Chapter 373 - 370: Kensington House
The Kensington house was a three-story structure divided into three self-contained residences. At the middle was the main house, which was the residence of the crown prince, on the left was the employs' quarters, on the right was the ballroom and the rooms for guests.
Arriving inside the main house, Geoffrey finally let Serena's feet touch the carpeted ground. Serena on the other hand, took the interior of the house in. She noted that although it looked imposing on the outside, the inside looked warm enough to be called a home.
She smiled thinking that it was pretty much like Geoffrey. She turned to look at him only to see that he was looking at her too. "I haven't seen much yet, but I already like our new home." She told him as she reached out for his hand and intertwined their fingers. "Would you show me around?"
Geoffrey, who from the start was looking at Serena to see her first impression of the house, could not help but smile back. The renovation of the house was a side project he has started after he graduated from Windsor in preparation for their marriage. "Okay."
Anyhow, the ground floor of the main house comprised of a long gallery hallway flanked on either side by a series of rooms.
There were 3 rooms on the left and 4 rooms on the right, each having a lavatory of its own.
On the left, the 3 rooms were interconnected. The first room was the morning room which had sky blue walls and plenty of windows making it feel bright and fresh inside. Then, from that room, double doors open out into the library, followed by another to the dining room. The dining room had a door which leads to the kitchen which was located on the ground floor of the employs' quarters.
Meanwhile, on the right, the first room was the waiting room for guests. Given the high ceiling and fancy interiors, Serena surmised that if she were the guest, she would not mind waiting there at all. It also has a double door which leads to the ballroom.
Next to it was the second room, or more precisely a corridor with fancy looking French double doors that lead to the stairs which goes to the second floor.
The third room which was combined with the fourth one was the music room and drawing room in one. It faces south, had large glass windows, and opens out to the garden. It was particularly the best room in the house Serena has seen so far. She could see herself with Geoffrey staying there all day.
Geoffrey would sit on the couch facing the fireplace, which by the way she could already picture having the image of their wedding portrait on top which hadn't come just yet, maybe doing some of his work, while she would lie on his lap while reading novels. Then, when bored, she would play the grand piano, or they can dance together while playing some song on the phonograph, and it was just beautiful.
"You like this room?" Geoffrey asked noting the look of delight on her face.
"Very much so." Serena answered honestly. Still amazed. "Thank you, Geoffrey." She suddenly said.
"What for?" Geoffrey asked, confused.
Serena smiled at him knowingly. "I highly doubt that this house came with this room designed this way."
Geoffrey only smiled and did not explain.
--
The two climbed the stairs to the 2nd floor which by architectural design was similar to the ground floor. Anyhow, one must understand that by tradition and practice, a couple from upper class in their society have their own bedrooms. They only share a bed when they feel like it.
There were practical reasons for this practice. The first and foremost was that during this period, the wealthy have servants to help them get up and get dressed. It's inappropriate for the male servant to be there with the wife and vice versa. Second was that the couple usually have different hours and one might disrupt the other in their sleep. Third, it allowed them a layer of secretiveness about the grossness of being human. Last, marriage in their social strata were rarely love matches.
Anyhow, the first room they visited was the one on top of the waiting room. For now, it looked like an office like drawing room. Inside were some of their wedding gifts and letters which they have not opened nor replied to just yet.
The next room they visited was Serena's room which has its own private sitting room which doubles as an office for her to write letters if needed. Looking inside, the dressing room already have all of her trousseau unpacked with some additions.
There were two rooms which were linked to hers. From the bedroom, there's a door which leads to another vacant room, which would be the nursery. For now, there's nothing inside just yet. On the other hand, from her dressing room, there's an inconspicuous door which leads to a passage going to Geoffrey's bedroom directly.
Geoffrey did not mention it to her but it's another feature he added in the house's renovation.
Geoffrey's room connects to his study and private sitting room. There's another room adjacent to his which serves as an art room.
The third floor of the house had multiple bedrooms, but Geoffrey did not put much thought to them as he highly doubt that he would ever let them be used, unless their family grows by a big number, then it would serve another purpose.
--
After touring the house, the two went down so that Geoffrey could get Serena familiarized to the servants that matters.
The head butler was named Fergus, and the housekeeper was Dorota. As for her personal maidservant, there was Beatrice to continue serving her lady, now princess. Geoffrey did not add anyone in their employ for that duty just yet. He would rather let Serena decide.
After that was done, they decided to head to their respective rooms to prepare for dinner at the palace.
--
TBC