6 April 1873, Sunday

As Mr Salmalin was away from home during our second wedding anniversary, I arranged to leave Octavia in Violet’s care whilst we celebrated this evening.

7 April 1873, Monday

We continued celebrated Mr Salmalin’s birthday today, I gave him a garland of flowers and basket of new socks. I know socks are not a very exciting present, but he goes through them faster than any other item of clothing. I suspect he takes his shoes off at times, given how quickly holes appear. He tries to darn them himself when he thinks I am sleeping but for a man with such a deft touch, his stitches are even more lumpy than my own.

8 April 1873, Tuesday

Octavia is eight months old today. Her favourite game is to lift her arms in the air to signal her father that she wishes to be picked up and thrown into the air. My normally quiet daughter shrieks with laughter and will play this game for as long as Ravvi’s arms hold out. Usually he has to return to duty before either of them tire of the game.

1 May 1873, Wednesday

I am home from my first day teaching at Lady Ottoline’s school. I have a two classes of girls that I am to teach mornings most days of the week. One class is advanced students– they have a good understanding of reading and writing English and volunteered for a foreign language class.

I have decided to start with French, as it is still a popular language to teach ‘young ladies’ and is the most likely to be of some use to the girls. The second class is students that Lady Ottoline selected. They are all daughters of foreigners who do not speak English as their first language and have been managing to get by on the rudiments they picked up on their own. It is quite the mixed group– but intent on Learning. There is one girl in the class who has a keen ear and can mimic nearly any word that I try her with. It will be important to get her on my side quickly– otherwise she could become a disruptive force in the classroom.

I have this week to meet with the girls and gain an understanding what level of instruction we should begin with. I was not surprised to find out that several of the girls in my French class already know some rather unladylike words.

This afternoon I have an appointment at the LHW to begin learning what I can from that organisation. I still have researches to carry out at the Order of St Jerome’s private library, however, as I am not a member of their order, I have been trying not to wear out my welcome.

8 May 1873, Wednesday

Octavia is nine months old today and has figured out, with young Robert’s help, how to climb up on furniture. She likes to get as high as she can without being noticed. It is a game for her and a nightmare for the rest of us– fortunately she is also starting to understand the concept of ‘no’– especially when Violet or Mrs Frazer uses a particularly freezing tone of voice. She can now say the word ‘up’ and so ‘up-up’ is her new name for being picked up and thrown high in the air.

29 May 1873, Thursday

Last night’s ball at the Netherlands Embassy was wonderful! Oh, there were the usual cuts and slights, however, while some part of me noted them for future reference, most of the rest of me was busy dancing with my husband. Ravvi agreed to come to the ball as Mr Salmalin, rather than as Salmalin the footman and I was delighted.

5 June 1873, Thursday

Our Employer, if I can still call him that after months of no activity on my part, agreed to meet with me today. One would think I had enough to do with answering Lady Cowperthwaite’s correspondence, teaching at Lady Ottoline’s school, and my various researches, however, I still feel there is more I could be doing– especially with my gift for languages, so I resolved to ask Our Employer if he could use my services as a translator. We met this afternoon and he was quite cordial. Unfortunately, Sir Phillip heads the division that handles such matters, and as much as I want to be of service, I do not think it would be a good idea to serve under such a dissolute character. It still gives me chills when I think of the time he showed up at my church out of the blue and offered to escort me home.

In more cheerful news, I went for tea at Nigel and Fong’s house and had a nice conversation over scones and tea. They shared an interesting tidbit, apparently the new French Ambassador, Comte de Carcassonne has been spending quite a lot of time at the Cabaret les Fantastiques, enough that he– and his apparently dissolute behaviour (even for that establishment) has earned him a reputation and vulgar nickname. I told them about the Netherlands Embassy Ball and, of course, gave them the latest news on Octavia’s development.

8 June 1873, Sunday

Mr O’Flaherty has been in a dark mood all week. His boxing friend Mr Maws was sentenced to 2 years in prison after accidentally killing a man he was fighting during an unauthorized boxing match. The two managers received sentences of 8 years, which seemed fitting to me as they are the ones who set up the fight and failed to follow the regulations.

