Avebury Manor 1930
William starting school brought additional expenses this year. Furthermore, as he was transitioning from a young child into a schoolboy, Marguerite decided it was the perfect time to move him out of the nursery and prepare a bedroom that would be his own personal space. She had thrown herself into the project, determined to create a space that would inspire and nurture his growing mind.
This new bedroom needed to be equipped accordingly. Marguerite envisioned a large work desk where William could spread out his notebooks and work on his projects. Shelves would line the walls, filled with literature, scientific texts, and history books. A prominent globe would also stand in one corner, allowing him to explore the world with just a spin of his fingers, and a telescope by the window would serve as a gateway to the stars.
That evening, John and Marguerite stood in the center of the room, taking in the finished space.
"This is truly something," John said, giving the globe a playful spin with his fingers. "You've thought of everything."
"I tried to encompass all of William's talents and interests. I'm glad you like it. I wasn't sure how you'd feel, considering how much all of this cost."
John stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her waist. "He's our brilliant boy and I agree with you—he deserves the very best."
They shared a little kiss and Marguerite asked, "Shall we go fetch him? I can't wait to see his reaction."
"Let's not keep our little genius waiting any longer." John said, leaning in to nuzzle her nose affectionately, their foreheads briefly touching as they stood close.
They made their way to the nursery where Nanny Clara was engaged in a playful session with their little ones.
"Children," John's voice rang out, catching their attention, "We have a surprise for you."
"Follow us," Marguerite said, leading the way.
They trooped out of the nursery, Nanny Clara herding Isabelle and Juliette, who were bubbling with questions and guesses about the surprise. As they approached William's new room, the door was closed. John reached for the handle, turned it with a flourish, and swung the door open.
"Welcome to your new room, William!" Marguerite eagerly announced, clapping her hands.
The twins immediately ran to the globe, spinning it with delighted laughter, while William, awestruck, slowly walked over to the desk and ran his hand along the smooth wood.
"This is all for me?" He asked.
"Yes, my darling," Marguerite replied. "A place for you to study, learn, dream and grow. And play of course."
Isabelle approached and tugged at her mother's sleeve. "Mummy, is William going to sleep here now?"
"Yes, sweetie. William will sleep here from now on."
At her mother's confirmation, Juliette suddenly realized what this change meant. Her small face crumpled, and she burst into tears. "I don't want him to gooo!"
John quickly scooped her up into his arms. She buried her face in his shoulder and cried. He gently sat down on the edge of William's new bed, holding her tenderly in his lap. He gently patted her on the back, "There, there, my princess."
Marguerite quickly joined them. "Oh, darling. I know this is a big change, but William isn't going far at all. He's just across the hall."
William, sensing his sister's distress, approached the bed and reached out to gently pat her back. "Don't be sad, Juliette. I'll still see you every day. We can play in the morning, and I'll come say goodnight, too."
"Promise?" Juliette sniffled, turning around to look at her brother with tear-streaked cheeks.
"Promise," William replied, holding out his pinky. Juliette, still hiccuping, wrapped her tiny pinky around his, a solemn pact between siblings.
Isabelle, noticing the family gathering, toddled over and raised her arms. Marguerite smiled and lifted her into her lap, wrapping an arm around her to bring her into the circle.
"William's going away to school, isn't he?" Isabelle asked.
"Yes." Marguerite confirmed. "He will learn lots of exciting things and make new friends. But he'll come home on the weekends, and we'll all be waiting to hear all about it."
"And we'll visit him too, won't we?" John suggested. "We can go and see how he's doing, maybe have lunch together. It'll be a little adventure for us."
"And we'll have more space in the nursery!" Isabelle exclaimed.
"That's right." Marguerite agreed. "You and Juliette will have a bit more room to play, and you can set up your games however you like."
"Wait a second. When will we get our own room?" Isabelle demanded to know.
"In about three years, when you both start school." John explained.
"But don't rush, it's perfectly fine to remain our little ones for a while longer." Marguerite added.
That evening, before heading to bed, Marguerite followed her nightly routine of checking on the children. She couldn't end her day without fussing over them, smothering them with kisses and affection. First, she went to the nursery, which now felt noticeably more spacious with one bed removed.
The twins were nestled together in the same bed, Isabelle's arm draped protectively around Juliette. As Marguerite approached, she immediately noticed Juliette's red, puffy eyes.
"Juliette was crying again." Isabelle said. "She misses William."
"Oh, my sweet girl." Marguerite said and knelt by Juliette's bed, taking her hand in hers. "I know it feels strange without him here, but he's not far away. You'll see him in the morning."
Juliette wiped her nose with the back of her hand. "It's not the same."
