Brunswick Square March 7th 1851

It is most vexing. I know for certain that I brought my brooch and my earrings to London and I simply cannot think where they have gone. I have seen no sign of the brooch since the night in Clacton when Josiah and I went for a walk and Boo is sure that my earrings did not become mislaid whilst at her house. I know I was wearing them, I always do at an evening party, but it seems they did not become detached along with my bonnet as I had thought. Josiah could not be less interested and refuses to undertake a more thorough search of the rooms here. He is preoccupied with a business venture he is engaged in as a result of our visit to that splendid Exhibition and will be investing capital in some device or another. It exercises him greatly when I try to interrupt his work with my prattle, he says. We are going home soon and I hate to think of my jewellery being lost forever on our travels. Josiah has sent ahead to have the staff open up the hall for our arrival. I should begin to pack, I suppose and say my goodbyes here.

My Dearest Friend Boo

I am beside myself with excitement – Oh, the things I have seen! I have been to another world, Boo, one with such amazing sights, I can hardly begin to tell you.

We waited for a long time with many others just as excited as me and oh, Boo, the building was tremendous. A glass palace from a fairytale. I thought the orangery at Blindingham was a beautiful setting, but this was a hundred times better. You could hardly see as far as the roof of it. And inside! Room upon room filled to bursting with clever contraptions and beautiful statues. I saw a weaving machine, a mechanical frame for roasting a pig, and carriages with springs in their wheels. Then in one room they showed us a device to do with laundering clothes that gets the job done in a fraction of the time. I must tell Villiers about it when we go home. There was music, the noise of machines and so many people shouting out in amazement. Oh, Boo – you should have seen it!

I confess to being a little shocked at the statues there were standing about. I am a married woman, as you know, but I felt a definite discomfort at being so close to an unclothed man, especially one in the act of kissing a woman. No matter that they were made of marble. Mr Hatherwick swept me past a few such pieces before we stopped for lunch.

I should think there were a thousand people there, and all with plenty to occupy their time. There were scientific men from other countries displaying their latest inventions and orchestras of players giving us the most beautiful music, some written especially for the Exhibition. I was filled with admiration for the imagination of the human mind, Boo, I don’t mind telling you.

I looked out for Mrs Doughty but I couldn’t see her. She evidently knows some wealthy men to have raised enough money to put on such a spectacle.

We came home tired but full of energy as well. The strangest feeling. Mr Hatherwick went straight to his study saying he had ideas for new investments or something. How exciting to think he might be involved in such industriousness again.

I must go now, Boo. Your boy is here to return my bonnet so I shall give him this and make his return journey worthwhile. I think I may have lost my earrings when I was last with you – the sapphire drops I had for my wedding outfit. Would you find a moment to ask your staff if they have seen them?

Kiss Little Bradstone for me

Effie xxx

Brunswick Square February 22nd 1851

My latest tea party was an absolute triumph. Everybody was happy and the conversation was not, this time, confined to kittens and the like. Mrs Doughty was telling us about the Great Exhibition which sounds like nothing I have ever seen. It is to be held inside an enormous hall and will show us all how advanced and cultured we have become. Mrs Doughty is on some committee or other to raise money for the presentation of it and she has met Prince Albert. She is a woman of the world and I feel privileged to call her a friend. I have told Josiah I should like to visit this Exhibition and he said he would be delighted to accompany me there – I think he may have a business connection in mind but no matter, as long as he takes me.

He was much taken with Boo’s little boy. My heart beat twice as fast to see him soften and bill at such a tiny baby. If I didn’t know him better I would say that he shed a tear as he gave him back to Boo. She was a little quiet, I thought, but I suppose she must be tired a lot these days.

When I told my guests we were leaving for Blindingham soon they were shocked, so much so that I felt quite proud and sad together. I have made good friends here and shall be sad not to have them close by. I have resolved to invite them all to the Hall just as soon as I am back in charge of it. I’m not sure whether Boo will come, but I shall invite her all the same.

Boo!

I am to have another tea on Wednesday. The Coopers will be there, and Mrs Doughty and Miss Guiser. May you come? I would love to see you and now that you are out and about again you could make it a project for you and that darling boy of yours. Oh, do say you’ll come!

I cannot believe we have been here nearly six months and will be back off to Blindingham soon. I have had such an exciting time here. I shall insist to Mr Hatherwick that we come back to Brunswick Square in September.

