section7mfu | The 'Correspondence' Affair #33 - October 11, 1913 (Alexander to Millicent) (Reply)

From : SS Stampalia in route to Portugal

October 11, 1913

My dearest Millicent,

I can only hope that you have received the letter and postcards that I have sent. This letter won't be sent until we reach Lisbon, but if the weather holds, that shouldn't be much longer.

I decided to take some of this quiet period aboard the ship to continue with answering your questions about my family. I suppose I will begin with Aunt Avelina, who was very much a second mother to me. One reason she traveled down to London to assist in my care was that she was a recent widow with two children of her own, both very near to me in age. Coira is two years older than I am and Amelia close to two months younger. As they had lost their father and I my mother, we bonded over our mutual losses with their mother being the female head of house for us all and my father serving as the male head. Though she and father never wed, Coira, Amelia and I consider ourselves as siblings and, if you hear or read of me speaking of a niece, that is Coria's first born daughter.

If this isn't already complicated enough, my dear Coira married Arthur Waverly, the eldest son of my father's younger brother (they, of course, being of absolutely no relation to one another though he is my first cousin) and so is now Coira Waverly. Amelia is currently seeing a chap named Hemingway and that relationship seems to be going well enough that I think another wedding is in the offing. Hemingway is an academic sort and has plans on sticking with teaching.

Aunt Avelina is still with us and is still keeping up my family's home. It was my father's intent and remains mine that she can live out her days there if such is her desire.

Speaking of my father, that dragonfly broach that is currently with you was an anniversary gift from him to my mother in 1899, the year she was finally able to get out of her sickbed again. Due to her wishes to see it again and as a celebration of her health getting better, we traveled as a family to Paris. She wore it constantly while we were there – I suppose I will always think of France when I see it. Not long after our return, Mother's doctor visit confirmed her pregnancy and, as I mentioned in my previous letter, her health was simply too fragile.

When I return to England in around three more weeks, I plan to take a little time to check on the graves of my parents. I believe I will see if I can locate your mother's as well to make sure it is being properly maintained. I am sure someone can point me in the correct direction.

I will see if I can find some more attractive postcards to send along between letters. The holiday seasons are approaching again, but I must say the mood of the areas that I've been are far more tense than festive. I will likely be sending you your Christmas present while I am in Lisbon. Or will as soon as I can think of what to send. You, my darling girl, are a bit of a puzzle for me to shop for. If I ever muck up, I do hope that you will appreciate the intent behind it, if not the item itself.

Time for me to do a bit more clerking work for Sir Seeds, so I will close for now.

Yours as always,

Alexander

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