Lady Margaret to Lady Victoria Kerr

Washington Square, New York, 25 July 1868

Dear Victoria,

Your letter reached me on Thursday, less than three weeks after it was posted—the wonders of modern communication methods! Please accept my elated and heart-felt felicitations on the safe delivery of little Margaret. I am honoured and absolutely thrilled to have a namesake, and hope that she proves less troublesome growing up than I was. I am enclosing a little gift for her from Tiffany’s. It is only a trinket but a very pretty one, I think you will agree. One day I hope to be able to hug her myself, but for now I will entrust you with the task of giving my new niece a special kiss and cuddle from her American aunt.

You ask me to tell you honestly how I am. Though you do not say so, my instincts tell me that it is because our dearest mama is worried about me. Please reassure her. I am well. No, that is an understatement. I am more than well. I am happy here. I have been welcomed into society and never lack for invitations. In fact, I am to spend August at Mrs. William Astor’s retreat in Ferncliff, which is “upstate” in a place called Rhinebeck. This invitation, I assure you, is considered a great honour and I shall be on my very best behaviour. The elusive Mr. Astor breeds horses and his stables are reputed to be second to none, so I hope to be granted the privileged of putting that boast to the test. I am also looking forward to enjoying the country air. Imagine London in the summer and then some (as we say here). Already the heat is stifling, the smells of the drains overpowering, and the plagues of flies—beyond description.

In reply to your other, less than subtle hint about my marital prospects here, let me assure you I am of the same (single) mind as I was when I arrived. If I was inclined to play surrogate to a widower’s children or even mother to one of the absurdly young men—boys almost—who are considered eligible bachelors here (for society’s eligible bachelors marry before they are twenty), then I could perhaps acquire a husband. Though that is not a foregone conclusion because even by New York standards I am deemed unconventional, and the renowned and esteemed Buccleuch name does not compensate for my conspicuous lack of dowry. However, I am not so inclined, Victoria. I do not say I will never marry, but at this moment in time, I am relishing every moment of learning to be myself. In any case, I fear that I have already loved and lost

Please pass on a special hug to Mary and my best love to Mama. Write soon with all your (growing) family news, dearest sister.

With love as ever and another kiss for my little namesake,

Margaret