Ida laughed at her friend’s insistence at her preferred man. That was a complicated thing to answer. For anyone she could ever consider a lover, simply had to be one of her dearest friends first. To date, there were few - if any - eligible men who fit that category. Though Ida approached a bit evasively, she knew it was only buying herself some time. After all, Poppy was nothing if not determined.

---

Thank you for this tea, it has helped me tremendously. I am almost back to my full self again. Today we learned the lockdown lifted on Irvingly, so soon I can properly engage with the outside world again too! In the meantime I’ve been bored out of my mind, so I reappointed our home with a few new furnishings. This was quite fun while it lasted, but if I have to make one more choice between sky-blue or iceberg-blue or baby-blue, I may well truly claw my eyes out.

Is there not a fanciful potion we could think of that could reverse the censoring ink’s effect? I’m sure with our combined genius, we can. I’ve grown quite annoyed with having my brother’s valet recite these articles to me in the morning.

A wealthy suitor does indeed sound to me like a gamble. I know you mean only the best for me my darling Poppy, but please worry about the matchmaking of your cousins or, more importantly, yourself first! I am comfortable with where I am. Besides, I have happily imposed myself at your home in summers past, and that always helped with how much we miss each other! I would be pleased to do that again now that lockdown is over, if you are so inclined.

Speaking of cousins, I’ve received a rather intriguing note from Natsuko Mountbatton. I firmly believe she may have a bit of interest in him. We spoke at your debut, right after she had finished her dance with Atticus, and she was uncharacteristically giddy. I suppose I’d imbibed in a few bubblies by then, and she was graceful and elegant as always of course, but there was this unmistakable twinkle in her eye. What’s your sense? As you know, I absolutely love Suki, and would very well marry her myself if I could.

I await your notes for shenanigans, though I expect you are still making your recovery~  Please indulge me in all the details of your gallivanting so that I can live vicariously through you. This ankle is such a bother, but perhaps by next week I will be in a better condition to visit.

---

---