1785, 23 November

Dearest and Most Treasured of Friends, Lorsagne,

It has been so long since I have seen your face and heard your laugh, somehow both lilting and wry at the same instance. I do hope all is well with you and yours. As well at least as it possibly can be under the current conditions. I assume you have managed to keep in touch with your father even as he is moved willy nilly from place to place. I hope also that you are in touch with friends and loved ones closer to you than I can be at this time. I know how I have grieved for lack of regular visitations with you and can only imagine how hard things must be for you out there in the world fending for yourself alone. I at least have Father and my brothers and sisters to depend on. Of course, I miss Dr. Johnson fiercely, it being almost a year since his passing. I am so grateful to Father for encouraging my return to England in time to see that dear man a few more times before his passing.

Speaking of friends-- It seems I am to Christmas at Windsor. Mrs. Delany, that dear old lady I mentioned meeting some months ago, has been given a grace-and-favor house by King George and Queen Charlotte. She seems to have settled nicely into her new home and greatly enjoys her life at court. Of course, as she points out to me, her house is not within the castle proper, so she is able to keep herself at comfortable distance from the pressures and activity of life within. The lady works at her art, which really is quite impressive. I hope to be at least one third as industrious in my old age as Mary Delany is in hers!

I was somewhat hesitant about visiting Windsor at all and even more so about missing Christmas on St. Martins Street. Father prevailed upon me to accept this opportunity as he hopes to be introduced to the King. It seems the King's master of music, whatever the man's proper title might be, has resigned and Father has great hopes of receiving the appointment himself. As Father will be present for part of the holiday, I will manage to be brave and will try to enjoy myself at Windsor. I know, you probably think me silly for not wanting to go. I know my sisters and father and Motherdear think me a fool. Well, maybe I am.

And now I will prove what a fool I am by asking if you have had any encounter with one Henri Badeau since last we spoke of him more than a year ago. Has he proven himself the scoundrel he appeared to be then?

I do hope we are able to see one another again. Letters are appreciative but not at all a substitute for face to face presence. You have my undying devotion,

Fanny