Welcome to Charming, where swirling petticoats, the language of flowers, and old-fashioned duels are only the beginning of what is lying underneath…
After a magical attempt on her life in 1877, Queen Victoria launched a crusade against magic that, while tidied up by the Ministry of Magic, saw the Wizarding community exiled to Hogsmeade, previously little more than a crossroad near the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In the years that have passed since, Hogsmeade has suffered plagues, fires, and Victorian hypocrisy but is still standing firm.
Thethe year is now 1895. It’s time to join us and immerse yourself in scandal and drama interlaced with magic both light and dark.
Complete a thread started and set every month for twelve consecutive months. Each thread must have at least ten posts, and at least three must be your own.
Did You Know?
Did you know? Jewelry of jet was the haute jewelry of the Victorian era. — Fallin
Although we do not know each other well I wanted to send my condolences regarding your brother-in-law, Mr. Abbott, whom I only recently heard was lost at sea during the Santa Antonina shipwreck. This casts our previous conversation in a much different light and I apologize if I was at all insensitive, being unaware at the time of your family's tribulations. I regret that I could not apologize in person, but I imagine with your family's mourning we are unlikely to cross paths at events in the near future, which is indeed a shame — I very much enjoyed our conversation.
Thank you, Mr. Selwyn, for your thoughtful words. The past few days have been hard from my sister and the rest of our family but I assure you that you need nought feel any guilt for the other day as I had not yet seen the paper myself and at the time we still had hope that Mr. Abbott might yet be found.
Rather I found our conversation a bit of brightness in an otherwise trying time and look forwards to hopefully speaking to you again as soon as my mourning permits. Mother and I were discussing and she has decided it will be appropriate for me to return to events come sometime in June as Mother doesn't wish for me to miss too much of the start of the season when it is only my second.
Till then - if it is not too bold of me to say - I would be delighted to continue this correspondence with you until we might meet in person once more.
I suspect it is too bold of you to say, were we playing by the rules of typical society, but I gather you don't much care for those — since you called it "silly" to wait for a proper introduction when last we spoke. I must admit that I don't mind in the slightest; if you are tired of the restrictions imposed on young women by society's regulations you have found in me a kindred spirit. I have two sisters who have both chosen rather unconventional paths towards happiness, but I am well aware that these decisions were not made easy by the expectations of others. Now that they are both a little older and still unmarried, people are more inclined to leave them in peace, but I've often found it unfair to young women that their only avenue towards freedom involves years of lonely seasons and the assumption of failure for having not tied their lot in life up with a gentleman's.
But I am rambling, perhaps; forgive me. I am no stranger to loss and to the tedium that can be brought on by mourning and would be pleased to provide any distraction or diversion I can until June, so write as often as you like.
Sincerely,
E. Selwyn
Lou made this! <3
June 5, 2021 – 1:59 AM
Last modified: June 5, 2021 – 4:08 AM by Octavia Fawley.
I feel as if I must correct you, less you form an incorrect opinion of me. It is not that I dislike the rules of society, just some of them, I suppose. My governess would always say that I had never met a stranger. But I do find truth in your words. While I do wish to marry - it isn't something forced upon me -- I know I have a fear of not finding a husband and becoming a burden to my parents and brother.
I think I know if your sisters - one works at the ministry and the other is a socialite, correct? Your sisters are lucky to have a brother such as you who lets them live with no fear of tomorrow, at least if my impressions of you are correct.
I don't mind your rambling, Mr. Selwyn. Feel free to speak your mind with me. It is a welcome distraction from the somber nature of my house. It is nice to hear of things beyond these walls.
While I understand it is the right of every young woman to be nervous about her future, I hardly think a lady as graceful and charming as yourself need worry about being unable to procure yourself a husband. The timing of this mourning period may seem to portend doom but life does not end at twenty, even for an unmarried debutante.
The praise for my sisters' freedom would be better directed towards my older brother, I admit; they both live with him in our parents' former estate, while I reside in Bristol. But you are correct. Tanwen, the elder, is very much involved with my nieces and nephews but has shown no desire to marry herself. Anthea, the younger, is wholly in love with her intellect and will prefer her career over any man, I imagine.
I would ask of your own siblings but I fear that may not be happy news at present, and you said you were eager for distraction. Should I turn my questions towards yourself, then? Tell me something about yourself. We can make up for conversation we shall miss during dances over the coming months.
I appreciate that. I know it is likely an unfounded worry that I hold but until this past year I saw my sister unmarried. Her marriage was a great assurance to me. How could I imagine marrying if my sister couldn't secure a match? But you are right, missing the start of my second season is by no means a sentence.
