Dearest Josephine,
I am writing this letter to you not quite two days after I departed from your manor. My husband and I reached our estate not two hours ago and quickly settled back in after the lovely stay we had with you and your husband. I delight in sharing with you that there were no mishaps during the trip and that William and I made it safely.
I deeply enjoyed the time I shared with you, Jo, and I do hope you will have us over for company again some time soon. Of course the trip is quite a ways, but it's nothing one can't do every once in a while.
I must say, we talked of Mrs. Depench's new staff member, and I do think you are quite right in your assumption, dear. I arrived home and stepped out of my carriage, only to glance to my right and see the most atrocious site. My neighbor, Mrs. Depench herself, was touching her butler's hair! I was simply appalled and rushed inside before they could see me. I understand the need to fix ones hair, especially on a windy day like this, but for the lady of the house to touch the butler in that way? It's simply a scandal waiting to happen. Why, Mrs. Depench is still wearing black after all, it's only been not quite a month!
As I promised you, I will send the embroidery I've been working on as soon as I've finished it, do not think I've forgotten. I will get to working on it as soon as I've sent this letter off, so by the time you receive this I'll have already finished it. It's going to be simply lovely, dear, as I've mentioned, and it reminds me of you so. You are quite my superior when it comes to embroidery, but I'd like to one day catch up to your skill level.
I've already unpacked what you sent home with us, and I'm proud to say my favorite gift of yours is resting right besides me. I'm sure it will be a splendid read; I trust in your taste. Even if it's not, I'm sure to finish it, as you know I'm an avid reader and I will read anything placed in front of me. You know how my husband thinks it's very unbecoming of me to have such a thirst for knowledge. He believes ladies should sit around in their pretty dresses embroidering all day and minding the children. Well, Josephine, we both know that life is much too drab for me. I would much rather read a newspaper front to back than weave a piece of metal in and out of fabric all day. But trust me, dear Jo, I don't mind that you like to embroider. It just simply isn't for me.
I cannot wait to be in your embrace again, how I miss you, dear Jo. It's simply been too long since we've visited one another, so I urge you to come over sometime soon. Perhaps in December? One of the nearby lords is supposedly hosting a winter gala, and I would love to bring you along.
William has been urging me to try to bear a child, but you know my thoughts on that. On the way back home, he was simply insistent on it, and I could hardly stand to listen to him about it anymore. I do not care that I am already 22 and should have borne children. I would rather live out my life and have a bit of fun while I can, before having a baby. And after all, you know my mother died in childbirth, and I would not care to do the same.
Anyways, dear, it was lovely seeing you after all this time. I hope to stay in touch with you, and I hope to see you at the winter gala.
All my love,
Estelle
