Dearest Gentle Reader,

It has come to this author’s most intrigued attention that not all great love stories begin with a stolen glance across a candlelit ballroom. Some, quite scandalously, begin with the modern-day equivalent of fate: a well-timed swipe on an app called Bumble. On the twenty-second day of December, in the year of two thousand and twenty-two, one Mr. William — recently graduated from the esteemed University of Colorado Boulder — returned home to Memphis, Tennessee, intent on enjoying the holiday season before departing for a trip to Europe and scholarly pursuits in Chapel Hill. Little did he know, his most riveting adventure was not to be found in books or abroad, but rather in the form of a certain dazzling young lady named Miss Morgan. The pair began their correspondence at once, exchanging messages most spirited. While schedules clashed and traditional dinner plans eluded them, the two abandoned formality altogether and opted for a more simple rendezvous — a promenade at the local dog park. It was on this night that Miss Morgan was introduced to another important character in this tale: Copper, Mr. Will’s devoted canine companion. But as all readers know, timing is the greatest trickster of them all. Mere days later, Mr. William embarked upon a journey to South Africa for a family affair. Yet the fledgling couple's bond only deepened, sustained by long phone calls and a shared desire to reunite. When he returned in early January, it was but a brief visit before he was to pack his life away in Boulder. But then, dear reader, came the twist — a bold proposal, uttered over the telephone: “Give me a chance. Fly to Colorado and I promise you won’t regret it.” And so gentle readers, with bravery and butterflies, Miss Morgan boarded a plane. For five enchanted days, the couple reveled in snowy Colorado magic. A romantic dinner at The Melting Pot (a fitting metaphor, perhaps, for two lives blending together), solidified what many had already suspected — this was no fleeting flirtation. When Miss Morgan returned to Memphis on January 25th, they were no longer merely star-crossed acquaintances — they were a couple. Come February, Mr. William, in a truly swoon-worthy turn of events, invited Miss Morgan to accompany him on a European escapade. They parted briefly when Mr. Will left for Iceland before reuniting two weeks later in the city of canals — Amsterdam. From there, the two gallivanted across the continent — hand-in-hand and their hearts entwining further with each cobblestone they crossed. Somewhere between the train rides and twilight walks, romance bloomed, and they knew their story would not end with a goodbye. Upon their return, the happy couple took up residence in Chapel Hill, and thus, the next chapter began — with Copper loyally in tow and a new addition, the mischievous puppy Buck, bounding through their new home. But fate, ever a schemer, was not done. Mr. Will received an offer from Walmart (the merchant empire of our modern age), and the pair ventured to Bentonville, Arkansas. To no one’s surprise, they found it quite charming. The 2024 holiday season was spent in Memphis, but it was the snowy slopes of Breckenridge that brought true fireworks. On New Year’s eve, overlooking snowy mountains and tucked beneath a fur blanket on a sleigh ride (how delightfully dramatic!), Mr. Will proposed. Yes, dear reader. He proposed — and she said yes. They returned to North Carolina, hearts full, and soon discovered their perfect forever home in Bentonville. With degrees completed and boxes packed, only one thing remained: a final member of their furry family. Enter: Peach — the sweetest pup to ever wag her tail across a drawing room. And now, dear reader, the happy household of Will, Morgan, Copper, Buck, and Peach reside in harmonious bliss, proving once again that love finds us when we least expect it — and always when we need it most. This author shall keep a close eye on their continuing adventures… but something tells me this particular tale may just be destined for happily ever after. Until the next chapter, gentle readers...

Yours truly,

Lady Whistledown