London At Last
From the diary of
Miss Abigail Parsloe-Parsloe:
Thursday, 8 June, 1876
London sure is a big, crowded place! It's like five or six Much
Matchinghams piled atop each other at every street! It will be
quite a chore to find D someone here!
Friday, 9 June, 1876
Presented to the Queen, they said, but he didn't look like the
Queen! Deborah reminded me that Grandmama said the presentations
are often presided over by other members of the royal family. I'm
just happen I curtsied correctly!
Saturday, 10 June, 1876
How can there be so few trees?
It was nice to finally meet Miss Moriarty. And Felicia was
introduced to her idol, Mrs Frazer, too!
The dancing tonight was fun, but so many people! And it's really
hard to get some of these men to bring you a cider. Not that they
aren't agreeable to run to the refreshment table. But I ask for a
cider, and they bring me lemon squash. I know they know what cider
is, I've seen many of the men drinking it.
Sunday, 11 June, 1876
Going to church in the big city isn't as nice as back home.
Grandmama says it is because I am very familiar with St.
Leonard's. I do like the way the trees cast moving shadows on the
stained glass windows. But it's also that no one is familiar. It
would be nice to look around and see a familiar face. Someone
smiling in your direction, then blushing and looking away when I
catch him.
Cousin Darius didn't seem to care much for the sermon, though try
as we might, we couldn't get him to actually say so. That would be
too much like speaking ill of a person. I wish he had a bit more
determination.
Monday, 12 June, 1876
Miss Moriarty has suggested we could all go riding together.
Deborah has been dying to try one of the steam bicycles, but I
think Miss Moriarty means on horses.
It would be easier to look for Der someone if we didn't have so many
things to do all the time! Not that I don't want to go riding. Not
at all. I'd gladly trade several of these teas and brunches and
folderols for a nice, long ride on horseback.
From the diary of Miss Deborah Parsloe-Parsloe:
Thursday, 8 June
London at last! The engine pulling our train wasn't a Moriarty
Vortex engine, but it was one of the B&C Triple-expansion
engines! I bet we could have been going a lot faster than we were,
if only we didn't have to worry about overrunning the slower
trains.
Friday, 9 June
The Prince of Wales seems a bit stout to be as active in sports as
everyone says he is.
Saturday, 10 June
We had to call on a lot of people. Grandmama is a Countess, after
all.
The best place was visiting our cousins, the Woosters, because
Miss Moriarty is their friend and neighbor. She said she would
take me on a tour of the bicycle factory! Oh, I can't wait to ride
one of those steam bicycles!
Felicia got to meet the lady naturalist she admires so. Seems very
pleasant.
Met a lot of people at the ball. I was introduced to Mr Bradworth
-- not the train builder, but his son. He was a very good
conversationalist.
I keep trying to cheer up Abigail. She isn't moping, really. At
least not so anyone else would notice, but I know she's not going
to be happy until she finds Snailbeach.
Sunday, 11 June
Abigail is not getting any better. Seemed to be worse today that
it has been for a while.
Monday, 12 June
Miss Moriarty has suggested, again, that we all go riding! This is
going to be so much fun! Abigail says riding a steam bicycle might
take some practice. Of course, she also insists that Miss Moriarty
meant horse riding. But that's ridiculous! Do the newspapers call
her "Miss Moriarty, Dainty Horseback Sidesaddle Rider?" No, they
do not. "Daredevil Inventor!"
From the diary of Miss Felicia Parsloe-Parsloe:
Thursday, 10 June, 1876
We have come to London at the behest of Great-grandmama, who
insists we are overdue for our seasons. I don't know why we all
must come out at once. Wouldn't it be better if Abigail and
Deborah had their seasons, first? They are twins, and the oldest,
after all. I would not at all feel slighted or put upon if asked
to await my turn. I would much rather spend my June and July back
in Shropshire. There are so many birds I could be drawing!
I thought Much Matchingham was a big town, though of course Market
Blandings is much larger. London is like a score of Market
Blandings and Much Matchinghams atop each other and squeezed into
a space half as wide as you'd think was necessary. I wish we lived
in Blandings Parva, it's just the right size of village. You step
out any door and you can see and touch nature.
To find nature in London, you have to open a book.
Cousin Darius—that is, Mr Darius Parsloe-Parsloe, who is
our own first cousin—met us at the station and escorted
us back to the townhouse belonging to Father's cousin, Lord
Emsworth. Cousin Darius arrived in London a earlier in the week,
having just completed classes at Oxford. I know Father keeps
hoping Cousin Darius will propose to one of us. Since we have no
brother, one day either Cousin Darius or his father, Uncle
Galahad, will inherit the title, Matchingham Hall, and all the
other property. If he married one of us, it would be as if we were
inheriting. But Cousin Darius has been living with us since his
own mother died. I can scarcely remember a time before he was
living with us. He is much more a brother to us than a cousin.
