot_c07a927a_6086925b

In little time, Abigail was pregnant.

snapshot_c07a927a_2086ab78

Gwen was so delighted that she insisted on painting Abigail’s portrait (as the daughter who was continuing the line).

snapshot_c07a927a_00869542

Gwen was beginning to age. She spent a lot of the day sleeping and started to become senile (forgetting tasks she’d been busy with or just wondering off). The family started to sense something was wrong. Talin was sure to spend as much time with her as possible. Abigail never left her side.

snapshot_c07a927a_6086a98c snapshot_c07a927a_0086ba40

Gwen wanted nothing more than to see the birth of her first grandchild. She got her wish. While the family was sitting reading one evening, Abigail went into labour.

snapshot_c07a927a_a086bcc2

She also gave birth to twins! A boy (“Simon”) and a girl (“Anita”).

snapshot_c07a927a_8086bd58 snapshot_c07a927a_e086be03

The family was so busy celebrating the birth of the twins that they didn’t notice another presence in the room… the Grim Reaper.

snapshot_c07a927a_4086be67 snapshot_c07a927a_c086bed9

It was Talin who first noticed him and started crying uncontrollably.

snapshot_c07a927a_6086bea7

 

Slowly everyone else noticed as well.

snapshot_c07a927a_a086befd

 

snapshot_c07a927a_c086c012

The Grim Reaper had arrived with some hula girls and offered Gwen a cocktail as he escorted her to the afterlife.

snapshot_c07a927a_e086bf9c

Gwen’s dying wish had been for a tree (specifically one  that cost more than $200) so Talin granted it by planting a weeping willow at the end of the property. Gwen was laid to rest beneath it.

snapshot_c07a927a_60880b21

When her will was read, Talin received a large sum of money, both Abigail and Elizabeth did too (Abigail received $100 more than Elizabeth though, something Elizabeth would never forget), Gwen’s friend from her days at the tavern received a lump sum as well and the rest went to tiny Simon who had known his gran for mere seconds but was now the heir to her legacy.

snapshot_c07a927a_c086bff3

 Click here to start at the beginning


 

Custom content 

Abigail’s green dress: Ann Boleyn Emerald Silk from All About Style 
Orlando’s outfit: Walter Raleigh from All About Style
Medieval maternity wear by sunni9676
Orlando’s nightie: Gentlemen’s Antique Linen Nightshirt by Aligeth
Window seat: Nook living
Old-fashioned table: Pirate Bay Market by Kate on Parsimonious
Abigail’s mourning outfit: Anne of Aragon
Elizabeth’s mourning outfit: Kathryn Howard