Dear Alaric

June 18, 1887

You wouldn't believe how much fun I had out, Alaric. I met with two other sisters of the Divinity. Olivia and Elizabeth. They seemed just as happy to meet me as I was to meet them. How wonderful it was. We spent the day giggling about nothing and working on stitchings together. We agreed to write to each other! My heart is overjoyed. I felt like a girl from a novel, Alaric. A girl with a family. I wish Olivia and Elizabeth lived closer. To see them more often would make me feel better. Thankfully, Mother says I should be able to see them monthly.

My sisters have already met Thomas. They say he carries a foul odor with him as if he forgets to bathe. I certainly hope that's not true.

I met another shifter today while I was out, as well. He works in Elizabeth's home. I had gone to collect some tea for myself and bumped into him. For a shifter, he was well mannered. He told me his name was Ambrose. Though I never asked him. He has a kind smile. He apologized for walking into me even though I'm certain it was my fault. Ambrose. Strange how he didn't acknowledge our differences. Wouldn't he know he works for a family of humans? Maybe he is doing his best to blend in. Trying to behave more like a human than an animal. I'm not sure how long I spent talking to him. But from what I could tell, he behaved very naturally. Dare I say, I enjoyed the interaction. Mother would gasp to hear me say such a thing. "You're too intelligent to be charmed by those monsters." She would say to me. She's right. I wouldn't say I was charmed. Merely, that his company was enjoyable. It's not as though we're forbidden to speak to the shifters, you know. They surround us, after all. We have to engage with them as part of our daily lives. It isn't some grand occurrence. I still feel odd. My cheeks feel a little warm, Alaric. Maybe I feel embarrassment? Although, I am not so sure why.