August 31st, 1865
Dear Henry,
I'm happy to hear that you arrived back safely in Corona. What exactly do you mean about Hilde's suspicions? You do have me a bit worried with the way you phrased that. I hope the official permission from your grandfather is coming along. You said everyone wished you congratulations, so I hope there won't be too much stalling, even if I am resigning myself to waiting until next summer.
I'm very sorry I haven't written as much, by the way, since you've written every day. My mother and I have started planning the harvest festival, and I've been visiting a friend who hasn't been well. I think you met her husband, the captain of the guard. Frederick has his exam in a few days, so he's been studying when he and his friends aren't all taking a break from studying, and half the time they drag me with them for company. Still, I feel terribly negligent for not writing.
And I miss you. I start daydreaming about having you here again and then I forget I haven't actually written. It sounds rather stupid, I suppose.
Oh, and it's late now, so I'm fairly sure it will be your birthday by the time you see this, so happy birthday! I hope I'll be with you to properly wish you a happy birthday next year.
Love,
Inga
Henry smiled as he read Inga's letter. It had only been a few days since Inga had written, but he had started worrying, just a little bit. He knew that she might be busy, but he liked knowing that she thought about him as much as he thought about her.
The time was, in fact, quite late, and looking at the clock, he realized that it was now his birthday. It had been about a year since they had met. He grabbed a pen and paper.
September 1st, 1865
Dear Inga,
Thank you so much for the birthday wishes. You were right! I looked at the clock, and it is, in fact, after midnight.
I know you're busy, so as long as you don't mind if I keep writing every day.
My mother is helping my grandfather by researching what we need to do for my permission, but that's only about diplomacy and politics. We still could just get married, you know. What do you think? Forget all our responsibilities and just run off together somewhere?
I don't know if I want to be serious or joking in saying that.
I suppose I should get to sleep. I was working on a small drawing when your letter arrived, so I'll include it with this letter. I hope you like it.
Good night.
Love,
Henry
Henry lay in bed for what seemed like a long time after sending the letter. He had never felt alone before, not like this. Not when he knew what he was missing.
0o0o0
Inga looked at the sketch Henry had drawn for her. It looked like a view from the palace in Corona. She wondered if it might be the view from Henry's own room. Perhaps it was. She was about to put the drawing in the drawer with the others, but then stopped. Everyone now understood that she and Henry at least planned to be engaged, so there was no reason to be secretive about the drawings she had from him. She would display it on her wall.
She found some paste in a drawer that she hadn't opened in years, but it had dried out, so she rang for Oline, who showed up remarkably quickly.
"Your Highness?" Oline asked.
"Do you think you might be able to find me some paste?" Inga asked.
"Paste?"
"Yes, or glue… you know, for paper?"
"I'll see what I can find," Oline replied with a quick curtsey as she left the room.
The dried-out paste had an odd smell to it, though Inga couldn't quite decide what it was. It had been sitting there a while, though.
Oline finally returned. "I found this," the maid told her, handing her a small jar.
"Thank you," Inga replied, then handed over the old jar. "Could you dispose of this? I think it's gone bad, and it's dried out, anyway."
Oline took the old jar and gave a sniff. "It smells just like dried paste to me, but I'll certainly take it for you."
Inga opened up the new jar, and instantly put the lid back on. It smelled, too. "Oline?" she called out just before her maid left the room.
"Yes?" Oline replied, stopping at the door.
"Does this one smell to you?"
Oline walked over, putting her nose near the jar as Inga opened it again. "A little. That variety always smells funny, I think."
Inga thought for a moment while Oline stood there. "Could you do me a favor? I have this drawing, and I'd like to put it on the wall, but I really don't think I can handle the smell. Would you mind?"
"Not at all," Oline said, putting the old jar in the pocket of her apron. "Show me where I should put it."
0o0o0
Henry woke up to the door shutting behind James, leaving from picking up a few things. He was happy to find a letter on his bedside table in the morning, and it was clearly from Inga.
September 1st, 1865
Dear Henry,
I feel like I should be the one sending you a gift today, but thank you so much for the drawing of Corona. I've put it up on my wall so I can see it when I wake up each morning. Perhaps you're looking at the same view? I like that idea.
I need to find a better kind of paste if I'm going to be putting your drawings up. My maid brought me a jar of something so foul-smelling that I had to ask her to put up the drawing for me. I had her put up some of your older drawings that I had been keeping in my desk drawer previously, as well. It's very nice.
Thinking of you.
Love,
Inga
Henry smiled at the fact that Inga had recognized the view from his window, and looked out, hoping that she was, in fact, looking at the picture at that moment. He went to the cupboard where he kept his art supplies. Perhaps he could send a jar to Inga.
