Victoria's correspondence: April 1871
8 April 1871, Saturday
Mrs Whitnell
Mrs and Mrs Whitnell
Mr and Mrs St John
Miss Whitnell
Miss Anne
Whitnell House, Cheshire
Dear Mother, John, Emily, Jeffery, Margaret, Betty, and Anne,
Easter is nearly upon us and I am thinking of you all. I am sorry my greetings will come late as I have already missed the last post today. I've been much consumed by the duties of my new Situation here at Edenfield Court. Today's were particularly pleasant as Sir Cosmo and Lady Cowperthwaite enlisted my aid in purchasing Easter confections for their staff and guests. They arrived late this afternoon and were quietly delivered to my little cottage for sorting. Sir Cosmo is nothing if not generous and his Lady is a joy to work for.
We have had some little disturbance here in the week leading up to Easter. It turns out that a burglary Inspector MacGreggor and Mr Frazer were investigating led them all the way out to Lancaster and after much hard work in Edenfield, Bury and Manchester they have captured the culprit and transported him back to London for Trial. Inspector MacGreggor returned from that duty this very afternoon.
Lady Cowperthwaite and Mrs Frazer have made the acquaintance of the Shorrock family at Dearden House in Edenfield and have spent many pleasant afternoons in the company of the youngest Shorrock– a Miss Helen. She acts as assistant to her father the noted naturalist, Mr Nathan Shorrock who has been away in Africa and has just recently returned. He was not expected until May but unexpected ill-health curtailed his researches on that Continent.
My days pass swiftly in the company of Lady Cowperthwaite and Mr Salmalin. I hope this letter finds you all well and in good spirits. Please pass my greetings along to Margaret, Anne, and Elizabeth.
Keep well.
Your loving sister, daughter, and aunt,
Victoria
12 April 1870
Mr James Whitnell
Oxford College
Oxford
Dearest James,
All is quiet here– more so since you decided to slope off to the Continent for a bit of carousing– or should I rather say– academic discourse.
I have heard nothing from Mother since her return to Whitnell House. I do hope all is proceeding to her satisfaction there.
I am terribly interested to hear of your adventures first hand– though I am afraid you have advanced far beyond what father taught me of chemistry. However, I am now surrounded by people of scientific bent who would also be interested to hear the latest developments in the Chemical world.
I am greatly relieved to hear that you have returned safe and hope to have more news of you soon.
Your loving sister,
Victoria
Received 13 April 1871
Mrs Ravvi Salmalin
Edenfield Court
Lancastershire
My dear Victoria,
I hope this letter finds you and yours in good health. Mother says that your new situation seems to suit you. And she had some very complimentary things to say about Mr Salmalin.
She had rather a lot to say on the subject, in fact. Please do not take this amiss, but you know Emily well enough to know that this nonsense about being sick is really just because she feels embarrassed because of your elopement. With three of Emily's cousins, two aunts, and a sister here to bolster her opinions, we have hardly been able to mention your name at all without creating a rather unpleasant tension. John had been the only one willing to ignore the cold stares, arched eyebrows, and whispered commentaries.
Until Mother arrived. She slipped right in to running the household and what became acceptable topics for discussion underwent quite a transformation.
I don't think either of Emily's Aunts know what to make of it.
Betty has made quite an impression here at the parish, having spent several months living in the Mayfair district of London, and staying at the home of an Earl. And now one of her correspondents is the daughter of a Duke? We must watch her, or she will become a social climber!
Actually, we must keep an eye on her. You remember the Annesleys, of course. You may recall that Edward Annesley married Lydia Forster when you and I were still girls. Their son, Robert, is just about Betty's age. Before Betty and Mother left for London, Betty had hardly ever said a word to young Robert, nor apparently took much notice of him. However, he has rather grown up, as young men sometimes do in a short time. And Betty conversed with him at church rather more than was entirely necessary. Mother and I were both there at the time, of course, and the entire congregation, come to that. But I am quite sure I wasn't the only one noticing her stealing a glance in the direction of his family's pew during the service.
