July 8, 1851

Mari,

You don't understand. My parents made a decision years ago for goodness-knows what reason but they made a promise and I most definitively plan to uphold it. Albert truly is nice in his own right and his family isn't terrible. They have already made plans and announcements for the marriage in one month and have been saved two hundred dollars - Two Hundred Dollars, Mari, for us to start out with.


This decision is no longer in either of our hands.
- Ana

July 5, 1851

Ana,

For goodness sake, you most certainly are Not getting married. Whatever are you thinking?! Just because Mark is an idiot does not mean that you have to get married. For goodness sake, pull yourself together and stop being so dramatic.

You went with a mission, I gave you a beautiful chance to tell me how it was going, and instead you babble nonsense about marriage to a man you don't know. Snap out of it. You are being utterly ridiculous and if you don't knock sense into yourself I will come down and bop you myself.

I know you hate the facade, but its necessary to save our buttercups, you know that.

Mari

July 2, 1851

Mari,

Mark. Of all people, of all creatures on the planet, why on Earth did you have to send Mark! I have to be swift in this letter as there are matters I need to discuss with the Heralds downstairs as soon as physically possible.

In the briefest summary possible, "embarrass you as only a country cousin could" is completely and fully correct. He asked when the wedding was. The Heralds said we were planning for August. Mark asked if it were official. Everyone turned toward me and I said yes. At which point Mark said that he'd be happy to sneak me off if I needed it (drawing a gasp from the Heralds) and I replied no, thank you kindly. Mari it's officially official. I am getting married.



And I am not drawing out of it.
Much love,
Ana Neve Arventing (soon to be Herald)


P.S. Don't blow your mouth off at Daniel. Feel free to concentrate that anger on Mark, however. - A.N.A.

June 30, 2008

Ana,



Daniel?! Nice?! You say that only to get me to keep my mouth shut. Fear not, cousin, I may have let my sentiments known, but that doesn't necessarily condemn me to...greater crimes. You know what I mean. I will be more careful from now on, though, so stop worrying.


However, I will not make nice to Daniel. You know I have no desire to be courted! You can't talk, you were given an arranged marriage that you are cutting out of. The only reason you are down there is to provide the next stop for our "buttercups." I am glad that code is working for us, by the way. Still, you must find someone to take your place soon.

There, now, don't let your face go so white. I am not writing recklessly. I am sending this letter by way of Mark, therefore I will speak plain, knowing that for all his faults, he will not allow this to touch any hands but yours. He can be a safe messenger for a few of our letters at least, so we may speak plain once in a while. Do tell me how you have managed your part in your new stop. I am doing fine, although its harder to sneak out from the family without you.

Meanwhile, we have indeed been invited to a party in honor of Daniel's sister, Alaina. I wonder what she shall be like. Grandmother has decided, without consulting anyone's wishes but her own of course, that we shall go. I personally think that our new neighbors could be bandits and murderers, but as long as they were Southern Grandmother would find them perfect. Even though she was raised there you would think her loyalties would have shifted by now.

Anyway, if you have a necklace that would go with my violet party dress, I would be very thankful. The clasp of my black beads is loose, and I will not wear them for fear of losing one of my mother's pieces of jewelry. As for your yellow dress, you will find out soon enough from one of the girls that it looks terrible on you...as soon as they get the courage to do so. And you call *me* silly. I didn't hold my tongue because I was upset. You just bought a yellow dress with no good reason at all. I would know, we look almost exactly alike...I can't wear it either.

Good luck with Mark, he shall probably embarass you as only a country cousin can.

Love,

Mari

June 25, 1851

Dear Mari,

It certainly sounds as if your reflections have done you a great amount of good indeed. You were an idiot! Tell Grandmother to send you up for more time reflecting. If you'd just hold your tongue once in awhile then maybe you'd find someone to court.

I don't mean to be cruel but really, those are dangerous words you said. We all know how everyone feels about the whole thing, and if you keep continuing on then you're bound to get Buttercup farm stolen. Really, you need to control yourself. I'm sure if you over-look a few things that Daniel is really quite nice.

