November 1870, Tuesday, All Saint’s Day

I arrived home to a bustle of preparations. Miss Sinclair is preparing for the reading of her Paper tomorrow night at the London Naturalist Society. A few days after that she will become Mrs Benton Frazer. It is a good thing I had my fill of peace and quiet in Cheshire for there is certainly none to be had here.

I have asked Graves for a carriage to take me to church for the evening services. I will pray for the repose of my father’s soul and all those who have died in the previous year. So much death and destruction... I am glad my nephew has arrived to bring us a little hope as winter begins to close in around us.

2 November 1870, Wednesday

Between Miss Sinclair’s nerves for the reading of her paper tonight and Mrs Sinclair’s nerves for her daughter’s wedding the house is full of energy. I have settled in the upstairs parlour to catch up on my correspondence. I have had a letter from James asking for all the details on his new nephew– well not all the details– he knows better than to ask for what he does not want to know.

I received a letter from Mr Willoughby. He has sent a cheque to my account to cover the expenses incurred in fighting various Prussian and French agents while we were on the continent. He also informed me that the glassworker injured by our wild spell and the family of the coachman who died at Schmidt’s hands have been compensated as a part of the treaty between France and Prussia. Damages were paid to Belgium for violations of the existing treaty between Belgium, France, Prussia, and our own country and the men were compensated with some of those funds.

It will not bring the dead man back, but at least his family will not suffer the additional burden of poverty.

~Late Evening~

We have returned from the Reading of the Moth Paper. It seemed to go quite well, though one of Miss Sinclair’s sponsors was a bit remiss in his duties toward her. His odd, curt behaviour did not seem to dampen her spirits nor detract from the success of her paper. I don’t quite understand all the excitement but then much of what I do is so much gibberish to Miss Sinclair so I do not really feel that I need to understand in order to support her.

4 November 1870, Friday

I received a note in the mail from Baroness Blackhall. She would like me to come to tea at my convenience. I cannot express how awkward I feel, being invited to tea by the widow of a man I helped bring to justice. I will certainly consult with Sir Cosmo before making any plans...

5 November 1870, Saturday

I was so distracted by the letter from the Baroness that I must have missed Mrs Sinclair’s announcement that she would be staying on after the wedding. Apparently she is concerned that Miss Bertilde might be left unchaperoned or some such. I suspect she would like to have some time to enjoy London after her daughter is safely married.

6 November 1870, Sunday

Church was peaceful. I went to my own congregation rather than tag along with Mr Frazer and Miss Sinclair. The rest of the day was a mass of final preparations. There were trunks to be packed, sat on, and strapped shut. There were gifts to sort and lists of thank you notes to draft.
The wedding is tomorrow morning. Miss Sinclair’s dress is ready– even if she is not!

7 November 1870, Monday

Well, it’s a good thing I thought to bring an extra handkerchief to the service!

Miss Sinclair and Mr Frazer are now Mr and Mrs Benton Frazer. We saw them off and they are on the train to Aberdeenshire for a fortnight. Miss Sinclair Mrs Frazer has asked me to help keep an eye on Edward while she is away. I will do my best, but am certain something will go awry. I do not have Miss Mrs Frazer’s extensive experience as a governess. I will have to draw upon my years of supervising James when we were both children.

8 November 1870, Tuesday

Lieutenant Wooster left our company last night. He received the sad news of his Grandfather’s death. Lord Yaxley had insisted on taking part in the first day of fox hunting season despite being in frail health. Wooster was quite devastated, even though this development has been expected for some time.

10 November 1870, Thursday

Lieutenant Wooster’s grandfather, Lord Yaxley, was buried today. Sir Cosmo mentioned that his grandfather had wired to say that he would be attending the services at the Yaxley country home.

In more hair-raising news I stumbled across Edward trying to use electricity to revivify one of Sir Cosmo’s salamanders. After a bit of Edward’s usual circumlocution I learned: that the salamander had died of natural causes to begin with, that he had Sir Cosmo’s permission to perform the experiment, that he had gotten the idea from one of the sensational ‘true stories’ that Mary Shelly used as the basis for her novel. Sir Cosmo confirmed this information and did not object when I asked Edward to provide me with a written report in French citing his sources, experiments to date, and a record thereof.

So far, he has only been able to make the salamanders spasm a bit or explode, depending on the level of current that he uses. At least it will give Edward a reason to practise his French.

11 November 1870, Friday

I had a very nice visit with Miss Chigwidgeon at her rooms in the Cuthbert’s house. They will have quite the busy establishment once the Frazers return from their honeymoon given that Mrs Frazer has accepted Mrs Cuthbert’s invitation to set up house at No. 12. Sir Cosmo’s house will not be quite as full...