I don't think we should draw John's attention to it just now. I think he isn't ready yet for his youngest sister to be meeting gentlemen.
This letter has become nothing but gossip. But I can't really think of anything else to report at the moment. Write when you have a chance.
Your devoted sister,
Margaret
13 April 1871
Mrs Margaret St John
Whitnell Cottage
Cheshire
Dearest Margaret,
How lovely to hear from you!
I have not had any news of our home parish since my brief visit nearly a month ago. I am glad to hear that Mother and Betty arrived home safely. It will be good for Betty to spend some time away from London as all of the attention she received did spoil her a bit. I can't imagine it will be allowed to have much of a lasting effect given the swiftness with which Mother reacted— as transgressions go it was very minor.
I am sorry to hear that Emily is still punishing you all for my actions. I do hope Mother and John can get her sorted soon. I would come up there myself if I didn't think it would cause the trenches to be dug even further.
Lady Cowperthwaite has been quite generous in granting my requests for time off so I suspect it would not be difficult to arrange some time to come and visit once the Situation improves. Perhaps I can adopt James's strategy and schedule my visits for times when Emily is away visiting family.
I am glad you are keeping an eye on Betty. My attempts to curtail her romantic streak were not at all successful I'm afraid– and ‘do as I say, not as I do' is never an effective mantra. If I regret anything in my elopement it is the effect that it might have on Betty. She is so very young and impressionable and I have, perhaps unwisely, tried to shield her from some of the more difficult consequences of my divorce from Captain Forrester so I worry that she does not fully understand why I have made the choices I have.
I will spare you more meandering thoughts and close by wishing you and Mr St. John the best.
Your loving, if perplexed, sister,
Victoria
Received 14 April 1871
Mrs Ravvi Salmalin
Edenfield Court
Lancastershire
My dearest Victoria,
I do apologize that I have not written sooner.
As you have no doubt learned from others in
the family, Emily has continued to be unwell. As often is the
case, she and Dr Bingley disagree as to the severity of the problem.
I have not been very useful in this situation. When she has taken
ill in this way before, I have usually been able to
offer such comfort and support as she needed to make a recovery.
I was rather too cross with her for the first several days to do so. That seems to have, as Father would have said, 'fixed the ingredients in their current states.'
Mother has taken some matters in hand, for which I am very grateful. I am sorry that our difficulties here deprived you of their company for Easter, but I am happy to have Mother and Betty back home for other, though no less selfish, reasons.
James' studies seem to be progressing well.
Mother tells me he spoke to you of his plans to apply for a Fellowship.
In point of fact, it appears he has applied for several: at Oxford,
St. Andrews, and a small University in Somerset of which I was
not previously acquainted. His tutor at Oxford
seems to feel that he as an excellent chance of obtaining one
of the positions. James, himself, wrote a rather long letter before
this surprise visit to France came up, in which he tried to explain
to me what it is, precisely, that he hopes to study. You or Father
would have probably understood what it was about, but it left
me feeling a bit dizzy.
I believe he will be taking examinations after Whitsunday, at which point we shall know whether he is graduating with Honours. I'm given to understand that he will have obtained a degree, in either case once that is finished.
I hope that all is well with you and Mr Salmalin. I hope to hear from you soon. Until then Im remain your loving brother,
John
Received 15 April 1871
My dear Victoria,
I hope this letter finds you and Mr Salmalin in good health.
Our journey home was quite pleasant. I am so happy we decided to return to the country for Easter. Betty, who had complained first about leaving the city, soon changed her tune as the green country side rolled past. The grounds are so pretty, with the trees just beginning to so their leaves. We even had a few violets and yellow poppies blooming for us when we arrived!
