Gifts to a bride, Sunday 18th afternoon (T minus 50 hours)

[George Hardwick III]

 

Quote

 

Apartment of Lord & Lady Chichester

 

The apartment is small, but comfortable, with two rooms. There is a living room, with a small seating arrangement near the hearth and a table. A pair of windows is set into the south wall, overlooking the Long Walk and Castle Hill. A small carved walnut table and chair set rests between the windows while a small door, hidden behind a wine-colored curtain with thick tassels, beside the fireplace opens into a little closet. Candelabras rest on the table and mantel, casting long shadows over the polished wood of the floor.

 

In the next room a large walnut bed resting against the east wall. The bed is hung with wine-colored velvet, the fabric trimmed with gold tassels. Across from the bed is a stone hearth whose crackling fire keeps the chill at bay. Small silver bells have been affixed to the edges of the mantel with silver satin bows and to the tie backs of the drapes and bed curtains. A pair of windows is set into the south wall, overlooking the Long Walk and Castle Hill. A small carved walnut table and chair set rests between the windows while a small door, hidden behind a wine-colored curtain with thick tassels, beside the fireplace opens into a little closet. Candelabras rest on the table and mantel, casting long shadows over the polished wood of the floor.

 

The door opens into a narrow corridor that opens into the apartment’s drawing room. The room is furnished simply but elegantly in shades of pale green. A bank of windows along the south wall offers a view of the Long Walk and Castle Hill, letting in prodigious amounts of sunlight on a clear day. A carved rosewood writing table is placed against the windows while a handful of straight-backed chairs, cushioned in matching shades of green, are dotted throughout the room. Along the west wall is a deep-set stone fireplace that crackles merrily at all times to ward off the cold: it is draped with a swath of royal blue velvet, a wreath of seasonal flowers gracing the center of the swathe. An iron chandelier hangs from the ceiling, the light glinting off of the polished wood floors. Silver bows and bells adorn the tiebacks of the drapes.

 

 

On the afternoon of the 18^th around one o’clock  was another delivery for Lady Caroline; a small red satchel within which was a book entitled  ‘Bartolomeo Bismantova, Regola pier suonare il Violoncello da Spalla*’ and set of cello strings.  There was also a letter in Georges handwriting. 

 

My dearest Lady

In interest in sharing mutual passions for those things loved, I secured a copy of this recently published work, so that I might learn of yours.  There in I have learnt of two varying schools in Cello, that of the French and that of the Italian, one over handed, and one under.  Were they discussing painting, I imagine such information to be as astounding as painting upright or while stood on ones head! 

Thus, I wish your experimentation and revelry of discovery, for to learn new things in ones occupation is surely one of the greatest joys that might be had.   

So it is Caroline, that I would advise that in wedding gift to you, in fact to us both, I have purchased tickets for our passage come season end, to extensively travel both these countries visiting musicians and tutors alike.

Counting the days

George

 

* published in 1677