Beauty and the Brit - Chapter 15: A Moving Manor (Patreon)

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CHAPTER FIFTEEN: A MOVING MANOR

Derick’s manor was located west of London, to Paige’s limited understanding it was back towards Kew it seemed. There wasn’t really much around as they pulled up to the front gates and Paige got the feeling of exclusivity. Derick’s privacy out here was quite assured.

Martin pulled through the black metal gate that opened for them between the stonework pillars and drove towards the manor house. It was placed about four city blocks into the property and the drive was lined with trees so the building itself was somewhat obstructed. Paige already felt a sense of privilege exuding from this place by the drive in alone. Most people’s places had a short walkway not a lengthy drive up to their front door!

When she finally saw Derick’s home, she gasped; completely awestruck. The mixture of stonework in dark browns and greys was absolutely stunning. The front facade didn’t make the place seem terribly large but Paige would discover it was, in fact, huge.

“Martin if you could pull around to the staff housing—”

“Oh no, no Derick I’m not tired,” Paige spoke up immediately.

“Oh but don’t you wish to rest and get settled?”

She shook her head, “I don’t mind doing that later if it’s fine by you. I’ve been sitting on that flight and for breakfast and in the car. Can we walk around a bit? May I… see your house a little?” she asked. Derick had been adamant that she was welcome inside at any time during her stay and that he encouraged her to take a look around at some point. He said he had a feeling she’d really love some of the decor and had left it at that!

Derick now stared back at her in mild surprise. “Gosh! Oh sure; absolutely!” he agreed, “Bo— Goodness I didn’t think of all that I apologize! Martin it’s okay to drop us at the front then sorry mate!”

Paige smiled to herself at how informal Derick was with his driver. They must have had a long history; lines now blurring between employer and employee with their friendship and familial bonds.

Martin pulled the car back around the large paved area in front of the house and stopped at the front of the building where he then turned off the car and got out to open their door for them. Derick got out first and turned around to offer his hand. Paige felt like Cinderella being escorted out of the carriage by The Prince himself as she got out with Derick’s help and gazed at his smiling face while doing so. Then her gaze fell once again on his home and she was once more awestruck at the beauty and grandeur of it. She wondered what architectural style this was with the huge windows on two levels (drawn curtains) and the design of the stone masonry. The short stone staircase of about five or so steps leading up to the front door that cascaded outward and narrowed as it went up was also stunning.

“I can’t believe this is your house!” she declared in shock.

“Somedays I am struck with the same feeling!” he grinned. “C’mon let’s go inside!”

She didn’t need a second invitation and followed Derick up. Martin told them he’d keep the car out front to drive to the staff housing when they were ready. Derick said he’d text but he imagined they’d be at least an hour which made Martin smile and nod.

Paige gazed wide-eyed at the entrance hall. ‘You could probably host a small party in this space’ she thought to herself as Derick finished his conversation with Martin in the meantime.

The foyer was built with dark wood and pale stone that looked and shone like marble; the contrast between the two stunning. Before her lay an expanse of space probably some fifteen to twenty feet before she’d reach a wide carpeted staircase to the second floor. The staircase itself went up perhaps only ten feet before the first landing where a large painting hung, likely a landscape she determined from her quick gaze. Then to the left and right, short staircases of only a couple steps before small, square landings that led to the final staircases going back towards the entrance of the house that lifted upwards to the second floor. From here, one alighted on a balcony or bridge of sorts that carried above the first staircase. You could then enter the rest of the second floor through doors and alcoves to the far sides of the room. There were pillars that framed the staircase on the main floor which had a multifoil arch connecting them and those were connected to the left and right by two more wide arches that framed the corridor entrances to the rooms behind the stairs. The arch brackets were trims of swirling wood carvings.

In fact, the entire foyer was a mix of arches and straight rectangles with stunning mahogany coloured wooden details on the brackets, balustrades and railings.

The symmetry and elegant antique design of it all was spectacular to the eye.

Then, Derick turned to her and immediately grinned when he saw her awestruck expression. “Gorgeous isn’t it?” he asked softly.

“Ohmygawd yes!” she agreed as her eyes came to rest upon him once again. “Derick this is… I have no words right now!” she gushed.

His eyes seemed to sparkle with mirth. “I thought you might like it,” he spoke plainly.

“And you’ve lived here all your life?”

“Well when I’ve been in England, yes,” he nodded, “I have spent some time collectively in North America as well for brief stints. But ultimately, this is home.”

She was grinning ear to ear as her head gently shook in disbelief. “Wonderful.”

“You’ve just seen the front hall!” he laughed.

“Yeah, well, it makes quite the first impression!” she blushed as she looked around again.