Your brother, John, is in good health, if a bit busy. Jeffrey continues to be an immense help to him managing the property, but there are some burdens he cannot share. Margaret and Elizabeth are both very well. I am so glad that Matthew could leave the city and join us for the holiday. Anne and Richard are so happy. Little Philip is quite well and such a charmer. He reminds me of James at that age. Little Anne has become quite adept at interpreting his gurgles and expressions. I think she has completely gotten over her disappointment that he couldn't run and play with her his first day.
Emily, alas, is still bedridden. Her symptoms are difficult to describe as they seem to change by the hour. John has allowed the doctor to look in on her several times a week--when he is making his usual rounds, in other words. I suggested that the doctor's time might be put to better use giving more attention to his other patients. John did not argue.
The house was awash with guests, and Emily has been in no condition to oversee things. Margaret and Elizabeth had been helping, and of course Mrs Langford tried to be helpful. But they were all looking quite frayed when I arrived. I managed to relieve them of the most onerous portion of the tasks.
Once Easter was ended, I suggested to Mrs Langford that Emily would probably recover more quickly if she were not fretting about their comfort. Now the house is much more quiet. I have great faith that Emily will make a full recovery very soon.
I should close this so it can make the next post. My love to Mr Salmalin. Please pass my hope that all is well with Miss Bertilde, Sir Cosmo and Lady Cowperthwaite, Mr and Mrs Frazier, dear Mrs Cuthbert, and all the rest.
I remain sincerely yours,
Mother
Received 15 April 1871
Mrs Victoria Salmalin
Edenfield Court
Lancastershire
My dear Victoria,
It has been quite exciting here!
The violets are in bloom! The house looked more wonderful than I had ever seen it when the carriage pulled up the drive. So much has happened here while we were away in the city!
Delphine and some of our cousins on Emily's side were staying at the house. Everyone kept saying how they were here to help Emily in her illness, though the tone of voice that some said it in. Well, Emily would have not been happy to have heard it, let me tell you!
Emily is in a state. Mother made me sit with her a while, but I wasn't much help. The things she said! I tired to bite my tongue, but there was a moment when she went too far and we had a terrible row. Mother sent Delphine in to take my place and took me out of the house to a meeting of the Altar Guild. We had been in the district less than two days, and Mother is already finding new work. They did need extra hands with the ribbins for the church, so I am glad I went. Mother and Mrs Gotesoke are planning some sort of fundraiser for the Society for the Protection of Young Mother and Infants.
Apparently there had not been a lot of enthusiasm
for this particular charity in the parish when Mother wrote her
first letters. Mrs Gotesoke and some of the older ladies in the
Guild were
sympathetic, of course. Then in February Lord Greyminster and
Lord Shaftesbury came through the district. They made speeches
at the Thornford Temperance Hall, and it must have been very moving,
because now everyone seems to want to pitch in. They made such
an impression on everyone. I'm sorry I missed it, but was so glad
that I had at least met Lord Greyminster myself and could tell
some of the other girls about his house and so forth.
Mother says we can't return to the City until everything is sorted with Emily. I may never see Hyde Park again!
I am just saying that to be dramatic, of course. I do miss being in the City and the new friends I made there. The City itself is delightful, but there was nothing there to compare with how lovely the church looked Easter Morning. I cannot describe it.
And I know that Emily will come to her senses eventually.
Until then, I remain your lovable country-dwelling sister,
Betty
14 April 1871
Miss Whitnell
Whitnell House
Dearest Betty,
Thank you so much for your letter and all the news. I have heard from you, Margaret, Mother, and John in the past two days and have more complete idea of how you all are faring . I am sorry to hear that Emily is still unwell and hope that, with the return of the household to it's normal routine, she will soon recover. There is much more I could say on the topic...
I hope you are keeping up your studies now that you are home and away from the distractions of city life. Though from what I have heard from Margaret, you have found plenty of distraction at home. Don't let it go to your head and remember what we talked about. You still have some time before you must make choices that will inform what kind of life you will have– please take my own example as a warning– I have made many mistakes in my life and would not have you emulate them in the mistaken belief that it is Romantic.
