Chipping Norton
Nov 14th 1877
My Darling Eugénie,
My last letter was so long on the road that I must write at once and answer yours received this afternoon to make up for it, I am so sorry, my dearest, that you looked in vain for a letter on Sunday, I was out on Friday evening dining at the Rawlinsons with a bachelor friend of theirs, who by the way is to be married in January, or I should probably have written then.
Mrs Chouls has been to look after a place to-day and I rather hope she may succeed in getting it but she will not know for a few days.
I am so glad, darling, to hear that you are better, I was getting anxious about you, I think you were wise to consult the doctor, now I hope to hear shortly that you are quite yourself again, I shall like my charming Eugénie to look her very best on our wedding day!
I hope to be able to order down the remainder of our furniture on Monday week and move into the house on its arrival, I think perhaps in many things, the work I am doing in getting our home ready might prove a trouble but in this instance “the trouble” (as you call it, darling,) is the greatest pleasure I could have, how can anything be a trouble to me that I think can add to my Eugénie’s happiness? No, my love, the affection I have gained demands and shall, I trust, receive a life’s devotion!
I suppose Joe cannot get away very well just now or it would do him good to have a change, let us hope a brighter day is in store for him. I am glad Annie is to be a bridesmaid I am pleased you asked Tom to let her act as such.
So you have been to see about my studs, dear girl? it is nice of you to think of me and I shall feel a peculiar pleasure in wearing my darling’s wedding present for the first time on our wedding day; fancy, in four weeks from to-morrow I shall have started on my eventful journey, that happy journey, the happiest of my life, when I start to claim my own sweet bride and bring her – my little wife – to my home, thenceforth our home!
And now I think I must conclude this letter for I am tired and perhaps should weary you if I wrote on further! should I, darling?
Good night my Eugénie, God bless you.
Ever believe in the fond love
Of your own affectionate
Julius Sladden
