I´m locked in my room.
Read More
February 11th, 1763, night
Still, I´m in my room sitting over an empty sheet of paper.
My mother came up five times to check on my progress, every time getting more and more frustrated not to see a word on the page before me. Mrs. P. came and scolded me, whereas I literally threw her out on her ears.*
I wasn´t allowed to come down to dinner, unless I had finished the letter. How old am I? Twelve? I know, I´m not yet of age, but still, I´m not a little child - I might behave like one as to their lack of understanding - but all my sisters and also Jeremiah chose their spouses freely. I do not comprehend that there should be a scandal of me losing a fiancé, no matter how, and not marrying his brother, for God´s sake!
* In the north of England we get thrown out on our ears!
Read More
My mother came up five times to check on my progress, every time getting more and more frustrated not to see a word on the page before me. Mrs. P. came and scolded me, whereas I literally threw her out on her ears.*
I wasn´t allowed to come down to dinner, unless I had finished the letter. How old am I? Twelve? I know, I´m not yet of age, but still, I´m not a little child - I might behave like one as to their lack of understanding - but all my sisters and also Jeremiah chose their spouses freely. I do not comprehend that there should be a scandal of me losing a fiancé, no matter how, and not marrying his brother, for God´s sake!
* In the north of England we get thrown out on our ears!
February 11th, 1763
This mornings post brought me a letter from my fiancé, formally asking me to accept his hand. My mother, present at the table and endlessly inquiring from whom this letter is, that makes me turning pale as marble, finally snatched it from my hand, reading it to my brother and Mrs. P. At length they discussed the handwriting, each reading the note again and again, praising the style (which style?) and so on. When my father entered mother showed it to him, he only nodding his approval. She made me go up to my room to write a reply.
And there I sit now, writing this instead, trying to get a clear head and to find words suitable of an assent to send someone I know not, met only once before and whose brother I loathed.
Read More
And there I sit now, writing this instead, trying to get a clear head and to find words suitable of an assent to send someone I know not, met only once before and whose brother I loathed.
Letter from Lord C.
Leyland Manor, February 9th, 1763
My lady,
by writing this letter, I sincerely and kindly request the honour of your hand in marriage.
My late brother´s demise deprived you of your deserved security in life. Therefore I beg your consent to take over the privilege and duty in marrying you which my brother is no more able to fulfil.
Unfortunately my current responsibilities at the estate and in town making it impossible to propose to you in person, as both, propriety and courtesy demand. For this lack I beg your forgiveness, and
remain,
ever your servant,
F.C., Esq.
February 5th, 1763
Harriet came to visit me today and stayed for dinner. I have to keep her as much as possible near me before she leaves at the end of the month. Her parents are the happiest people. Mother quite out of sorts, that my friend is getting married before me. She reproached me for being so stubborn as to not being happy about my own engagement. Well, I´m certainly not engaged, for I wasn´t asked; but I´ll get married anyway. We will go to Leyland in April, before that I won´t see my fiancé.
I´ll be Harriet´s maid of honour and we were talking for hours about her beau, who seems to be quite what she wants in her companion. He´s well-read, she said, and has many writer-friends he wants her to meet. They´ll have a fine circle, I daresay. She´s going to be happy, and I´m envious. What a bad friend I am!
Read More
I´ll be Harriet´s maid of honour and we were talking for hours about her beau, who seems to be quite what she wants in her companion. He´s well-read, she said, and has many writer-friends he wants her to meet. They´ll have a fine circle, I daresay. She´s going to be happy, and I´m envious. What a bad friend I am!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