You have had the opportunity to learn much about what can happen to women who are not circumspect through Mother's work with the Society. Use that knowledge to your advantage.
Also, please do not put any more strain on John than is strictly necessary. He still thinks of you as his little sister– let him hold on to that for a while.
It is very quiet here at Edenfield. Well, except for Edward's near-constant work in his workshop. Mrs Frazer stayed with us when her husband returned to work in London and seems to be holding up well. My counterpart, Mr Chadwick has been to visit bringing Sir Cosmo and Lady Cowperthwaite correspondence that needed their attention. What with the Season starting in London we will only tarry in the country one more week. I would appreciate it if you would let the family know that I will be returning to Sir Cosmo and Lady Cowperthwaites London address as of 22 April.
I am sorry for the sombre tone of this letter. I worry so and it vexes me that I am the cause of the current round of Family Trouble whilst being unable to come up there and sort things out myself.
Your loving and protective sister,
Victoria
Received 21 April
Mrs Ravvi Salmalin
Edenfield Court
Lancastershire
My dear nearly-married sister,
What is to tell about a few days at a French University? It isn't much different than an English one, though the wine seems to of a nicer quality.
Hoskin's paper is concerned with various calculational systems for denoting properties of the elements. He believes that Mendeleev's table shows some interesting coincidences, but he does not believe that the philosophical or theoretic groundwork has been properly laid to justify adopting the table without reservation. I'm not sure I could explain it all in a letter. And to be perfectly frank, I don't completely agree with some of his underlying assumptions. He already has a few initials behind his name, so he may understand what he's saying better than I do.
I did have some fascinating conversations with some people I met, mostly related to some rather intriguing ideas some of them have for more accurately determining elemental unitary weights. They have some incredible equipment over there. I wish I could have had more time to talk to the artificer. He was fascinating.
I also became a bit distracted. I suppose it was the novelty of being in France, unchaperoned, as it were. I mean, Hoskins hardly counts as what Miss Conner would think as a suitable companion.
Reading that sentence I realize that it may give you Ideas of entirely the Wrong Sort. Please don't leap to that conclusion. My virtue, such as it is, remains intact. More importantly, there is no one whose virtue is not intact due to any actions on my part.
Although, if I were to allow certain persons, such as, say, Emily, to think so, well, then Delphine's mother surely would have nothing to do with me. John would have to find a new threat, wouldn't he? There might be something in this. I will have to give it some thought.
Despite the joys and thrills of Foreign Travel, I must admit to being rather glad to get home to my own bed. Or at least the one that is temporarily mine while I remain enrolled here. Somehow I think I managed to completely miss a few nights sleep during the journey. I think I've recovered now.
If all goes well, I shall be at loose ends
for a while in June. I could almost certainly pop in to visit
if there were anyone who wanted me to do so. Of course, Mother
has already sent a note inquiring whether I might come home for
a bit. It sounds as if she is intending to stay there some
little while, eh?
I must be off, lest I be late for a lecture. Looking forward to
your next missive. Until then, I remain your somewhat virtuous
brother,
James
21 April 1871
Mr James Whitnell
Oxford College
Dear feckless brother mine,
Tomorrow we relocate to London.
There is quite a Stir at the house due to Lady Cowperthwaite's upcoming Presentation. I have piles of congratulatory mail to work though as well as appointments to make.
John has quite enough on his plate without you baiting him as well. Keep your virtue and reputation intact and remember to duck when any of the Langfords are thrown your way.
You must come for a visit when you are in London or I will be quite vexed with you.
I have had a little news from our sisters and brother. Emily seems entrenched and even mother seems to be having a difficult time bringing her around. Perhaps now that the horde of female relatives are no longer at Whitnell House reminding her of what a terrible family she married into, she will start to see sense once more. It has been all I can do to refrain from marching up there and giving her a good shake for all that she is putting John through.
