Emma and the Earl
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Elizabeth Harbison
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Prologue
June 9, 1998
3431 41st St., N.W.
Apartment #202
Washington, D.C. 20017
U.S.A.
The Right Hon. Brice, The Earl of Palliser
Sheldale House
St. Peter Port
Guernsey, Channel Islands GY1 2NU
U.K.
Dear Sir:
Please forgive my being forward enough to write to you at your residence. I am a pharmaceutical horticulturist with NBL Botanical Laboratory in Washington, D.C., and will be in England between July 5-12.
After seeing your estate in John Turnhill’s photography book of English country gardens, I have reason to believe there is a very rare medicinal plant on the grounds of Sheldale House. If there is any way possible that I could tour the gardens during my trip, I would be most grateful. While I realize this is an unusual request, I feel it would be invaluable to my work at NBL.
I apologize for not giving you more notice, but I’ve only just made plans to visit your country. Please send word to me either at the above address or, in July, at the Sunnington Hotel, Hampstead, London.
Sincerely,
Emma Lawrence
June 9, 1998
3431 41st St., N.W.
Apartment #202
Washington, D.C. 20017
U.S.A.
18 Cecile Park Road
Crouch End
London, N8 9AS
U.K.
Dear John,
Forgive the kitschy Washington, D.C., postcard, but I wanted to get this note off to you as soon as possible, so I had to settle for what the lunch joint across the street from work had to offer. It was this or that hideous letterhead at work. By the way, when I tried to look up your phone number, the international operator said you were unlisted!
So anyway, are you ready for the big news? (Drum roll here, please): we’re finally going to meet!
The lab is sending me to the U.K. from July 5-12. There’s a symposium on the sixth and seventh that I have to attend, but after that, apart from a few things I have to try and arrange, my schedule is going to be really flexible. Hope yours will be too…? I’m dying to see what you look like (why didn’t you ever send a picture?!) I know this isn’t much notice, but that’s the way it always seems to go around here, as you know all too well.
If you don’t get this in time to write me at home, you can contact me at a hotel called the Sunnington in Hampstead as of the fifth.
I’m out of room! Gotta run!
love,
Emma
