"Oh, a little while. Blame Joseph's parents for deciding to have this country house built so far away from Edinburgh. It is a mighty inconvenience, but trust me, it is worth it. The home is stunning; rather picturesque. I've painted it once; remind me to show you when you visit my working apartment," began Charles. The man was prone to hyperbole, being dramatic and fond of story-telling, but he hadn't exaggerated the beauty of the house. It was situated in lush green fields with flowers of almost every colour, a river flowing through the hills and completing the postcard perfect scene for the home. The house itself, as described by Charles, was stunning, being typically large and as grand as his parents had hoped. It was primarily used for parties, and so, with its construction aimed for that purpose alone, it was expectedly grand and lavish enough to wow the important guests that had stayed there over the years.
For a man like Joseph, it as far too extravagant. He saw no need for the fountain outside the home, nor for the pond containing exotic fish that cost a fortune for his parents to buy. Everything felt like it was for show to impress others. It definitely did achieve that, with every guest Joseph had invited marvelling at the building's structure and its perfect placement, with acres of ground for them to hunt and shoot in. He just wasn't the sort of man to enjoy extravagance like this, much preferring something more intimate and personal.
"...Here we are. I... apologise for this, Ricky," the doctor murmured beneath his breath, almost embarrassed by the country estate as he climbed from the carriage, waving across at the servants that had opened the door to welcome their master back. They stayed permanently at the house to help its upkeep, and with Joseph visiting often to ensure everything was running to his satisfaction, it made sense for them to take permanent residence there, to save them the trouble of travelling to and from Edinburgh.
"It's... outrageous, isn't it?" He continued, grimacing at Charles' booming compliments. "I dislike it immensely, Ricky. It's... awful, yes? Be honest."