Season Debut: Finding out about the rumours

Dearest Journal, I have roped the staff into snooping for me, most unbecoming for a lady, into the rumours Father has heard. I asked the kitchen staff to keep their ears open when running errands. The scandalous things they heard would make a sailor blush.

Mr Fitzgerald is rumoured to have a child with a lady of the night. This is the worst scandal that we have heard so far. The other ones are not as big compared to this bombshell. I need to have some distance now from him as he has already tarnished his reputation as he has been seen spending time with this child. Whilst his parents might not care that he now has none to protect and will probably not get wed to a lady of good standing, I do care. I am going to my summer home in London soon, and my parents have worked hard to get accepted into the higher classes and events as a lowly merchant family. I will not be the child to unravel all that hard work and sacrifices.

I will do my utmost to have a good season and a potentially good match with a suitor, I will realise Mama's dream of being cared for, and I hope for a love match. I will, however, be happy if he treats me indifferently as long as he is kind and treats me and our eventual children well.

Angrily yours

Elspeth