5th February 1868
It is strange to think that it has been and entire year since I turned 18 and officially became a debutante. This of course means that today is my nineteenth birthday, and what a ghastly day it has been. Mama started the day of by hinting that she is not at all content with the fact that I still remain single. It is hardly my doing that my darling sister Roberta secured the good fortune of her love her very first season. That was five years ago and although she does not like to admit such things, I am hardly the young Lady that my sister was at eighteen.
Things hardly improved at the dinner that papa held in honour if the occasion. The Earl of Grantham was of course was invited, so the if course meant that is was not so much a celebration dinner rather than an evening of mama advertising the good qualities of Alfred, the youngest Crawley brother. He of course is ever keen to back up my mother by informing me of his affection, that I simply cannot return. The oldest Crawley brother, Patrick, is already engaged to a Lady Katherine Holland. I have heard that she has a great fortune, and as the future Earl of Grantham I am sure that that is very important. I have never spoken to him as I have spoken to Alfred as he is ten years my senior, but during the general dinner conversation he sounds much more interesting than his younger brother.
The only redeeming feature of the day was that Roberta paid us a visit with her husband, Harold and her young children, Edith and George. They are such beautiful children that even William, the butler, cannot help but smile when they are around. Before they left Roberta gave me a present and it was this diary. She told me not to tell mama as she would think it was improper, and she is probably right.
Lady Violet Simonds