I realize however that I am the cause of the latest round of trouble and it would not be effective, no matter how satisfying it might feel. Please burn this letter upon reading it. I don't really want to speak ill of Emily. Emily is not who I wish to emulate after all.
I do not deserve such a loving and supportive family and, if nothing else, Emily's reaction proves to me how exceptional you all are.
Mr Salmalin is keeping very well as are the rest of the members of the household.
I look forward to seeing you in June.
Your loving sister,
Victoria
Received 28 April 1871
Mrs Ravvi Salmalin
18 Charles Street
Mayfair, London
My dear Victoria,
Things have been very interesting here, now that all of our cousins have left.
Mother insisted that I must take turns sitting with Emily. I had thought after Emily and I had such a row I would be the last choice for spending time with her. Emily's choice of conversation were less offensive than our previous time together, so we avoided some unpleasantness. The third afternoon I was to sit with her, Mother suggested I read a pamphlet for Lady Ottoline Cornwall's school. I thought it an odd choice, but agreed.
I had scarcely gotten through the introduction before Emily started asking questions. I tried to answer them as well as I could, including discussing some of the young ladies I have met through Mother's work with the Society for the Protection &c. She eventually bade me continue reading. But by the beginning of page four she was quite agitated and asked me to stop. She said she would like to just rest in the quiet, so I amused myself reading the rest of the pamphlet silently until John came to sit with Emily, and sent me to help Mother in the library.
The mystery was revealed two days later. I was adding some new ribbon that Margaret gave me to my second best hat, and Mother was sitting with Emily, when I heard the most horrific shrieking coming from upstairs. I went to see what was happening. I saw Mother standing in the doorway of Emily's room. She said, "I am sorry this troubles you so. However, as you are clearly in no condition to care for your own daughter, I am obligated to do what I can. Enrolling her in the school is not an unreasonable option." She closed the door quite firmly and walked away, admonishing me to stop standing around gaping. She took me in hand and insisted I go downstairs with her.
About a half hour later, I saw John going up the stairs with a rather determined look on his face. I was frankly afraid there would be even more raised voices and possibly worse. Emily did seemed to be quite agitated, though her voice wasn't loud enough to hear through the door and down the stairs. John never raised his voice, so I had even less idea what he was saying.
When he came down to join us in the drawing room, he and Mother discussed James' schooling and similar topics as if absolutely nothing had happened. We went to dinner and it was the same. No one made any mention at all of the Emily or the situation.
Then, at breakfast the next morning, Emily just walked in and sat down as if she hadn't been lying sick in bed for weeks. She was a bit more cold and formal with Mother than usual, but that was the only sign that there was any problem. And now she is acting like the mistress of the house again.
When Margaret mentioned, later in the day, receiving a letter form you, Emily simply asked if you were well.
Now that that is sorted out, Mother and I have been spending even more time at the church working on this new project with Mrs Gotesoke and Mrs Annesley. Which is, frankly, more interesting than sitting with Emily, so I am not unhappy with the development.
I hope all is well with you and Mr Salmalin.
Your loving sister,
Betty
Received 29 April 1871
Mrs Ravvi Salmalin
18 Charles Street
Mayfair, London
My dear Victoria,
I hope this letter finds you and Mr Salmalin in good health.
I was glad to receive your reply. I am sorry I did not respond sooner, but things have been rather busy here. Emily seems to have recovered from her illness and has taken things in hand once more. Little Anne seems very pleased to have so much attention from her mother. Everyone else is in good health and good spirits. John seems particularly more cheerful than when I first arrived, for which I am very happy.
I have been trying to make myself useful in other ways. The altar guild wished to raise money for the Society for the Protection of Young Mothers and Infants, and the vestry has agreed that half the proceeds from the spring fete can be given to the cause. There is much to do, it will be upon us before we know it.
