The SUSSEX and SURREY Courier (Epsom Edition) Wednesday July 27th 1851

B’ham Hall June 3rd 1851

What have we taken on? It is as if Villiers has been released from a lifetime of domestic service into a world of entertainment and spectacle. Now I find that we have to accommodate a hundred pipers with a marquee, refreshments and their carriage fare. From Aberdeen. Mrs Doughty must have raised more funds in her enterprise than I imagined. Apparently we shall have to pay ninety guineas to these screeching Scotsmen on top of filling their bellies and finding them beds. I do not know how I am to break this news to Josiah. I shall start by pointing out how much closer to Surrey Aberdeen is than Zanzibar. That may work.

Villiers is beside himself with anticipation of this troupe of groaning boys. I am not to bother myself with where they are to sleep, apparently. Very well, then, I shall not.

Boo,

Thank you for speaking to Mrs D. She has served us royally in the supply of names and addresses. I am sorry this note is so brief but my days are a blur of organisation at the moment.

In answer to your question about the Girl’s baby, yes he does have brown eyes like your own dear boy’s. Josiah says that brown eyes become a man and indeed they are what I first loved about him when he came to Hangerworth to ask for me. How long ago that seems!

E x

My Own Boo,

Villiers is determined that our Ball shall be the talk of the County for many years. I told him about our visit to the Exhibition in London (which, by the way, has resulted in him placing an order for a mangle! What luxury!) and he has been drowning me in fanciful plans ever since.

This letter is to beg you to speak on my behalf to Mrs Doughty. She will know of all the machinery and sculptures we saw that day and I have been asked to find an orchestra – Villiers fancies that all the players should be boys from Morocco or some such place. The notions that man has…..

Not satisfied with the Orchestra of the East, Villiers wants Josiah to commission our very own sculpture. This could cost as much as a hundred pounds and Josiah is not happy but Villiers is as giddy as a puppy about it all and we do want to encourage him. So, please find a moment to tear yourself away from your little man and ask Mrs Doughty to send word of some people I might write to.

If everything we plan comes to fruition, this shall indeed be the Ball of Balls!

Yrs

Effie x

p.s. The Girl has perked up somewhat since our return and is looking less lumpen than before. Her child is a pitiful thing, to be sure, but we must endure his presence here. If only he was more like your darling boy. He and Little Bradstone share a look about their eyes, I must say, so he makes me yearn for your company even more……… x

B’ham Hall May 16th 1851

My desk is a sea of paper – I can hardly find space or time for my diary. I have lists of people to invite, rooms to air, linen to press and windows to unstick. Cook is daily bringing me menus and new recipes she has found from wherever and Villiers wishes me to oversee the grounds plan so that the approach will be at its most welcoming.

We have to arrange for men to clear and decorate the orangery, others to construct an area for dancing on and still more to collect enough plates, glasses and candlesticks to lay a table fit for the Queen. Not that she is invited.

Josiah is less than useful, boring me to tears with his investment opportunities, and the staff are beside themselves with giddiness preparing the timetable for cleaning the rooms. I am sure I do not recall my own wedding being this exciting.

B’ham Hall April 21st 1851

I have finally had sight of the infant. He is a dull-eyed, mewling thing with sallow skin – not at all a child one could love. Had he been a kitten I should have instructed Villiers to put him in a sack in the lake. Still, he has something of Boo’s baby about him which I find a little jolting. I have heard people say that all babies look alike, though, so I suppose it is only their babyness that I am observing. Josiah will not hear of him or his stupid mother leaving Blindingham. I have resolved to keep silent on the matter, for now.

Dearest Boo

I am Lady Hatherwick again at last! We waved farewell to London with heavy hands – I do so miss you and your darling boy. But hear this, Boo – Mr Hatherwick is to throw a Summer Ball! I am indeed the luckiest wife in all the county. You are invited of course, along with your menfolk, and I shall send cards to everyone in Town.

Sadly, Mr Hatherwick is intending to invite some of the London bores he so esteems, but fear not – there will be plenty of distractions to keep the ladies amused. Little Bradstone will sleep like a prince in our nursery. It is the nursery Mr Hatherwick slept in when he was a baby and he said to assure you that he would love your boy to make use of it.

Do not say you cannot come, Boo or I shall send Villiers in the carriage to fetch you himself!

We have decided to dress the orangery – I have some fancy ideas since my visit to the Glass Palace and I know that you will die when you see it. I must fly now and make the first of a million plans before I collapse with excitement.

Watch for the post boy, Boo and give your little man a kiss

From

His Auntie Eff xx

Blindingham Hall April 6th 1851

We are home. I feel like a visitor here but I am sure it will not be long until I resume my role as Lady of the Hall. I miss my London friends – how grown up that sounds – but I shall ask Josiah to hold a weekend party in the Summer. I shall enjoy showing off my home to them even though it is not in fashion.

Josiah had sent word of our return and Villiers had clearly done his best to whip the staff into shape. The Girl was at the head of the welcome line but at the sight of Josiah she set about weeping and wailing. I had no patience with her and told Villiers she must surely have recovered from being dismissed from London with such haste. I cannot have her dressing me with her wet face and snivelling. Cook seems to think she is driven mad by motherhood. I am inclined to send her away after all, or at least give her baby to someone who is not so silly. I shall speak to Josiah at dinner.

I am glad to have seen no sign of the infant himself, although I understand he can be heard at night. I am not sure I will tolerate that at all.

Oh, Boo

I cannot believe the time has come already for us to go home. I feel such a Londoner now. I have been so at home here that I could direct strangers to whichever destination they desired. But now Mr Hatherwick is a flurry of papers and boxes while he counts the days until we are once again Master and Mistress of Blindingham. He is as excitable as I am sad.

So, Boo, will you bring Little Bradstone and your good self to Brunswick Square for one last visit? I should so love to cuddle him – I swear I have enough hugging in me to last him til we come back next Winter!

Do say you can come, Boo. Not Wednesday – Mr Hatherwick has arranged a tiresome farewell for his associates here and I am called upon to nod like a doll at whatever they say. They are such bores but I must show some interest, if only for an afternoon – our future depends on it, I am told!

Til we meet

Yrs

E x