I did get a glimpse of the houseboy William mentioned. At least I think it was him. All I saw was a figure walking away from the main house towards the old servant’s homes - just a dark silhouette in the mist.
It was a very quiet day. William looked at the mark on my cheek and was pleased that it has almost completely vanished. In fact he said he could hardly tell it had ever been there.
William spent the day packing and organizing his things. He can’t take much so he is trying to prioritize them. He wants to bring as many of his own medical tools as possible. The reports of field medicine are horrific and he won’t stand for using “whatever is laying around” to treat the wounded and sick.
The main problem is that he is afraid he may have to carry all of his belongings, personal and medical, in a pack on his back at some point. He doesn’t want to risk them being left in the medical wagon or tent. I can understand his misgivings. He treats his medical equipment like an extension of himself.
I suggested that I sew him a special haversack with pockets specially sized for each of his smaller devices. After I described it to him he eagerly agreed. He sent Mr. Clayton into town to pick up a few things for the house and my cloth order. It feels wonderful to be doing something that will help him. I love showing William that I am capable, creative, and practical.
While we were in the study I noticed the portrait of a very beautiful, if not exotic, looking girl. When I commented on it he told me it was his younger sister and that he did not like having the portrait displayed. She died several years ago and his Mother would not allow him to take her picture down.
It really is too bad. I would have liked to have another girl in the house to share things with.
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The diary of Elizabeth Whetherby - A Historic Fiction
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