2 October 1870, Sunday
Whitnell House
Thornford, Cheshire
Dear Miss Chigwidgeon,
I arrived in good order at my family home. Unlike our last visit there was no confusion with the carriage. My brother, John, came himself, along with a man to help load my luggage. I was perhaps too hasty in removing most of my goods to Sir Cosmo’s townhouse, as I have had to carry most of them back home again.
Pickle, Pumpkin, and Sarah-Horse send their greetings. I went out riding after church this morning– Pickle and Pumpkin were not best pleased to be left behind.
The days are so much shorter now. I hadn’t really noticed until last night, time passed much more quickly in your company or alone in my cottage. Last night it was full dark by 7.30 and a chill was in the air.
Dinner was quiet, with just my mother, brother, sister-in-law, and my youngest sister Betty. I know you will not believe this, but John’s wife, Emily, seems to have turned over a new leaf. She was very polite to me at dinner. I am crossing my fingers in hopes that the welcome change is permanent. Mother seems happier as well. She is excited by the prospect of yet another grandchild, though we are all Not Saying Much About It, yet.
Anne will be arriving tomorrow to stay until she is delivered. The senior Mrs Parks will be taking Hilda and Ronald– all that Mr Parks need worry about is his work in Town. John’s daughter, also named Anne, is disappointed that her cousins well not be coming to visit. She is nearly 7 and goes about the house telling the adults in all seriousness the extensive plans she has for this new cousin to visit her and come to stay. She doesn’t quite grasp how many years will pass before the child we await will be able to play with her– she will be a young lady by then!
In other matters– I am enclosing an embroidery diagram I worked out on the train. I would like to thank Mr Salmalin in some small, tangible way, for all that he did for me while we were abroad. However, everything I have thought of so far is inappropriate. Given that I will be in Cheshire for an undetermined length of time and that my activities will necessarily be more confined than when I am in your company, I thought I could make Mr Salmalin something as simple as a pillow. Working from some of my own books, I have designed something to remind him of India– hopefully without being an affront to his beliefs. Could you examine my design and let me know if you think it appropriate? I would welcome your thoughts.
In the meantime, my mother has handed me a basket of sewing for the new baby– fortunately our recent travels have forced me to do rather more sewing than usual and my skills are less rusty than might otherwise be the case. Do let me know about the pillow as soon as you can. We have a very nice little shop in town where I can buy coloured floss for the project.
I find myself drifting a bit after a long day, but want to mention, before closing, that my brother John has had The Table repaired.
It is as good as new, though the mend is quite prominent. When I asked him about it, John just said that it made a better story that way. Little Anne has decided that it is lucky to eat at one of the seats where the join is visible. I’m afraid you’ve been immortalised at the Whitnell Household. I know that evening was hard on you, but it seems to have come out quite well.
I hope this letter finds you and the household well. I miss you all already.
Your Friend,
Victoria Whitnell (Miss)
5 October 1870, Wednesday
Whitnell House
Thornford, Cheshire
Dear Mrs Cuthbert,
Things are very quiet here. My sister continues to enjoy good health during her confinement. I continue to be surprised by how quiet it is here at my Family Home.
I have a note in my diary that today is the day that your Uncle was to receive his knighthood. I do not know when this letter will reach you– I am sending it to Goxhill. I presume Lord Greyminster’s Graves will send it on to No. 12 should you be remaining in London past the celebration of Sir Spencer’s new title.
I have quickly settled into a routine. I go riding first thing in the morning and then have breakfast with my mother. We spend the balance of the morning with Anne in her rooms. We read to her and work on our hand work. This child will have so many clothes that Anne will be able to have two more children before we will need to sew another stitch.
I was hoping to get some of my own sewing done however, having decided to leave some of the more distressingly damaged items at Goxhill, I find myself casting about for a something to work on. I’ve written Miss Chigwidgeon for her advice on a project. I hope to hear back from her so I can buy floss the next time I am in town.
It is very restful here. The younger Mrs Whitnell took her daughter, my niece Anne, to visit her other grandmother so it is even more quiet than usual. I did get to see them before they left and give them the gifts I picked up in Paris. I gave Anne a locket and a fabric book in French. I gave my sisters and sister-in-law each a pretty fan from one of the stores in Berlin. I seem to have made some good guesses as to who would like which colours. For my brothers and brothers-in-law, I got books. Not the most interesting gift, but they are all avid readers. I got John a new atlas– and given that war with Prussia was averted he won’t even have to mark changes to the borders of the countries involved.
I hope all is well with you and Sir Spencer.
Your Friend,
Victoria Whitnell (Miss)
9 October 1870, Sunday
Whitnell House
Thornford, Cheshire
Dear Miss Chigwidgeon,
Thank you so much for your prompt response to my inquiry. I will
do as you suggest. I will be able to go into town tomorrow to
purchase material for the Project.
There is not much to report from Cheshire. My sister grows more awkward by the day. It’s been some time since I was witness to a birth and I am grateful that Mrs Parks’ delivery will be in more skilled hands than my own. It is most nerve-wracking to be so intimately involved in the process.