Send word as soon as you can and I’ll have the old Girl set up a nursing chair for you. Mr Hatherwick will send the carriage if that’s best. I know he would love to see you just as much as I. He has yet to see Little Bradstone, don’t forget. I shall not take no for an answer, Boo!

Yrs

E x

Brunswick Square February 10th 1851

I have heard from home that the Girl and her poor mite are getting along famously. I had hoped she would want to return to live with her own mother but Villiers says there is no room for them there. At present no-one in the village knows we are housing the bastard child of one of the staff but we cannot keep them hidden for long. I shall be forced to decide soon whether to keep her in employment. I have been too kind already and would dispense with her tomorrow, but Josiah is adamant that we should be charitable. I admire his sense of duty towards one who has served us well, but I do not share his view that we should allow the child to grow up at Blindingham. I should be the talk of the County for my softness and that does not sit well when trying to manage the household. Villiers says that all the serving girls behave as if the child is jointly mothered – thus allowing the Girl to undertake some light duties in return for her keep. It is a rum situation, though, and I cannot let it continue once I am Lady of the house again. The servants would be too busy laughing behind their hands to get much work done. I shall speak to Josiah. He is more approachable now his gout is a little dispersed.

Dearest Boo

You were right, Josiah will not countenance my running a school. Oh, I am so cross with him! I told him all my dreamings and plannings and he listened with such a sour face I thought he was ill. After I had finished explaining my notion he waved his handkerchief at me as if I was one of the staff, said ‘What nonsense you talk, woman!’ and went back to reading his newspaper.

I was left feeling like a silly fool and I confess I swept past his gouty foot as I got up to leave the room. How he roared! I shall pretend to be sorry later but I am not.

I am not going to give up my idea yet, not after all my efforts to think it up. But I shall not ask Josiah for help until his gout has left him. Heavens, we may even have to go to Cheltenham or Bath for a treatment. I shall do whatever I need to turn his mood in my favour!

Until next time, Boo. Give Little Bradstone a big wobble and a kiss

From

His Aunt Effie x

Brunswick Square January 27th 1851

Josiah has the Gout. The Doctors say it is due to living too well but Josiah will not have it and thinks he is not long for the world. I am having to tend to his feet with the foulest poultices and each evening I sit with him to ensure he only has sugared water and oatcakes, not the livers and clarets he is used to. Cook may have served us royally over the festive season but I fear she has brought misery upon the household…

Josiah is short with me too often and he speaks to the Old Girl with less good temper than he would to a dog. She seems not to notice, though. The other Girl would have wept a sea of tears had he spoken to her that way. I must send word home to see how she and her infant are keeping. We are not planning a return to Blindingham until the Spring and I do want to know what sort of welcome awaits us then.

I told Boo of my decision to open a school in the village when we return. I have long been feeling too silly in the company of her friends and I am tired of discussing bonnets whenever we meet. Boo said she thought it a fine plan but that Josiah will be hard to persuade. She says he will think it unwomanly for me to oversee a business. How well she knows him.

My Dear Darling Boo

We have had the most cosy time at home, Mr Hatherwick and I. He was not required to see to any business for a good four days and he decided to concentrate all his attentions on me – his grateful, lucky and very spoiled wife!

Cook surpassed herself with the meals she provided and the Old Girl proved very helpful when dressing me and bringing me hot water when I wanted to wash. She is much more attentive than the Girl was and I find that she is able to be with me for almost the whole day, such that I have clean forgotten where the servants’ bell is.

The Girl used to spend a good part of her time seeing to Mr Hatherwick’s needs, but this one doesn’t spend half so much time with him. Bless him, he says he can well do without her and that if I want her I should feel welcome to her. God love him.

May I call next Tuesday? I have something secret to tell you that I dare not commit to paper. I have made a decision! A proper, grown up decision!

Yrs

E x

December 22nd 1850 Brunswick Square

We have a new Girl. Well, she is to undertake the duties of a Girl but I should think it is along time since the word girl has been used to describe her. She is personable enough and comes with exemplary references and I am greatly relieved to have someone to dress me again at last, but somehow I do not see me exchanging confidences with her. There is something dingy about her, as if she washes infrequently. I have counted fewer teeth in her head than in Boo’s baby. She sports hairs in places she should not and her voice reminds me of the man who tends the cattle at home. Still I think she will do well here. Josiah was not impressed with her, but he did give me sole responsibility for finding someone. He has said he probably will not need her services much. I should feel I have failed him in appointing her, but I do not.