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