Chapter Ten

Dear Marion,

So glad to know you found work and are settled in Milton. We all miss you. Daniel most of all, he still hasn't quite mastered cooking yet. We're all fine and just about managing without you.

It's so different here without you, and it's still not a change I particularly like.

Gwen told me to tell you how her tooth fell out; we found Robbie the other day surrounded by cake crumbs and all the cakes were gone. Clara misses you a lot and mumbles how unfair it is that she now has to do everything (she doesn't do everything but we all know what she is like) and wants you back home as soon as possible.

We got a letter the other day, from your friend Lady Ella. Tom seems to have misplaced it somewhere, so we will send it through when we find it.

I will tell you again about those promises you made to me, and we are waiting for your return in just less than three months, we want to hear all your stories from Milton.

Send my love to Mrs Frasier for me.

And I send my love to you, my daring girl. Please stay safe and if you become unhappy at any time, please come straight back home.

Lots of Love

Father.

Isabelle's Diary.

Tuesday Evning- Evening.

My name is Isabelle. This is my daery- diary. Marian- Marion is teaching me to reed- read and write. I must write in it evry- every day to practice.

Today we practiced spelling. I know a lot of words, but not awlays- always how to spell them, so Marion is teaching me.

I now can spell Invention and Inventor.

She has given me a short story to read, I think she wrote it herself. It's about a golden haired girl. I have only just started it.

Tomorrow I am teaching Marion basic ideas and simple inventions.

Wendesday- Wednesday evening.

Today, I showed Marion how to use pulleys. They are so uzeful- useful. She seemed to really like it.

Father was out most of the day, and says he has to go again tomorrow, maybe for several days. He needs to sell his cloks- clocks and so must go far away.

I miss him when he is gone.

But I have Marion to talk to, so I'm not very lonly- lonely anymore!

To Marion,

Just writing to ask if you will be in the clearing this Sunday, if you haven't got anything more pressing happening. If you do, I understand.

I'm sorry again that my stories didn't have an ending, or were as well told as yours, I will try harder in future.

How is teaching Isabelle going? I'm sure you have no problems, she's a bright girl, and I'm sure you are an amazing tutor!

I hope to see you soon, if you want to see me of course.

All the best

Jack.

Dear Jack,

Yes I will be heading to the clearing on Sunday, maybe I will meet you there.

You still owe me a decently told story with an actually ending! I can't believe how much you short changed me for that! I must have talked for hours and hours and you hardly said a word.

Isabelle is just perfect. She picks everything up so quickly, and she is so very eager. She finished the short story I wrote her within the night. Clearly I need to write longer ones. At least I write ones with endings!

She's also teaching me how to use mechanical things, we've covered pulleys and knots so far. You never know when this might come in handy.

Think of a story, a good one, and I'll see you on Sunday.

From a very impatient Marion.

Dear Marion,

How are you? What is Milton like, you must write to me to tell me everything.

Christopher is so good to me, he took me to a cottage by the seaside two weeks ago, for a little holiday. It was divine. We swam in the sea and took walks down on the sand, it was so romantic and perfect. And the house was like a miniature palace, so beautiful.

I wish when you marry, you enjoy the same happiness I have found with my husband.

Jaqueline sends her love to you, and inquires after how you are doing. She's settled into life in the palace now quite well, and has busied herself in re ordering the servants timetables, their breaks and shifts and so forth.

James also asked after you, and looked very disappointed when I had no news for him. He actually asked me for your address in Milton so he could stop by to say hello, (in fact he even offered to personally deliver this letter) but considering even I don't know your current address, I had to disappoint him. Did something happen between the two of you? You were getting on so well at the Wedding, and James keeps asking if you are happy all the way in Milton. Of course, that is your own business if you do not want to tell me, but please do! I would so like to know!

Christopher tells me that they have made a little progress with the matter of Lady Kingston, or Evil as you call her. They can arrest her on the charge of stealing or robbery or something like that, I don't remember all the details, but they can't charge her with cruelty. And so, we're still a little stuck with what to do exactly.

Please write back soon, I'm eagerly awaiting news of what Milton is like. And please give me your address, I had to send this to your fathers house, and I hate that he had to pay to send two letters. Tell him I will give him the money for the post next time you write. Thank you!

Write soon!

Lots of love.

Ella Howards (that still looks so strange to me!)