“I cannot deny that,” he murmured easily nodding as his eyes swept the surroundings too.

“Paige do you mind if I leave you for a few minutes?” Derick asked gently, “I would just like to get changed out of these work-meeting clothes,” he explained, holding open his suit jacket and dropping the fabric, “I won’t be long and you can wander as far as you like. Don’t worry about getting lost; I’ll find you!” he promised with a smile.

“Oh jeeze yeah of course!” she exclaimed immediately, feeling a little bad for making him change his plans for her. She hadn’t considered that he might’ve had little to no time between his own flight and his meeting then getting picked up with her and Martin immediately after! “I’m so sorry I can—”

“No Paige it’s okay honestly I just want to change my shirt and trousers to something more comfortable that’s all. I won’t be longer than like ten minutes and that’s guesstimating too much just in case!” he laughed and she chuckled with him.

“Ok then. I’ll be around somewhere,” she gushed in slight nervous anticipation of what she might uncover as she explored on her own.

“See you soon!” he exclaimed warmly before making his way up the right staircase at the end of the Entrance Hall.

Now alone, Paige took a few moments to admire and gush over this expanse of space that served as the entry to Derick’s home. She spun slowly in a circle; this place was stunning and it seemed her eyes couldn’t take it all in fast enough. It was gorgeous.

After deciding she’d lingered long enough here, Paige had to choose where to venture next. Something about going to the left felt right. So she let her feet slowly wander that direction and ended up in a small room made up of white stone. It seemed to be more of a corridor than a room, however, and there wasn’t much to look at here.

Paige walked from the white stone room into the next which was composed almost entirely of a rich, darkly stained wood. There was a magnificent staircase that went up to the next floor split into two by a landing which then led the staircase back towards her direction. everything was carved with various patterns and designs right up to the landing of the floor above which looked down on them.

There was a fireplace to her left and she couldn’t quite tell whether it was real or simulated fire within.

The stairs were carpeted while the floor itself looked like stone; a mosaic of tiles of different colours and shapes making a gorgeous geometric design.

Paige was in awe at the carvings of Greek inspired figures at the top of the posts of the stair rail on the floor above while the posts on the landing on her level were medieval.

When she finally looked up she gasped at the stained glass ceiling looking down from the second floor.

The entire effect of the place was glorious!

She reached out a tentative hand to let the tips of her fingers gently caress the head of a wolf carved into a pillar at the base of the stairs when a voice startled her, “Do you like it?”

She jumped then turned toward Derick in surprise. Paige noted he was now wearing a navy coloured polo and jeans. Like he wanted to murder her heart right there with his attractiveness...

“It’s magnificent!” she praised once she’d recovered her thoughts after a second or two.

“Well if you like this just wait until you see the rest; this is just the west wing of the house!”

She giggled softly with nervous anticipation. “I can’t believe you live here!” she gushed.

“May I give you a tour of more?” he grinned.

“Is that a question even?” she raised a brow and he burst out laughing then offered his arm. She took it shyly and he explained himself, “Most gentlemen of the eras that helped build and design this house would have offered their arm, I think,” he chuckled, “And I don’t want to just walk ahead of you like a tour guide.”

“No, no this is...great,” she murmured happily. “Thank you. Tour away!”

As Derick and Paige went through she learned a great deal from him about not only his own family history but the history of places like his in general.

She learned a little about how the house was not always so big as it is now and how people had lived and worked on this property for many centuries dating back possibly to the 1200’s though his own family history only records since the late 1300’s. She learned a little about how there would be farms and farmers under the sight of the current resident of the DeBurgh manor who acted as landlord and ‘boss’, really. She also learned that Derick’s family had worked their way into favour with the right people at the right times back then to be able to be where they were socially and that only grew over time until present day. She also learned a bit of the history of staff in the household from what Derick knew in general and specific stories of his manor’s household as well.

Paige was in general awe of everything until they came to the ballroom where she gasped and had to turn to him in surprise. “Wait do you live in like a castle!?” she burst out, “This place is huge, first of all, and now you have an actual ballroom!?” she exclaimed in shock, “I thought only royalty or nobility would have places as grand as this! A-are you a nobleman?” she asked softly, in quiet reverence and trepidation at the thought of it.

Derick looked like he was blushing. “No, no we’re not nobility,” he dismissed, “Ehm actually like I was saying before we were granted some favours way back when by actual nobles and royals and so honestly we are considered part of the gentry of England...technically,” he added on resignedly.

“What does that mean, exactly?” she entreated bashfully.

