Dearest Mary Letter Seven
5th of June, 1919
Dear Mary,
I hope you and Tom are well. I do look forward to hearing all about your new life in Dublin. It sounds so different from my life here in Yorkshire.
I am pleased you and Mrs Holden are raising money for those unfortunate families. I feel for those poor children. As you know my own dear mother died when I was young, I was only nine. I can't explain how bereft I felt at her passing, like my whole world changed in a moment. So I am pleased at anything you can do for those families who have suffered such loss.
I am sure your painting will sell in the auction. The sketches you have sent me have been so charming, so well executed. My favourite was the pictures of the fairies. I feel the drawings of St. Stephens Green evoke the essence of Dublin wonderfully.
I spoke to Mother (Matthew's mother insisted I call her such) about the living conditions of the working class. She said the conditions in the city were terrible, there are still streets of houses that don't have running water and many people only have access to outside toilets. Though Mrs Branson's house sounds charming.
Matthew and I are still living in Crawley house. Married life is not exactly what I expected. It is awkward having marital relations when your mother-in-law is sleeping a few yards away. When we were courting during the war, everything was so exciting. Matthew would arrive from the front and we would be in a whirlwind of social activities. When he proposed, we spoke of having our own little house. But now we are married he doesn't want to move. He always says 'later' or 'we will talk about it soon'.
He has started working longer hours at the office and if he is not at the office he visits your father. "He says he needs to learn about the Estate and to start to take a real hand in helping run Downton". I miss him and I am lonely. I know you understand how that feels.
We went to the seaside for a holiday. We talked and went for walks by the sea front and it was lovely, but Matthew seemed tense. He promised to try and be home more often. I think he is worried about his old war injury. We have been married for a while and yet there is no sign of a baby yet. I know this is an indelicate topic, but I have no one to talk to. It is at times like these I wish my mother was still alive. I just don't know what to say to him to reassure him. You have known him longer than I, do you have any advice for me?
Enough with my troubles. The summer fete was this past weekend as you have probably heard. Your mother had invited a Horticulturist from London to come for the weekend and to judge the various competitions. Lady Violet was planning on having dinner at the House every evening he was here. I think, so she could put in a good word for her roses. But mother pointed out that the gossips of the village would say she was cheating if she was seen influencing the Judge. There was many a frosty words exchanged between the two. Lady Violet wanted to know who exactly would be telling the 'gossips' that she was at the house. And how dare anyone sully the Noble Crawley name, etc.
I am sure you have witnessed many an argument between the two to imagine the dialogue. Anyway Lady Violet decided she wouldn't dine at the House, but that she would dine with us at Crawley house instead. Lady Violet said 'To insure that there were witnesses and that no one could accuse her of cheating'. I am surprised either of them managed to eat anything with how much the were arguing at the dinner table.
Everything turned out for the best in the end. Lady Violet's roses won the competition. They were the most beautiful pink and yellow roses I think I have ever seen. Mr Green told me the name of it was Rosa 'Peace'. Mr Green, Lady Violet's gardener was relieved his mistress won this year. Mr Moseley shook his hand and congratulated him for an excellent show.
That's all my news for now. Please let me know how your lunch with Miss Doran progressed.
Wishing you all the best, dear Mary
Lavinia