Cheshire continues quiet. Preparations for winter are already underway. The sermon today was in keeping with the fall chores going on round the parish. I’m afraid to say that I found it rather difficult to concentrate, as I was reflecting on our trip to the Continent and the memorable events during our travels in Belgium and Prussia.
It all seems so far away from my family home.
Your Friend,
Victoria Whitnell (Miss)
11 October 1870, Tuesday
Whitnell House
Thornford, Cheshire
Lady Sophia von Rammkin,
I read in the paper of your forthcoming marriage and felt it incumbent to write and offer congratulations. We were not personally introduced during my companions’ most recent visit to Prussia but I did meet your husband-to-be.
He was very concerned with the welfare of the city at the time of our visit. I was not surprised to read of his promotion and hope that he is adapting well to his new duties.
We are in the midst of our own wedding preparations here. Sir Cosmo will marry Miss Chigwidgeon this winter if all goes as planned.
I hope your wedding is (or was, by the time this letter reaches you) quiet and uneventful and that you and Count Wymms have long, healthy, and happy lives together.
Sincerely,
Victoria Whitnell (Miss)
12 October 1870, Wednesday
Whitnell House
Thornford, Cheshire
Dearest Ruth,
I just received your letter dated 29 September and am terribly excited by your news! It is all I hoped for and more.
I am perfectly aware of the difficulties my unusual position can create in social situations and am pleased that you dealt with it in such a tactful manner.
Words cannot express my joy at your impending marriage to the most suitable of men. I only hope that my sister will be safely delivered before the date you have selected. Mother says that it should be any time in the next two weeks– unfortunately there is no hurrying these things. The baby will come when it is good and ready and not a moment before!
I hope also to make it back to London in time for the reading of your paper. To have both professional and personal projects come to fruition so close together must be very exciting.
I will keep you apprised of the news from Whitnell House.
Your Friend,
Victoria Whitnell (Miss)
16 October 1870, Sunday
Whitnell House
Thornford, Cheshire
Dear Miss Kali,
I have thought of writing to you prior to this, but never got as far as putting pen to paper.
I want to thank you for the rather odd
protection you have extended to my friend and in particular for
your help in closing the rift in the veil between worlds. It was
opened by men but closing it seemed beyond our power.
I feel a bit strange writing to you as if you exist because I am not one of your worshippers. However, I am very fond of two people who seem to centre their lives on you as I do on my God. I have also seen you manifest and would not try to deny your impact in the world.
I do not know the proper forms for addressing a goddess, but it seemed only polite to try to thank you for your efforts, without which we would have had a much more difficult time of it.
Sincerely
VW
NB: I will try drafting this one more time to see if I can get a clean copy. Without Miss Chigwidgeon or Mr Salmalin to guide me I am uncertain how to deliver it. I will burn the final copy in the fire. Hopefully Kali will understand the intent...
23 October 1870, Sunday
Whitnell House
Thornford, Cheshire
Dear Miss Chigwidgeon,
I am nearly finished with my embroidery project. All is quiet here.
We expect my sister to be delivered any day now.
Church was unremarkable.
I wonder if the horses are tiring of my company.
The weather continues fine.
Your friend,
Victoria Whitnell
29 October 1870, Friday
Dear Salmalin,
I could never actually write to you in this manner, however, it is my hope that addressing you so in the privacy of my own journal will quell the urge to write to you directly.
Last night my sister was delivered of a son. They have named him Phillip Roger Parks and he seems well and healthy as does his mother. Both are resting at this moment.
I have a new nephew that I did not have six hours previously. I am unsettled and have no one to talk with– rather no one I trust to talk with. The house is quiet after a long chaotic night. Anne and her baby are being watched over by my Mother and Margaret. I took my turn earlier and have been sent off to get some rest.
I feel very alone.
I cannot sleep. I keep thinking of the conversation I hope to have with you in February of next year and what it might mean to my life. Even presuming the feelings I hold for you are reciprocated there are so many obstacles in the path...
...but I refuse to dwell on them. It will do my heart no good to review my list of concerns. It is enough to say that, on such an emotional night as this, it is good that you are far away. I miss your calm presence and would be tempted to break my promise were you here with me.
However, if I am to be a fit partner for anyone, I must learn to depend on myself. Hopefully my feelings of jealousy for my sister’s third helping of good fortune will dissipate after a solid few hours of sleep and I will wake in joy to the miracle that is my newest nephew...
31 October 1870, Monday
To: Miss Sinclair
No 18 Charles Street
London
From: Miss Whitnell
Whitnell House
Thornford, Cheshire
Baby arrived STOP
Vry Cute STOP
All well STOP
Rtrn London Tues 1 Nov 1030 trn frm Cheshire STOP
Yrs VW STOP
Proceed to A bustle of preparations
Return to Miss Whitnell's Diary Index
Contents this page copyright 2001 by Kristin Fontaine. All Rights Reserved.