After packing up, the Campbell family set off on their journey to the Earl of Campbell's estate villa.
The Campbell family had been granted an earldom centuries ago for their outstanding achievements on the battlefield. Initially, their domain was only a few hundred acres, but through generations of effort—whether earning royal rewards for valor in war or purchasing land from other nobles—the family's holdings steadily expanded. Today, the Earl of Campbell's territory stretches over a vast area of more than 2,500 acres.
With such extensive land, the Campbell family certainly lived a life of luxury. They had every right to say, "I've never touched money—I have no interest in it."
This wasn't the only estate the Campbell family owned. This time, they were headed to the one located in Wiltshire. Before trains were invented, such a journey would take several days by bumpy carriage. But now, thanks to the convenience of the railway, they could reach their destination in just three to four hours. Of course, a carriage ride of one or two more hours would still be needed from the train station to the estate, but compared to the past, this was a massive improvement.
Lady Campbell had everything arranged neatly, rendering the 'Bradshaw's Guide' in Elina's hands completely useless. The servants had already gone ahead to buy the tickets at the station, and her mother had written a detailed letter to her father-in-law before departure to inform him of their arrival time so that someone could be sent to meet them.
"All right, it's time for us to leave," Lady Campbell told her two daughters. Besides their own carriage, they had hired two additional ones just for the luggage. Though the estate was already well-stocked with necessities, they still brought heaps of clothing and toiletries.
Although the Campbells themselves didn't hold the earldom, Lady Campbell still hoped her daughters wouldn't fall behind others in terms of fashion—at least not in the number of dresses they brought.
Elina and Janet sat hand-in-hand in one carriage, while Lady Campbell and Miss Susan, the governess, rode in another. Yes, Miss Susan was coming with them—after all, she couldn't possibly miss out on nearly half a year of teaching.
When they arrived at the train station, it was still as bustling and crowded as ever. The seats in first class remained as cramped as before. Lady Campbell thoughtfully reminded them to take care of their physical needs before boarding, as there would be no restroom available for the next three hours.
Well, not 'exactly' no restroom. Technically, there was a makeshift wooden chamber pot in the middle of the first-class carriage, fitted with a pipe leading directly to the tracks. You could even look through it and see the rails below.
However, using it wasn't easy. With no corridor in the carriage, only the passengers seated closest to the chamber pot had any real chance of accessing it. Naturally, the Campbells chose not to sit in such awkward seats. Instead, they planned to use the restrooms at the stations when the train stopped.
Unfortunately, station restrooms weren't particularly hygienic either. Elina and Janet exchanged a look and made a silent pact: they would try not to eat or drink much to avoid the awkward need to use the toilet until they got off the train.
There was no food sold on the train, of course, but in their carpetbags, they carried food carefully prepared by the cook—bread, jerky, cheese, and some delicious apples. Each person also had a round, brass water bottle sealed with a cork stopper, filled with boiled and cooled drinking water.
The train slowly pulled out of the station, and the scenery began to blur past the windows. Elina closed her eyes, planning to nap, while Janet leaned against the window, admiring the view through the narrow glass. Lady Campbell and Miss Susan chatted softly nearby, their occasional laughter a gentle background hum.
The rhythmic rumble of the train soon lulled Elina to sleep. Her head nodded until it finally came to rest on Janet's shoulder. After an hour or two, the smell of food roused her. Her mother had already pulled out the bread and cheese, and Janet was eyeing the jerky eagerly. They nibbled a little just to stave off hunger.
But dry food was… well, dry. Elina was the first to uncork her bottle and take a few sips, careful not to drink too much.
Once they had eaten, Janet grew a little bored and suggested they chat to pass the time. "Are we the only ones going ahead of the others?"
Elina's father, Mr. Campbell, was the second son of the Earl. In addition to him, the Earl had two daughters and two more sons. The eldest son had already taken over the estate's affairs as heir. The second son—Elina's father—worked in theatre, while the youngest pursued a career in politics. This was common among noble children without inheritance rights: they either joined the army or went into politics.
