England,

Yorkshire Region

1831

“Oh Wondrous Wetherby”

 The endless social whirlwinds and crowded halls of busy London town had no proper place among the timeless winding cobblestones of wondrous Wetherby, which lay nestled in the heart of Yorkshire, nor in the dusty country lanes that laced its picturesque countryside. Wetherby was more for country gentlemen and their ladies, farmers, middle class families without title or great land to represent them, and little unknown shopkeepers crowding the quaint English village. They were unknown, at least, to those whom were strangers or newcomers to Wetherby. However, they were most certainly not unknown by a particular young lady of middle breeding and class.

In saying young lady, it is vital to explain that to the average on-looker she appeared to be very young indeed, far younger than her ten and seven years. Nevertheless, by the standards of her time she was very nearly an old maid! Still, whatever her age she was the very image of the best that Wetherby had to offer in young ladies. She exemplified the portrait of good middleclass breeding and deportment and possessed all the poise and grace taught to her by her mother and shown by example of her older sibling sisters.

There were six sisters in all, of various sizes, coloring, and personality.  There were Jessa and Jocelyn, the twins and the oldest of the Chattam girls, their ages were ten and nine. Then there is the young lady of our story, Jane, whom we have already stated as ten and seven, and then Candice, who is ten and four, Sarah, ten and two, and finally little Mary, now at the frustrating age of ten.

Alas, to their father’s minor disappointment there had been no Chattam sons. But do not be disheartened for Charles Chattam, the well known and well loved gentleman farmer, was very much indeed enamored of his bevy of women and considered himself the luckiest of men to have been blessed with each feminine figure that graced his modest household. Beginning with his first love Charlotte Chattam, his beloved wife and the devoted mother of the Chattam brood.

Now as to the personalities and appearances of all of Charles’ women. Jessa and Jocelyn were very pretty but proper young ladies, and the pride of the Chattam family. Both were fair of skin, blonde of hair, leaf green eyes of which they inherited from their father, and both engaged to local young men of good family. Candice with her fiery locks and cat green eyes, was sharp-witted and sharp-tongued, and ever kept the family up in humorous anecdotes.  Sarah, also blonde, but with dark brown eyes that appeared saucer size in her small elfin face, was a bit of a snob, given of airs as if she were a great lady of title and wealth, still she possessed as all the Chattam clan must, a genuinely kind heart. Little Mary, whom also possessed their mothers auburn coloring, had hazel eyes, was torn between the tomboy ways of childhood and the desire to be included in all the lady-like pursuits of her older siblings. Then finally, there is the lady of our story, Jane. Jane was a delightful combination of all the Chattam girls, though not without her own peculiarities and traits. Jane was of middle height, youthfully slender, with long dark brown hair the color of chestnuts, fair skin, deep blue eyes that continually sparkled with mirth, and plump (though not overly so) pink lips.  Jane also loved the out of doors (walking in particular as Jane was a very active girl), dances, local female gossip, reading, puzzles, drawing and dashing handsome young men that could challenge the intellect with intelligent and witty repartee.