Monday 13th October 1808

Dear Diary,
I appear to have been quite hasty. I have discovered we could be at sea for some fourteen days! I know not if I shall bear it and yet I must. Already I tire of the view. There is little to amuse, however Miss Dixon appears more at ease the further the distance from our homeland.
We sat upon a booby hatch in the intermittent sunshine and I asked her about her sudden whim to travel to the Colonies without her good friend Miss Forster.
"Oh, Mr Austen," she whispered, "it is less of a whim, more of a necessity. I will not bore you with the details but I believe I am a wanted woman." She smiled and gripped my arm.
"I am delighted for you," I replied, " whoever he is, who has called you to him, he is a fortunate fellow indeed."
Miss Dixon smiled and appeared as if she was about to say something more but then thought better of it.
We sat on the booby and admired the dull view.