John drew my attention to a story in the _Times_ which mentioned your friends, Insp. MacGreggor and Mr Frazer. Since, according to the story, this long-missing diamond was found while you were in Edenfield, I am sure you must already have heard far more about it than is in the paper. I attempted to interest Betty in the article, but she seemed indifferent. I believe Insp. MacGreggor and Mr Frazer have been displaced in her affections. Which is just as well. It isn't uncommon for girls her age to develop such feelings for men of her family's acquaintance, when one of them is already married, and to her older sister's closest friend, it can never come to anything. Insp. MacGreggor would be a worthy addition to any family, I think, however I am quite certain that he saw Betty as a child. He certainly behaved as such. Although that is how a proper gentleman should behave around a girl not yet out, so it is to be expected.
She has shown a decided interest in one or two of the local young men, who would not be inappropriate, should things develop that way. She rather cleverly manoeuvererd Mrs Gotesoke into sharing some pamphlets from the Society with one of the young men in what I take to be an effort to sound out his feelings on the place of women in society. If this sensible behaviour continues, I will broach the topic with John of possibly letting her out next year.
But not too soon. I think he is not quite ready to think of her as a young woman, yet. And he has had a rather trying time, of late.
Please give my love to Mr Salmalin, as well as my good wishes to Miss Bertilde, Sir Cosmo and Lady Cowperthwaite, Mr and Mrs Frazer, Mrs Cuthbert, and the rest.
I remain sincerely yours,
Mother
Received 30 April 1871
Mrs Ravvi Salmalin
No. 18 Charles Street
Mayfair, London
My dear sister,
I am so sorry that my recent illness prevented me from properly greeting you and your husband when you passed through the parish recently.
Margaret tells me that all is well with you and I was glad to hear it.
I look forward to meeting your husband when the next opportunity arises.
Yours,
Mrs John Whitnell
30 April 1871
Mrs John Whitnell
Whitnell House
Cheshire
Dear Emily,
I'm very glad to hear that you are back on your feed. It is very trying to be ill and must be doubly so when one is ill for such a long time.
Mr Salmalin and I are very taken up with our respective duties at present and I do not know if I will be free to travel for some time. On the bright side, James is planning to be in London sometime in June and I am hoping he will have time for a substantial visit.
Give my love to John, little Anne, and the rest.
Cordially,
Mrs Ravvi Salmalin
Received 1 May 1871
Mrs Ravvi Salmalin
No 18 Charles Street
Mayfair, London
My dear Victoria,
Emily has recovered from her illness and all is running much more smoothly here. We have contacted our cousins, Major Haywood and Mrs Russell. They have agreed to visit Whitnell House in early June. Mrs Russell says the her Eliza is quite looking forward to meeting her cousins. We are, of course, looking forward to meeting them, as well.
I saw in the _Times_ mention of your friends, Inspector MacGreggor and Mr Frazer, and read with interest the strange tale of the long lost diamond. I daresay it must have been an exciting Holy Week in Edenfield. Mother was equally interested in the story, and spent some time telling Margaret and Elizabeth about the two gentlemen.
I am afraid I have no other news at this time. I hope that all is well with you and Mr Salmalin. I remain, always, your loving brother,
John
Received 2 May 1871
Mrs Ravvi Salmalin
No 18 Charles Street
Mayfair, London
My dear insistent sister,
The entire point of mentioning my availability was to angle for an invite...
No need to get up in arms about it.
Please thank Lady Cowperthwaite for the kind invitation. I can't be specific about the dates just yet, as I have not yet been given the date of my oral examinations. And I my presence at Whitnell House has been commanded. John has warned me that Mother fully expects to have a party in honour of my graduation with honours, so now I suppose I'm obligated to pass the examinations.
Speaking of, there is some work I need to do related to that. I will close this for now. Do not be alarmed in news from me is scarce. I certainly can't disappoint Mother!