The townhouse is large, though it doesn't feel that way. There
are far more flights of stairs to climb before one runs out of
house than at home. Though parts of Blandings Castle are taller.
The hallways and rooms are so much broader both at home and at
Blandings. I had held some hope that the townhouse might have
excellent gardens, since the gardens at Blandings are so extensive
and beautiful. There is so very little room for a garden, and the
houses on either side are built right up against us. There is a
tree. I am hopeful to hear birdsong. Perhaps in the early morning,
before the traffic becomes too busy.
Friday, 9 June, 1876
Waiting all that time, wearing an uncomfortable dress, waiting
to get in line where we are told... it was not a pleasant day. I
heard one of the ladies in line behind us whispering that it was
odd to have all four sisters presented at once. The lady she was
whispering with asked how it was even possible, and the first lady
replied simply, "Elizabth, Countess Emsworth." And that seemed to
end the conversation.
Grandmama said that she would have prefered to escort each of us
herself to be the presenter, but it wouldn't have been possible.
So Grandmama presented Abigail, and Lady Emsworth presented
Deborah, Lady Yaxley presented me, and Lady Ickenham presented
Felicia. Then we went to a small dinner party hosted by Lady
Ickenham.
Saturday, 10 June, 1876
Grandmama didn't wish to have any people call on her today, so we
went all over town calling on others. Grandmama knows so many
people! She's always told stories about people she knows and once
knew, but I just never thought they would all be in the same
place.
One of the people she knows is our distant cousin, Lt Henry
Wooster. And he and his wife live two doors over from Mrs Fazer.
Mrs Ruth Sinclair Frazer! And Mrs Wooster asked Mrs Frazer to come
over while we were there so I could meet her!
I didn't know what to say, and I'm sure I was very awkward and
uninteresting to talk to. Miss Wilhelmina Moriarty, founder of the
Free Library Society, is another neighbor, and she also joined us.
I also wasn't sure what to say. They were both so very agreeable
and pleasant, and I'm sure we would have stood around in an
dreadful silence if they had depended upon me to carry the
conversation.
We called a great many other people, and stopped at two different
tea shops, before returning to the townhouse. Lord
Emsworth's townhouse, that is. Perhaps I would not feel so out of
place if we were at Father's townhouse, but he has given it over
to an estate agent ever since Mother first became sick. Grandmama
says that Father's townhouse isn't in a fashionable neighborhood.
It was quite fashionable when Father and Mother were courting, but
these things change. I know I should not feel like a stranger
here. Lord Emsworth is our cousin, once-removed, after all.
Lord Emsworth often rents his townhouse too, of course. He and
Lady Emsworth don't think much of the City, and are more happy in
Blandings with their children. That will no doubt change next year
or perhaps the year after, as Cousin Constance will be sixteen
next year. And Cousin Georgiana is only two years younger than
Counstance.
Perhaps that is why Grandmama insisted we all come to London for
our first season, now.
The ball we attended was lovely, but there were so many people. It
is not at all like the parties are balls back home, even the
really grand parties at the Duke of Dunstable's hall are not this
crowded! The Duke's grandson, Lord Puddington, was in attendance.
He asked for a dance with each of us, though I think he only did
so out of a sense of obligation. I can't imagine he is interested
in an alliance with any of us, for he has had ample opportunity to
press his suit back home. I noticed a number of young ladies
seemed quite enchanted with him, "heir to a dukedom!" I heard more
than once.
Abigail heard one of them, and she had to point out that
technically he's the heir to the heir of a Duke, since his father
is next in line. I know he is a very good looking fellow, and can
be very charming when he wants to be. But I can't help thinking of
him as Wicked Alaric, who used to talk the other boys into doing
stupid things, then laughing afterword.
We were fortunate enough to have Mrs Frazer and Miss Moriarty to
introduce us to the other young ladies. It was much easier to talk
with them on our second meeting. With so many strangers around, it
felt as if we have been friends for a very long time. Of course, I
have been corresponding with Mrs Frazer for some time, so in a
sense we are. They introduced us to a Princess! Princess Sigfrieda
of Sponheim, daughter of Princess Gabriella Edwina of Sponheim and
Carpania.
The princess was very pleasant and quite cordial. She is also a
sponsor of the Free Library Society, and was quite happy to
discuss books she has read recently. Not at all what I expected
from royalty!
I also overheard much whispering about dowries. I understand that
Miss Moriarty's father is extremely wealthy. So while her family
has no title, she has certainly drawn the attention of many
high-ranking men in want of a wife. I know that our dowries will
be respectable. Grandmama says we are not to worry about that.
Better, she said, to meet a young man we can grow to love. The
other parts will sort themselves out, she insists.