In more cheerful news, my daughter is 10 months old today. She has learned how to make the puffin face back at Mr Salmalin, motivated no doubt by the lovely smile he breaks into when she makes said face. She is crawling very quickly now and I am very glad that Violet and Daru are willing to take her during the day and keep her fenced in one of the nurseries. She says “mama’ ‘papa’, ‘dog-dog’ and ‘no-no’ using both Hindustani and English interchangeably.

13 June 1873, Friday

After my classes this morning, my brother John sent a note round to see if he could come for tea to discuss some Family Matters. As might be expected this got me into something of a state and I sent round that he could certainly join me. It turns out that he merely wanted to talk (though “rant” or “rave” might be better words) about Betty’s latest suitors. The Hon. Mr Ronald Eynseford (third son of Viscount Roxton) and Mr Alfred Crackenthorpe (younger son of a country squire in Brackhampton). John feels that one is a complete bore and the other is just stupid– I rather lost track during his tirade as to which young man was what. I assured John that Betty seems to be making good decisions so far and seems to have inspired some of the men in her circle to good works. After three cups of tea and not a few biscuits he went away grumbling but somewhat mollified.

25 June 1873, Wednesday

Lady Cowperthwaite and I have Concocted a Plan. We have been translating the penny dreadfuls she so admires into Hindi for our own amusement for several years now. It occurred to us we could possibly sell the translations. There is a rather large Hindi speaking population in London. Wilhelmina has offered her assistance– she has extensive contacts with the publishers of such publications as a result of Edward’s time with the Radicals.

7 July 1873, Monday

Well, that all happened rather quickly. Lady Cowperthwaite and I received an offer from Blackwood’s publishing to purchase our translations.

8 July 1873, Tuesday

Octavia is 11 months old today. She responds more and more to what Mr Salmalin and I say and is trying very hard to communicate with us. The twins have taken to trying to teach her words but they tend to defeat the purpose when they argue over which word she should be trying to say.
“Up-up” remains her favourite game, but she also likes ‘steal the biscuit’ where she tries to take an extra biscuit when Ravvi and I take tea with her. If I don’t catch her she gets to eat the biscuit, if Ravvi doesn’t catch her she gets a bonus biscuit (which she frequently tries to give to Owen, so he is a great fan of this game). I catch her most times but she’s gotten round me often enough that I suspect we will need to put a lock on the biscuit tin when she gets older.

17 July 1873, Thursday

Mother and Betty joined the Ladies of the League for tea this afternoon and we were all treated to a report of Betty’s would-be-suitors. Apparently Betty has intentionally cut Mr Alfred Crackenthorpe at recent social events after she learned that he was responsible for injuries suffered by the Hon. Ronald Eynseford. Both young men have been dismissed as hopeless and the new talk was of the literary aspirations of another young man, Mr Jonathon Moresby (a distant relation of the Earl of Emsworth). So much for John’s worries.

20 July 1873, Monday

I encountered Professor Cremine while researching at the Order of St Jerome library this afternoon. When I asked after his charge, Miss Magda, I was saddened to learn that she had died some months ago. The Professor was still quite sad. I took him for a cup of tea at the little shop I frequent when I am in the area. He said she died fighting vampires– it sounded quite harrowing. Though I couldn’t help but think that Slayers might last longer if they were given larger support staffs. Perhaps I will mention this to Mr Ramsey the next time I see him. It’s not really my business, but it seems such a waste.

8 August 1873, Friday

Octavia turned a year old today. It difficult to believe twelve months have passed since her birth and twelve relatively quiet months at that. Octavia has started singing along with the nursery songs Violet and Daru sing and now she wants Ravvi and I to sing with her and teach her new songs. I don’t have a very large repertoire and have enlisted Tattvick to teach me some of the songs she remembers from India. Mr Salmalin has a very pleasing baritone, and when he doesn’t know the words to a song he fills in the bit s he doesn’t know with phrases from his mantras. He has a good memory and it won’t take him long to learn some new songs– especially when his daughter is trying to teach him.