Your frightfully dim-witted brother,
James
7 May 1871
Dear James,
I have heard much from the family over the past week. Apparently the dam is broken and all has returned to normal at Whitnell House. I think I shall continue to lie low– perhaps you will consent to be my advance scout and see how the land lies when you return home in triumph in June.
In my own news, I now have much greater sympathy for what you and John have had to put up with from your sisters over the years. Lady Cowperthwaite is scheduled to be Presented and we are quite busy preparing for the event– sisterly anxiety has nothing on this– hopefully the inexperienced Secretary that the Lady hired will not make a hash of the preparations.
Lady Cowperthwaite is bearing up well as her calendar fills with fittings, appointments, and related correspondence. She was not raised with the expectation that she would be Presented Some Day and I cannot tell if that helps or harms her cause. To her credit, she worries most about making some mistake that would draw attention to her husband.
You were only 9 years-old when I was Presented– and 11 when I married for the first time. I sometimes regret that I spent so much time in India when I could have been home with the family spending time with Father and being closer to hand as you grew up. You seemed to have turned out fairly well in spite of my absence. I know Mother is proud of you and will be even more so once you bring home your degree. Is there an honours equivalent of ‘come with your shield or on it'? ‘Come home with your parchment or on it' does not quite have the same ring.
Speaking of parchment, and by extension paper, I should warn you to change your ways on your next visit. Edward, one of Sir Cosmo's protégées is quite the scavenger and will take any untended scrap that has been thrown away for his own use. As far as I can tell he mostly uses any blank spaces left on the page for his own notes but his thirst for paper is bottomless and I discovered, quite by accident, that he had gotten a hold of some of your notes. It could either have been during the wedding back in January or during the brief visit in London just after I married. I have taken to burning any partially used pages at the end of the day and would advise you to do the same– at least when the pages includes any information you do not wish Edward to have hold of.
In other, much more exciting news, I have been granted permission to visit my cottage at West Darlson for a few days latter in the month. I will not be there long, so continue to send letters to my London address.
I hope this letter finds you well and that you are making your tutor work hard for his fee.
Your envious, but content sister,
Victoria
12 May 1871
Mrs Ruth Frazer
No. 12 Charles Street
Mayfair, London
Dear Ruth,
I feel a bit silly writing to you when only a train ride and a few days separate us and given that I may return home before this letter.
However, I am settled into my cottage and feel like writing to someone. The House is in good repair and their will be very little for us to do over the next few days.
Mr Salmalin and I have been well received by my cousins, Major Haywood and Mrs Russell, and while the vicar and his wife were obviously surprised when I introduced Mr Salmalin to them, they, to their credit, hid it fairly well. Some of other people of my acquaintance were not so gracious. However, it is more than I expected to have the above-mentioned people be so sensible about the situation. In addition, Mrs Dobson has already sent a note round by Young Bill that she expects Mr and Mrs Salmalin to tea tomorrow afternoon.
There have been no problems with the House and it was well provisioned as usual.
I do hope Lady Cowperthwaite will not give you any difficulties about practising for her upcoming Presentation. She is a quick study and is nearly word-perfect now– however, I would like to get her to the point where she can preform each step without thinking about it. For if her experience is anything like my own, her wits will desert her as soon as she enters the Hall and if she has to consciously Remember anything it will be No Good At All.
How lovely it was to travel with Mr Salmalin as Mrs Salmalin and not have either of us tied up with duties. Though I understand a bit more why Mr Salmalin might feel more comfortable travelling as a footman when he can. If this trip is any guide– we draw many more odd looks and outright stares than when he can fade into the footman's role. I hope this trip is not too hard on him. I was very surprised (and delighted) when he was given the time off to travel with me as I had expected I would need to travel to West Darlson alone, as I have in the past.
I should wrap this letter up so it can go out to the Post with Young Bill. He and Mr Salmalin have finished unloading the foodstuffs we picked up in the village.
I hope Mr Frazer is keeping you well and in good spirits.
Your devoted friend,
Victoria
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