Cousin Darius also danced with each of us. I had noticed him
speaking with the Duke of Dunstable earlier, which surprised me,
since I know he finds the duke as intimating as I do. Darius said
the duke sought him out, and asked the oddest questions about
young Mr Snailbeach, the former chemist's apprentice back at Much
Matchingham. Darius said that he mentioned as much to both Abigail
and Deborah when he was dancing with them. He didn't understand
why the topic upset Abigail. Deborah pointed out that Mr
Snailbeach's parents are tenants on the duke's property near
Ludlow, so it is only natural that he would be concerned about
Snailbeach's sudden disappearance.
I suppose, though it does not seem at all in character.
We met so many people, if I were to list them all I'm afraid I
would overflow my diary. And this was just the first ball!
Grandmama's calendar has so many parties and balls and dances for
us to attend!
We did meet Lady Ramsdale, who I has occassionally attended events
at Blandings. She spoke at length with Grandmama. Her own mother
and Grandmama were close, I understand. It was Lady Ramsdale who
asked Grandmama why she wasn't wearing the Tove Pearls. Grandmama
said that she did not wish to outside us. There are several
paintings ad Grandmama wearing the elaborate pearl necklace that
her father, the sixth Viscount Yaxley, gave her as a wedding
present. They are very beautiful and looked very good on her. I
think I have only seen her wear them once, at a party at Blandings
when I was seven. I didn't attend, of course, but I saw her. Now
that I think of it, I don't believe I have seen her wear them
since James, her eldest son, died. That would have been a few
months after the party, I believe.
Grandmama says we should place are dance card from this dance in
our diaries, and keep it forever to remember our first season. I
shall do that. Perhaps I will add some notes in the morning.
Sunday, 11 June, 1876
I had a little time this morning to myself in the garden, and I
began a sketch of the nice Leyland Cypress in the garden. I don't
suppose we will be here long enough to see it fruit. Grandmama
says the weather becomes unendurable in August. I had thought the
City might be quieter on Sunday, but I can tell no difference in
the number of carriages, carts, and cabs rattling down the
streets.
Church was a nice return to the familiar. The church building
itself is a bit larger that St. Leonard's back home, and the vicar
was a bit older than Father Washbrooke. But at least I know when
to stand, when to sit, and the words to the hymns. Cousin
Darius said the old testament scripture reading was one of his
favorites, and he would have preferred a sermon which focused upon
it, instead of the faith of a mustard seed line from the Gospel.
Veronica, Lady Emsworth, the other Dowager Countess, joined us for
Sunday dinner. Afterward, she wanted to talk about who we danced
with, who we spoke to, and what our impressions were. She seems at
least as anxious as Grandmama that we have a successful season.
Deborah confided with me afterward her suspicion that since Lady
Emsworth has granddaughters of her own coming out next season or
the one after, perhaps she is doing early scouting of the field of
eligables.
I would really have rather returned to the garden to work on my
sketch, but after Lady Emsworth left, Grandmama set us all to
writing thank you notes and letters to Father explaining how our
first ball went.
Monday, 12 June, 1876
We went riding in the park. It was in Lady Emsworth's carriage
with the top down. Deborah tried to cheer up Abigail by pointing
out the best horses. We sat with Grandmama while she took morning
calls. Again, so many people that I don't know. Many older ladies,
of course, often with their own daughters or granddaughters in
tow.
After luncheon we went with Grandmama on afternoon calls before
attending Mrs Travers' tea party. Mrs Travers is another cousin,
Lt Wooster's sister. Her garden was considerably larger than the
one at the townhouse. My observations were continually interrupted
by another someone being introduced to me, or by someone I had met
at the ball wishing to talk. I know I should be more forthcoming
in these conversations, but I never know what to say. Mrs Frazer
and Miss Moriarty were both in attendance. I was able to speak
more freely with Mrs Frazer since we could discuss the garden...
From the diary of Miss Penelope Parsloe-Parsloe:
Thursday, 8 June
Everything is big, and bold, and bright, and bountiful in London!
Friday, 9 June
Everything is refined, and rare, and renowned, and regal at St
James Palace!
Saturday, 10 June
Everyone is friendly, and fascinating, and fair, and fun in
London!
The party was wonderful. I was introduced to so many!
Many, many, many agreeable and amicable people. And the
dancing was wonderful! Everyone was wearing such pretty clothes!
Miss Moriarty complimented my dress, but hers was much finer than
mine. She recommended her dressmaker. I think Grandmama has plans
for that already, but I'll mention it.
The only thing wrong with the ball was it ended too soon!
Sunday, 11 June
The church is lovely! The morning was so beautiful, with the
sunlight, and the light breeze, and all the interesting buildings
we passed on the carriage rides!
I don't know why Abigail and Deborah get so annoyed at Cousin
Darius. He's just very excited about the scriptures.
Monday, 12 June
What a wonderful tea party. Mrs Travers is a cousin on the Wooster
side. We have so many people in the family who know how to put on
a lovely party!
Proceed to
Return to the Others
Index
Return to Main Menu
Contents this page copyright 2010 by Gene
Breshears. All Rights Reserved.