“Eh well,” he began, hand coming up nervously to the back of his neck, “gentry sort of means ‘well-bred’ or like… honestly wealthy way back in I think it was medieval times. To be ‘gently’ bred meant you were of “good stock” so to speak and good social standing. You probably had a lot of land but weren’t necessarily considered one of the nobles or anything. And I want to say a step up from being just a landowner. Honestly it’s been many years since I studied it in school. And I understand it but I don’t quite know suddenly how to explain it!” he laughed nervously.

“It’s okay,” she dismissed smiling, knowing the feeling all too well.

“Wait well I think I might have a way to explain it in a semi-relateable way,” he went on after a second of letting his eyes wander the ballroom as though for some help from its space. “You know how in America you have the people like The Vaderbilts and The Rockefellers? Rich sort of socialites? They are rich and well respected but they aren’t of royal or noble blood or anything? Gentry are similar to that I guess? They gained prominence and wealth but their origins aren’t… descended from Kings, Queens and their extended families of nobility. So my family do not have any ancestors that originated as nobles but I do have nobles in my family tree that married members of my family in our history once we were established and well-off. Actually I could show you a family tree sometime if that sort of thing interests you,” he smiled and Paige nodded eagerly.

“That’d be so cool to see I’d love that!” she assured. He grinned at that.

The two spend a few moments more in the ballroom —Paige asking if she could quickly do a large spin in the open space and Derick assuring her that ‘no it’s not silly go ahead and I’ll join you!’— before they moved on.

“AH!” Derick cried out some minutes later in the midst of walking a corridor.

Paige felt her heart pounding and seeing her expression he apologized profusely.

“I just recalled a bit more about the meaning and origins of gentry! They were basically landowners that could live off of their rental income alone! In our case, we had that and some prestige with friendships of a few nobles who lived nearby. After all, we’re not terribly far from London even by the standards of late medieval times. So as time went on, The Crown and others of peerage moved into and built properties not far from our family’s. Not to brag but historically The DeBurgh Family have been rubbing elbows with wot would you call it ‘Blue Bloods’ for centuries!” he mused, “Of course, nowadays it’s a bit different but nonetheless we’re still considered ‘cool’. Or perhaps my naive brain thinks we are,” he laughed sheepishly.

Paige laughed with him. “Well for the record from my humble knowledge and opinion you and your home and your ancestors are definitely ‘cool’!” she gushed.

Derick thanked her for that.

He then showed her several of the bedrooms, a small, modest library and sitting rooms that were on the second level. “We sort of alternate with the seasons in keeping them clean. I do host people from time to time here and they’re able to stay in these extra bedrooms,” he remarked, “though not now of course…”

Paige nodded, picturing a bunch of people staying over at Derick’s and realizing they’d all probably be important people: philanthropists, minor celebrities and people with noble titles and such. A shiver went through her picturing who might’ve stayed here when Derick spoke up again sounding surprised,

“Wait! Gosh I’m daft!” he chuckled nervously, “I’m hosting you. Paige, would you care to stay in one of my uh… well we call it guest bedrooms instead of extra bed chambers?”

“Oh!” His suggestion was met with genuine surprise. “Oh well… No I couldn’t possibly ask for that,” she blushed.

“Why not?” he mused, “I’m offering.”

“Because you just said that your staff get the rooms prepared and ready when you’re hosting a larger amount of guests or someone important…”

“I beg your pardon so you’re not important?” he stated plainly implying confusion in his tone.

Paige felt herself blushing even hotter now. “Well...not like some of the other people who must’ve stayed here in the past,” she murmured shyly.

“Why because you don’t have hundreds of thousands of pounds or eh dollars or because you don’t have ‘Lady’ before your name?” he carried on.

She shrugged half-heartedly.

Derick all but scowled and then he shook his head. “Paige I’d be delighted for you to stay in one of the rooms!” he told her, “I saw how big your eyes got in a few of them and how impressed you are. I think it would be lovely for you to have the chance at staying your duration in England in one of them…”

“But—”

“Please no arguments. Unless you’re too frightened to stay in a huge room or rather one side of the house to yourself alone. Truly, you can totally take one of the sections of the house that were former ‘apartments’. I mean it’s not the same now as it was in the middle of the last millenia where it was like an apartment of sorts with various rooms and things but basically what I mean in a long sort of way is that my own rooms are far away and so it would be like having your own… I dunno private section of the house to yourself. I won’t bother you a’tall,” he pronounced in his accent.

