Happy Christmas, dear, dear Booke!
Everything has been a whirlwind, and I beg your pardon very much for neglecting you!
We are at Claverton House, which is the official residence of Catherine’s papa when he is in London. She says he never comes here, that he says London makes him ill, but the truth is that he hates feeling as if people pity him because the earldom will disappear upon his death.
She is so matter-of-fact about this, I find it astonishing. She also says she thinks he should take another wife, but I can see from the set of her chin that she is lying. She does not want him to remarry in order to sire an heir. I have to admit, the thought does cause me to shiver, even though it is a common enough thing. But it makes me feel as if a child is but a piece of merchandise to be ba
