10 December, 1830

Mansfield Parsonage

Dear Jamie,

Just a short note, for you will be home soon! I beg your pardon, you will be here at Mansfield Parsonage soon. I am quite beside myself with anticipation of having both you and Richard here. It will be like old times!

I know nothing can ever be like the past, as we have outgrown our childish selves, and times have changed, but for the three of us to be together again will be delightful, even if Richard does patronize me. After all, when has he ever done anything different?

Mama has invited Mr. and Miss Fulke to spend Christmas Day with us, as they are all alone. Lucy quite kindly said that they prefer to spend the morning by themselves, carrying out some family traditions, but they would be more than pleased to join us in the evening—she would not presume to accept for dinner. Mama insisted, and so our dinner at Mansfield Park shall consist of Papa, Mama, and me, you; Mr. and Miss Fulke; Aunt Bertram, Sir Thomas, and Richard; Aunt Maria; Aunt and Uncle Yates and Thea; Aunt de Lacey and Sir Frederick (yes! Sir Frederick shall tear himself away from his estate long enough to pay us a visit at long last) and Isabella; and Miss Cooke and the Misses Greyes, Miss Cooke's aunts whom she is visiting.

It does seem a pity to introduce a strange element into our family gathering, but Aunt B. is determined Richard shall fall in love with Miss Cooke. And, to be perfectly just, the Fulkes are not family either, and I have no qualms about them coming!

Miss Chatsworth has not spread any rumours regarding Mr. Fulke and me—at least, none that I have heard. I am uncertain whether this is due to my rebuke, or the fact that she still hopes to win his heart, and cannot do so in the form of a gossiping miss who has slandered his good name. At any rate, my good name, such as it is, has remained untarnished, and people continue to think of poor Mr. Fulke as a sullen, unpleasant fellow.

Lucy, when I dropped a few hints, said her brother has never been in love to her knowledge, so the mystery deepens as to what his particular trouble could be. I hope he will exert himself to be pleasant at Christmas, for I so want you to think well of both of them. No one could help but think well of Lucy, but her brother, I fear, lends himself to misunderstanding.

Adieux, dear Jamie, I shall see you soon!

Always your loving,

Cass.


Author's Note: I have neglected this story far too long, and Cass has recently started reprimanding me for it. She is quite the feisty, determined one, as should be obvious by her letters, and so I have really no choice but to yield to her demand and start chronicling her tale again. My apologies for the shortness of this letter; hopefully the next one will be longer and more entertaining.