Tomorrow we leave for West Darlson. Lady Cowperthwaite has, at my request, given us two weeks leave to attend to my property there.

23 August 1873 Saturday

We returned to Edenfield today and are still unpacking. We had a quiet two weeks at the cottage I visited with House, the Brown Men, the Dragon, Mrs Dobson, and, of course, my cousins Major Elliot, Mrs Russell, and Miss Eliza. Mr Salmalin took full advantage of the time to play with Octavia– she went everywhere he did perched up on his shoulders.

5 September 1873, Friday

The first issue of East_West Journal has been published. Our translated Kid Rocket tale is to appear in the next edition. It is planned to be a monthly publication from Blackwood's to appear in Hindi and is to feature news, literature, and "information of interest." I wonder how long they have had this in the works?

8 September 1873, Monday

Octavia is 13 months old. I’m afraid she might have inherited my temper.

30 September 1873, Tuesday

The household has relocated to London. Sir Cosmo has been called up on to advise in an epidemic of Camp Fever that has taken hold in Ramsgate. We have known this was coming for the past week, as Sir Cosmo has been in late meetings with various government officials since the news of the first cases broke. There was a rather loud discussion between Wilhelmina, Lady Cowperthwaite and Sir Cosmo as to whether they would accompany him into Ramsgate. They have consented to remain in London. Wilhelmina has been assigned to help with the production of various chemical compounds that Sir Cosmo will need. Lady Cowperthwaite is to watch over the rest of us.

2 October 1873, Thursday

I have sent my regrets to Nigel that I will be unable to attend the opening of his latest play "Queen Boadicea, or Liberty, Honour, and Native Soil" at the Royal Gallery of Illustration. It just doesn’t seem right to go out to the theatre when the household is holding its breath, hoping for Sir Cosmo’s safe return from his assignments. That assignment was made public today.
All the papers carried the story:
“Ramsgate Quarantined, by order of the Home Secretary, the Earl of Derby. Sir Cosmo Cowperthwaite, bart., C.B., has been appointed Quarantine Commissioner and is effectively in charge of the port, the harbour, the city, and all within for the duration of the emergency; the Royal East Regiment of Foot has been placed at his disposal.”

3 October 1873, Friday

Our translation of translation of "Kid Rocket Meets Atlas O'Flaherty" has been published in the most recent edition of East-West Journal!

8 October 1873, Wednesday

Octavia is 1 year 2 months and seems to be picking up on some of the tension in the household. There is not much any of us can do except support Miss Wilhelmina’s work and try to distract Lady Cowperthwaite. The latter has subscribed to every newspaper and broadsheet in London in order to have the latest news of her husband. I suspect their reports are not terribly accurate and Lady Cowperthwaite is alternating between pacing, reading, and spending time with her son. She has ordered me not to accept any invitations on her behalf.

17 October 1873, Friday

There is no holding her back any longer. Mrs Frazer and I have tried every argument at our disposal– even the story of her Countess-Ancestor-by-Marriage who stayed home and tricked the opposing forces to coming into range of her cannon had no effect. The lack of reliable news from inside the quarantine area has and the prevalence of bad news in general in the paper (various foreign nobles have been shot at, almost poisoned, and nearly abducted, the Americans are hanging their Indians, and banks in the German Confederation are failing at an alarming rate) has pushed her into action.

Lady Cowperthwaite packed a bag for herself, additional clothes for Sir Cosmo and she and Mr Salmalin left to see if they could get in to the quarantined area and join Sir Cosmo. I am nearly paralysed with for my husband’s safety. But where Lady Cowperthwaite goes, he follows. It is cold comfort to reflect that I knew that when I married him.

18 October 1873, Saturday

I received a telegram from Sir Cosmo today confirming that Lady Cowperthwaite and Mr Salmalin made it to his side.

