Kira Grande and Anna Chandrakumar — A Baker’s Dozen of Letters in Time

Dearest Mina,

      You won't believe the things that have happened over the past few days. I am so very alone. Arthur scolds me for being friendly with his chums, and so I have been more isolated than usual. Every time I wake up I'm surrounded by rain. It's everywhere I look. There's no escaping it.

     I used to think that the rain would wash away the horrors. I used to believe that everything would come to life after the rain stopped, just like it did back home. Remember how we would wake up in April to the soft pitter patter of morning showers? We'd pop our sandals on and sit on the porch under the awning, immersed in the rainy world. All of our problems would be swept away.

     I've had no luck over here. The rain is relentless and it never washes away my problems. How is it that rain, the very same phenomena, has lost it's beautiful power?

How are things going with William? Any luck?

     I'm hoping against all odds that this letter will find you after the long journey over the Atlantic. You know how to reach me here in Harbour Grace.

Lots of Love,

Lucy

My Dear Lucy,
     I am home now. The rain has changed here as well, for Aunt Sally is dead! The Lord took her on the Thursday past. I know there is no way you can be home in time for the funeral, but I do so wish you were here. Mother is distraught and father is more so, though he does not show it.

      I know how close you were to her. Father always said that you looked and acted just as she did when she was a child.

    I write this letter on the same porch we sat on when we were young, and the rain falls here, but it is no longer the same. I fear our lives are forever changed, Lucy, and I do not like it.

    I hope you are well. Father has mentioned some things about Arthur. I would hope that if there were anything wrong, you would confide in me. We are sisters and if we do not have each other, then whom do we have?

    By the time this letter reaches you, I will have returned to London to the boarding school. Do write back soon.

Affectionately yours,

     Mina

My beloved Mina,

     It has been a too long since I last heard from you concerning the death of our cherished aunt, and time has gone by so slowly. Is mother happy that she had Aunt Sally committed into that awful bedlam? It pains me to learn that Auntie has passed. I am devastated that I cannot be there to comfort father, but Arthur does not think it a good idea for me to travel across the ocean. Mind you, Arthur does not approve of any of my ideas.

    Unfortunately, there was another incident so I have been confined to my bed for the past few days, trying to recover from the horrendous bruises. Arthur is terribly ashamed that he lost his temper again, but yet he refuses to apologize. Oh Mina, I am at my wit's end! I do not know how much longer I can last in this miserable new found land with my dreadful husband. I beg you Mina, please distract me with tales of your adventures.

Desperately yours,

     Lucy

My darling Lucy,

    You poor, sweet dear. Oh how it pains me so to hear of your troubles. To think that someone of Arthur's upbringing could be so cruel! I weep to think of you so alone in the foreign land. If only there were a way to visit you. You always protected me when we were young, and I wish I could do the same for you now. Is there no way you might come back to us? You could convince him to bring you home–for the holidays perhaps. Surely he cannot deny you that.

    Mother asked why you do not write her of your new home in the colonies. I told her you must be busy, but she is very upset. Will you not send her something? I know you did not part on the best of terms–she did force you to marry that villain. How cross I am with her for that! She meant well for you, though. He seemed a well-bred gentleman. Even you thought so when he first came to court you.

    In her letters she tells me that father is drinking more as of late. He still refuses to speak of auntie. When I left, he did not seem the father we once had, but rather the shadow of a great man.

    I have returned to school and all is well here. Truth be told, the monotony of my studies no longer wearies me. I have come to appreciate the calm. It still rains.

    My heart aches for you, and I will keep you in my prayers.

Sincerely,

    Mina

Ps. Much to my dismay, William means to ask father for my hand.

Mina,

     I have not heard mention of William’s name in quite a while. I do recall him being a fanciful young lad when he and I used to play in grade school. He is dashing and has a truly kind heart. I do implore that you give poor William a chance. Despite him being a favorite of mother's, he does not seem to be a man that would mistreat you. In fact, he quite fancied me when we were younger, but for some reason mother did not approve.

    I cannot bring myself to forgive our mother for forcing me into this miserable union. Had it not been for her iron fist, I would still be in England with you. I have tried to reason with Arthur but he is beyond that now. He has been lured into the clutches of jealousy and refuses to let me do so much as leave the house. I am hoping that this is simply a passing hysteria. If it continues, I know not what I will do.

    I must beg you, dear Mina, to help me. Arthur gets worse every day, and I simply do not know how much more I can handle. I have begun to formulate a plan of escape as soon as the rain lets up,  but I will need you to help me.

With love and hope,

    Lucy

Sweet Lucy,

     Tell me what it is you need and I will do it. To hear of your pain is more than I can take! Do you need money for passage on a ship? I implore you to come here. Even if mother won't house you, you know I will. The house mother, Cecilia will not mind; I am certain of it.

Father still drinks and he will not entertain guests, so William has not had the chance to see him. Truth be told, he is a charming lad, but Arthur seemed the same! They have had a similar upbringing, and I fear that they will be the same in marriage. He has admittedly done well for himself though. I refuse his affections for now.

     If I have not spoken of Will as of late, I will be honest in saying that it is for your sake that I do so. He told me once that you were quite forthcoming with your affections for him before you were wedded to Arthur. He said he rejected your affections. It was not mother’s fault. It displeases me to bring up things from the past and it is for this reason that I have not mentioned him. Father always did say that you were as jealous as Auntie Sally was, and look what happened to Uncle Benedict! Not that I believe you would do anything so foolishly insane. I laugh to even think of it!

