Morning! Although we had weather warnings for fog today, we didn't get any and the weather is glorious! It's still freezing, but the sun is shining and I can't wait for spring to get here!

Thanks for all the recs! Now I know what I'll be doing at the weekend lol.

Fragments of friendship, made by women in the Victorian Era, used their ingenuity and clever hands to fashion objects to give away including the letters they so carefully wrote. Many would take care to turn an ordinary envelope into a work of art with illustrations and or painted script, and even addresses rendered with intricate pinpricks. And Sealing wax was a favorite way to protect the contents of the envelope.

November 23rd, 1843

...

Master Edward Cullen

My Dearest Isabella,

I hope this letter finds you well and not too tired. Father had given me an idea of his plans before I left, and although I was sure that you would not approve of them, I hope you have conceded to them. I know that you have worked tirelessly over the years, but please bear in mind that Father is doing this for your own good and for the benefit of you and young Charles. I hope you catch my humor here when I say that I had a very good daydream about you and Father arguing in your kitchen at home?

It pleases me to no end that you are headstrong and know what you want, but please also take care.

The fright you gave me over your health worried me so and I hate that feeling. I wish to know that you are well and happy and content, not tired, ill or upset.

I know I am acting rather forward in regard to the contents of this letter, but it is only because I am so happy from our last conversation before I left for town. I tried writing to you sooner, but with Christmas just a month away, business has been very busy indeed. Do you have plans for Christmas, Isabella? If not, would you mind if I extended an invitation to you and Charles for the festivities? I know you will have work to do at the farm, but with the conversion of the Oast houses nearing completion, I know that farmhands will be there to help for a few days, at least. Please consider, as I could not bear to think of you and young Charles on your own in that farmhouse for the first time since your mother passed.

Changing the subject of the previous paragraph, have you heard from Alice recently? I am not sure you are one for gossip, so please forgive me if I come across as sounding like one of the village's gossip mongers, but it seems as though my brother has asked permission to court her. I am sure that I heard her squeals of excitement and felt his happiness radiate all the way to town. I am so happy for the pair of them and especially to call such a sweet girl my sister. I am sure that you feel happiness for them, too, no doubt, and will soon be able to tell me so when I come home in just a few short weeks.

Well, this letter is long indeed, and I must return to work, or I shall fear that I will not be home in time for Christmas. And speaking of Christmas once again, Isabella, I have no idea what kind of gift young Charles would like. Maybe you could help me with that?

And here I shall leave you, until the next time I find the right words to send.

Yours, as always,

Edward.

With the letter signed and sealed, I relied on my servant to see that it was sent in a timely manner and that Isabella would receive it no later than the day after next. As soon as that was done, I pulled on my jacket and hat and made my way to work.

Work was now very busy with the festive season just around the corner and I knew that I would not be sleeping very much between now and when I was able to go home.

Benjamin met my carriage as soon as it pulled up to the gates outside my extensive block of offices with a smile on his face and a bounce in his step.

"And why are you so cheery at this time of the morning?" I asked with a grin.

"My sweet one gave birth to my son last night and I made merry until I could not see the stairs and fell asleep at the bottom of them," he laughed, and I joined in.

"That is well news indeed, is she fine and healthy? And what of the boy, how large were his lungs?" I joked as I clapped him on the back and walked us inside.

"He's a strapping boy and came into the world at over eight pounds with large lungs indeed. It pained me to leave them this morning, but without work we would have nothing," he smiled as he opened the office door and on my desk was a cup of tea and some small biscuits.

"You really do too much for me, Ben, thank you." I smiled widely as I sat down and picked up the tea in one hand and a letter in the other.

The day passed quickly enough and by the time it was growing dark, I was exhausted and ready to head home.

I still despised the house, with it being just myself and the household staff there, it was very empty indeed and I felt so alone.

It wasn't until I walked through the front door, after giving Ben the rest of the week off to be with his wife and new child, did my spirits lift up.

