Friday, 06 October—For Sickness and Health
Upon wanting to return to Venice, Gilbert was concerned upon a sickness I struck, believing 'twas a curse inflicted unto his poor wife. For sickness and good health, he chose to stay in hither than staying alone in Venice. Gilbert bestowed me a kiss before leaving Astley for a visit with Mother. I was left to be taken care of by Pamela and other maidservants. 'Twas ne'er much for staying on the bed as 'twas best for my health. Pamela served me tea and soup to ease the sickness; yet brought books from the library. Some of these were Gothic pieces which awed me much. The other was a journal about deceased souls, written by Marquis of Stratsburry, our ancestor. On his every arrival, Pamela would quickly hide these books under the bed as she seemed feared unto her master. As much as I adored and awed these Gothic books, they must be either owned by Gilbert or his own wife.
Tuesday, 10 October—Call from a Ghost
A flock of church owls flocked over the garden, signaling poor pale Peggy's presence as she entered into my bedroom. Unbeknownst to her presence, Pamela warned me about the arrival of church owls since her master would avoid them since these owls warned an unfortunate weather or occurrence. My first sight of a poor ghost occurred on the first day of my stay hither as I saw her, standing in front of me before I could sleep, without the presence of a single tall golden owl. She never talked every time I saw her till she told me that she was a lost daughter of a laird, and a relative of the Hamilton clan, for I know that she might be a distant or close cousin of mine; or mayhaps she might be a lost sister who Mother mourns for, but alas. I cannot bear such terrific truth for I could bear a good lie; for the sake I mustn't leave him as he mourned his own dearly departed wife that he mustn't ignore. If I could unveil such sublime truth about the pale ghost in Astley, I would have been skeptical about Pamela's features as her face reminds me of her master and his own wife, which I could suspect her as—
Tuesday, 17 October—Alas, A Recovery
It took a fortnight to be recovered from such illness; but alas, I never knew Gilbert would allow me to return with my mother since he never wanted his poor miserable thing to be miserable. I needed permission from Uncle Charles to exchange letters and poems for him; so he allowed Gilbert to exchange letters to Penworth, yet he would stay in Berkshire; but I was promised to never tell Elinor about this situation since I never wanted her and her family to disappoint me for such a forbidden affair. My sickness forbade us to journey to Venice as he planned us to go someday in this month yet delayed. He and his dear servants in Astley took care of me for two weeks, even he was away for a reasonable event. Within the fortnight, Gilbert sent a letter to Mother when I was contracted with a common illness, thankfully, not a venereal disease from my previous romantic infatuation and affairs in Trinity. She wished her dear son for good health as she kept praying until Gilbert announced that I should be returning to Penworth.
Friday, 20 October—A Farewell to Benjamin
A farewell for dear Benny for I bestowed my dear friend for such good health from sickness as they are common upon these bane wars. I forbade myself joining the military from my dear Father's advice, to prevent losing his beloved son, an heir and a burden for his father and uncle since Uncle Charles and Aunt Georgiana could not bear any sons. He would bestow me a potential wife to bear children as I come to the age of one-and-twenty. I agreed with his choice since war terrified me upon risking my own mortality as I chose to study in Trinity to follow wishes of Uncle Charles till I chose to leave thither, to be taken care by my poor dearly beloved Gilbert.
Tuesday, 29 October—A Beloved Letter from Gilbert
25 October—For My Dearly Beloved,
I never felt love between a dramatist and his dear muse since my dear Peggy departed. Shall I call you Psyche for your beauty, or rather Ganymede, the handsomest amongst the mere mortals? I cannot call you my dear Proserpine since 'twas taken by my dear Peggy as her beauty reminds me of spring yet her humour was quite dreaded for me to understand. My love, we are meant for an eternal marriage 'till death. I've spoiled you gifts before my patrons adored you. I was tempted by such lust for your beauty. Please never send this to my niece nor anyone in my brother's family.
Your dearest, Gilbert O'Vile
One of my commands for my dear servants is not to open any letters written by Mr Gilbert O'Vile. For any means, these letters shall remain unopened since those love letters written between both men, expressing their very own desires as a man. Most letters sent by Gilbert were written with lemon ink as they remained invisible until these writings were only revealed nearby the fire as I used candlesticks to unveil them. This letter was short, yet one of those examples.
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