Dearest Boo

How lovely it was to meet your friend Mrs Doughty yesterday. You are quite the best hostess and you have so many interesting friends. I found the afternoon went too quickly and am laughing to myself remembering some of the intimacies she was good enough to share! It has certainly eased the boredom of being in Town without Mr Hatherwick, who has been called back to the Hall on some matter of the estate. Tiresome business, running a large house in the Country, but it must be done, I suppose.

I have been walking much around the City. How quickly people move here and how occupied they seem to be. In Blindingham it is a matter for remark if one meets another soul at all on one’s walk. There, if you happen upon another person engaged in outdoor exercise it is expected that you should pause a while and exchange a pleasantry or two. In London, although there are many people about I cannot imagine even one of them smiling as they hurry by.

I was perhaps hasty in expecting my time here to be full of social event. Save for your darling self I should be quite devoid of company. I know that your condition prevents you from dancing – you are to be spared the spectacle of my parochial pavane for a good while yet, Boo – but I wonder whether you could walk with me a little. Tomorrow afternoon? Or the day after?

Do send word by return if you can find energy enough to stroll with me. I am strong and can be relied upon to take your arm should you need rest!

I shall stand by the window and watch for the boy with the mail.

Yrs

E x

My Darling Boo

It is true then what they say about the bloom of impending motherhood. You looked positively ripened when you called to see me yesterday. Full as a melon!

But why ever did you keep the secret from me, Boo, you silly goose? I am beside myself with joy for you and Mr Pitt. I told Mr Hatherwick your news the very second he came home and his face was a picture to behold. I declare I have never seen him lost for words before. He enquired as to the date of your expected confinement and when I told him it would be near to Christmas he stood stock still for a full minute. He is such a sensitive man, my husband. Do you know, I am convinced that he had been preparing to surprise me with a party, at which you and Mr Pitt would have been guests of honour. His shock upon hearing your news was because he will not now be able to entertain you as he would wish. I am sure of it.

I am quite envious of you, Boo, I cannot tell untruths. I do so long for a baby of my own – a little Effie or Josiah. I quicken at the thought of it. Seeing you look so well and knowing what delights await you I feel certain that I wish to join you in maternal bliss.

Thinking this way has given me an idea. I shall put away my pen for today and ask the Girl to draw my bath early. Mr Hatherwick is expected home before eight this evening and I think it timely for me to make myself available to him after dinner.

Til next we meet, Boo – goodness, I am so excited for you and for us both!

Give my best to Mr Pitt. Or should I call him Pitter-patter now? Oh, see how giddy I am with my new adventure!

Yrs

Effie x

Dearest Boo

Pray don’t wait til Wednesday but come as soon as Mr Pitt can spare you……

E x

My Dearest Boo

Thank you for your note, which the Boy brought up this morning. How exciting that you are to be Wintering so close by! I am delighted with your plans for us and will be sure to bring my finest dresses so that I may attend as many parties as I can. I have been so short of intelligent company here and will devour every piece of gossip that passes before me. How clever you are to have sought out the most fashionable people and how excited I am to be meeting them with you!

Mr Hatherwick has declared himself delighted with the services of the Girl and is keen to take her to London in advance of our planned arrival so that she may prepare the rooms for me. How thoughtful he is. I am so fortunate to have married a man who takes notice of domestic arrangements. He is most anxious that I am to concentrate on my own interests and not to concern myself with household duties. Lord bless him, he has even instructed the staff here not to bother me with news of his comings and goings.

“Effie,” he said to me only yesterday, “You must not tire yourself with watching out for me to arrive home. Go through your day as if it matters not whether I am present.” How many wives can claim to enjoy such solicitous attention from their husbands, Boo? Not many, I would venture.

Oh, Boo it will not be long now before you and I are arm in arm together in Town. I wish to hear everything and anything of your life in London. Are you and Mr Pitt still enjoying married life? I should not ask such an intimate question, I know, but I am keen to know that you are happy.

So, til Monday next, Dear Boo. I see from my window that Mr Hatherwick and the Girl are setting my cases onto the carriage and I must go down to ensure that they are strapped tight. The Girl is strong-bodied but a bit simple, I fear. She was engaged in our employ whilst I was away visiting Mother, so I do not know where she was in service prior to that. Mr Hatherwick says he had to spend a goodly amount of time with her before she understood exactly what he wanted her to do.

Boo! I must leave off writing this minute! The Girl must have fallen from the mounting plate! I can see that Mr Hatherwick has her in his arms and she seems fainted dead away! How fortuitous that he was so close by when she fell.

Monday, Boo, Monday!

Yrs

Effie x

My Dearest Boo,

We have taken rooms in Town for the Winter and you and I are to be neighbours! Soon the Hatherwicks shall be ‘at home’ to the very best visitors London can provide – I cannot wait for the day you and I can walk on the Heath and talk about old times. Dear Boo.

We are closing the Hall down, leaving only the necessary staff, and shall bring with us the very best servants in all of the County. We have a Man for the carriages, a Cook for the kitchen and a Girl for everything else. I asked for a Lady’s maid as well, but Mr Hatherwick thinks a Girl should suffice. No matter.

Boo, what of your plans for the Winter? Will you be dancing? Do you know all the best places to be seen, I am sure that you do. Oh, Boo – I can hardly breathe for the anticipation of it all!

This will be a short letter – the lad is already on our approach and I wish him to take it away with him, the sooner that you can start to plan our adventure!

Do write back, Boo, as soon as you can. We shall be leaving here on Saturday and arriving in London the day after. I shall want to see you immediately. As soon as Mr Hatherwick has established us in the rooms. He says he wants to settle the Girl in to her duties without delay and that I am to busy myself by filling up the social calendar. I am such a lucky wife!

Yrs

Effie x