10 April 1874,
Friday
The news has been officially released of Sir Cosmo’s
appointment to the position of High Commissioner of Science. In
more personal news, Mr Frazer has received permission to take time off
this summer so Mrs Frazer and I can finalize our plan for our families
to take a vacation together. We plan to travel to Norway, go
north and travel south via Finland. Mr Frazer was rather
essential to our plans, as he has extensive experience camping.
Violet has indicated that she will also accompany us. I do not
think it will be much of a vacation for her, however, both Mrs Frazer
and I have learned not to argue with her in matters regarding the
children.
13 April 1874, Monday
Mother, John, Emily and Betty arrived in London
today for the start of Betty’s third season. She has collected
and rejected quite a number of suitors since she came out in
1872. I do not know if she will find her match this time. I
certainly hope she does not ‘settle’ as I did. I am hopeful that
signs point to her knowing her own mind and being willing to wait for
the right person.
7 May 1874, Thursday
How dreadful. The Spectator and Evening
Standard both carried stories of a break-in at Mr Wonka’s
warehouse. I sent a note round expressing my concern for him and
his enterprise. Mrs Frazer and Miss Wilhelmina did me one better
had have left to look into the matter– regardless of whether Mr Wonka
desires their help. As a witch, I felt I should observe
protocol and not interfere in another’s territory. It is very
vexing.
8 May 1874, Friday
More dreadful news– Inspector Lestrade has been
assigned to the Wonka investigation. He is sure to get it
wrong. It is just as well Mrs Frazer and Miss Wilhelmina took
things well in hand yesterday. Apparently thousands,
perhaps tens of thousands, of cans of condensed milk were destroyed by
the thieves.
11 May 1874, Monday
My work with the girls at Lady Ottoline’s school
continues. The lesson plans that Miss Thinne, Amy, and I
have developed in the past year is serving us well. I now have
three classes– I have added a more advanced class for five of the girls
who have been studying with me since I began teaching. Amy has
become a very effective assistant and Miss Thinne seems willing to
continue our arrangement in sharing the teaching responsibilities when
my Other Duties take me away from London and the girls.
Major Haywood arrived in London today. I received a brief note
from him, inviting me to tea Wednesday. I sent a return note
accepting. I am curious as to what has brought him up to London–
he rarely comes to Town.
12 May 1874, Tuesday
I spent the afternoon helping Mother with work for
the Society for the Protection of Young Mothers and Infants. I
had hoped to have a chance to speak with Betty alone we were joined by
the Hon. Byron Hallward, younger brother of Lord Brixham. As she
was making introductions, I could not help but notice that Mr Hallward
had the distinct aura that marks a mage. I do not know how
disturbed I should be by this development. On the surface Mr
Hallward seems quite unexceptionable.
15 May 1874, Friday
Mrs Frazer and I have finished the arrangements for
our trip to Norway. We will take a boat from England to Oslo and
from there will transfer to the mail boat that runs along the west
coast. We will go as far north by ship as the boat will take us
and then will begin our tour. Mr Frazer and Mr Salmalin are in
charge of the overland arrangements. We are to depart on 8 June
and hope to return in early August if all goes well.
Inspector. MacGregor arrested the proprietor of the Prodnose Biscuits
in regards to the break in at Mr Wonka’s warehouse. Inspector Lestrade
also made an arrest. I suspect he will be apologizing to Mr
Slugworth within the day.
18 May 1874, Monday
Wilhelmina had two boys over today to ‘explain
things’. I was out and about on my various London business so I
missed the entire scene. Apparently she broke both Howard's heart
and that of another boy from the Radicals. I do not know any
further details. Miss Wilhelmina is certainly growing up.
We still see Edward out and about but I wonder for how much longer.
25 May 1874, Monday
Mr David Prodnose has been found guilty of all
charges, and has been sentenced to eight years hard labour.
Inspector MacGreggor is validated– not that I didn’t think he would
be. Lestrade had to release his suspect the same day he made the
arrest.
4 June 1874, Thursday
Mother and Betty came over this afternoon for
tea. I do not know how alarmed I should be. Gone was all
talk of the Hon. Ronald Eynseford or Mr Jonathon Moresby, Betty droned
on and on in great detail about the Hon. Byron Hallward. She
thinks he is completely selfless as he spends most of his time working
at the Christian Revival Society Mission in the East End, as well as
assisting with projects for the Society for the Protection of Young
Mothers and Infants. I think I will send a note round to Mr
Ramsey and the LHW’s Office asking if they know anything of this young
man.