Dear Ella,

I have been here in Milton for a month now, and I find it suits me very well here. I am now working as a seamstress, and I'm finally gaining Madam Cartwright's trust enough to begin to take on my own orders. I have a very talkative new friend who I live with, and while she is lovely and friendly, she could win a national competition for talking. Sometimes I just long for peace and quiet.

I also discovered, after a few hours here, that Jack Hale ( the servant boy who danced with me at your wedding) lives here. He works for Christopher's friend Adam. Small world.

Anyway, he was so friendly and welcoming to me. And I've discovered he draws. His artwork is amazing! You'll have to come and visit just so you can see it.

I've also met an incredible young girl called Isabelle. She's the same age as Clara and she is an inventor. Some of the things she makes are just ingenious. We have a deal, I teach her to read and write, and she teaches me basic mechanics. I can't say that I'm very good yet, but I can now tie a pretty good knot.

I've enclosed my address so you can write straight to me. You can tell James where I live, but a visit is a little out of the question, due to the fact I have a tiny apartment which I share with another girl so here, there will simply not be enough space for him. And if he makes a sly comment after you tell him this, feel free to punch him; do it for me, as I would. No doubt he will probably laugh at that.

If you see my family, tell them I'm always thinking about them and I miss them. I will back home in a few months so you have to come and see me. I want to hear all about living in a palace and being the future duchess of the region ( how high and mighty you must feel.)

I speak in jest of course, you will make an excellent Duchess, I know you will.

Send my love to Christopher and Jaqueline for me will you.

All the best.

Marion.

To Marion.

Will you be in the forest again on Sunday?

Please say you will, I enjoy our little meetings.

Jack

PS- did my story meet the standard this week?

Dear Jack.

Yes, you don't need to keep asking me if I will be there! I told you I would be. Is this some sort of strange 'I need this in writing so I can prove you said it' thing?

I enjoy our meetings to, rather a lot.

Marion.

PS- Well that one actually had an ending, so yes; it meets the basic requirements.

Dear Browns.

Just to let you know I'm doing very well in Milton. I've now properly settled in to my routine at Madam Cartwright's over the month and a half I have been here. And yes, before you ask, I have secured permission to have a week off work at the beginning of September ( exactly three months after I left!) so I can come home for a few days.

Clara and Daniel, I'm sorry I left you at home to do all the housework, I'm sure it must be very difficult for you two doing it together, for only a month and a half, so much more difficult than when I did it for a year by myself. And I'm glad to hear, Daniel, that your cooking has improved. I look forward to sampling it, and hopefully not getting food poisoning.

Tom, Robbie and Gwen, I can't wait to see how big you are getting now!

Richard, you promised me you'd make me something when I get back, I'm looking very much forward to it!

Alexander, I'm sure your looking out for all them. Don't you dare ever stop, or you will answer to me! I'm sure I have nothing to worry about though, so keep up the good work.

Father, please stop worrying, I know you will be. I am fine. I'm eating enough and I have friends here in Milton now and I have a good life here, so do not worry!

I will see you all in September.

Lots of love.

Marion.

Isabelle's diary. Friday night

Marion has been teaching me for two months now, and I can spell a lot of words now! And my reading is getting very good according to Marion. She even lent me her own book, the folk tales of Exodia! It's a collxion- collection of short stories, so it is good reading practice. I like the one about long golden haired princess!

I have taught Marion how to use levers, how it makes things easier to lift, especially if it a large one. I want to show her cogs next. She seems to be very excited about learning all of this. I like her a lot. She's really my only friend. Jack is my friend too, but he is always at the castle with Lucien and Agnes so I don't get to see him.

Father gets back from his trip tomorrow, he has been gone for 3 days. I want to see him again, I miss him.

My Lady Marion,

I'm not quite sure how to begin this letter, I've tried many times and thrown a lot of paper in the fire as a result. I suppose I should start with a hello.

Ella finally told me your address, and also showed me the little section of the letter you sent her. And yes, I did laugh at that. How do you already know me so well? You are completely right about most things, it's very annoying. Could you try and be wrong every now and again to leave something for us poor mortals!

How is Milton? You know, it is also not that far from my father's estate, maybe about a days journey at the most. And every so often I may feel the need to visit Adam. (Well, not really. Adam, he's a miserable snobbish sort of person, very cold.) I now know exactly where you live, both in Milton and Rault, and so you may find someone knocking on your door in the near future.

I'm terribly sorry for what happened at the wedding. I'm still not completely sure what happened, but I will apologise for it anyway. And I realise I maybe should not have upset you by telling you of Ella's situation at a celebration, that was foolish of me, and a mistake I cannot apologise enough for. Clearly I now need to see you face to face to say it to you.

