Chapters Dollhood: A Woman's Choice Appendix to Book 2
Chiswick, London
July 6th, 2057From the esteemed desk of the Headmaster,
St. Werburgh’s Finishing School for Young Ladies,
Sir Henry Wainwright,Head Secretary of the Royal Society of Dolls,
Mr. Leonard Oakridge,I have read the tale of the young Collins (neé Hodgkinson) Doll you had commissioned and sent to my office for review. As I am no longer the Head Secretary, I can only implore you to reconsider releasing this tale to the general populace. The titillating elements serve us no good in the eyes of the Church, and I am surprised your team could not procure a less controversial tale from Hope or any other Doll. Indeed her sister, Chastity, seems an ideal candidate!
I am aware of the leniencies in Hope’s Dollhood which allow her to dictate such a story for us, and her tenuous connection to the thorn in our side, Emily Rivers, which if more substantial could have been useful, but I impress upon you to try again. Do not attempt to twist her words, I have no doubt we could silence her again through one of the many vulnerabilities revealed here, especially in John Collins’s career, but such an endeavour would result in nothing more than a bald-faced marketing package, which was the antithesis of this project.
We need a real, true Doll. One who was raised in a less complicated household, and perhaps avoid another author? I found myself reading into the witching hours, few will have the patience for such a hefty story.
We here at St. Werburgh’s have seen our attendance and enrolment slide markedly after the publishing of Ms. Rivers’ incendiary articles “How I Became An Artist’s Masterpiece”. Our Society numbers are still up, but the scholarship rates have declined rapidly. The girls are of course not privy to how popular the bitter woman’s story has become, and frankly I wonder if I shouldn’t have a discussion with Dr. Eaton regarding supplementing the Society Standard with further sensory limitations. Both Hope and Emily seem to have refined ears and this worryingly indicates our property picks up far too much. In the ideal kingdom we envision, this is not a concern, that eavesdropping should entertain them and die with them, but with Damsels in Distress attempting to reclaim and rehabilitate every unregistered Doll, we must take every precaution. I am convinced experiences akin to Emily’s are not the norm for our girls, but we must ensure they do not muddy the waters of our progress!
Please note that this entire scandal would not have occurred if the Society’s registry had been up to date, and such independent Societymen like Humphrey Battersby had known to procure the official documents entrusting their human property to the Society upon untimely passing.
I would also like to update you on the small matter you wished me to look into, the disappearance of one Branwell Lowood. It seems after Ms. Rivers highlighted her brother as the prime cause of her forced dollification, there have been many in the press finding naught but a headstone, with no explanation anywhere in Ms. Rivers’ four volumes about her ungentlemanly nemesis’ passing.
I do believe there to be something awry in his absence, as the death certificate was not notarised properly, and there is no presiding officer listed at the sight of his carriage crash. If this is true, if a Doll was allowed to regain her womanhood then assault or murder a Man! Well, not only would she be prosecuted under the full extent of the Gender Mandate, but this may be the nail in the coffin for her reputation, and our ticket to proceeding with our long term program post-haste.
I will have my sources continue their investigations, but in the meantime please find a more useful testimonial. Let the Collins Doll continue and conclude, so as not to hurt her gentle sensibilities, but shelve the story in our archives once complete.
At worst, this whole affair will blow over in a year’s time, as more of the young royals are set to join us as both Dolls and Societymen. I have taken the time to ensure their enrolment in this tumultuous saga, so I do implore you to start pulling your weight, old chap!
All the best, Henry