Chapter 19
Tuesday
My dearest Rebecca,
I came as planned for our outing, but was told your family wasn't receiving visitors. Is there something amiss?
Richard
Wednesday
My dearest Rebecca,
I stopped by your home again today and was told you are not receiving visitors still. If there is something amiss, please let me know.
Richard
Dearest Richard
I shall see no one for an undetermined time. A serious family matter has come up that requires my full attention. Please be patient. I will tell you what has happened when I can. For now, I must stay near Sir Boniface. He needs me.
Rebecca
Wednesday evening
My dear Rebecca,
I am quite distressed to hear that some difficulty has befallen your family. Remember that I am near. You have but to ask, and I will be there for you.
Warmest regards,
Richard
Friday
My dearest Richard,
Thank you for your concer. I am missing you most dreadfully, but I still cannot leave Sir Boniface. I can tell you now that Phileas and Erasmus, my cousins, have gone missing in Prussia. Beyond that, I cannot say. Sir Boniface is beside himself, as you can imagine. I will write further when word comes to us.
Sincerely
Rebecca
Two weeks later
My dearest Rebecca,
I have heard though my own sources of what befell your cousins and am deeply distressed by what has befallen your family. I know you loved them as brothers. Please accept my condolences for Erasmus's death and my hopes that Phileas is found. By all sources, he was not killed in the incident. There is still hope that he is making his way home to you. Have courage.
I also tender my sympathies to Sir Boniface and hope his health improves. His loss is the very hardest for a father.
With deepest sympathy,
Richard
One month later.
Dearest Richard,
Sir Boniface and I thank you again for your condolences. Erasmus's body has been declared unrecoverable. The Prussian government has sent us a report of what happened. He is said to have fallen from a cliff into snow runoff. That was seen from a distance. There is nothing in the report that gives us a clue as to Phileas's fate.
Sir Boniface is understandably devastated. And I fear his heart will not take any more such news. I have had to insist he stay home. His last attack was quite severe. I was there when it happened.
The Prussian report included some information he had not known. This now will be part of the records you have been given as Prince Albert's project for German unification is set aside, so I will tell you how it relates to Erasmus's death.
Erasmus's friend inside the Prussian court, unbeknownst to him, had been the stepbrother of Colonel Eric Wilhelm Von Hohenbergen, Von Kessler. He has become the second of Prussia's Intelligence Chief. It was a connection the informant must have kept from Erasmus. Von Kessler and his brother were in opposing camps, politically. It made him a very useful informant, but also a very dangerous one. His stepbrother found out about his association with Erasmus and placed him under close surveillance. That is how the meeting between him, and my cousins was discovered. That is why Erasmus was killed.
This news overwhelmed Sir Boniface, bringing on a severe attack. His doctor tells me he has had these attacks before but was keeping them to himself. Pray that Phileas is found or comes home on his own… or I may lose all my family.
Yours truly,
Rebecca.
Eight weeks
Dearest Richard,
I miss you terribly. I don't know when I will see you again. Phileas's return home has been a great blessing but has also created a different sort of crisis. He was injured, but not mortally, in the attack and his escape from Prussia. Those injuries are healed. The unseen scars left behind did more damage to my dear cousin than any sword thrust. He is a shell of the man he once was.
Phileas blames himself for not seeing the danger they faced and for not discovering the link between Von Kessler and Erasmus's informant. He believes they walked into an ambush. Worse, he blames Sir Boniface for sending Erasmus to Prussia. Phileas has reopened and moved back to his townhouse. I am encouraging Sir Boniface to go to Phileas and talk the matter out. They need each other so much now.
Yours truly,
Rebecca
Nine weeks
Dearest Rebecca,
I received your tragic letter relating the severing of your guardian and his son's ties. I know this is a severe trial for your family. It is a severe trial for you, too. You have been caring for your guardian as his health improves and falters so diligently. I hope he and your cousin repair their rift, but they may need time to mourn and heal before that can happen.
I must ask that you look to yourself and consider the two months since we last saw each other. I try not to be selfish, considering your family's tragedy, yet I so need to see you again.
Warmest Regards,
Richard