6th July, 1891

My dear Xandra,

I am delighted today to celebrate your successful orbit around the sun. Happy birthday, my dear friend! I hope that you allow yourself some respite from the meaningful work you do each day, and truly take opportunity to celebrate yourself.

As you know, Mr. Ross and I have taken the children to Sanditon Terrace for the month. I hope that you will consider joining us, for this house is quite vast and I would love ever so to have your company!

6th July, 1891

Dearest Roslyn,

Thank you for the felicitations, darling. It’s been a blessedly quiet few weeks at work but a few days respite would certainly be welcome and since his engagement Mr Macnair has been rather agreeable so it should be quite doable.

And the Sanditon would be a fine place to undertake a new stage in my life, one that I need to speak to you about actually, but I shall wait till I see you in person. Trust me, it may come as a shock.

If it’s agreeable to you and Ross I can join you next Saturday? I hope that isn’t too soon? Every moment may count now! (Again, I promise to explain when I see you.)