#midfordlegacy

[snarky-sims-witch]

GRACE: Oh hello, darling. How was school?

ELIZABETH: It was... all right. Actually, I wanted to ask you something, Mother...

GRACE: [raises an eyebrow] Oh? And what’s that?

ELIZABETH: My professors are very pleased with my work. In fact... they’re so pleased that they want to write me letters of recommendation... for university. I was thinking maybe going into business studies? So I can run the flower shop better?

Her mother freezes. She’s taken back to her own teenage years when she had the opportunity to go to university, but decided to marry Lord Nathen instead for the sake of tradition. How different would her life be if she had broken off the engagement and gotten an education?

GRACE: Elizabeth... That’s wonderful, but you know it’s not really--

ELIZABETH: Traditional. Proper. I know. [sighs] I wish Gran was still here. She’d know what to do. She always knew what to do...

GRACE: [blinks back tears] Oh sweetheart... You know what to do. What do you want to do?

ELIZABETH: I... I want to go to university.

[snarky-sims-witch]

[snarky-sims-witch]

Lord Nathen’s ambitions to get his daughter into private school paid off. A night of dinner and schmoozing with Smuggworth Academy’s headmaster ensured Lady Elizabeth a seat in their prestigious establishment.

No longer stuffed into an overcrowded classroom of “dirty commoners” as her father called them, Lady Elizabeth was now studying at the finest school old money and a noble title could afford among children from other privileged, affluent families.

While she excelled in the more demanding academic environment, Lady Elizabeth missed her friends from her old school and struggled to connect with her new peers.

[snarky-sims-witch]

Here lies Marchioness Victoria Midford

An ambitious and tenacious woman, Lady Victoria did something no noblewoman of her generation had done before; she broke off from her father’s line to create her own legacy, one ruled exclusively by women, passed down from mother to daughter.

She leaves behind her loving husband, son, daughter, and granddaughter.

May the Watcher guide her soul to a peaceful afterlife.

[snarky-sims-witch]

As the due date approaches, Lady April spends more and more time resting in bed. She talks to her unborn child while Lord Edmund is at work to pass the time and stave off boredom.

APRIL: I can’t believe you’re almost here. Your father and I have waited so long for you. I... I know I’ve made some mistakes when it comes to our family... You might find out about those things one day when you’re older and be disappointed in me...

She blinks away the moisture in her eyes and clears her throat, rubbing her baby bump.

APRIL: It’s alright. I understand. I’m disappointed in me, too... But I want you to know how much your father and I love you in spite of anything that might have happened between us. And... I want you to know how much I love your father, too. He’s a good man and I know I don’t deserve him, but I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to be someone he deserves. Someone you deserve.

She takes a deep breath and wipes her streaming eyes with her palms.

APRIL: I promise I’ll never do anything to jeopardize our family again. You both mean far too much to me and I’ve worked too hard to heal and mend what I’ve broken to risk it all again. I’ll do better for you. I’ll be better for you.

[snarky-sims-witch]

Lord Edmund Midford and Lady April Midford are overjoyed to announce that they are expecting a child.

The announcement comes following a particularly difficult period for Lord and Lady Midford. They ask that the public respect their privacy during this delicate time.

[snarky-sims-witch]

EDMUND: Do we have everything we need for the baby?

APRIL: [rummaging through the nursery] Diapers, baby powder, backup formula, wipes, onesies, bottles, pacifiers, toys, board books, my birthing bag is all packed... just about everything I can think of is here. What about the bouncer and play mat?

EDMUND: I just set them both up downstairs. Watcher... I can’t believe it’s almost time, already...

CORNELIUS: [rubs himself against their legs] Mreow!

APRIL: [giggles] Neither can Cornelius.

EDMUND: Are you looking forward to having a new sibling to play with, Cornelius?

CORNELIUS: [purrs]

[snarky-sims-witch]

EDMUND: [on the phone] Grace? It’s... Edmund.

GRACE: Edmund? You sound sad. Has something happened? Oh no... Lady April didn’t...?

EDMUND: No, no. April and the baby are just fine, thank the Watcher. It’s Bartholomew. He... [chokes up] He passed away this morning, Grace.

GRACE: Oh no! Poor old Bart...

EDMUND: I didn’t want April to worry herself so I buried him in the yard while she napped. Thankfully she’s taking it well, but...

GRACE: But you miss him.

EDMUND: He was part of Mother’s prized feline bloodline. One of the first. We grew up with him and Frida, Grace. I just feel guilty. What if I was so worried about April that I neglected him and that’s why--

GRACE: Oh Edmund, don’t start thinking like that. Bartholomew was quite old. I’m surprised he didn’t pass sooner. Even his son is living his last years. Rudolph hasn’t been getting around as easily as he used to. Don’t be so hard on yourself.

EDMUND: I suppose... Thank you, Grace. I really should call and visit more often.

GRACE: I understand why you don’t visit more, given... well... but do write or call, won’t you? I miss my brother.

EDMUND: And I miss my sister. I’ll try to stay in touch.