Whatever It Takes: Day 12

 Word Count: 72,089

Summary of Events:

Another week of classes flew by and Josiah returned home for the weekend, where he was able to enjoy dinner just with Uncle Roderick and Aunt Samuela because his mother had gone to Edinburgh to be with his sister and brother-in-law. After dinner he headed up to his room, where Uncle Roderick had told him he had a letter waiting from Evangelina . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

Heading up to his room, Josiah found the letter to which Uncle Roderick had referred, which had Evangelina’s neat hand spelling his name across the envelope.

Josiah carefully opened the letter without breaking the seal — he’d yet to break one from Evangelina’s letters, and was pleased with his success thus far — before unfolding it and beginning to read.

Arundel,

Before I should respond to what you have written me in your latest letter, I would like to extend an official invitation to you, that you would come to Glasgow on not this coming week-end — which is likely when you shall read this letter — but the week-end following, for we are having a celebration.

Radcliff has proposed marriage to his belle, Agatha MacMillan, and she has accepted his proposal, thus our family and hers are hosting a joint betrothal ball in celebration of the fact that they will be married, likely some time next year, although an official date has not been set.

I know I was wanting to come again to visit you, but that will have to wait, unless you should have an important ball to attend on your end, but I have my suspicions that no such occasion is awaiting you.

Also, I know that you and Radcliff are, as yet, not on fond terms, but it is my hope that Radcliff will not make any sort of fuss about your being present since you are my invited guest whom I look very much forward to spending a good deal of time dancing with — although it shall not be the whole night because I, unfortunately, have not the strength to do so, even though there are certainly times where I wish that I did — additionally, you are my beau, despite the fact that he harbours qualms against you.

It is my hope that you shall be not merely able, but willing to attend, and that we will be able to spend a delightful time together over the week-end, as I certainly would not want you to come only for the party, you might as well come for the whole week-end if you are going to make such a trip; there are others who shall be coming for the whole week — but that, of course, is because of the fact that they do not attend medical school, or any other school, that would require them to attend classes during the week.

Now that I have formally invited you — which I had not wanted to neglect doing, thus I elected to open the letter therewith — I must respond to what you have sent to me in your latest letter.

Josiah set the letter aside and looked at the small calendar which he had, there was nothing written on the calendar to suggest that he would be unable to spend the upcoming week-end in Glasgow, so he would be able to accept the invitation, even if he did feel a little uncomfortable with the thought of seeing Radcliff again.