Dangerous Letters

Chapter Three

Letter VII

August 12, 17--

Dear Madame C-------,

You see that I am very exact in keeping the promise you engaged me to make but I know not whether your curiousity will be satisfied with the accounts I shall give you. I hasten to assure you, however, that the desire I have to oblige you in the utmost of my power has made me very diligent in my enquiries and observations about the chateau that has now become my home. I am afraid that I have not been able to find out nearly as much as I had hoped; most of this place is locked down in the master's absence and I was surprised to learn that, with the exception of the housekeeper, the staff have all been in residence for less than a year.

I am sorry to report that my attempts to inquire as to the origins of this house and the master's ancestral seat yielded poor returns. The housekeeper is quite abrupt in her manner and appears to have very little tolerance for what might otherwise be recognised as perfectly innocent curiousity. Nevertheless, I have learned a little on my own and will share those details with the proviso that my findings are still speculative. Chief amongst my discoveries has been the portraiture I chanced upon when trying to locate the library.

Having passed up the great staircase, and through an oak gallery, I entered upon a long suite of chambers, whose walls were either hung with tapestry, or wainscoted with cedar, the furniture of which looked almost as ancient as the rooms themselves. The spacious fireplaces, where no mark of social cheer remained, presented an image of cold desolation; and the whole suite had so much the air of neglect and desertion, that it seemed, as if the venerable persons, whose portraits hung upon the walls, had been the last to inhabit them.

It was not, strictly speaking, in a part of the house that I should have unreservedly walked but given that I had stumbled, quite by chance, onto the corridor– and it did not seem that anyone was around to take exception to my presence, my steps were arrested by inquisitiveness and I lingered a while. It is evident that the estate has belong to the Marquis' esteemed family since -----------------------------, when --------------------------- hailing, it seems from ------------------------------------------------------------------------- conquered this province. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. They have occupied the castle ever since, for the last four hundred years; unchallenged except for the ------------- rebellion that was quashed in ----- (there is a glorious scene of this victory hung over a mantlepiece).

Perhaps, Madame, given your familiarity with the noble lineage of our king, you will have some greater insight into this period? I am most curious as to the -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.

Adieu, dear Madame C-------; continue to write to me, and believe none of your goodness is lost upon Your, &c,

Charlotte B----.

Letter VIII

August 14, 17--

To Sir. T—D-------,

I send this to you despite my last letter declaring that I would wait to hear back before delivering another. It has been well over four months and yet I have not heard from you. Perhaps my letters have been lost but if you think me angry, you are wrong.

I understand why an engagement might no longer be possible given my family's situation. I understand that no concrete promises were ever made.

Pray, write me. Tell me about your sister, your newfound estates, of anything besides. I only ask for a farewell and to know that you know my mind as surely as I now believe that I know yours.