Epilogue
SECOND FIRE DEVASTATES brACKENHURST HALL
Brackenhurst Hall, the illustrious residence of the late Bartholomew Hawthorn, has perished in a second fire, erupting mere months after the first had demolished its west wing and claimed the lives of its occupying family.
The acclaimed merchant, his wife, and his daughter were the sole victims of that initial tragedy, the family leaving behind an heir who was—to his fortune—not present at the time of the disaster.
Yet mere months after the fatal accident, a second fire has broken out, this time claiming the entirety of the manor.
Authorities have not yet ruled on the nature of the fire, and have not yet found any victims amid the remains.
Previous staff to the Hall and its young heir deny any knowledge of a fire, the reason for their evacuation something else entirely: toxicity found in the walls.
Authorities could not yet complete their investigations in the matter, as the whereabouts of the young heir, Nathaniel Hawthorn, is currently unknown.
Suspicions have arisen to his involvement in the outbreak of the fire, but these remain allegations until such a time as definite proof can be put forth.
He was last seen on the suspected date of the fire, leaving the Claribelle Inn in the company of a woman, whom he had shared a suite with the night before.
The person of this unnamed guest is at present still unknown.
The mysterious circumstances of the fire baffle authorities, with leads converging on dead ends.
Yet one mystery may be the most intriguing of all.
For amid the wreckage of this final devastation, one object remained standing in a state of near perfection—a beautifully carved wooden door that is presumed to have stood guard into what was once the drawing room.
The previous staff of Brackenhurst Hall have recognized the door as the one that had once stood in the entrance into the west wing, having survived the previous fire as well.
Its luck—or rather impeccable constitution—awes schooled opinions, and presents a new deficit in rational explanations in this case of mounting intrigue.
The door, as of this writing, has been given over to the National Museum, where it shall be available for viewing by the public in the very near future.
P. D. MERCER UNEXPECTEDLY QUITS ART SCENE
23rd April 1880
Renowned encaustic painter P. D. Mercer, known for such acclaimed works as “The Cage of Sunlight” and “The Dance of Sparrows”, has recently retired from London’s art scene.
His departure was swift and nigh silent, sparking the interest of art connoisseurs everywhere. His last painting, “The Dawn of Reckoning”, has made its way stealthily into the hands of his dealers, along with a short note claiming this work to be his last.
As all creations of Mercer, the piece stuns with its otherworldly beauty, captivating in both its effusive nature and gripping subject.
The painting has been sold at auction for record price, and now graces the walls of none other than Queen Victoria herself, having received it as the parting gift of former Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli.
Given such high regard, Mercer’s departure is doubly regrettable, its reasons remaining steeped in mystery.
Yet the world of art shall forever be grateful to have housed such vision and such talent, even if for such a short time.
Mercer shall be missed, and his works, esteemed as they have always been, remain for us as eloquent reminders of the artist who once created them.