Dear Mammy,
I'm not even sure if I've told you yet, but I've got a new job! And would you believe it's nowhere less than the Holt estate? I haven't asked if I'm allowed to have visitors yet, but if I can, I really want you to come see this place! Did you know they have a rhino head in the library? A real, actual rhino head from a real, actual rhino! I'm gonna get him a nice little hat someday, but only when no one sees me doing it. But I'm sure Shiro's gonna notice right away anyway. Shiro is the Earl's personal attendant, and kinda sorta my boss. He's really good at a lot of stuff but he'd definitely notice a hat on the rhino, even if it's a small one. But that rhino is absolutely dying for something pink, maybe if it's good enough Shiro will leave it on.
Don't get the wrong idea about him, though, he's really nice. He always brings me tea when I have a headache and says he'll pick up the slack. I swear he makes the best tea you've ever had, I don't know why he wanted to employ ME of all people. My job here is mostly doing the laundry and cleaning and stuff… okay so maybe you're not the MOST proud of me, but they feed me pretty well here. Our cook is super talented, so I always make sure to help him with the taste-testing. But usually he just wants me to read him the recipe cards, since he still has trouble reading English. And sometimes he even wants me to help him with the actual cooking stuff, even though he's way better at it than me. Not that I'm BAD at cooking, if you don't count the plum stew episode, which I wish you would stop doing.
There's horses here too, but I don't help out with those. Have you ever noticed how big those things are? They just seem so much bigger than usual nowadays. I guess I must be getting timid in my old age, ha ha.
But of course I know you don't care about THAT, you just want to hear about the Earl! I guess that's supposed to be kind of private, though, you know how rich people are. I don't get a lot of one-on-one time with him, anyway, but so far he seems quiet and not all that happy. He seems to have some really rough nights, too. Should probably just leave it at that.
I'm gonna ask Shiro about visitors the next time I see him! I really want you to come see this place, you'd love the gardens. That's where this iris petal came from, hope it survives the journey home.
Love,
Lance