Your sisters seem like such interesting people. Do you know what Anthea works on at the ministry? I've known girls like that at Hogwarts and I admire their intellect. The hat made no mistake not putting me in Ravenclaw. And Tanwen seems to certainly like children then. That is strange that she never wanted to have her own then. Even if you do not house them, you seem to care for them greatly. Are you all close despite the age gaps? And your brothers?
I've never been to Bristol but I hear it has stunning forts and castle though. You must have such lovely views living there. For someone who frequently travels, I've seen little of this country. Do you enjoy it there?
Myself? What do you wish to know? Ask and I shall answer. As I said earlier, I've never really been that much of a bookish person. I think I was to busy socializing to study as I should of. I love writing and music - though please, for the sake of your ears, never ask me to sing. Of the western instruments my favorite is the harp, though mother has had me instructed in several Chinese instruments as well.
If I am to tell you about myself, you must tell me about yourself as well. Can we take turns asking questions?
I should like nothing more than to take turns at questions, since everything you have so far revealed about yourself is so interesting. I can only hope you do not find my responses dreadfully dull by comparison. I have quite a fondness for music, but only as a patron, never a player. One of my favorite pieces for the harp is Beethoven's 6 Variations on a Swiss Song; do you know it? Your mention of Chinese instruments has piqued my curiosity extremely. I spent a period of time living in and near China as a young man, while learning my trade, but was not much involved in the art or cultural scene at the time. Are they stringed instruments? I am simply dying to hear them played; perhaps someday we will have an opportunity for you to do me the honors (though I promise not to ask you to sing).
Should I ask you a question now, or have I already asked too many? Well, nevermind; you asked for distraction and longer letters can only prove more distracting, can't they? But what to ask you... would it be too cliche for me to inquire as to your hopes for the future? Since we were talking so recently of my sisters and their unconventional desires and paths to happiness, it has been on my mind.
You don't strike me as someone who would be called dull by any individual. You seem like someone with many stories, especially now that you say you've traveled. Between your own travels and those you've done for your work you must. And I hear you host a number of exclusive parties. I don't think anyone dull can lay claim to that.
I have heard of it. I was able to see it performed in concert a few years back during a summer vacation. Maybe I should see if I can acquire the music for it and learn it next now that you have peeked my interest.
There are quite a few string instruments, some that are played with a bow similar to those here and some that are plucked like a harp. It is a shame you were not able to experience that side of China while you visited and I implore you to take the time to visit again - but not on business. My family's home is rich in culture and history.
If you are interested in the music, I can provide to you the name of a store that sells a few recordings in London though you might obtain a wider selection next time you send your ships east. As well, we have a few of the instruments at home and maybe one day, should you pay us a call, I might play for you.
My hopes for the future? As I said prior, I do wish to marry one day. Marry and have children. It isn't the most unique aspirations but it is the truth. I know this might sound silly but I wish to be a socialite one day. I remember sneaking down the steps after being put to bed as a child. There was a grait could watch the ball room through and I would watch my mother weave through the dancers, greeting guests, dancing. She looked perfect and I've always wanted to be like her. And at home, she seemed so poised. Whenever something was wrong, mother always knew how to fix it.
What about you, Mr. Selwyn? Did you always wish to take over your father's trading company or did you have other dreams?
I hope you will not find it too bold of me to save you the trouble; I've enclosed a copy of the sheet music for it here. Perhaps that is presumptuous of me but it is an easy gift to make for someone with friends in the music industry; it took hardly any time to find. And there could be no better use of one's time confined at home in mourning than perfecting a new piece of music. Music is a salve to the soul; if you do decide to learn it I'm sure the performance will benefit your household's spirits as much as the occupation might lift your own.
I confess that of all the possible social events balls have never been my particular favorite. The enjoyment of the evening depends so heavily on finding a good partner, and as a host I prefer to take a more active role in the construction of the evening's experience in order to ensure my guests are entertained. But perhaps there is something to your comment about your mother's poise — I have, after all, been lacking a hostess. Perhaps that is the secret to a truly enjoyable ball, which I've been missing before now.
I wouldn't say that I always knew what I wanted. My father chose the profession for me, thinking I might benefit from time spent abroad. Perhaps it was luck that I took to it so readily or perhaps it was inevitable; who can spend so much time traveling and not acquire a taste for it?
Have you been abroad much, Miss? Excepting, of course, the recent cruise, which I would not wish to force your thoughts to.
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