5 June 1974, Friday
Betty’s unsettling news has come when I am
completely absorbed with packing for our trip to Norway and
Finland. Mr Frazer has stopped by once already to see how I am
getting on and to remind me to pack light as we will be carrying most
of what we take with us. I am having to pack rather more than I
would if we were returning straight home after leaving Finland– as I
have received an invitation from Lady Sophia von Wymms to come and stay
at her country house for a week at the end of our journey. I must
have <i>one</i> decent dress for dinner.
8 June 1874, Tuesday
We are on the boat bound for Norway. Our party
consists of the Mr and Mrs Fraser, Violet, Robert and Caroline, Mr
Salmalin, Octavia, and myself. We have rather a lot of baggage
but Mr Frazer seems confident we will find a way to transport it all
across the top of the world.
29 June 1874, Tuesday
We are in Northern Finland, having begun the return
portion of our journey (which I documenting in a separate journal) and
still Major Powell finds a way to annoy me. No, that is not quite
fair, he sent me an owl with a message with the information I had
requested regarding Mr Hallward, Betty’s would-be suitor.
Mr Hallward studied at Oxford and was commissioned into the Army.
He was in Major Powell’s unit. Seeing Mr Hallward’s gift, Major
Powell tried to recruit Mr Hallward for the Lord High Warlock’s office.
The two of them were involved in a case involving an untutored
mage. After all was said and done, Mr Hallward claimed that Major
Powell had murdered people as a part of the case.
Mr Hallward left Major Powell’s tutelage and disappeared for a few
years. His father died 18 months ago and he returned to help his
mother and sister. Vague tales have circulated that he spent time
working with monks to serve the poor while he was absent from the scene.
Major Powell said, that in his assessment, Mr Hallward would have two
reasons for courting Betty. My brother settled an allowance on
her for life when she came out in society. More troubling, Betty
apparently has a Talent similar to Mrs Frazers ‘gift of quiet’–
however, in Betty’s case, her gift allows mages around her to gather
power more quickly and easily. Like Mrs Frazer’s Gift, it is not
something that Betty can use consciously, or is evenly likely aware of
but she can be used as a sort of conductor for power by mage’s who know
of her condition.
I found this very alarming.
There is nothing I can do about it now, from such a long
distance. I will have to hope that the conversation I had with
John about Mr Hallward’s peculiarities will suffice to hold matters in
place until I return home.
While neither the news nor the bearer was welcome, I did thank Major
Powell for his efforts.
17 July 1874, Friday
We reached a town with a telegraph station
today. I sent a note to John asking him to keep things cool
between Betty and Mr Hallward until I could return to assess
matters. I also sent a note to Mr Ramsey asking if he would be so
kind as to keep an eye on Mr Hallward for me.
29 July 1874 Wednesday
We have reached Helsinki. The Frazers are off
to visit Miss Metzger in the forests of Prussia, while Mr Salmalin,
Octavia, and I are taking the train to visit Lady Sophia von Wymms and
her husband. Though, I am not certain that the Count knows that
we are coming as I have only had correspondence with his wife.
10 August 1874, Monday
We have been rushed off our feet since arriving in
Berlin ten days ago. Mr Salmalin, Octavia and I arrived on 1
August and were met on the platform by Stabshauptmann Schneider.
Before that a man I had never met came up to me and said something
rather mysterious to me. He then took a closer look and hurried
off. I saw him speak to another couple and while the Lady did
have similar colouring to mine, her companion looked nothing like Mr
Salmalin. The second man did have something of the aura of a mage
about him though.
Stabshauptmann Schneider took us the home of Count von Wymms. No
sooner had we settled into our rooms than Lady Sophia introduced us to
her Cause (from the way the Count rolled his eye, Lady Sophia is prone
to Causes) the Bearded Gryphon Vulture, also known as the
Lammergeier, or the Ossifrage. I took a moment alone with
the Count to tell him what had happened on the train platform as it
seemed rather suspicious. He didn’t look very happy. Of
course, in my limited experience, Count Wymms rarely looks happy.
Lady Sophia does nothing by halves. She has set up a bird
hospital on the property and has several specimens in residence.