The Earl's two daughters were married into equally noble families and, during leisurely summers, would sometimes visit the estate with their families to enjoy the aristocratic lifestyle. After all, nobles had no need to worry about making a living and had ample time for relaxation.
"Your uncle's family should arrive a bit later," said Lady Campbell knowledgeably. "At the moment, only your grandfather and your eldest uncle's family are at the estate."
Elina's eldest uncle had two sons and two daughters. The eldest cousin, being the next heir, began learning estate management after graduating from university. The second cousin became a lawyer and was now a partner at a reputable firm in London. The eldest cousin sister was preparing for her debut in high society, busy learning all the manners and etiquette needed for a lady. The second cousin sister, younger than Janet, was still being educated at home.
"So, your cousin Elizabeth will be your best playmate," Lady Campbell suggested. "She'll be thrilled to see you both."
Elizabeth was the name of the second cousin.
Elina and Janet both nodded.
As the train pulled into the station, Elina stretched and followed Miss Susan to retrieve the luggage, while Janet and their mother stepped outside to check if anyone had arrived to pick them up.
The station staff had already started unloading their luggage from the roof of the train. Fortunately, everything was securely tied and nothing was lost—a true blessing.
Faced with a mountain of baggage, Elina and Miss Susan clearly felt overwhelmed. Elina was just wondering whether they needed to hire someone to help when her mother and Janet returned with two footmen.
"They were sent by the Earl to pick us up," Lady Campbell explained.
The footmen bowed respectfully and began loading the luggage onto the carriage roof, securing each trunk carefully to ensure nothing would fall during the ride.
As they stepped outside the station, Elina breathed in the unusually fresh air with genuine gratitude.
They boarded the carriage, which soon turned onto a narrow road leading to the estate. Sunlight poured over the lush meadows, and the path wound through fields of wheat and pastures. Wildflowers swayed gently in the breeze, flocks of sheep grazed leisurely in the distance, and the air was filled with the crisp scent of grass.
Elina's spirits lifted. Janet even started to hum a tune—'My Love Is in the Gallery'.
How long had it been since Elina last heard that? She was almost impressed that Janet still remembered it so well.
After more than an hour of riding, they finally caught sight of the Earl of Campbell's majestic estate. Its grey stone façade exuded a medieval air. Towers and spires gleamed golden under the sun. Dense woodlands surrounded the estate, with winding rivers flowing behind it.
Gazing at the ancient manor, Elina was struck with inspiration. She couldn't help but think of those timeless mystery novels of the future—stories where chilling murder mysteries unfolded within country houses like this. The setting even spawned a unique genre: the country house mystery, similar to the "snowbound mansion" trope. In such tales, a group gathers at a mansion temporarily cut off from the outside world, and everyone is a suspect.
But her daydream was interrupted by the grand welcome at the estate gates. Two rows of impeccably dressed footmen stood on either side, bowing in greeting—a spectacle grand enough to shake Elina out of her imagination.
She gracefully stepped down from the carriage. From this day onward, they would spend a peaceful and fulfilling summer—perhaps even autumn—at the estate.
As footmen busied themselves carrying the luggage upstairs, Lady Campbell led her daughters to meet the head of the household—the Earl of Campbell. The Earl was hard at work in the herb garden. Though elderly, he was still robust, swinging his hoe with ease. When he saw his daughter-in-law and granddaughters approaching, he wiped the sweat from his brow and smiled warmly. "You've grown taller and more beautiful," he said kindly.
Elina and Janet greeted their grandfather respectfully, expressing their admiration and how much they had missed him. He quickly inquired about Elina's voice and decided she should drink more mint water—mint he had grown himself.
Now that they had returned, the Earl put down his hoe and led them into the grand manor. Grandmother was busy organizing the dinner menu, with Aunt helping by her side. Uncle also greeted them and introduced his son and two daughters.
That evening, they would enjoy a proper family dinner.
Before dinner, Elizabeth came running over excitedly, grabbing Janet's hand and slinging an arm around Elina's shoulder.
"It's been so long! Come quick—I have so many new books to share with you!" she said, her eyes sparkling.