29 October 1873, Wednesday

The Morning Post reports today that there have been no new cases of Camp Fever identified in Ramsgate for six days. Sir Cosmo sent a telegram saying that if this holds he, Lady Cowperthwaite and Mr Salmalin will be able to return to us by 20 November.

8 November 1873, Saturday

Octavia is 1 year 3 months. She has been asking after her father since he left and I have had very little news to give her. She is not satisfied when anyone else tried to play the ‘up-up’ game. She says “papa working” whenever she feels sad. In her more cheerful moments she becomes determined to search the house for him. She went from crawling to running with no real steps in between and has taken to sneaking out of the nursery and attempting to search the house for “papa”.

18 November 1873, Tuesday

Sir Cosmo sent a telegraph today confirming the news we read in the paper. The Ramsgate quarantine has been lifted and he, Lady Cowperthwaite, and Mr Salmalin will be returning home in two days!

20 November 1873, Thursday

Our wayward dear ones returned today. Octavia was very glad to see her papa and demonstrated her running for him. I just hugged him and held him close, glad that none of our party was affected by the illness.

27 November 1873, Friday

If it’s not one thing then it is another. Benton and Inspector MacGreggor are being sent off to France to participate in some sort of inquiry. Mrs MacGreggor and Ruth are going with them, so we know they will not get into too much difficulty (or if they do they will all get out of it together).

8 December 1873, Monday

Octavia is 1 year 4 months old. Her new passion is scribbling on a slate with coloured chalk. When I pick her up from the nursery at the end of the day, she is frequently covered in chalk dust.

26 December 1873, Friday

We have passed a quiet Christmas out at Edenfield. Edward went into town with the Frazers to attend Mr Scrooge’s party on the 24th. I expect Wilhelmina will be telling us all, in great detail, about whatever magical candy concoction Mr Wonka has come up with this year.

8 January 1874, Thursday

Octavia is 1 year 5 months and has started speaking in complete (if short) sentences. She is also developing an accurate throwing arm. She and Robert have been practising in the nursery to the point that Violet has had to limit their toys to small, soft objects for a time until they learned the ‘no throwing hard objects’ rule.

20 January 1874, Tuesday

Octavia and I are in West Darlson seeing to the cottage. We were last here in August and there is much to catch up on. My primary source for village gossip, Mrs Dobson, has been ill this winter. When I visited her she was frail but determined to hold on til summer. I don’t know how old she is– old enough to have been friends with Great Aunt Hethelyn who died when I was a child more than 20 years ago. Octavia and I will return home to Edenfield on Thursday the 22, just in time to pack again and board the train for Portsmouth where Sir Cosmo and Wilhelmina will be working on one of their projects for the Navy. I miss Mr Salmalin, but he was needed at Edenfield.

2 February 1874, Monday

I have left Octavia in the care of her father, Mrs Frazer, and Violet in order to return to London and resume teaching at Lady Ottoline’s school and working on assorted research projects. We still don’t have a good solution to the problem of Mr Drake and it, while it has been nearly two years since we have had one of our more improbable adventures, it be hooves me to learn all I can in the hopes of having Useful Information in Times of Need.

8 February 1874, Sunday

Octavia is 1 year 6 months old. Mr Salmalin writes that she has started jumping around the house instead of walking or running and she does not talk as much but appears to listen with great solemnity to everything people say to her.

I have written to my brothers expressing who I feel they should vote for in the upcoming election. I hope someday to be able to cast a ballot in my own name, instead of trying to convince those with the vote to my position.

My girls are studying hard. They had another lady teaching them in my absence but she is a more conventional governess and English and French are her only languages, so the English learning group was a bit more than she could manage at times. Amy (the natural mimic) had made such good progress that she was helping to run the class. I will keep her on in that position. It absorbs some of her extra energy and she seems to be willing to work to keep the position.

12 February 1874, Election Day

Voting concluded this evening, now we await the results.