"I understand, sweetheart. It's a big change, but William will always be your big brother, and he'll always come back to you. Do you want me to tell you something special about when William was your age?"
Juliette nodded hesitantly, and even Isabelle shifted slightly, clearly interested.
Marguerite smiled, settling herself on the edge of Juliette's bed. "All right, let me tell you about the time your big brother tried to climb a tree to rescue a cat... and got stuck himself!"
By the time the story ended, the nursery was filled with laughter, the earlier sadness all but forgotten. Marguerite reached out and pulled both girls into a firm embrace, holding them close. "You know I can't leave without smothering you both with kisses," she said with mock seriousness, planting exaggerated kisses on their cheeks until their giggles turned into delighted squeals of protest.
Once she was satisfied, she straightened, smoothing their blankets. "Goodnight, my sweet girls."
She turned to the nanny, nodding with quiet gratitude. "Goodnight to you too. Thank you for watching over them."
"Goodnight, ma'am."
It's no wonder the children adore her, Nanny thought. She has such a way about her—so calm, so warm. I don't know how she does it, but I know how much she carries on her shoulders. A remarkable woman, truly.
Then Marguerite went to check on William. It was his first night in his new bedroom, and though he had insisted he was fine, Marguerite couldn't help but check on him. When she entered the room she found him sitting upright in the bed, reading a book.
He lifted his gaze and said, "I couldn't sleep. It's quieter than I'm used to. And a lot bigger."
Marguerite approached and sat on the bed. "It will feel like home soon enough."
William shrugged, "I like it, though. It feels grown-up."
"It is. And so are you, it seems." She nodded toward the book in his hands. "What are you reading?"
"Treasure Island," he said, holding it up.
"Ah," Marguerite said, her smile widening. "A fitting choice, if I may say so. I myself have been, let's say, dabbling in the theme of pirates and buried treasure these days."
"Really? Which book are you reading?"
"It's not really a book. We found some old letters in the library, written by your great uncle Arthur. He was a devoted admirer of Captain John Roxton and his exploits."
"So that's what's been keeping you busy lately," William said with a grin. "I was starting to wonder. Usually, I can't breathe without you hovering, and now you've suddenly vanished."
"Oh, so I'm hovering now, am I? Maybe I'll keep my distance a little longer if you're enjoying the peace."
William shook his head quickly. "I didn't mean it like that!"
"In any case, you accuse me of hovering, and your father accuses me of twisting. Honestly, it's not easy being with the two of you."
William suddenly grew serious. "Are those letters one of the reasons you've been arguing lately?"
Marguerite blinked, caught off guard by his perceptiveness. Nothing escaped him. "So, our little discussion made it through closed doors after all?"
"Yes. And I wouldn't call it little. You raised your voices more than once."
"That's normal in a marriage, William. Sometimes husbands and wives drive each other mad, and to others, it might look like a big fight, but it's really not. In the end, we always find common ground."
William tilted his head, studying her. "That might be true for others... for ordinary couples... But I wouldn't compare you two with them."
"Oh? And why not?"
"Because you're anything but ordinary."
Marguerite laughed, ruffling his hair. "I'll take that as a compliment. But know this—you don't need to worry. As soon as I tuck you in, I'll go and tuck your father in, too. As long as we sleep in the same bed, you can trust that everything is fine."
William's expression remained serious. "Thank you for reassuring me. But just as you and Father aren't an ordinary couple, I'm not an ordinary boy. I'm fully aware of what's happening in the world and how it affects our lives here."
Marguerite blinked, surprised by his candor, but said nothing, letting him continue.
"I know the situation is unstable. I know the future of Avebury is uncertain. And I know that all of that creates tension between you and Father."
"You're far too perceptive for your age, William," she said softly. "But you don't need to carry the weight of those worries. That's for your father and me to manage. You need to focus on settling into your new room. Enjoy that fascinating book you're reading. And soon enough, school will begin and your main focus should be adapting to the new environment, making new friends, getting to know your teachers, and diving into the exciting curriculum that's just waiting for you to explore."
William gently set his book aside and opened his arms for a hug. Marguerite leaned in, wrapping him tightly in her embrace.
"I'm going to miss you all." William murmured into her shoulder.
"And we'll miss you too, baby… but don't worry. We'll come to pick you up every weekend. And sometimes, we might even sneak away for a midweek lunch. Oxford is, thankfully, very close."
William pulled back slightly, meeting her gaze. "But not right away. I don't want anyone thinking I'm too clingy."
"Of course not… we'll wait until second term."
"Deal."
She leaned in and kissed his forehead, letting the moment linger. "Goodnight, my love. Sleep well."
"Goodnight, Mama," William replied.
As she rose and left the room, William watched her go, feeling a little more ready to face the adventure ahead.