April 15 1895

The copy of The Yellow Wallpaper had obviously been worked over a few times, and was well-read. The cover of it was enchanted to show the cover of an April edition of a women's magazine, and sent via owl to the youngest Miss Malfoy. The snippet of writing is at the bottom of one of the final pages —

— Obviously there are differences between muggle health care and wizarding health care, but where the mind is concerned, the two are more paired than the purists among us would like to believe — especially w/ regard to the health of women. Must write the others about this, as I think a storyteller on this issue could make a large difference in wizarding communities. I don't believe I know anyone impacted but my understanding is a mild nervous depression is not unusual for women who have recently had children
— I suppose I ought to read more horror. There's a lot here with regard to gender and ideas
— Should look into more writings/storytellers on asylums

Victoire Malfoy Daffodil Grimstone

  

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set by Bree

April 20th, 1895

Torie had devoured the story, reading late into the night the day it arrived and having to pause only when she could no longer keep her eyes open. Almost as alluring as the story, were the notes in the margins. It was an unfiltered view into Mr. Echelon-Arnost's thoughts. Torie didn't dare add her own into the writing itself, but instead tucked a small, half-sheet of parchment inside with her ideas into the pages so she didn't lose it. Unfortunately, in her haste to post the story secretly, she forgot to remove it.

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The Yellow Wallpaper,

❧ As a woman, this is horrifying. A wrong choice in a husband and you could end up in a country estate slowly going mad.
❧ The lack of agency simply for having a child is alarming.
❧ It is also terribly sad. A baby is supposed to be a happy time, if a huge change, these "treatments" are inhumane. Men have absolutely no idea.
❧ Note; ask Mr. Echelon-Arnost if he found anything further on the asylums. It is morbidly intriguing. Mother would kill me if she found this...

  

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Red again! June 1894

April 22 1895

August found her notes inside the story, and while he ought not to read them, he was still charmed by the notes. Miss Victoire really was reading the books he was giving her. He sent a quick note with the next book, disguised as a romance novel — although it was anything but. Ten Days in a Mad-House was certainly dark, and not even fiction, but her notes had indicated that she would be interested —

Miss V. Malfoy,

Let me know what you think of this one.

A E-A

Throughout the book, August's own notes were written in the margins, and most substantially on the back of the last page.

— Again, hard to fully extrapolate from a muggle situation, & an American one — but I find myself deeply disturbed by how easy it was for Miss Bly to be incarcerated in such a manner, with no due process, and hardly any intervention from a "doctor."
— again struck that I don't personally know anyone who has been deemed mad (never mind who will admit to having been to an asylum). Someone has to be working on this, or I'll have to wait and see if anyone knows someone at risk and I can take on their case
— a gruesome, if apt, reminder to ensure that my clients are fed with food that is not rotting
— notes of the confinement treatment in Yellow Wallpaper again. There has to be a better way but unclear who is working on it or how.
— & what of women whose husbands simply don't want to deal with them anymore? This is why divorce should be easier

  

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set by Bree

April 24th, 1895

She hadn't been able to find the notes anywhere. Torie had fretted that she may have left them somewhere about the house and somebody would find them. That was of course until she got word back from Mr. Echelon-Arnost she realized that she must have left them in the book. While embarrassing, the repercussions were far less dire this way.

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Mr. Echelon-Arnost,

Did you read my notes?

This was terrifying. Are women truly viewed as so disposable? Please tell me you would never do this to your wife.

Still I found Miss Bly's bravery quite astounding; I simply would not be able to do it. The conditions in those asylums is deplorable and the fact that is just so easy to send someone there with absolutely no verification that something is actually wrong. Is this what you work against with your law practice?

Fondly,
VCM

  

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Red again! June 1894

April 25 1895

Miss V. Malfoy,

I did read your notes; I apologize that I did not realize that they were private until partway through the bullet points. I would never do this to a wife; (although one should not have to rely on a man for that guarantee.)

Miss Bly is astounding. I work on things like this for my law practice, although our work covers a variety of areas — I've worked on being/half-breed rights, as well as more typical crime-related issues. My interests tend to be broad, and my practice does reflect that.

A E-A

  

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set by Bree

April 26th, 1895

Mr. Echelon-Arnost,

I'm relieved actually, I thought I had left them somewhere about the house and would have had no way to explain them. Unfortunately for you, your notes are nearly as interesting as the stories themselves, so I find myself drawn to your thoughts— so in that we are even.

It is of some consolation that there is someone out there willing to take on a wide variety of cases. I won't pretend to know much about it, but it does say good things about your character that you are so open in your defenses.

Looking forward to what it is you have next for me.

Fondly,
VCM

She returned the book, this time daring to jot just a couple of her own notes in the margins near, and in response to his.

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Red again! June 1894