0o0o0
Inga wasn't sure she should be lingering outside the room where Frederick and his friends were taking the examination for Corona's Naval Academy, but it had been several hours, and she hoped that Frederick would be done soon.
The doorknob rattled a bit before opening, and Inga stepped back, hoping it would look like she was just passing by the room. The Admiral from Corona stepped out the door, and held it open for the boys to leave the room. Their faces were blank and they all looked exhausted. The Admiral thanked each one as they exited, then went back in to ring for a servant.
Frederick hadn't noticed Inga as he left the room, and he started walking along with the other boys, presumably to head back into town with them. Inga ran to catch up.
"Frederick!" she called out.
He stopped and swung around. "Inga!"
"How did the examination go?" she asked.
The other boys sighed. Frederick just nodded in their direction.
They kept walking, and Inga kept up.
"Well, it's done now," Inga said. "When will you find out how you did?"
"Later this week," Frederick said.
They continued walking across the courtyard, heading toward town.
"Are you going out to celebrate now?" Inga asked.
"I suppose so," Frederick chuckled. "I don't know if we should call it celebrating until we know the results. But we were planning to go to Hudson's Hearth now."
"You're welcome to come with us," one of the boys said.
"I don't want to interrupt your time together," Inga said.
"Oh, come on! I'm sure Bjorgman won't mind," the other boy said.
Inga smiled a bit. "Would you two want to have your sisters coming along?"
"I don't have a sister," the first boy said. "What about you, Jorgensen?"
The second boy shrugged. "Don't worry about it. Your brother's been telling us all about you."
"Should I be worried?" Inga chuckled.
"Let's just say, you should be glad he's also told us about that other fellow," the first boy said in a teasing tone, though it made her a little nervous.
"What?!" Frederick said, grabbing the boy's shoulder rather firmly.
"Woah!" the second boy interjected, "Bjorgman, I think Dahl was teasing. Ease up!"
"Sorry," Frederick muttered, his face red. "Inga, are you sure you want to come along?"
"I'm fine. I'll assume it was a compliment, nothing more," Inga insisted. "But if I'm joining you, I feel like I really ought to know more than your surnames."
The two laughed.
"I suppose we don't use anything besides surnames most of the time," Jorgensen observed, sticking out his hand. "Lukas Jorgensen."
Inga shook hands, and the other boy stuck out his hand before she had finished.
"Anders Dahl," the other said, as Inga shook hands.
"Good, then we've properly met," Inga smiled.
As they finished crossing the bridge from the castle into town, ahead of them, at the edge of the market square, her attention turned to some commotion as someone ran through the square.
"Frederick!" she heard Meibel shouting from the edge of the square, now running toward them. Inga supposed it wouldn't be so bad if Meibel joined them now.
Inga waved. "Hello, Mei-"
"Inga! Frederick!" Meibel breathlessly interrupted Inga's greeting as she got close. "You need to go to the castle and get Captain Olsen!"
"Wait," Inga began, "is Isabel-"
"She's not doing well. Edith couldn't handle it and ran home, and Halima's still there with Kate, and she told me to go find Siggy and…" Meibel stood, catching her breath.
"Frederick, go get Siggy," Inga ordered. "Meibel, you go see if Edith is doing fine, and I'll go join Halima."
Meibel ran back home to find her sister Edith, and Frederick gave a quick wave to Dahl and Jorgensen before running back toward the castle. The other two stood not sure what to do.
"You two, just go have your lunch," Inga said, before turning and walking toward Isabel's house. She couldn't even remember the conversation a few minutes earlier, and felt like she was in a fog. Memories were intruding in her thoughts. She had never really been aware of her siblings' births, as they always seemed to happen late at night, or early in the morning, and the nanny was always quick to keep them occupied when it was happening, but she remembered, even though all of the younger children's births seemed to be uneventful, with her mother only resting a bit, she hadn't seen her mother for a long time after the twins were born. Frederick was too young to remember, but she was just old enough to remember that her mother was "sick" and her father hardly seemed to be doing much better.
Inga arrived at Isabel's door and could hear muffled orders being shouted from the other side. She took a deep breath, gave a slight push, and the door swung right open.
"Your Highness!" the maid exclaimed with a brief curtsey from the kitchen, before picking up a kettle of boiling water, presumably to carry up to the bedroom.
There was a metallic smell in the air.
"Inga?" Halima said, looking out from the door, her face understandably worried.
"Meibel didn't tell me very much, what's going on?" Inga asked as she walked up the stairs.
"Are you sure you want to come in here?" Halima asked, avoiding answering Inga's question.
"I- I'll be fine," Inga said, knowing by now that her imagination was as bad as anything she might see.
