A mask of innocence *On hold*

A mask of innocence ~5

***Twice in a day! And pigs aren't even flying! crazy isn't it? haha well enjoy! ****

My cheerful mood carried on when I got home because; waiting on the table was a stack of letters. Now, normally there was nothing exciting about mail but today was different.

Ragged and worn, a letter addressed to me sat among the others. Delighted, I snatched it up and tore it open.

Ms. Cambridge Lockhart,

You have never had the pleasure of meeting me and my name matters not. However, I have something, or rather someone, who is very important to you. Robert Lockhart is in my custody at this moment, and has been for the past nine years. He has not died, as I know you were told. Why am I just now contacting you, you ask? Well, I have been keeping Mr. Lockhart under the charges of thievery of the crown, very serious charges, mind you. He was sentenced for ten years, and as you might’ve calculated, he is almost due for release. However, these ten years have been long and I am to receive no consolation for having to guard Mr. Lockhart. So here is my proposition to you; In exchange for Mr. Lockhart’s release, you will provide me with two thousand pounds. I will accept no less. And keep in mind that I have the resources to keep Mr. Lockhart here for the rest of his life. Think about it and respond soon.

                                    Kindly,

                                                R. Thoreau

A cold sensation spread through my body as I read and left me reeling. I read the letter again, and then a third time, but no matter how many times I read the letter, none of the words made sense to me.

 My father was alive? 

He was a thief?

The latter, I questioned in disbelief.

Feeling dizzy, I sat leaned against the table and slumped to the ground.

If this was true, that my father was alive, it changed everything. If my papa came home we could be a family again, him and I. Without my consent, hope started to bubble up inside. When I looked at the letter again, however, some of that hope was squelched. Two thousand pounds. That was what it would cost to get my papa back. I didn’t have that money. Delia doesn’t have that money either, I thought bitterly; she’s wasted it all on frivolous ball gowns and jewels. Hopeless, I buried my head in my hands.

“Cam?”

Tommy shook my shoulder gently. “Did you see the letter you got? What does it say?” He asked excitedly.

Without looking up, I thrust it in the direction of his voice. I remained silent as Tommy read the letter. Out of nowhere, skinny but strong arms wrapped around me and pulled me close.

“Wow Cam, I can’t believe this.”

“Neither can I,” I mumbled against his shoulder.

“Do you think this man is telling the truth? He could just be trying to get money out of you.” Tommy speculated.

I stiffened. “No, it’s not possible. For one, I don’t have any money, our family doesn’t have any money and everyone knows it.”

“And?”

“And…I just know he’s telling the truth. I have to believe that Papa is still alive.”

I pulled away and studied the piece of parchment in Tommy’s hand.

“Okay but, even if he still is alive. Where are you going to get two thousand pounds?  You said yourself that there is no money to our family.”

I opened my mouth to retort when I spotted something underneath my dress. Pulling it out, I recognized the pale cream mask that Jack had given me earlier.

Wait, what about your mask?”

“There’s no way I’m going to the big party tonight.”

 “Why not? I think you should.”

 “Listen, even if I wanted to go, it wouldn’t be possible. Besides I don’t have a mask.”

“Now you do.”

Mine and Jack’s previous words filtered through my head. The party was tonight and thanks to Jack, I now had a mask to wear.

I recalled that the hosts of tonight’s party were the Petersons, an exceedingly wealthy family. A family so wealthy that they wouldn’t even notice a few missing trinkets. Swiftly, a plan formed in my mind of how to get the two thousand pounds I needed.

“What are you thinking?” Tommy asked suspiciously.

I grinned, “I’m thinking that I should get a new dress out for tonight.”

Tommy looked confused, but only for a second before happiness swept over his face.

“You’re going to the ball tonight? That’s the best news I’ve heard all day! Well….except for the other thing.” He said sheepishly. Laughing, I shooed him away. I didn’t have a lot of time if I was going to go to the ball. I needed to think of a plan that could get me to the Peterson’s jewels and away before anyone would notice…