#ts4regency

[abitlikestory]

Rebecca sang to herself as she went about her morning chores, trying to keep her spirits even and mind distracted, as the work was not enough to pull her away from her worries.

♪ Yet tho’ I’ve no fortune to offer,

I’ve something to put on a par;  ♪

♪ Come then, and accept my proffer-

‘Tis the kind honest hear of mine. ♪

♪ Ne’er let such a trifle as this is,

 Love, be to my pleasure a bar;  ♪

♪ You'll be rich, tho' 'tis only  in kisses, 

With this kind honest heart of mine ♪

When Rebecca last took residence in Osbeck House, she found a great deal of joy in hearing the songs her mother taught her as a girl echo off the brick walls of the courtyard. A year away had changed so much. Rebecca had desperately wanted to feel like coming back to this place was going to be a homecoming, of sorts. However, now that she was here, she felt very much a stranger.

A year apart had opened her eyes to what the world might offer her. The magic of Osbeck house, Rebecca found, had left.

The song is an edited version of “Yet Tho’ I’ve No Fortune” from the The British Melodist, Or, National Song-book. The original lyrics are ‘tar’ where I replaced the word with ‘mine.’ Tar, to my understanding, was slang for ‘sailor’ which didn’t feel like a good fit for a housemaid humming to herself.

[abitlikestory]

Transcription under the cut.

MS. ROWLEY: What is going on here?

MRS. BAILEY: Ms. Rowley, I apologize for raising my voice but Rebecca is refusing to bring up the tea tray.

MS. ROWLEY: Is this true, Rebecca?

REBECCA: Yes, Ms. Rowley.

MS. ROWLEY: I see.

MRS. BAILEY: The absolute boldness of the girl!

MS. ROWLEY: Mrs. Bailey, I will be bring up the tray.

MRS. BAILEY: But, Ms. Rowley-

MS. ROWLEY: I will not have a squabble over tea upset this household.

MRS. BAILEY: Of course, Ms. Rowley.

MS. ROWLEY: Good. I will hear no more of this.

MS. ROWLEY: Mrs. Bailey, please warm the tea.

MRS. BAILEY: grumble

MS. ROWLEY: Rebecca, a word.

[abitlikestory]

Rebecca stammered over trying to find an excuse that would keep her from the upstairs of the household and not give cause to more prying from Mrs. Bailey when a familiar, tight voice cut through the argument that was brewing.  

Transcription under the cut

MRS. BAILEY: There you are!

REBECCA: Me, Mrs. Bailey?

MRS. BAILEY: Yes, you, Rebecca. You don’t think I’m talking to the wall, do you?

REBECCA: I’m just finishing the wash, but if you need a hand-

MRS. BAILEY: Of course I need a hand. Gone a year and you’ve forgotten your head. The tea girl, bring up the tea.

REBECCA: You want me to bring up the tea?

MRS. BAILEY: Is there someone else in the room, Rebecca? Truly, you are worrying me.

REBECCA: Please, Mrs. Bailey. I can’t.

MRS. BAILEY: You have two perfectly good feet and working set of hands, so I will not be having any lip from you.

REBECCA: I’m sorry, Mrs. Bailey... I... I just... I can’t-

MRS. BAILEY: Can’t?!

UNSEEN CHARACTER: Mrs. Bailey!

[abitlikestory]

With its seal freshly cooled, a letter was held tightly in the hand of Mr. Wynn, taking the long walk up the drive to a fine home. On each side of the path grew thick weed-like grass, made strong by the salt air that ocean waves spit up at it. 

The estate ahead, in which Mr. Wynn was employed as butler, was gently sleeping.   

Osbeck House. 

A shining white, marbled home seemed to sparkle in the rising sun resting comfortably in the manicured landscape the surrounded the home. 

As the heels of Mr. Wynn’s shoes clicked against the stone steps, disrupting the music that the gulls and waves hummed out. He looked at the letter with a twinge in his gut that made him feel as though he carried with him the weight of unspoken expectations. It was only for a movement, nothing a good shake of the head and a furrow of the brow couldn’t shake away.

There was an onlooker peering out from her washroom, unbeknownst to Mr. Wynn, who held tighter to the expectation and hope that he may have been able to brush aside.

[abitlikestory]

The upstairs household began to pull themselves from their beds.

The Lord and Lady of Osbeck House spent this spring morning mulling over baby names, now that the announcements had all been made of the expected new family member. Elizabeth was dreamy eyed over the idea, though Andrew was a little more hardened. He had welcomed four children already into the world- while Elizabeth's thoughts were of the joy of a new baby Andrew worried he would be far to tired to keep up with another child.

Down the hall, the Lemington children found themselves in various stages of greeting the day. Thomas- who has always been the serious one- was already discussing the agenda for the day with Jacob. Jane was building up stories in her head of who the letter Mr. Wynn was for, hoping it was for her. While Peter and Emma still resisted every attempt to shake away the sleep from their eyes. Emma fought not only the desire to rest for hours more but the shaking of her governess, Mrs. Evan, as well.

[abitlikestory]

Long before the upstairs was awake, the downstairs staff of Osbeck House was busying themselves with the work of the day. These were the hours where the most work, as the the staff felt, was done,

Ms. Rowley, the housekeeper, sat in her office pouring over letters of reference from near a dozen women who had answered the advertisement posted for a nursemaid. Ms. Rowley would not waste Lady Lemington's time with meeting anyone less than over qualified.

In the kitchen, Mrs. Bailey began the long preparation for the family and staffs daily meals. She enjoyed the little bit of peace her kitchen had before the other members of staff could rush in, begging for their own meal before they had to rush up to serve the family.

William Finch, Lord Lemington's valet, preened himself in the washroom while Jenny, Lady Lemington's maid, and Jacob, the family's footman, waited for their turn to freshen up or for a breakfast. With William's vanity it was often a hard to tell which may be available first.

[abitlikestory]

Welcome to abitlikestory! This is the home to my sims historical storytelling with a bit of cc finds, lookbooks, and whatever else my heart desires mixed in.

Current Story: Osbeck House (aiming to post every Thursday around 7pm EST)

Meet the Characters

Teasers: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4

Read from the Beginning

Most Recent Post

Info (Shaders & Genetics)

Asks are Open (WCIF Friendly)

Main/Modern Blog: @abitlikelemon