[Filter: Private]

I haven't written for a long time. It truly seems as if nothing changes from day to day, now. Everyone tries not to do anything, not to cause any stir. Except Chloe, of course, but there are days when I think that nothing means as much to her as causing a stir, and when she does, I'm bound by my word as a dear friend to follow suit, in the smallest ways I can be excused for. I cannot help but think that Lady Caroline has noted my coldness, however I try to apologize with my eyes. A thief she may be, and cruel, since that day, but she is still all alone here, and I'm certain that if we were to hear her tell the story from her point of view, her actions would have been quite justified in her eyes. She is so far from her home, and always seems so lost in herself.

My days are spent, for the most part, sitting in tension while my foolish brother courts two women, neither of whom truly deserve this treatment. It seems as if he doesn't even realize how upset everyone is, how trapped and caged we feel by this net he's thrown over all of us. Even Father is beginning to grow displeased.

He is toying with you, you see. It was always clear that this was a game to him, but I can't help but think that he now goes out of his way to set them upon one another and play them against each other and make them crawl atop one another to catch his favour. They both handle it far more graciously than any woman so humiliated should be expected to.

I suspect Mother is telling Father to force a choice from Tarmon. Father would not want to agree. It would explain the tension between the two of them, of late, if I have no read them wrongly, and I do not think I have.

Even Fartgus seems sullen and moody, as embroiled in all of this as the rest. And how could he not be? It is his sister being so shamed and his ... his betrothed, forced to stand in the presence of her enemy every day. For all of Chloe's inappropriate behaviour, we must remember that she truly believes Lady Caroline's family to be responsible for the death of the elder brother she loved and cherished so very much.

Sisca says that she believes things will end soon, but she is so very optimistic. ... she says other things, as well, of late. Does she truly not know that Lord Matthias and Lady Hazel are courting? Perhaps I should say something, and she and I perhaps comiserate ...

But they're leaving so very soon. Surely she won't pursue the thought once he's out of her sight.

Now, would you look and see how much I've written? I suppose I did have something to say after all.