January 19, 1926
To: Lady Rosamund Painswick
35 Belgrave Square, London
From: Edith Pelham, Marchioness of Hexham
Brancaster Castle, Northumberland
My dear aunt,
We are arrived safely and settling into Brancaster. Thank you again for the lovely dinner party you threw in our honor and to wish Rose and Atticus safe voyage. I hope very much that he will transfer back next year, as I would be delighted to meet little Victoria. It would be wonderful to have all the children to Brancaster for Christmas. I pray there will be a new Pelham to join in the fun.
The weather is frightfully cold. Bertie has told me amusing tales of snow fights he and Peter had as children, but there is only a light frost on the ground. The house is dreadfully drafty — there has not been a Lady Hexham hereabouts for more than 20 years, and it certainly shows. Bertie did what he could, but with Peter gone so much, it is all quite outdated, aside from Mother Margaret's apartment. I took a tour of the south wing rooms, and I dare say modernising them shall consume much of the spring and summer.
Bertie is very well. He dotes on me and Marigold, and my love for him grows daily. Hourly! He always makes time for us, though he has been busy since the instant we arrived back at Brancaster. Several of the cottages need repairs, and there are tenant vacancies to fill. He is selling the house in London and the house in Brighton, as we need the money for death duties, and likely one of the farms, which is more painful for him.
He won't take a dime from me from the magazine — he wants it all to be saved for Marigold, which is so kind. But I will use some of the profits to redo the rooms here. It is my home and hers now, after all.
How is London? Have you seen much of Sir Charles? You were very sly at dinner, I must say. I won't press you on it, but I will say he seemed a very nice man.
With love,
Edith
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Author's note: I had such fun writing "Perfectly Wonderful," I decided to keep going, but in letter form. There is one letter per month, alternating between Edith and Bertie's POVs.