July 13, 2012

Dearest Diary,

Mr. Lowe arrived quite early this morning with the necessary flooring for my new estate. It appeared that he was a bachelor and immediately commenced conversation with me over my upbringing and taste for the southern provinces. He too spent his childhood in the north and expressed a preference for the climates of our youth. I must admit to you, dear Diary, that I was quite taken with him. He has very handsome features and was brought up in the Christian way. I was beginning to feel quite partial to him and his garrulous nature until he happened to mention his betrothed.

His betrothed? For Heaven's sake the gentleman even dared invite me to tea before continuing with the task at hand! While I truly wished to join him at the initial offer, I declined at the revelation of his engaged. It would simply not have been appropriate.

Far be it from me to treat each encounter with a gentleman as though it might be more, but I dare say that Mr. Lowe gave every indication of his amounting affection and I felt the same.

Nevertheless, dear Diary, Ashford is all the better for our acquaintance, however short it might have been. It is now that the furnishings may begin to arrive and I suspect that beyond the dining table that was delivered this evening, the rest shall follow as early as tomorrow!

July 12, 2012

Dearest Diary,

I did indeed attend the Lockwood recital this evening and his talent far exceeded any previous recital of his that I have attended. He took the liberty of inviting some guests to perform and we were able to hear from Miss Seldon and Mr. Brown, who is also a great proficient in dance. Miss Lamont was rather tiresome, but perhaps a humourous anecdote to the evening. I could not have imagined a more entertaining evening.

I must rise again early on Friday, as Mr. Lowe is to return in order to establish flooring in the Ashford estate. I have not determined whether I shall be required beyond admitting him into the home, but as I will already be present, I will likely tend to the gardens and carriage house while he is about.

I pray dearly that the rainstorms that plagued us this evening (although rather fitting as they were), should hold off for at least the better part of the day on the morrow

July 3, 2012

Dearest Diary,

Oh that I could hide my dreary disposition today. Were it not for that small fortune I owed to Mr. Lowe today, I perhaps might have been in better spirit. Or perhaps it was the fault of the gold wall, so unwilling to cooperate with my good opinion. Perhaps it is no fault but my own in rising before I was particularly rested this morning. Whatever the reason, I have been of particularly dreadful countenance today.

I suspect that in the course of time the things which trouble me so today will be all gone away and I shall continue to bear in mind the blessings, of which I have plenty. I certainly wish that I might be possessed of a suitable prospect, but I must remember that there is much else that might preoccupy my thoughts.

I have an amiable occupation, a perfectly doting canine, and an abundance of friends and family. Bearing these qualities in mind, I shall render this my Declaration of Independence, and vow not, in fact, to desire such a husband, for at least the remainder of the afternoon (which I shall no doubt adhere to as even the evening has already come and gone). Perhaps I shall be so bold as to declare an Independence Day as well on the morrow.

June 28, 2012

Dearest Diary,

At last we return to the topic of most interest in this particular correspondence. Today I was introduced to a gentleman by the name of Sir Andrew. He arrived at the Ashford estate just after breakfast and began to survey the grounds in an attempt to assist in my impending move from Granada. His timing could not have been more perfect as he rescued me from a rather peculiar visitor who had called a slight bit earlier. Sir Andrew was keen to talk about universities he favoured and his tastes in music and theatre. In the course of our visit I discovered his childhood was spent but two shires north of my own. We pleasantly reminisced until once again interrupted by the former visitor.

I am not sure if I shall again make the acquaintance of this Sir Andrew, but I do hope he returns as he declared he might. As for the other visitor, I wonder if you might recall an unusual character by the name of Pat, from a theatrical production some years back. It was known mostly for its initials SNL. Well, this nuissant visitor was not too unlike that character, and I even now, do not know enough to provide you with an accurate description of the visitor. However, I am aware that the individual also experienced an upbringing in the same region of the country that I and Sir Andrew experienced. And thus was the demise of my visit with Sir Andrew.

While I am assured that the visitor, the former, shall return again (to my despair), I rather am hopeful that the visitor, the latter, will indeed return when the rest of the furnishings arrive. Perhaps we shall be privy to that end on the morrow...