    Now I must admonish you for the cruel letter you wrote to mother. I told you to send her word of your well being. She cries more than ever now;I think she is beginning to realize what she has done to you. The Lord tells us to forgive, dear Lucy, and that is what you must do.

With all my love,

     Mina

Ps. Please write soon and let me know what you need for your great escape. I promise to tell no one of your plans.

Mina,

     It is only natural for father to grieve the passing of his sister, is it not? She was such a wonderful lady. Just thinking of all the times we spent together gives me strength to deal with Arthur’s moods. It really is quite a shame that mother convinced father to have her locked away in the sanitarium.

     You, of all people, should understand what that mother of ours has put me through. I was brutally honest in my letter, and I do not think that it is appropriate of you to scold me for doing so. If you understood even half of what Arthur has done to me, you would not be so quick to judge. If I did so much as look at another man, Arthur would fall into a rage and scream at me until his voice went hoarse. I tried to appeal to his better nature–to reason with him–but it was of no use; he was beyond reason. Mina, you must understand that there was no hope for me back in Harbor Grace. I could not stand it any longer. You should be happy to know that I shall soon be in London and all my problems will be solved, just as I solved them here.

     Lucy

Dear Lucy,

     I see from the postage that you are no longer in Harbor Grace. Has Arthur finally let you out? Be honest with me, Lucy: have you left him? I will be frank in saying that a woman of your stature is not expected to do so, but I support you entirely if you have. He was a terrible husband and simply did not deserve your affections. From what you have told me, he seems the devil himself! Do be careful, though. Strange places can be dangerous for a woman.

     Where have  you fled to? When will you reach London? I sit in anticipation of your arrival. How grand it will be to see your face once again!

      As for Auntie Sally, let us be honest with ourselves, Lucy. It was an insane asylum, not a sanitarium. She killed her own husband! There was nothing else they could do but lock her away. I agree that she should not have been outcast as a stain on our family, but it was safer for her there. For both us and her.

       I pray that the uncanny resemblance you had with her was only skin-deep. You have been through so much already. For God to allow a disease to eat away at your mind would be cruel.

     I pray you have a safe passage home. Do let me know if there is anything you need. Money for lodgings and food perhaps? I know William will help. You spoke truly when you wrote of his kind heart and you have reassured me that he will make a fine husband.

      I hope you do not mind, but I have informed him of your plight and he has offered his services. Do let us know, dear sister.

Love,

      Mina

Dearest Lucy,

       I have not received word from you since your last letter. Is all well? I do hope I have not upset you with the words I wrote concerning Aunt Sally. I truly did not mean them as they must have sounded to you.

      All is well at home. Mother has forgiven the letter you wrote her. I explained your predicament and she cannot wait to have you home. Unfortunately, upon hearing of what you have been going through, father has sunk further into a sea of drink. He believes that it is his fault that you married Arthur, not mother’s. I know that when you come you will sort it out with him. He has become frail and weak as of late.

      We all worry about you, our concern growing each day you do not land in the harbour. Please, let me know that you are safe, that I might assure the others as well.

      William speaks of pirates and Spaniards, but I know they are only stories.

Godspeed,

      Mina

Beloved Lucy,

      You still have not written to me regarding your whereabouts and I begin to fear the worst.

      I hope to God that your letters are simply being lost over the Atlantic and that has nothing horrid has befallen you.

      I pray night and day for your well being.

Your sister,

Mina

Lucy,

      Where the hell are you? I implore you; write me.

Mina

Dear Madam,

      I pray you read this letter in the most delicate manner.

      It has come to our attention that you are the younger sister of one Lucy Lancaster. We beg that you respond in the greatest haste possible.

     There has been a tragic accident that concerns your brother in law, Mr. Arthur Lancaster, and we have been unable to find your sister ever since. I will save you from the more gruesome details, but I think it is important for you to know as much as possible so you might be of assistance. Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster were last seen leaving the grounds of the Harbour Grace Anglican Church two weeks past. It seems as though Mrs. Lancaster became hysterical after her husband began conversing with another lady.

      They returned to their home. We found the body of the late Mr. Lancaster in the drawing room.We regret to inform you that Mrs. Lucy Lancaster is our primary suspect in this murder investigation. We have reason to believe that Mrs. Lancaster

      If you know the whereabouts of your sister, we must caution you to be as alert as possible. We fear that she has become a danger to herself and those around her.

Sincerely,

      Constable Higgins

Dear Constable Higgins,

      I write this letter on behalf of my fiancé, Mina Hawthorne. I do believe that such matters are too morbid a subject for a gently bred woman such as she. I can assure you however, that I have discussed the manner of Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster’s relationship to some extent with Miss Mina in the past.

       I have no doubt that, whatever occurred in that house, is no fault of Mrs. Lancaster. If you only knew the horrendous things that I have heard, you would not even think of suspecting her.

      I would thank you to leave my fiancé be, but I shall be more than happy to assist you in your investigation.

      Additionally, if at any point in time you become aware of the whereabouts of Mrs. Lucy Lancaster, I would thank you to inform me post haste.

Sincerely,

     William Alexander

     Secretary of State for Wales

     Dear Mr. Alexander

Greetings Mina, my dearest, darling, sweet Mina,

      I am in London now. I will find you.

      Soon, all my problems will be solved.

      Lucy