Owl from Lavinia Scalara to Endymion Dashwood, dated 2 September 1942...
Carefully warded and sealed, accompanied by a basket of tarts and the lavender oil you are known to be fond of:
Caro, caro, I don't know where to begin. I know you are feeling horrified, liberated, wounded, raw, elated, angry, broken and terrified and that it must change from moment to moment. I know it will be a very long time before you know peace with this. I know that no matter what Hadrian says, he doesn't really understand what you feel, because he doesn't and can't know what it's like to be you, and that he will take very good care of you if you let him, but that there will be things you cannot explain even to him.
I wish I could be there for you. Even though I'm always very busy and you always think you want to be alone when you're hurt. We will come to see you as soon as we can. Let Hadrian and Addie take care of your younger brother, your cousins, the little details. Don't try so hard to pretend you're on top of it all that you convince the people who actually want to take care of you and aren't just looking for weaknesses. You've been together all your lives but you've been lovers less than a month; you've just been hand-fasted; you've just been more or less adopted by people you hardly know; you've just been defamed in print by people you trusted once. It's been nothing but chaos and change, unrelenting, and if I could give you peace I would. If there is anything that Edward and I can do for you, you must let us know; and if you need to come home for a little while, somehow, we'll find a way.
All my love to you,
Lavinia (and Edward, who sends his love over a pile of secret contracts and dispatches)