As for what's going on here . . . Things haven't been terribly active. We went shopping again and this time I completely lost it and bought a whole dress in yellow. I know, I know, you told me not to . . . but . . . It's simply gorgeous. And I really do not look terrible in it!

Being serious, however, I really would have rather stayed back and held a long conversation with Albert (yes, I'm calling him Albert now, his parents said that not only was Mr. Herald too formal but it was also getting confusing with me calling two different men in the household Mr. Herald. And he really doesn't prefer John, thus I call him Albert). We've spoken several times now but it never seems to be about anything truly important, merely niceties about the weather, farming, or other such things. I have been attempting to speak to his parents about my parents and why they arranged the marriage in the first place. It truly does seem odd to me. Their marriage wasn't arranged, why should they arrange mine before I was scarecely two? So far the Heralds haven't revealed anything but I know there is a reason and if so then I'm determined to find it out. I do wish Mother or Father had told me before they died.

Anyway. I'm going to go down and make corn bread with Mary and Frances while Elisabet is at flute lessons. I love you all and am missing you as always!

Most dearly yours,
- Ana

June 22, 1851

Ana,

We went visiting and such a lot I have to tell you! Hartfield is indeed opened up! When we entered the grounds, we immediately noticed they had been cleaned up. And they did bring slaves...more than our little town of Hickory has seen in quite some time. I didn't have any interactions with them, though we saw several. At least they seem well dressed. They certainly have done wonders with the grounds and house. We were led into the parlor, and you never would have guessed that the house was only opened days ago. The Grays of Hartfield have officially moved in.

Mr. Gray greeted us. Or rather, Daniel, for he insisted right off that we should call him by his first name since we are to be neighbors. He is every inch a Southern Gentleman, and has the loveliest southern drawl. True to his name, his eyes are a piercing blue-gray. Twas the first thing I noticed about him. He is of an average height, taller than me of course, but rather short compared to other men. He has brownish-red hair. I simply cannot decide which color it is. Just about the time I decide it is brown, I see the red glints and have to change all over again. He is lightly tanned, and has the lightest dusting of freckles. And he has a drawl. Its quite adorable.

Despite his friendliness mixed sweetly in with the Southern gentility, I do not like him. Not one bit. We were shown into the parlor by a teenage girl-slave. She cowered before us, and left silently. Then Daniel came in. After the introductions and perfunctory nonsense, I asked him if he planned to stay and farm Hartfield.

"Yes," he replied. "As you can see the slaves have done much with the place, and I think this will be a successful enterprise."

"Yes, I have noticed all the slaves you have brought. This is the most slaves Hickory has seen in many, many years. " I replied sweetly.

Grandmother gave me a sharp look. For all that she pretends to not know how fiercely we hate slavery, I think she picks up on more than she lets on. Daniel continued.

"Is that so, Miss Monroe? How do y'all keep your farms and stores running?" his voice was neutral, but there was a curious undertone to it...I can't put my finger on what it was, though.

"Well, we have hired hands, of both colors. Many are slaves that my father freed years ago. Pansy, for instance, our cook, has been with my family since before I was born. We own no slaves, although some of the families around town have a few house slaves." I replied, trying my best to sound cool and sophisticated.

"Oh, then you don't believe in keeping slaves?" his voice was cool and slightly amused, as if he was talking to a silly young child. Yet his eyes seemed to look right through me. It aggravated me greatly, but Grandmother was giving me unmistakable warning looks.

" My father freed the slaves of Buttercup Farm when Grandda gave it to him, years ago. We haven't owned slaves since. My parents hated slavery...and so do I." I started out carefully, heeding Grandmother's look, but I simply could not resist tacking on the last bit defiantly. Grandmother jutted in then.