18 February 1874, Wednesday

The new Commons was seated today, with 350 Conservative MPs, 242 Liberal MPs, and 60 Irish Home Rule League MPs. I was reading in the paper that this is the first time since 1857 that a third party has won representation in the Commons.

I took tea with Mrs Cuthbert this afternoon. Sir Spencer is still away on his hunting trip. He has sent several postcards home, usually with a brief notation such as “bagged lion yesterday”. Mrs Cuthbert suspects he his keeping his taxidermist busy.

8 March 1874, Sunday

I went to church today. I was thinking of Ravvi and Octavia through most of the service. I will have to arrange to go home soon and see what they have been up to in my absence. Sir Cosmo and Edward have been down and back several times and have brought me the mail that has come to Edenfield. Most of her Ladyship's mail actually comes to the London house– normally Graves forwards it on to me, so being here in London has made part of my job easier.

9 March 1874, Monday

Lady Cowperthwaite received an Invitation today to Tea at Osbourne House later this month. I will wire Mr Chadwick to confirm Sir Cosmo’s plans, but this is not the type of Invitation that is refused.

~Later~

Chadwick responded that travel plans are set and the Cowperthwaites will depart on 19 March. Lady Cowperthwaite requests my assistance. I have arranged to leave London at the end of this week.

12 March 1874, Thursday

The girls were all but useless in class today. Between the news that Miss Thinne would be taking over classes again and the arrival in London of Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh they were much distracted and half of the class is petitioning to be allowed to go out and watch the parade.

13 March 1874, Friday

I caught the afternoon train to Edenfield and was pounced on by an anxious Lady Cowperthwaite. Between Chadwick dithering about what Tea at Osbourne house means and Sir Cosmo trying to pass it off as a simple social engagement, Lady Cowperthwaite was a bit flustered. Chadwick had certainly implied that it would be of far more import than one of the society teas where 500 people are invited and only a few actually see Her Majesty. Lady Cowperthwaite and I will just have to practise that is all.

It is rather sweet how she worries that something she might do could reflect badly on Sir Cosmo while otherwise doing as she pleases.

19 March 1874, Thursday

We are finally on the train. Lady Cowperthwaite is as practised as she is going to get. In addition to working with her on what is expected at such events, I had Mr Salmalin give her extra work on calming mantras. If she can just keep from knocking some historically important object over, all will be well.

I am delighted to get to spend time with my little family. I missed both Ravvi and Octavia while I was in London. She grew so much while I was gone. She is already 19 months old. Unfortunately, her new favourite pass time is to take all her clothes off whenever she feels like it. She has figured out how to work many of the buttons, though if the buttonhole is tight enough her efforts to disrobe can be thwarted. Fortunately she is also fascinated by the way the scenery rolls by when we are on the train, so she is content to sit on my lap and name all the things that she knows. It does make updating this record difficult– but she’ll take the lap of any person who is near a window.

21 March 1874, Saturday

Sir Cosmo and Lady Cowperthwaite survived their Tea. I didn’t know if I was going to survive the days leading up to it, Lady Cowperthwaite was so worried. Sir Cosmo had his work to keep him busy– he and Edward were testing some new equipment. I took Lady Cowperthwaite horseback riding yesterday to try get her tired enough so she would sleep well and be rested for today. I don’t know how well that plan worked but she was dressed and ready to go on time. Tattvick did her hair in a particularly becoming style and I helped her pick out appropriate jewellery. She looked very beautiful and natural by the time we finished.

They returned in stunned triumph to announce that Sir Cosmo has been asked and has accepted the post of High Commissioner for Science. The official announcement will be made some time in April. Until then we are to keep our own council about the appointment.

Sir Cosmo has some more testing to do and says that we will go straight to London from here in advance of the Season. My girls will be happy (I hope) to have me back so soon.

26 March 1874, Thursday

We have arrived in London. The post has piled up as usual. Mrs Cuthbert sent a note round that Sir Spencer returned safely from his long hunting trip just yesterday. The Easter Season will soon be upon us and, it seems we all have much to celebrate.

Proceed to A bit of a quandary

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