Part1...... Mr H really is awful!

Highclere

Brentford

Aug 3rd 1898

My dearest Husband,

I cannot understand at all the behaviour of your caretakers to me yesterday when I came home. that they were not speaking the truth I soon discovered for one contradicted the other. You know the state of mind & body I was in when I came to Brentford, so that I can see no reason at all why you should have given these people orders that Mrs Hockley was on no account to be admitted. Neither can I in any way fathom what that 'wonderful & awful apparition' who opened the door meant when she hinted mysteriously that people soon get to know secrets. Secrets! What secrets! - I've no secrets. as I told her. Of course I recognised that pair - the French maid next door used to be very friendly with the old man last year when they took care of Francis' place. Whether the old man got mixed up or not I cant say but this is what he said to me when I went again - 'Mr H said he didnt think it could be Mrs H who called because she said in her let that she should never trouble him (Mr H) again.' and he also said that he understood you to say you answered that letter which of course you never have. why my dear old soul, I never said anything of the kind, I said I could not understand a loveless miserable life such as I had been leading, again, & I said if you desired that we should live separately I would agree to that properly & legally drawn up..................