Anne was sitting by the widow of the tower designed by May

The flat-lands extended for as far as she could see and she waved to passing travellers who were making their way into the featureless countryside

They always waved back

The tower was a landmark and could be seen for miles even on the most cloudy of days

But on this day the sun was high and the air was hot and the maroon ink that Anne was using was drying quickly on the page

She was recording her thoughts and ambitions in her diary which she hid intimately after use

Thirty miles away not far from the coast her brother George was recording his thoughts but not his ambitions on papers rejected by poets

He too was using maroon ink but he was careless in its use and often repeated what he had written

George knew of Anne’s diary and of its intimate location

Another sister called Mary sat in her bath and looked at the distant hills

From her vantage she could see the valley which was beginning to be betrayed by evidence of habitation

But the hills were pristine and showed no corruption

Mary often dreamt of the hills and how they would look in future years

Her dreams disturbed her for elegant houses would be built and spoil the her beloved vision

Unlike her sister and brother she cared for the land and tried not to dream of its destruction

Her servant Ododo also cared for the lands that surrounded the residence and spoke to each tree as he swept the courtyard

They often replied and nodded in agreement

He recorded their observations on the petals of flowers which he sent to his mistress

Who kept them in a velvet box

Secret to her person

By Maxwell sat in a chair and watched Mary bathe although he was unable to assist in her as he had fractured his arm after falling from a horse

She had forgiven his misfortune

But they did not speak

For in his imagination he was composing a short song

Gentle in length

Which he would call Kent Pastoral