My Maggie,

XVI

Grosvenor square was bustling with life on the Saturday morning, the sound of pony and traps clashing with the cobblestone below bounced off the houses surrounding, the chatter of all the residences and sellers of trinkets and flowers just as loud. All were happy and full. of life, meanwhile Margret lay in bed with her pillow over her head groaning at the noise. Her bedroom door opened and revealed Tobias who watched her with a amused grin. "Good morning sister, lovely day isn't it." He said that amused grin growing the more the girl groaned. 

"Why must it be a Saturday," Margret complained sitting up and looking at her brother, "of all the days and why so early. There's no reason to wake up at the crack of dawn to sell some piece of jewellery, why not go in the afternoon? Why are they worried their jewellery will combust if they don't start selling it and six o'clock in the morning." 

Tobias laughed at his sister, "It truly is a mystery as to why you aren't yet engaged sister, I mean your so delightful in the morning. Perhaps to some local reptilian villain."

"So far every local loathsome villain is unwilling."

"Strange." 

"Heartbreaking brother, absolutely heartbreaking." 

"Come on Mag," Tobias said with a chuckle and a tilt of the head, "we have to go to that picnic."

"Oh joy a picnic," Margret said sarcastically before falling back into the comfort of the mattress, "why must we go to a picnic, also might I repeat its six o'clock in the morning."

She heard his footsteps approaching her, the creaking of the floor boards beneath his shoes. Margret grabbed her duvet and rolled to her side, tucking her head beneath the warmth and being consumed by the darkness. She heard the sound of the curtains being pulled back, the scraping of the metal rings that held the fabric against the gold bar above the window. That's when she felt it. The cacao she had nested in was stripped away. "Tobias!" she yelled, as she jumped up and tried to reach for her duvet. 

"C'mon up up." He said waling toward the door, Margrets duvet a bundle in his arms. 

Margret let out a strangled groan and began to walk to her dresser. 

"Oh a Margret," Tobias called out catching his siblings attention. "Its 10."

Shit. 

With a roll of her eyes Margret returned to the dresser and began to change into her undergarments. Picking a simple light blue floral gown she stepped into it. 

The simple day gown was beautiful, the light blue resembled the clearest of skies and the embrodery  of the flowers was simple yet elegant. She kept her hair down but braided two strands and tied them at the back, a few baby hairs fell from her face. She turned to leave for the door but a small brown box on her dresser side caught her attention. Slowly she walked over to the box and unlocked it. As she opened the box a small delicate ballerina figurine began to spin clockwise whilst fur Elise began to play. Peering in she caught sight of the parchment. Her mind returned to the final sentence that Colin had wrote her, the world is big Maggie, life is short, what are you waiting for?

He makes it seem as if it was easy, as if Margret could just pack up and leave and face no repercussions. Of course for years the family expected Margret to travel and write her findings to them, they wanted her to see everything, to explore, to experience the life she wanted. However when Lord Nighthower passed, a duty fell to Margret as well as Ophelia.  Reaching over to her desk Margret fetched her oil and parchment and began to write. 

Dearest Colin, No. 

Margret balled up the paper and threw it into the small woven basket next to her. 

Colin, 

No one has ever called me Maggie. Seems like a strange name to me, when I was younger I used to want to be called Marionette, seemed more special than Margret, so my friend Miss Featherington decided to call me Mar. 

You make it sound like its simple to travel. Though I admit its the only thing I have either wished for, and plan for, plans must change and it is no longer possible. Every birthday my sister would ask for a new gown or a new pair of slippers of hats or bags and many things like that. I didnt. I would ask for a small pouch of money. With that I would split it, half would go to the present, buying things such as new books, paper, oils. The other to my future. I have been saving to see everything I can for as long as I can remember. However now I must marry, and those savings will be instantly forfeited to my husband, so unfortunately Mr Bridgerton that's what I am waiting for. The end of my dreams. 

To answer you question, Paris. I would start at Paris and ride my way up through Europe. 

Yours, 

Maggie.