Chapter 19
Henry Asheford
August 28th, 1881
Dear Clarkson,
I hope you are well. I write regarding the revelations bestowed upon me days ago when your colleague, Wyndham, saved my life. He also revealed the truth behind your silence, and I understand the reasons for this. I wish to thank you for everything.
Given the seriousness of the criminal offences, one could assume my family name will soon be publicly tarnished. Therefore, I will carefully glide through the shadows nameless and faceless, until those responsible are caught. Hence the lack of address on this letter. All I ask is that my home, Asheford Hall, remains untouched. There isn’t a reason for the police to investigate those walls, since my father has not stepped foot in the vicinity in over sixteen years. You have my word that it is simply a home. My home. And I wish that it remain so until my dying day.
Once more, thank you. Perhaps we will meet again, albeit in different circumstances and without a disguise on my part.
Yours sincerely,
Henry Asheford
Henry Asheford
The Whistling Scotsman
Edinburgh
August 28th, 1881
Dear Lottie,
I am writing this on a ship. It is sailing to Scotland, and it should arrive at the port in three days. As soon as I step foot on land, I will mail this to you in the hope it reaches you in time. It should be quick, given that it will be mailed from the port.
Please, Lottie, do as I say: find a safe place to hide. Do not stay at school. Do not return home. Go with William to a safe location, preferably in France. Once you have managed to do so, write to the address noted on this letter with the details of your location. I will come to you at once.
You may be asking why the urgency. There is no use in hiding the truth from you. Since before I left for New York, I have been working with the London police to bring down Father. In a way, the plan worked. The company is soon to be under extreme police scrutiny, and if all goes well, Father will be arrested, but that does not omit the dangers looming. I have angered a lot of people, including my wife’s family. Naturally, they will search for me and, by extension, you.
I pray you are not afraid. It is better this way. All we must do is wait for the police to act, hide for a few months, and we will soon be free from our father’s grasp. We can start our life anew. Maybe we can even return to Asheford Hall. Wouldn’t that be lovely?
You may wonder why I am travelling to Scotland. I plan to meet Eva. Did you know she was still in our world? If you did, I do not hold you accountable for the lie told to me. I understand that I was a selfish fool, and that my actions that June were monumentally wrong. I can hardly look at myself in the mirror for the pain I inflicted on you all. But, Lottie, know that I am working hard to change that. I wish to make amends. I desire to live a life free of the burdens that have shackled me for five dreadful years. No more hiding. I am done with it all.
Tell me how you are, please. Are you enjoying yourself in France? Did you read the book I left for you back in June? Have you seen a kingfisher yet? Does your chaperone still fall asleep at the drop of a hat? Lottie, I swear to you that I shall never again enforce another chaperone upon you. When we are together, we will live without constraints, I promise.
And because I never say it enough, I love you, dear sister.
See you soon,
Henry