Dearest Journal,

There are times when one simply must get out of the house. Today was one of those days. I simply could bear the thought of answering a single letter more toward the management of Flint Manor. Nor did I find myself interested in occupying myself with embroidery. Indeed, I admit to feeling rather like I simply had to go and do something. I had thought to look in at the Flint House and see how work was progressing there, then I thought I might go to Diagon Alley to visit the bakery I occasion on my visits there. I have been craving one of their cakes all weekend and could think of no better excuse than to purchase one. I could almost smell the cake in my mere thoughts. Both these reasons were enough to get me out of the house.

I took the Lukeson coach to Flint House first and was delighted to see that the requests I had made were well under well. Indeed I think I shall be able to show Ace the house sooner than I had originally hoped. The servants have taken all of sheets off in the downstairs room and begun to clear and polish all the surfaces and furniture. They assured me they would start on the upstairs rooms next. When I first visited I had noted that the main suite of the house, which had once been my parents’ had been dready and out of date, decorated in reds and blacks. I requested that they redecorate the room using light blues and silvers. The housekeeper, Mrs. Mills, had laid out swatches of fabric for my approval when I arrived. They were all very beautiful and it was hard to choose only one. In the end she was able to incorporate several into the bedlinens and new coverings for the chairs. I also instructed that they replace the wallpaper with something airier and lighter and she had samples for this as well. I suspect this room shall take most of the time to complete.

After I visited the Flint House we drove to Diagon Alley and I was able to order a small cake. It almost melted in my mouth, indeed it seemed most indulgent. I even bought one for Ace to surprise him with this evening. Perhaps, also, to satisfy my own sweet tooth.

On our way home we passed by Crowdy Memorial Library of Writing & Witchcraft. I have never much been interested in libraries, as you well know, but if it struck me that as I now live in London and have on occasion simply needed an excuse to leave the house, that this might be precisely the type of place I might wish to find myself.

Lucille