Chaperones

It's rare for me to be alone. Aunt seems to always be watching over me. She says as I'm getting older I'm going to need a chaperone otherwise people will talk. I can't think of anything worse than someone following me around, knowing my every move. 

Storytelling 

I love time on my own. It helps me to hear my own thoughts.  I like to make stories up and act them out without anyone watching. I can be whoever I want to be without breaking silly rules. 

I like to include Father in my stories too. It helps me keep his memory alive.  He'd understand my alone time because he often needed it too. 

Read more of Amelia's story 

"Aunt Cora doesn’t seem to like the idea of education. I’ve to hide my books that Miss Lancer gave me on my last day of school - “You have a fine brain, Amelia. Don’t forget that,"  if Aunt Cora had anything to do with it, I’d easily forget it. “With a book, you are never lonely. With education, you have a solid sense of self-worth.” Those words have stuck with me  I’m only just appreciating now that she said those things to me.  It helps when you’ve someone that believes in you."

Amelia's inheritance by BAFTA nominated writer and director Sandra Goldbacher is available to purchase now. 

I’ve really enjoyed teaching Effie to read although it’s frustrating sometimes as she doesn’t always listen. Now I know why adults say ‘ Patience is a virtue’ ! We’ve been reading from my ancestor Matilda Marchmont’s old diary - Effie loves reading it as it’s filled with such shocking stories from Tudor times ! Effie does love anything dramatic, just like her brother Fleet !

I love being able to read - there are so many books I want tuck into before I go to bed. I don’t know why society thinks women can’t - or shouldn’t - write. There are so many lady authors now - Emily Bronte, Elizabeth Barret Browning, Christina Rosetti ! I want to read  them all but Aunt Cora thinks I should only read texts on sewing, or silly things like dance steps….

Why not read more about Amelia in Amelia’s Inheritance, a story of intrigue and adventure set in Victorian London. 

It was Christmas Eve. Amelia and Effie were sitting in a window seat in the house in Hampstead, drinking tea as snow fell on Church Row outside. Effie was reading aloud dramatically from Matilda Marchmont’s old journal, which they had found in the chest.

Amelia could make out the branches of the tall Christmas tree quite clearly now, flickering with soft candlelight and hung with gingerbread stars. The room was garlanded with ivy and mistletoe.

“Hmm. I’ve taught you to read well,” mused Amelia.

“Don’t flatter yourself, will you!”

The girls grinned at each other. 

Mr. Haverstock was walking across the room. His hands were flapping oddly.

“Please don’t over-excite yourself, but I have news. Great news. More than news…A visitor. Can you bear a tremendous shock do you think?”

Flickering with soft candlelight and hung with gingerbread stars..

Extract from 'Amelia's Inheritance'

Aunt Cora has been recovering well and has been a frequent visitor of Papa and I at our home – I do like saying home rather than house, it feels so much more permanent. Anyway on her last visit she told us that her doctor has advised her to ‘take the cure’ so as to restore her nerves or something. It did sound a bit silly, it is just water after all! Papa immediately suggested Bath but Aunt Cora exclaimed it was not the season for Bath and perhaps Cheltenham, or the newer resort at Leamington would be better. There was something about some Duchesses going to Leamington and that made it better, but I really was not listening properly as it was not anything particularly interesting to me.