A letter had arrived from mother to say that she expected to be with me by the end of the week, Friday at the very latest, and that she had a surprise for me.

I was hoping that maybe she would be bringing the children with her, but I knew not to get my hopes up. She felt the same about children being in town too much as I did and preferred for them to have the fresh air of the country in their lungs and not the city's smog.

With a renewed spring in my step, I asked for the kitchen staff to make sure that there would be a plentiful supply of food for the following week and that the rooms be made ready. I had no idea if anyone would be coming with mother, but it would be good to be prepared, nonetheless. I was hoping that maybe Isabella would be taking the journey with her, but I knew that she would not. As much as she did not like town, she also had too many obligations at home that would not permit her the time to visit.

I tried not to feel too despondent about missing her, but it was hard. I missed her beautiful, but shy smile and her little giggles as well as her large brown eyes and the thought of her long hair. I had only seen it at its full length just that one time in her room and I was amazed that such a long length of hair could even be possible.

Not wanting my thoughts to turn in a way that would be ungentlemanly, I decided to take a walk in the park that was opposite the house.

When I had taken in some of the dreaded smoggy air that my mother hated so much, it was time for dinner, and I washed the grime of the day off before I headed down to the dining room.

It didn't take long for the rest of the night to pass and before I knew it, it was morning once again.

Andrew had brought in the post as I sat down for breakfast and my heart thumped in my chest as I saw a small letter on the silver tray.

It was decorated by a careful hand of vines and leaves, with delicate flowers in the corner.

I was quick to pick it up and open it and I couldn't contain my smile as I saw that it was Isabella.

My sweetest Edward,

I hope you are not offended by my small term of endearment, but it sums up how I feel today. I received the small hamper of boiled sweets and chocolate, much to Charles's dismay. I was, of course, kind enough to share them with him as a good sister should.

I must admit to you that this is the first in which I have had the time to write to you and I am sure you can understand why. The farm, although slowing down for the winter, has had its pace quickened by your father's plans and readying the animals for next year. Charles, bless him, was introduced to the joys of sheep mating and I do not know who suffered more, himself of poor Master Emmett who had to explain what was happening.

And talking of Emmett, he came to me with some great news yesterday morn. Rosalie, his wife, is now expecting their first child. I am so pleased for them, and I know that they will make amazing parents as they are both so loving and caring to everyone they meet. As soon as your father and mother heard the news, your father made sure that the plans would stay on track for the conversion of the buildings and Rosalie came to me with happy tears. They have been staying with Emmett's mother in a very cramped house, so for your father to tell them that they will soon have a home of their own made Rosalie cry for a long time.

Your mother, of course, is now overjoyed that she will be around another baby and has already informed Rosalie that she will be knitting for quite some time for the babe to have warm clothing for next winter.

I must leave you now, for the moment at least. Your mother is taking us to the village because Charles is in need of some larger clothes. I tried in vain to fight with her over the matter, but she is as stubborn as I am.

I look forward to hearing from you soon, if you have time, of course.

Yours,

Isabella Swan

I smiled widely as I thought about my letter that she would receive tomorrow morning at the latest and the news that she conveyed to me.

I was sad that I was missing out on the life back at home, including young Charles and the sheep.

Come Christmas time, I knew that I would be home for some considerable amount of time because of the hunting parties that father would be hosting in the New Year, and I hoped, by that point, that Isabella would be happier to spend some time at the house when I was there. I knew that she would feel somewhat uncomfortable staying because when the gentlemen came, their wives would follow, and Isabella would be thrust into the world of high society. But I knew deep down that she would rise above them all.

Work was dealt with quickly and yet again, before I knew it, it was time for bed after another long and laborious day.

I smiled as I crawled into bed and thought that it was just another day over with and one day closer to seeing Isabella again.

Up next... Isabella gets a surprise visit (not Edward) and we find out about the lavender fabric...