Letter Game 2

25 May 15111

My dear Laina, 2

I do believe that this will bring us laughs later in life, most probably because it shall remind us of Nigel’s most irritating, but hilarious behavior.  Your crocheting I am sure will improve with time, especially if you stop trying new dance steps while you crochet—it ravels the yarn quite a bit, and utterly destroys the piece itself.  I do hope that Madame Pricilla will allow you to spend more time on your dancing than on your crocheting because she will see more improvement—if possible! on the former than on the latter because you enjoy dancing so much.  3

Henry will end up making himself sick by trying too hard to prove Columbus wrong.  Columbus went all the way to India and even met the natives.  Well, he does have a nautically inclined mind, as we have all seen, but if he wants to prove Columbus wrong, he should get Richard to help him with his equations—Henry always did even worse with them than I did!  4

Is Marie actually that hard to be around?  You would think that with a mother as sweet as Lady Hereford, at least one of their seven children would have turned out nicely, but, then again, their father is as irritating a person as can ever be.  The only child in that family who is anywhere close to being a gentleman is Robert, and he is to be married to an Irish heiress in a few weeks.  Have you noticed how many Roberts and Henrys we have in England these days?  If our people do not stop naming their sons Robert and Henry, and their daughters Katherine, Mary, and Anne, we shall have hundreds of people coming whenever we call one of those names.5

Who is Madame Pricilla suggesting to you?  If she ever suggests one of the Parr men, you would do well to accept.  They are kind and sweet—and not very old, which is good for us.  I really don’t know what I would do if Mother or Father said that I was to marry someone who was as old as fifty.  It would be a horrifying experience to be married to someone that old, I would think—most peculiar, at the least.  Well, just keep me informed about your marriage prospects, and I will do the same with mine as Mother and Father suggest them.6

Laina, dear, I think that you should get one of those flowing dresses—you know, the old style dresses that don’t have absolutely ridiculous hoops underneath?  They are much more comfortable and easy to dance in, even if they are old-fashioned.  I still treasure my three and wear them often, especially the dark green one that you say makes my eyes look more green than blue.  I plan to wear it when I first meet anyone I want to impress.7

As for you, I think that a blue or purple would look lovely with your skin and hair.  Those colors always seem to make your skin possess the rosy gleam that I cannot cultivate in my own, no matter how much I try.  Oh, well.  I shall try buttermilk on those freckles that keep appearing on my face from being outside so much, and hope for the best.8

We have been at Dumfries nine days, now, and will be leaving here on the morrow for Ayr.  There is a monastery there that Mother wants very much to see.  I believe that one of her favorite cousins is a nun at the convent near it, and she also wants to visit her.  9

Waiting—most impatiently, in fact—for your next letter, I am,10

Your loving friend, Katriona 11

27 May 151112

Dear Kat, 13

The day after last I wrote, Madame Priscilla and I headed into town to have dresses made.  I chose a deep purple gown that I hope will give me no trouble while dancing at the ball in a few days.  I also found an adorable hairpiece which I am very excited to wear—I can hardly wait for the ball anymore!  While at the dress shop, I came across something quite odd.  Anne (I can see where you are coming from with the name comment), the dressmaker, is saying there will be something very innovative in women's dress soon called the corset.  She says it goes around the waist to make the body appear smaller.  All I know is I will do everything in my power not to wear one; they sound positively dreadful.14

Well, as you know, every time Madame Priscilla goes to town, she must stop at the parlor and catch up on the latest gossip.  She can talk for hours, you know, so I took my leave to go around town by myself (I know that would never be approved of unless I asked at the precise moment someone begins to tell an outrageous thing Lady Kentsworth did on Friday, in which I get only a quick brush-over to be safe and quickly proceed out the door before the story ends).15

I quickly got in mind to buy a replacement for the book I lost last winter in the woods.  Father does not yet know that it is missing, and I would prefer to keep it that way.  You know I couldn't very well help it, what with Nigel throwing snowballs at us and all.  Retaliation was in store for him when he got snow in my hair.  Anyways, I went down the street looking for a bookstore, and found a small one around the corner.  It was very quaint, and even had a bell on the door to let people know when you come in.  As I entered I saw a young man, just a little older than us, writing furiously on a piece of parchment.  After a moment he looked up, startled when he saw me, and for an instant I think there was an expression of confusion on his face before he recovered enough to ask if I was in need of service.  I couldn't help but notice that he was quite handsome, even if a little disheveled.  I asked him about the book I needed, and he showed me to the appropriate section.  I exclaimed over a favorite book of mine, and this led into a two-hour discussion on various types of books.  I don't think I have had such an enjoyable discussion since you were here.  Well, the time must have passed faster than usual, because the next thing I hear is Madame Priscilla demanding to know where I've been for the past two hours (as if she doesn't already know, seeing as she is standing right next to me).  I apologized to William (that is his name), paid for my book, and we promptly took our leave.  I sat through a lecture on propriety the whole way home, but other than that I had an enjoyable afternoon.  William was very knowledgeable, and, if I may speak honestly, I do hope to see him again.16

I am quite glad you are doing well, and I appreciate the advice; my dress flows very nicely.  I hope you receive this in Ayr, but if you don't I am sure this will be sent to wherever you are currently visiting.17

Hope to hear from you soon,18

Elaine19