The birds are huge. Nearly a metre from beak to tail with a wing
span of up to 2 ½ metres. The heads are white and the
bodies mostly a mix of grey hues on the back and wings with a white
underbelly. The contrast between head and wings lends the birds a
distinguished air. Lady Sophia has attracted a number of
followers to her Cause– some work directly with the birds, some work to
survey them in wild, while others donate funds to support the effort.
One of Lady Sophia’s cadre’s recent triumphs was in getting a law
passed that protects the rare birds from hunters. Now it is a
punishable offence to purposefully injure or kill a Lammergeier in
Prussia.
There were several small house parties while we visited. Mr
Salmalin looked very handsome in the suit I had brought along for the
purpose. It was well worth hauling it though Norway and Finland
to see him nicely turned out. He made a good effort to circulate
at the parties, though he did have a tendency to disappear midway
though the event to ‘check on Octavia’. This earned him a few
strange looks from people who overheard the excuse as it is not
‘done’. However, one advantage of his ‘foreign looks’ is that
such oddities are dismissed as being ‘his way’. One disadvantage
is that ladies seem to insert the word ‘good’ between ‘foreign’ and
‘looks’ and hover in his company even when it becomes apparent that he
is married.
I should not allow myself to be to hard on them given how deeply under
his sway I myself am. He is ‘good’ all the way through and the
example he sets forces me to confront my own shortcomings. I have
heard, ad nauseam how women are the moral centre of a society. It
is amusing to have that trope stood on its head. Though from what
Ravvi has said, he sees something in me that is worth living up to– so
we both lead while at the same time following. I think that means
we are walking in circles, however, so long as we do it together, I am
happy.
...
I appear to have digressed. On the fourth of August Mr Salmalin
and I were privileged to attend a reception as the guests of Lady
Sophia for Die Gesellschaft für die Rettung des bärtigen
Gryphon. The reception was held at another of her supporter’s
houses. It was very well attended. At one point in the
evening Lady Sophia caught hold of Ravvi and I, saying she
<i>must</i> introduce us to someone. Imagine my
surprise when that someone turned out to be King Wilhelm of
Prussia. I was rescued by my training and Mr Salmalin by his
self-possession and we managed to curtsey and bow respectfully. I
found it a bit hair raising to be introduced to a king whose plans for
invading France I had played a small role in thwarting. I
was also introduced to my ‘double’ from the train platform, Freiin von
Kroenen and her escort Herr Klesen who, now that I saw him up close,
was quite definitely a mage.
The next day, there was a minor uproar when one of Lady Sophia’s
supporters brought her the body of a Lammergeier. It had
been shot and died of the wound. The bullet had been extracted
and what little information Count Wymms could glean from it was taken
down.
Lady Sophia was so angry and sad that it seemed a shame not to help out
any way I could. Mr Salmalin procured the bullet and one of the
bird’s feathers and I was able to get a clear sense of both where the
bird had been shot and who had shot it. I took the information to
Count Wymms for him to do as he pleased with. He had some
suspicions of his own and before I knew it I was accompanying his party
with Octavia in my arms (to better free Mr Salmalin for action) in a
raid on the estate of Freiin von Kroenen.
There was quite a bit of fighting, both on the ground and between two
airships, ours and the one tethered at the estate. Count Wymms
forces won the day. Apparently, Freiin von Kroenen and Herr
Klesen had been planning to overthrow the current government.
Count Wymms did not go into much detail but it was apparent, even to me
that she was very close to launching her offensive and had now been
brought up short.
We had a few quiet days at Lady Sophia’s house. We did not see
much of the Count during that time. On the 8th, Ravvi and I had a
quiet celebration of Octavia’s 2nd birthday. Only two years
old and already well-travelled. One of her favourite lullabies is
in the North Sami language. She, along with Caroline and Robert
all picked up a bit of the language while we were travelling with the
Sami people in the North.
Today we boarded the train and began our return trip to England.
I am looking forward to getting home and dealing resuming my duties.
14 August 1874, Friday
Today is my 34th birthday. We are still en
route home, so I am spending it with the two people who are dearest to
me, my husband and daughter.
17 August 1874, Monday
Home at Last!
19 August 1874, Wednesday
The Frazers arrived in Brussels. I received a
telegram from Mrs Frazer today. Their vacation is going well and
they expect to be home at the end of August.
28 August 1874, Friday
Daru had a bit of a scare today. She found
Galen and Owen engaged in something of a tug-of-war. Galen had
attempted to climb a bookcase as if it were a ladder. Owen had grabbed
Galen's pant leg and was trying to prevent the climb. Octavia was
very excited by this development as she loves anything to do with ‘up’.
