Dear Diary

Dear Diary,

It pains me to write this, but tonight is my last night in this glorious country, for tomorrow I travel back to Herefordshire. However, tonight's entry will not dwell on the negative, as I have an exciting annoucement to make. As you know, dear diary, over the past few months I have had the pleasure of getting to know a young gentlemen by the name of Henry Howick. No sooner had I crossed the Scottish border and settled by bags down in my Aunt's quiant house, had Mr Howick been introduced to me. He had arrived to invite myself, my Aunt and her husband to an evening meal at his home the following evening. I sat quietly in the corner of the living room as he conversed with my Aunt, who had a talent for small talk. After 15 minutes, for that is the appropriate time for a guest to stay, he stood up and bowed gracefully to my Aunt and I, and before he walked out of the room he smiled gently to me, which made me blush and to take a sudden interest in admiring the carpet. 

The following evening was one of the most wonderful nights of my existence. I met Mr and Mrs Howick, who now allow me to call them Ben and Jane, and their beautiful daughter Elenor who is similar in age to myself, that being 20 years old, and also shares my love, (dare I say "obsession"?), with reading. We enjoyed a fine meal of pigeons in white sauce followed by a delicous plate of Scottish Tablet, which is a sugary, vanilla flavoured Scottish confection which has a grainy texture when eaten. It is incredibly rich, so our group slowly nibbled through the plateful as we played cards for the rest of the evening.

Over the course of the past 2 months I have had the pleasure of spending many wonderful evenings in the company of Henry and his family. Eleanor, Henry and I have also been enjoying long walks together across the beautiful Scottish countryside. Although, I must admit I have not been paying as much attention as I should to the landscape, as the only view my eyes want to settle on and admire is the charming Henry. Though I became very close to Henry, I never once viewed us as a courting couple. The idea of Henry wanting to be with a plain woman like myself seemed impossible, but it seems that I was blind to his intentions. Yes, dear diary, you guess correctly. Henry and I are engaged. If you are surprised, then imagine how I feel! But I should settle down and tell you how he proposed.

Henry, Eleanor and I planned to go on an afternoon outing together, so that they we could say our goodbyes. It had been a wonderful few months, and my heart was breaking over the idea of having to leave. It took an hour of walking, but we finally arrived to a beautiful clearing where we could settle down and have our picnic. Henry wandered off to admire the stream that ran through the clearing, and I strode over to join him. We stood there together, completely silent, admiring the view. The air felt thick with unspoken declarations, and before I could say a word Henry spoke. 

"Lizzie," he began in his warm Scottish accent, "it has been a wonderful to make your aquantince over the past few months."

"I have enjoyed your company very much, Henry." I replied softly. 

Henry picked up a small pebble that lay by his feet, and began to turn in in his hands as he spoke. "I --" he sighed, unsure on how to proceed, "I cannot express to you how sad I feel that you are leaving."

I turned to him, my heart filling with hope, but I was unable to utter a reply, so he continued in his declaration. 

"You are the most wonderful, charming and intelligent person of my aquantince, Lizzie, and I could never live with myself if I didn't declare to you my thoughts and feelings towards you."

"What are you saying, Henry?" I whispered. 

"That I want you to stay, and live here in Thurso with me. Eleanor wants you to become her sister, and I want nothing more than for you to become my wife."

"Oh Henry," I whispered, tears brimming, "that would be perfection itself." We embraced, my head nuzzled into his neck as he clinged to my waist. Tears dripping down my face and into the crook of his neck. He pulled away gently, stuffing his hand into his pocket and presented me with a beautiful opal ring. He slid it onto my frozen finger & we embraced once more.