Paige gazed shyly at him and saw he was in earnest. She knew even without his reassurances that he would never come near whatever bedroom she was staying in but with his pronouncements now she was assured without a shadow of a doubt that he was thinking the same thing. He was absolutely and utterly respectful of her and maintaining an appropriate distance physically and figuratively in their budding friendship. Just because she was in his house did not mean to him that a new form of intimacy had been achieved or a new line had been drawn between them. He was offering these rooms as an opportunity for her to stay someplace gorgeous and historical and have a unique experience and the fact that he would have a bedroom in the same building meant little. She was to feel as private and comfortable as possible. And knowledge of that respect he had made Paige fall even more for Derick.

“Well, I… I mean it would be kinda...nice,” she agreed finally, slowly coming around to his suggestion and letting her heart not her head guide her. She hated to be a bother and that is why she’d tried to choose someplace convenient as possible for Derick to put her up in and why she’d finally chosen his staff apartments. But now, the idea of staying in a room that looked like it was straight out of a period movie was really starting to make her excited. It was like staying in a themed room in a luxury resort or something. Only, this was not remodeled to look special but actually was authentically from another time! Granted, the mattresses were modern but that was a tiny detail only…

“Yeah? Would you like to? You can choose any of the rooms you like, honestly! And if you want to switch back and forth between two be my guest! Further to that point you’re allowed to go into the sitting rooms and libraries and wherever you like in the house whether you stay over in the house or go back to the staff apartments. Like I said on our ride over, what is the phrase in Spanish that Americans like to adopt? ‘Su casa es ma casa’? Er, I feel like I mixed that up—”

“‘Mi casa es su casa!’” he and Paige uttered together then laughed.

“I want you to treat the house like your own private retreat,” he repeated from the ride over, “I’ll lock the doors to my bedroom and study and stuff so that you don’t see my mess,” he mused with an anxious laugh, “So don’t worry about coming across anything you shouldn’t or going some place you’re not allowed. Seriously.

“I just want you to be happy and comfortable on your holiday here in England. Whatever that looks like and wherever that is, okay? Just say the word and I’ll do what I can within my means to accommodate it.”

She felt her cheeks were still warm at that but she nodded as his blue orbs caught hers and his smile made her feel utterly at ease.

“Then, I’ll stay in one of the bed chambers in your manor,” she agreed gently, “Thank you so much Derick! I just… don’t want to cause your staff more work.”

“Nonsense they won’t have to take on anything extra more than they would if you were to stay in the staff apartments. Besides, most of them work in and around this manor so now you’re closer to more people. If that makes you feel better? I just mean that there are people in and around the staff quarters and around here but now you’re closer to the bustle of here being able to eat from our kitchens if you want or wander my halls or pick through my libraries.”

“Jeeze I keep forgetting you have two in here,” she muttered sheepishly.

He chuckled under his breath. “Both places on my property are great places to stay and have great advantages. So whatever you choose you’re going to have a wonderful time and if you aren’t you can switch to the other no harm no foul. Just be comfortable.”

“You keep saying that. I will,” she smiled gently, “Thank you Derick though seriously this all just… it’s overwhelming and it’s a lot but it’s amazing and I love it so thank you. I keep pinching myself expecting it’s just a cool dream but so far it’s not. Thank you.”

“I know people say this a lot but this time like sincerely: it is my pleasure. I like seeing you smiling and I'm getting a thrill out of seeing my place anew through your eyes. So thank you Paige for this opportunity as well!”

She shook her head and smiled at the ground for a moment. “Well you’re welcome I guess,” she mumbled, feeling a bit self-conscious.

“Alright well I’ll walk you back through the rooms so you can pick one and then when you’re getting settled I’ll make arrangements with the staff so they know where you’re staying and you’ll be covered for breakfast and lunch and such… Do you mind if I give your number to the kitchen staff so that you can text them or they can text you about meals?”

“Oh gosh I don’t want to be a fuss—” But Derick reassured her it was easiest to just respond to their message or send them one when she knew she would or would not be around for the next scheduled meal so they knew how much to make. Feeling a bit better she gave him permission to grant her number to the kitchen.

“Oh and for the record,” he added on as they toured a third potential bedroom for her, “you don’t have to have hot meals etcetera for everything. If you want just cereal or whatever in the morning or a sandwich or just to snack then go for it! The amount of times I’ve had just cereal for breakfasts or even dinners is… Well I’m sure the staff are secretly keeping count!” he blushed laughing. “So basically no judgement. Eat what you want when you want it. Don’t feel like you’re fussing too much or not enough or...or whatever.”

Paige did indeed feel relieved by his words and laughed with him at his habit of eating cereal. It (once again) made him seem so incredibly down to earth despite the knowledge that he lived in a practical mansion and grew up stinking rich!

Derick was certainly an enigma. Paige found for the thousandth time that she really didn’t seem to mind that.