Helen Speaks

Introduction to Olive: https://helenspeaks.wordpress.com/2025/04/07/olive-framleys-magical-year/

Aunty Ermingarde: https://helenspeaks.com/2025/04/26/olive-framley-entry-6-26th-april/

Dear Talia,

I’m in hot water with Aunty Ermingarde. I don’t mind, really. I went over for tea and I was telling her about going off fortune telling and she took it really personally, shouting about my lying to the town (is it my fault they won’t pay me if I tell the truth?!) and then she brought Lucy up, so I decided to defend her, because honestly any idiot can see the kid has a good heart and would never hurt anyone, and then Lucy came in and casually mentioned Aunty E’s eyes turning purple and… well, Aunty E knew right away it was me. Well, she is a fine one to talk about honesty, because if she’d been honest with me right away, I wouldn’t have done it, would I?

In any case, I don’t blame Lucy, who didn’t know, but I decided to make myself rather scarce from Dune House!

Hatty had to go away this weekend as she has an elderly relative who is ill, and she dressed up very nicely so I suspect she has a secret beau and they are going away. Well, good for her, someone should be having fun on my parents’ money.

And I… well, Firenze has decided that he likes me again. I don’t know why, but he’s so often at home now, and affectionate – snuggling up with me when I put on my make-up, or else suddenly appearing with me as I go for a walk. I decided to tidy up the cottage a bit, with Hatty away. I suppose Lucy is very self-sufficient and tidies up after herself! I cleared out a little outhouse at the bottom of the garden. It’s an old stone building – could be perfect for making potions, if I decide to be a potion sort of witch!

Firenze likes it too, although it will be too cold for him by autumn!

I feel very pleased with my progress, Talia – this feels more grown-up than getting a job.

Yours sincerely,

Olive.

Next entry (Lucy’s next letter): https://helenspeaks.com/2025/05/18/lucy-skylark-entry-16-18th-may/

Olive’s next letter: https://helenspeaks.com/2025/05/21/olive-framley-entry-10-21st-may/