...now that I think of it with Mrs Cuthbert, Mrs Frazer, and Miss Chigwidgeon at No. 12, I wonder if staying at No. 18 is quite appropriate. On the other hand there is still Miss Bertilde and Miss Wilhelmina to look out for. I will consult Mrs Frazer on her return.

Today we are packing to return to Goxhill for the weekend. We will leave this evening when Sir Cosmo returns from work.

Edward and I spent some time in the school room this morning. He gave me a draft of his salamander paper and I corrected his French. I don’t know what Mrs Frazer is going to make of his new interest.

12 November 1870, Saturday

The trip to Goxhill last night was uneventful. We got in late as is usual, but I did manage to rise early this morning and ride out with the first string. Miss Chigwidgeon and I joined Mr Salmalin and Miss Bertilde for a full round of defence lessons. Our routine in London has been somewhat disrupted by the continued presence of Mrs Sinclair. Even though we are able to take advantage of the Cuthbert’s property (and privacy) and Lady Ottoline’s facilities it is not easy getting a good practise in while still appearing to be somewhat normal. It felt very good to go full out during practice. I feel like I am finally making some progress in both my swordplay and unarmed defence work.

13 November 1870, Sunday

After returning from services I finally worked up the nerve to give Mr Salmalin the gift I made for him while I was in Cheshire with my family. I tried not to say much more than a formal thank you for all that he did for me during the Iron Rhine Affair. Saving me from death or worse twice over is certainly reason enough for a thank you such as this.

My hands were not steady as I handed over the parcel. I hope he will find it useful, but did not linger to watch him open it.

14 November 1870, Monday

We returned to London yesterday evening, leaving Miss Chigwidgeon and Mr Salmalin in the company of Lord Greyminster. Both Sir Cosmo and Edward have work to do in town. Sir Cosmo said that Edward would be spending mornings at the B. C. and R Powered Boat Company so I will have morning to devise what we shall occupy our afternoon’s with.

15 November 1870 Tuesday

Mrs Frazer is going to have our ears when she gets home. Edward returned home this afternoon in the company of Wee Willie and George. Edward was all over bruises and had a broken arm!

Sir Cosmo and I saw to his injuries. Setting bones is not something I enjoy doing under any circumstance but Edward was very good about holding still and it was done and over quickly. From what I could get out of George, a pack of ruffians had set upon Wee Willie (one of Edward’s friends). Edward and George had gone back to take on the bullies and show that Edward’s friends were off-limits. George confessed that, as bad as Edward looked, the other side had it worse.

I have very mixed feelings about this. I’m furious at Edward (and George) for getting hurt, but also very proud that he would stick up for his friends.

Mrs Frazer is Not Going to Be Happy when she returns...

16 November 1870, Wednesday

Edward was alarmingly tractable today. His arm hurt a great deal. Sir Cosmo gave him a draught of his own devising (the one that helped Dr Wilson recover so quickly after being injured earlier in the year). I asked Edward if he would like me to use one of Great-Aunt Hethalyn’s spells to ease the pain and he agreed readily. It seemed to relax him a great deal an he was able to get some sleep.

17 November 1870, Thursday

Edward worked on some exercises that will help keep the rest of him in shape while his arm healed. Even though he said he was feeling better, he tired quickly and was returned to bed in the early afternoon.

Sir Cosmo brought him some engineering diagrams from the B. C. and R Power Boat Co. to give him something diverting to read while resting.

I will get started on the packing for the train to Goxhill tomorrow night. Edward may claim to be healing quickly but I don’t want him using his arm more than necessary during the first week so there is a lot do before tomorrow night.

18 November 1870, Friday

We arrived at Goxhill not long after the Frazers. Mrs Frazer took the news of Edward’s mishap much more calmly than I expected. Though I now realize that the accident drove all thoughts of the Salamander experiment out of my head. I must remember to give Mrs Frazer the full update tomorrow.

21 November 1870, Monday

We had a very quiet weekend at Goxhill and are now back in London. Mr Frazer is off at work and Mrs Frazer with the help of two household’s worth of servants, is settling in next door at the Cuthbert’s house.

I was sorting though my mail and realized that I never returned an answer to Baroness Blackhall. Of course, things have been rather busy of late. I checked in with Sir Cosmo and he said that the Baroness had not been on good terms with her husband and there was likely no danger in agreeing to meet with her for tea.

