Greetings. My name is Rowena Woolrich, formerly Rowena Merchant. My husband, Stephan, has cast me aside, and I am to be sent home to my father's house in Chipping Sodbury. It is because I am barren. My father has yet to appear to escort me home, yet Stephan insists I leave with only his armed escort. Stephan will not let me take my most prized possession, my half-Spanish mare, Maeve. Maeve is a woman's ride. I cannot image what he wants with her, except to make me miserable.


My father is a wool merchant, and quite wealthy, but he is traveling at the moment, somewhere in London (or so I've been told. Stephan reads my letters for me, even though I'm perfectly capable of reading them, myself). We are a few days' ride from there, weather permitting, in a small part of Oxford.


I will miss Oxford, and my brother as well, who is there at the University reading for the law. But, I must confess to being just a little excited to be going home. I have been but twice since my marriage to Stephan, and I am given to understand that there have been many changes.


I must go now. Perhaps I shall write again.


Rowena