Dearest Mary Letter Nine

17th of June 1919

Dearest Lavinia,

I hope you and Matthew are well. I was so pleased to hear that you took my advice and called on Mama. I have just received a letter from Mama, and she seems much more optimistic than her previous letters to me. She seemed very excited about the prospect of you helping her plan Downton's Garden Party. So I thank you dearest for spending time with her.

I have much to tell you since I last wrote to you.

Most relevant to you is that I have asked Granny's advice about breaking the news to Mama and Papa that I now have a job. Upon reflection I thought it unfair for you to be keeping so many of my secrets, especially now that you are up at the house more often.

On the most amazing news I received a letter from Edith! Who informed me she is writing for a Ladies Magazine in London. I was surprised that Edith would be so daring. Frankly I have received several letters from Edith since moving to Dublin. I haven't been as open as the letters I write you, but I have realised that Edith is a much more entertaining writer than I have ever given her credit for.

Realistically we never had much reason or opportunity to write to each other before my marriage. I wrote back immediately and told her of my new job as an illustrator. Her editor sounds much nicer than some of the editors I have been working with. Button is a wonder, but she is very 'tough', I don't know if that is the correct descriptor. She confided in me, that she needs to be harder, when working with the men. That she needs to constantly prove herself.

I wrote to Edith and asked her about her experiences working for the magazine. We may finally have common ground.

I don't think I will ever be bosom sisters with Edith, but it is curious how I view her differently now that I am married. Tom, who has two siblings too, opined that it is because Edith and I are no longer in competition. Tom has an older brother Kieran, I have yet to meet. He is a mechanic in Liverpool, he owns his own business. Mrs Branson is prodigiously proud of her eldest son. Though she didn't mean too, she fostered a sense of competition between the brothers when they were children, by enthusiastically praising Tom's writing skills. The animosity between them only eased when Kieran achieved his own success with his business. It has given me much to think on.

So dearest you may speak freely to Granny, Edith and of course Cousin Isabel. I assumed you would discuss my letters freely with Matthew, as your husband. Depending on what Granny advises I will tell Mama and Papa soon, then you won't have to keep any secrets from the family.

As I mentioned in my last letter Tom planned to take me to Bray. We did indeed go to Bray last weekend. We were lucky and had the most glorious weather. Which is in no way guaranteed in Ireland.

We travelled down to Bray via the train. The Hotel sends a large car to collect any hotel guests arriving at the station and a pony trap to transport the luggage to the hotel. The hotel is a fine Victorian Building all in brilliant white plaster. It is very close to the sea. Our room was on the third floor and had the most glorious view. The room was prettily decorated, with floral wallpaper and a dusky pink, curtains, furnishings, with a complimentary cream trim.

We did indeed go sea bathing, it was both easier and more difficult to swim than I expected. A former governess had taught us three girls to swim in the pond at Downton. The sea provided more buoyancy when swimming, yet the waves themselves make it more difficult. A large wave did knock me over and once Tom had righted me, he had the nerve to laugh! He said I looked like an angry wet kitten.

Really living with a man is sometimes like living with an overgrown child. I have never been squeamish, so when I spotted a jellyfish, I threw it at him. I laughed and laughed at Tom as he screamed and hopped about the beach like a small child. He then apologised for laughing earlier and we called a truce.

We did have a lovely time. On the Sunday morning before going home, Tom arranged for a morning ride on the beach. He is rapidly improving his seat. We had a most enjoyable ride. It is so invigorating galloping across a beach, the wind in your face, the smell of the salt air and the warmth of the morning sun on your skin.

Yes, we had a lovely time in Bray.

Dearest I want to ask an unusual favour of you. I mentioned that Tom has submitted his short story anthology to the publishers. Hence Tom has started his next big project, a novel! I can't tell you any details, as Tom, I have found is rather superstitious when it comes to the early stages of his writing.

Anyway, the plot centres on art forgery. I remember once you mentioning to me that your father had dealt with a forgery case. I was hoping you might facilitate an introduction between your father and Tom? Tom is in throws of inspiration now. He is very excited about the novel and is writing feverishly day and night.

The way he explained to me his process, is that he likes to write the basic story from start to finish and then has a very long editing period, where he does detailed research and develops the intricacies of the plot. He would like to correspond with your father who has actual knowledge of the legal ramifications of art forgery.

I must admit it has added an air of excitement to the flat. This is the first time since we have been married that I have seen Tom in this stage of his work. It has a completely different feel to when he was working as a journalist. Then the process seemed to be filled with struggle and frustration. So, it is a lovely change.

For example, I woke up at 3 am during the week to find Tom banging away at his typewriter. Mrs Murphy and I must make sure he drinks and eats regularly, or he quite forgets. I suppose this is life to be married to a writer. Our artistic approaches are quite different, I enjoy drawing in peace and order. Tom is all wild energy and noise.

I never expected married life to be so, so noisy. Mrs Murphy says her husband Seamus was the very same, noise and chaos wherever he went. I don't remember Papa being especially noisy. But I suppose Downton is so very large that we wouldn't notice. Is Matthew very noisy?

Bye the bye, Mrs Murphy says you should try drinking chamomile tea before bed to help you sleep. I was sorry to hear you have been so frightfully tired recently. I know you said you couldn't stomach warm milk now. She also said you should try to sleep with a sprig of lavender under your pillow, as it is very soothing.

One more thing, have you heard from Sybil? I have written several letters to her, but she has yet to reply. I am worried about her. Mama has said she is getting on well at the preparatory college. Maybe it is still too soon to write me.

Hoping you get plenty of rest.

Love as always.

Mary