It is good that I got my reply posted this morning. In all the excitement, Sir Cosmo either forgot to mention, or it slipped my mind that he had invited my mother and sister Betty to stay at the house. They arrived this afternoon. Mrs Sinclair is scheduled to return home tomorrow. The house feels full of comings and goings.

Mother says that she has come to work with Lady Ottoline on the Project to Support Young Mothers and Infants. Since it was my suggestion that Lady Ottoline recruit my mother for this project I will try to bear the situation with grace.

In the meantime I am reminded that I must make an appointment to see my solicitor. I have also been remiss in following up with Mr Haversham, Mrs Godwin, and Mr Weasley so I should have plenty to keep occupied with while Mother is in town.

22 November 1870, Tuesday

I met with Baroness Blackhall today. It was an odd and awkward conversation. She seemed to want to thank me for my role in the Baron’s downfall.

Uncomfortable doesn’t even begin to describe it. However, it seems she is one more victim of the Baron’s plots who has been freed by his death. Hopefully she and he son can find a better path now that he is gone.

23 November 1870, Wednesday

I met with my solicitor today and he very kindly reviewed the details of my pension and the terms of my ownership of Great-Aunt Hethalyn’s cottage.

Aunt Hethalyn got my father to sign entail papers, binding the physical property including the cottage until "a grandchild of his body inherits it upon reaching age of majority." He agreed, in the entail, to leave it to me and further agreed to "endeavour to continue the entail."

Mr Rodenhurst explained that the last bit is standard entail language. It means that at some point after I achieved my majority he would ask me to sign a similar agreement preventing the sale or mortgaging of the property until inherited by a grandchild of mine.

Mr Rodenhurst took pains to point out that upon my 30th birthday I achieved said majority and now can act as my own agent without having to consult with Mother or John.

In regards to the cottage, I can only leave it to a child or grandchild of Phillip Whitnell. If I don’t make provisions to leave it to a child or grandchild of my father, it will revert to my brother John, or his heirs. Only when it has passed to a grandchild of Phillip and the grandchild has reached majority, can it be sold, transferred, et cetera.

Mr Rodenhurst pointed out that there is a loophole in the entail. If I die without any children of my own (as seems likely), and if John agrees, the property can be left to another person entirely, but that person cannot sell, transfer, or mortgage the property until after every child and grandchild of Phillip Whitnell has died.

I can leave the property to any of my siblings, nieces or nephews, or own children without asking permission of anyone else. But if I want to leave it to any other person, John must agree, and even then, that person can't pass it on to someone outside of the Phillip Whitnell children/grandchildren cluster.

For now, I have dealt with the situation by writing a letter to John, to be opened upon my death, asking him to leave the cottage to whichever of the Whitnell grandchildren that Mrs Cuthbert deems appropriate. I do not yet have a sense that any of them carry my Great-Aunt’s gifts– so this is the best I can do for now.

It was much simpler to write a will dealing with my income. Part of it comes from renting a field adjacent to the property of the cottage and that income goes with the cottage. The rest of my income comes from annuities and I have written my will so that Tattvik will have either passage home or a portion of the income from the annuities and that Mrs Frazer will have the remainder if something happens to me.

Mr Rodenhurst also took the opportunity to explain to me that if I were to marry again I retain the annuities and property in my own right, and any theoretical second husband can't touch them. Apparently my father went to considerable length to make certain that the property is secure from Mr. Forrester. Mr Rodenhurst mentioned that he changed his will while I was going through my divorce.

Upon returning home I was yet again undone by this evidence of my father’s love for me and consideration for my well being. He thought much further ahead than I did...

24 November 1870, Thursday

Sir Cosmo informed us that we will be staying in London this weekend. I have written to Miss Chigwidgeon asking if she would like to come with me to my cottage in December. Lord Greyminster is well meaning but I suspect she might need a break from being the princess of the parish.

26 November 1870, Saturday

The Court Martial looking into the loss of HMS Captain reached a verdict today. None of the surviving sailors was held responsible for the sinking, but then the highest ranking survivor was a gunner– not a single commissioned officer survived.

Sir Cosmo was in a dark mood for most of the afternoon. He shut himself up in his office, only coming out to give Graves messages to be sent out.

27 November 1870, Sunday

Services were unexceptionable. It was a bit hard to get about with the slushy snow that fell over night.

30 November 1870, Wednesday

I have heard back from Miss Chigwidgeon, and she has accepted my invitation. I will plan to visit Goxhill for the first two weeks of December and then she and I will take the train to my cottage for a well-deserved break from the festivities at the Hall.

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