Chapter Twenty-Five
Dearest friend,
I have not heard from you in more than a week. Is everything well? You did receive my copy of Tess of the d’Urbervilles, did you not? If you did, then surely you agree that Angel is a right fool. If you did not, then I apologize if I spoiled it.
Yours,
The Tattler
P.S. My eyesight improves but it is frustratingly slow going. My brother is temporarily detained traveling, and so it is my sister who pens my words now…
“… and so, you must only half-trust anything written.”
“I am not going to write that.”
“Which is proof that you are not the correct person to be assisting me with my correspondence.”
“You know very well that Meg will not help you with this, and no maid should risk being fired.”
“Very well, but I insist you write the words as I say them. Pinky swear, because you know I cannot see to confirm it.”
“I pinky swear… He will be furious with you if he finds out.”
“Hush. She was my pen pal first. I have every right to continue my correspondence.”
Dear Tattler,
I apologize. I am under the weather. I’m sure Tess of the d’Urbervilles is lovely, but I fear this cold has quite a grip on me. I’ve not the head for reading nor writing. Perhaps it’s best that we hold off for a few weeks, until your eyesight has returned and I’m feeling more myself.
Best,
Booklover
“Well, that’s not the truth. You said she looked perfectly well.”
“Jac, I did not say perfectly well.”
“But she was hardly at death’s door and unable to pen more than a few lines.”
“No, she did not seem ill, simply sad.”
“I am, frankly, shocked that you did not speak with her and disappointed that you did not use the opportunity to discover more about what happened.”
“How could I? Peter shot daggers at me whenever I looked in her direction and Meg would not release my arm for a moment. I had to eat warm sandwiches with one hand.”
“Well, had I not been so afflicted with lack of sight, I would have done a better job at finding out which of them is at fault here.”
“Had you not afflicted yourself with said lack of sight, we wouldn’t be in this pickle, trying to determine who broke whose heart.”
“We would not be in this pickle because our brother would never have found love, which we all agree is an excellent thing. Or at least it could have been. I do think he is at fault in all of this.”
“Clearly, he is at fault in this. Truly, I believe he thinks he can pretend he never fell for her in the first place. Men.”
“Men.”