"Please, forgive my Granddaughter. Don't blame a girl for idolizing the beliefs of ones she lost as a child. Had they lived for her to grow up, I am sure she would have seen that they and their lifestyle was not so perfect as she likes to believe. " She emphasized "girl" and I had to bite my tongue very hard to keep from retorting. Going on eighteen, and she still calls me a girl, Ana!

"I'm sorry for your loss." David directed the comment towards Grandmother, but he looked at me. This time, I am certain I saw pity in his eyes, which made me of course all the more furious.

"My parents were some of the most noble people ever born." I held my voice calm and cool. "I am proud to be their daughter. And when I inherit Buttercup Farm I intend to run it just as they did before me."

"Your husband will run Buttercup Farm, and you will be a good wife, like your mother before you." Grandmother said sharply to me. I opened my mouth to retort, but she caught my eye and I shut it, furious, but unwilling to embarrass myself further and get into more trouble.

The conversation drifted back to other, dull things. I mostly stayed silent, stewing. The only items of interest is that Daniel is the younger son of the Gray family, and has come up here for a while to resurrect this estate. He is living alone for now, but when he deems the place habitable, some of his family will join him. He also hinted at a dance being thrown in their honor at that time.

Altogether, it was a very frustrating visit. Daniel I hate already, how can I not? His lofty disdain toward me, and the fact that he owns slaves makes him despicable in my eyes. Of course, Grandmother finds him completely charming. It looks like I am will be stuck with his acquaintance, for now anyway. In the meantime, I am shut up here in our room for my "rudeness." You know how it goes, the icy stare, and then the "I think you would be best off spending some time in your room reflecting proper behavior" in the best Grandmother way. I miss you! In the meantime, I have spent enough time "reflecting."

Tell me everything that has happened to you in the city!

Mari

Friday June 19, 1851

Dear Mari,

That certainly sounds like Grandda! Needless to say I miss him, all of you, more than I can say in this letter. Tell Mark I miss his jokes, no one tells anyone up here in the proper city it seems. Oh, and give Grandda a hug from me. Also tell Pansy that none of the cooks up here rival her in the least, she needs to move here and give them all lessons.

I found your note about the new boy in town most curious! You simply have to drop by Hartfield with Pansy and a plate of cookies. Oh, and when you do then you must tell me everything!

As for life here it's . . . interesting. The girls are wonderful (so wonderful they offered to proof read my letter for me as I write. I promised to help the eldest, Elisabet, with her cross stitching and the younger two, Mary and Frances, with their corn dolls if they'd forgo the sacrifice). And of course He is kind enough although we've scarcely spoken, unfortunately. His sisters do tell me all kinds of generous tid-bits, however. It turns out his full name is John Albert Herald (not Johnnie, as his parents call him, Al, as his siblings call him, or Mr. Herald, as I've called him when I've had to call him anything). Also, he apparently holds a great liking for weapons and arms, he won a fencing match yesterday.

Of course Raleigh itself is gorgeous enough. Everything is so full of life, from the plants (which certainly seem few and far between compared to back home) to the people bustling about (you wouldn't believe the city fashions here. Elisabet helped me tie up my corset today before we went shopping and she nearly suffocated me!). And yes, we did go shopping. And I compromised with you, I got a mint green dress with yellow under sleeves. Really, I hardly think I look washed out in the least, and Elisabet confirmed that for me.

Of course there are some things which aren't quite as intriguing. I was rather surprised by the amount of servants here. Also it's said to be rougher in the area, Mr. and Mrs. Herald have informed me I am not to go out past six o'clock, and I'm not to go out at all without an escort. Of course, I wouldn't go out without an escort in such a large city anyway . . . . but it is still slightly disconcerting.

Oh. And the Herald's asked me today what time I thought would be best for the wedding. They suggested August. I smiled and said I thought that would be nice.


I love you all, remember to tell everyone I miss them (especially you, my twin!) Your continued prayers would be appreciated. I am thinking at present that a May wedding might be nice. Next May, that is.


With much love,
Ana


P.S. I received the buttercups! They're gorgeous and I put them exactly where they should be, right on the wall.