Please feel free to write to me, I'm staying with Christopher and Ella, and that stepsister of hers who I still can't remember the name of. To be honest I'm not sure which is worse, going home to be with my father, or staying here and watching the newly weds be annoyingly sweet with each other. They are just so perfect for each other and it's making me want to vomit most of the time. I miss having you here, at least our conversations had a little argumentative spirit in them!

But on a more serious note, please write back to me, just to let you know you are alright. I would hate to think anything happened to you and you have no one to call to for help. Please know that if you ever need help, for anything at all, I will always be not far away.

Now, I must leave you be, and go back to the most perfect of perfect couples; forgive me while I retch quietly in a corner.

Please write soon.

Your humble servant,

Lord Smug

James.

To Jack,

Before you even ask, yes I will be in the forest on Sunday. You seem to send almost a weekly letter to ask, so I thought this week I will beat you to it.

Also, those drawings you keep say are not finished, can I see them yet?

You must have been 'finishing them off' for two months now. Surely they must be good enough for me to see!

It only leaves me to ask, will you be in the forest on Sunday. I do so look forward to our meetings, they are the highlight of my week.

Anxiously waiting for a response,

Marion.

To Marion,

Yes, I will be in the forest.

And I look forward to our little meetings too. I love spending time with the most amazing girl.

The drawings are not finished yet.

From

Jack.

Lord Smug,

You've discovered me at last. I tried my best to hide, but you have sought me out. Whatever am I to do?

Milton suits me very very well. I love the freedom to do as I please. I've never had that before. I'm not sure if it's being in Milton, or being away from my family and the responsibilities. I'm working as a seamstress and a sort of part time tutor. Are you sure I'm not to lowly for your high self to be associating with?

How could you possibly be annoyed with Ella and Christopher? They are angels in the world, and so perfect for each other, they could never ever be too sickly sweet.

I hope the sarcasm comes across on the page.

Clearly, it must be so hard for you, to live in the palace, surrounded by kind hearted people, and with enough money to do what ever you wish. The rest of us poor mortals have to work all day every day to simply put food on the table. Yes, your life is so very hard.

All joking aside, please do not trouble yourself with what happened at the wedding. I asked to be told, that was my decision, and I accept the consequences of that. You deserved to have a lovely night.

I'm sure it will not surprise you to learn that once I got to Milton, I decided to challenge myself and I am now learning basic mechanics from a local inventor.

Yes, I am possibly insane.

I'm pretty sure I will never be much good at it, but I enjoy the lessons and I can now tie a decent knot.

I've also discovered that my friend Jack, the ginger haired one, lives here in Milton too. It was so nice to have a friendly face when I arrived here.

Now I have written to you, you must also write back to me. To not do so would demonstrate a great lack of manners, and I would be forced to add Impolite to your name. I don't think Lord Impolite and Smug has quite the same ring to it.

And about the other matter about dropping in, I really do not have space. If you ever saw my apartment, you would understand. And there is also the matter of my roommate, Amelia. You would never hear the end of it, I would never hear the end of it. And trust me, you would hear her even as you left Milton. She does so like to talk. She is lovely and friendly, don't get me wrong, but she likes to talk, a lot. Also, Madam Cartwright, my employer and Landlady made it very clear to me that no males are ever allowed to step foot inside the apartment, apart from my father and brothers.

Believe me when I say that you do not want to incur her wrath, you really do not.

Anyway, I hope you write back soon, I missed our conversations.

Your friend

Marion.

Isabelle's diary.

I have been learning to write and read for two and a half months now, and I'm definitely improving. I can spell a lot of words now, and Marion has been telling me to read stories.

Even though it is still a little tricky, I really like reading. I read almost as much as I make things

Father had been busy with work again. He is at home, but he has been locked in his workroom room for most of the day. He works so hard.

It's starting to get a little darker now, it is nearly the end of August after all, and so I cannot stay up that late reading. Father thinks that's good for my eyes, not reading so much.

I'm teaching Marion tomorrow, we may look over cogs.

Good night.

To Marion,

I beat you to the note this time. Just to inform you I will be in forest on Sunday. I know you said you are returning home to Rault soon, and I can't remember if it is this week or next week. I will be at the clearing regardless. I'll wait as long as I have to.

I'd like to see you before you leave.

Love from Jack.

Dear Jack,

Yes, I will be there this week, I journey home the following week.

I'd like to see you before I go too.

Love from Marion.