My Fair Lady,

How goes your European voyage? Have you seen a bit or life? Are you thoroughly enthralled by what the modern age of life has to offer yet? Have you been courted by any fine French fellows? No doubt you already have when you clearly give those men a run for their money. Just promise you won't forget about your hobbling old fool of a husband who, for your less-than-valuable information, is currently twiddling his thumbs away with nothing better to do while he awaits your much anticipated return.

In the meantime, I've had word from the house and it would seem that things have quite drastically wound down since the Mr. and Mrs. Crawley departed. I think even Carson is at least a little relieved! It must be strange to return to their regular household chores after such a full house. Not to worry though, I'm sure they've all found some idle and perhaps even unecessary task to occupy and busy themselves with until your return.

Maybe they've taken to stripping all the floors and cleaning all the carpets? Or perhaps washing each window from top to bottom? Can you even imagine how long a task like that would take what with all the windows that house has? It sure makes me grateful to be locked up in here just thinking of it!

I should probably be careful of the things I say; I wouldn't want you to cheat me to Mr. Carson after all, then I would be out of a job before I get out of here! But I believe I've already said that before haven't I? Oh, my dear, what has become of me? I have the memory of old age and have grown to be so dull as to have struck a conversation about household maintenance. So I warn you now, you may find me a changed man when I get out of here; duller and softer around the edges, and maybe even a bit pudgier if you will. So, you'll just have to forgive me and accept me as I am; we did promise to remain faithful to each other until death do us part did we not?

On a more serious note, have you received any replies from the addresses you wrote to from Vera's book? I can't think of who among her acquiantances would be the likeliest to cooperate with you, (in case you haven't noticed, Vera and I didn't have the most social nor pleasant relationship). So I'm afraid I'm not much good with the names of even her closest friends. But it I can recall anything - anything at all - I promise you will be the first to know since you appear to be doing most of the work required to solve my seemingly hopeless case.

Farewell my love. May you enjoy what spare time you've been given off by being courted by only the finest Frenchmen the South of France has to offer; as long as you safely return home in one piece, that is.

-John

I was going to put the author's note in the beginning but decided you guys might want to just skip to the good stuff:) But I am so sorry for the wait you guys. I actually struggled quite a bit with this letter and couldn't think of much for John to say, so I guess you could say I experienced a bit of a hiatus there but not to worry, I'm back and writing once again.

I will, however, be going back soon (probably when I complete the entirety of this story) and editing the previous thirteen chapters; because, earlier today, I was scrolling through them to remind myself of what I'd written and I realized how horrifically terrible my punctuation is throughout them. Why oh why did none of you point it out? You guys are supposed to be my grammer police! So yeah, I will definitely be going back to edit them when I can and maybe even completely rewrite a few chapters as I realize Anna and John have hardly discussed the progress of his case in detail - like the discovery of Vera's book for example and other little things like that.

But, for the meantime, a thank you to Eva and Jamesluver for their lovely reviews and please let me know if you enjoyed this chapter!

-birdywings