11 September 1874, Friday
I have finally caught up on the correspondence
(mostly the filing, Lady Cowperthwaite and Mr Chadwick dealt with
most of it while I was away). I have received permission from
Lady Cowperthwaite to visit my family in Cheshire on her way to my
cottage in West Darlston. I have invited Betty to come and stay
at the cottage for a week. I hope that will provide a
confidential atmosphere in which I can confide both my secret and hers
to her. My brother reports that Mr Hallward is still paying his
attentions to my sister. I would that she make any final
decisions about him with full knowledge of what both of them are.
12 September 1874, Saturday
So much for confidentially or Mr Hallward having any
chance with my sister.
He came to the house in the dead of night and tried to convince her to
elope with him. I heard someone strange at the window and snuck
out of the house, poker in hand, to see if anything needed to be dealt
with.
I found Mr Hallward at Betty’s window pleading with her to run away
with him and elope. I am not ashamed to say that I listened in
quiet concealment to see what Betty response to this outrageous
proposal would be. I was greatly satisfied by her answer.
She asked him what kind of woman he thought she was and turned him down
flat. She told him to get himself gone, but rather than leaving
he began casting a spell.
I could not be having with that, so I hit him over the head with the
poker. He dropped like a stone and the spell fizzled out.
It was only a few moments later that, much to my vexation, Major Powell
appeared in our drive. Apparently he had been following Mr
Hallward. He offered to take the young man off my hands but I
told him it was none of his concern and take himself off. He was
not happy with me.
Betty summoned the household staff and John and we got Mr Hallward into
the house and settled comfortably. He remained unconscious and I
fear that he has suffered some ill-effect from the spell he was trying
to cast. I performed a basic dis-spell to see if that might
remove the effects but there was no change in his condition. I
have sent a message to Mr Weasley at the Lord High Warlock’s office
asking for his advice and help in dealing with this matter and he sent
a return message that he would send someone to collect Mr Hallward.
~Later~
Mr Moody and a group of Guardsmen arrived this afternoon to take our
unwelcome guest away. Betty and I have resolved to continue our journey
to the Cottage where I have promised to explain everything.
9 February 1875, Sunday
I have finally been released from Scarlet Fever Quarantine only to find
a most distressing letter from my old friend Mrs Gotesoke. My
former husband’s regiment, the 25th Light Dragoons, were part of an
expeditionary force sent into the Safed Koh mountains in the northwest
corner of India. The Times apparently carried an extensive story
about the total route at the Kanish Pass, where it was believed that
nearly every member of the expeditionary force was killed in an
ambush. Mrs Gotesoke was made aware of it when she heard that my
former husband’s mother has received official news that her son has
been declared ‘missing presumed dead’.
Now I am in a bit of a quandary. Should I write to Mrs Forrester
and offer my condolences? What is proper in this situation?
Should I wear mourning or would that be inconsiderate? I think I will
write a letter to Mother and ask her advice on the matter.
In other personally aggravating news, I was required to destroy many of
my papers after coming down with Scarlet Fever so I have lost the diary
entries. I feel a need to summarize the important events from the
beginning of November to now.
In the fall, there was an outbreak of Smallpox in London.
Edward’s Radicals were particularly hard hit. Wilhelmina is, to
this day, in mourning for the many friends who died. Sir Cosmo
was, once again, put in charge of the quarantine. Mr Salmalin
Wilhelmina, Mr O’Flaherty, and Sir Cosmo went to work in the
quarantined area of the city. Information emerged that people who
should have been vaccinated were dying in the epidemic.
Inspector MacGreggor was a made a member of a commission to investigate
the Smallpox inoculation process. I went down to London to help
with the research. Octavia stayed with Mrs Frazer at her
invitation. I spent many hours at the townhouse pouring over
records and cross-referencing cases where people came down with
smallpox with records of vaccination. It was tedious but
necessary work. After all was said and done, charges were brought
against several people for Criminal Negligence and Fraud. I
was quite looking forward to observing the trials of the individuals
implicated, unfortunately Octavia fell in January and I returned to
Edenfield and came down with Scarlet Fever myself and missed all the
trials. Inspector MacGreggor was very pleased with the results of
the investigation, however.
In early December I met with the new Deputy Undersecretary of
Nonconsular Affairs, the Hon. Nigel Stanhurst and offers my linguistic
services. The meeting seemed to go well.
Just after Christmas I received letters from Mr John Whitnell and Mrs
Philip Whitnell, informing me that Betty and our cousin Major Walter
Haywood. Later I received a letter directly from Betty, telling
me her version of the proposal. It was very amusing to learn that
my sister and I have similar approaches to courtship.
Wilhelmina was the first to come down with Scarlet Fever out at
Edenfield in early January. Mrs Frazer, Octavia, some of the
staff, and I all fell ill. I have been free of fever and
rash for five days now and have been allowed to relocate from the
quarantine suite to our cottage.
10 February 1875, Wednesday
Mr Salmalin gave me a scare today. Octavia was
playing outside our little cottage on the grounds of Edenfield when I
heard a tremendous ‘whoosh’ and Octavia started yelling “Papa,
up!” Mr Salmalin had been talked into test flying Wilhelmina’s
rocket kite.
I got outside in time to see him crash land in a large pond. If
it had been anyone other than my husband, the crash would have killed
them. I’m afraid to say I reacted rather poorly to my dear
husband nearly killing himself by dragging his scorched and smoldering
self (and the rocket mechanism) into our cottage for a
discussion. I also had a talk with Sir Cosmo about the type of
risks he allows his staff to assume.
I relented of my sternness later in the evening, when my husband
explained, with obvious delight in his eyes, how he had flown the kite
and kept it from crashing even earlier in the flight. He was so
happy, how could I refuse him such joy for my own comfort.
24 February 1875, Wednesday
Sir Cosmo and the local doctor have agreed that is
safe for members of the household to start going out in public.
The quarantine on the estate has been lifted! I hope to get to
London soon and return to working with my girls at the school. I
also came out of the Fever with a strange desire to learn languages
from the area around the South China Sea. I dreamed of Great Aunt
Hethelyn while I was sick. I remember it being a very detailed
dream but all I had when I came out of it was the above mentioned
compulsion and the strong conviction the Mrs Cuthbert had saved my
daughter from Death himself. I cannot say I have the strangest
dreams, as that distinction goes to either Mrs Cuthbert or milady, but
this one was right up there.
28 February 1875, Wednesday
Sir Cosmo, Wilhelmina, and Mrs Frazer have left for
London. I am remaining at Edenfield with Lady
Cowperthwaite. Sir Cosmo suggested that, as I was one of the last
to recover from the Fever I should stay in the country for some time
more. He promised to deliver my letter to Mr Willoughby
requesting language tutors.
3 March 1875, Wednesday
Our Employer, or his staff, have come through.
They found two men who speak different languages found in the South
China Sea. I already know some Chinese. These men speak
Tagalog and Vietnamese. They are sailors, so their vocabulary may
not me all that could be desired, but they have been given a ‘vacation’
out at one of the inn’s in Edenfield proper and are being paid to tutor
me in their language. I am so excited!
14 March 1875, Sunday
Mrs Frazer and I were talking about the Change that
has come over Wilhelmina and I offered to give her my extra set of
counting beads. As I went to get it, I looked at my own set and
realized that I had failed to become unwell at the appointed
time. I am once again with child. Mrs Cuthbert confirmed
it. It is early days yet, so I have only confided in Mrs
Cuthbert, Mrs Frazer, and Ravvi.
18 March 1875 Thursday
Urgent telegrams from Sir Cosmo have the house in an
uproar. We are to pack and be ready to leave in three days. I
sent a telegram back asking for details on what type of packing we
should be doing. Sir Cosmo’s return note was two words “sea
voyage”.
21 March 1875, Sunday
The League is packed and loaded board the Selene and
the Foxglove. We await the tide.
13 April 1875, Wednesday,
I learned today, quite by accident that Sir Cosmo
and my husband cut cards to see who would go up in the Rocket
Kite. Mr Salmalin made it clear that there was no way he would
let Sir Cosmo go up that contraption. Knowing more about the
circumstances puts a completely different light on the matter. Of
course, Mr Salmalin had to protect Sir Cosmo.
17 April, 1875 Saturday
We should arrive at Port Victoria, Labuan, off the
northwestern shore of Borneo tomorrow. Great Aunt Hethelyn was
correct, we are in the South China Sea. We have been sent
hear to find Wilhelmina’s father, who went missing with a small crew of
men. He had been searching for a pirate base in area when he
disappeared.
We are to receive further briefing from an Admiral Niasmith when we
dock.
Proceed to Rapidly out
of hand
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