Halima sighed and opened the door for Inga to come in. There was a doctor in the room, and Kate was sitting by Isabel's head, holding her hand. Isabel was very pale, and looked pained, but seemed to be barely conscious of anything at all at this point.
"She's lost a lot of blood," the doctor said directly to Halima, not noticing Inga's presence in the room, which Inga realized was probably for the best.
"Frederick went to get Siggy," Inga said quietly in Halima's ear. Halima nodded.
Inga noticed a commotion in the corner, and noticed a nurse tending to a tiny baby in the cradle. She walked over, and saw that the nurse was swaddling the baby, who was making little squeaking sounds, which she would have wanted to comment on if the rest of the room hadn't been so serious and ominous. She stepped over to the nurse.
"The baby…" Inga whispered, not sure what she should be asking.
"A girl," the nurse whispered back, "she seems healthy enough."
Inga let out a sigh. "That's good, at least."
There was a loud rattling at the door downstairs. Inga made her way downstairs and opened the door to Isabel's husband, looking pale, and Frederick standing behind him looking worried, as well.
"It's a girl," Inga said. "The baby is doing well."
"And Isabel?" Siggy said.
"She's… she's not doing so well. Come upstairs," Inga said, not sure how she was speaking as calmly as she was. It didn't feel like her own voice.
Inga led Isabel's husband up to the bedroom. She could only assume that Frederick wasn't far behind the two of them.
The maid was coming out of the room with an arm full of towels and rags that had recently been bed sheets. Inga looked over her shoulder, and Siggy looked almost ill.
"She's resting," Halima said as they walked in.
Inga looked over, and saw that Isabel had been cleaned up, her dark hair tied up as best that, presumably, the maid and Kate could manage without disturbing her. She was asleep now, her breathing shallow but regular. Kate stood up as Siggy rushed over to the side of the bed.
The doctor walked in from having washed up, and seemed to recognize Inga for the first time since she had arrived there, giving her a somewhat surprised nod.
He spoke to Halima first, mentioning that he would stop by in town later with some suggestions for meals that would be best for Isabel, and after that, looking at Inga, added "I would like to speak to Captain Olsen alone now, if you please."
"Kate," Halima called over gently, "why don't we go downstairs right now?"
Kate nodded, looking back at Isabel, and came with them. As they entered the hallway from the bedroom, the maid was returning with some clean rags. Halima put her finger to her mouth, and the maid nodded, understanding that she should make herself as unobtrusive as possible.
"Inga, if it wouldn't be too much trouble, could you walk Kate home, please?" Halima asked once they got downstairs. "And if you see Destin, please send him here, please."
Inga nodded. General Mattias had presumably been with the Admiral from Corona and Arendelle's Admiral Sorensen discussing the examination results. He had officially been retired for several years, but he liked to keep busy, and discussing military academy candidates was about the right level of activity at his advanced age.
Kate was silent as they walked back into town. On a normal day, she would be bubbly and talking on and on with hardly time to breathe. Of course, her sister Edith was usually with her as well.
"Did Edith say anything earlier?" Inga asked, hoping it wasn't too sensitive of a subject.
"No," Kate said bluntly. "She just started crying and left."
"Oh," Inga replied. "I sent Meibel to check on her. I hope she'll be okay."
They got to the General and Halima's home, which was next door to Hudson's Hearth right on the edge of the market square. Kate pulled out a key from the chain on her neck and entered inside. Inga had never been over at their house when it was locked up before. It occurred to her that she didn't know if there were locks to any of the doors in the castle. There had to be, but she couldn't remember using any keys to any of the rooms.
As they came inside, muffled crying could be heard from upstairs. Meibel was sitting in a chair in the front parlor, looking like she couldn't decide whether she was feeling petulant or worried.
"Edith won't let me talk to her," she announced as they came inside. She swallowed and added, "How is Isabel?"
"She's resting," Inga said.
"Have you seen Papa?" Kate asked Meibel, as the general was obviously not home.
"He might be next door," Meibel said.
"Meibel," Inga said, "why don't you and I go check if he's there? Perhaps Edith would like to talk to Kate."
Kate nodded, and slowly walked upstairs, while Inga took Meibel by the hand and walked over to Hudson's Hearth.
As Inga and Meibel entered Hudson's Hearth, Frederick's friends were sitting in the far corner of the dining room, talking loudly, and Inga was fairly certain they weren't on their first round of drinks. General Mattias wasn't in the room, so Meibel ran back to the kitchen to ask about him. Inga did her best to make herself inconspicuous as she stood by the door to the market square.
Just as Meibel came back from the kitchen, the General walked in from the square. Meibel, normally acting so grown up at Hudson's, serving food to customers and taking orders, ran over to them.
"Meibel, what's going on?"
"Isabel isn't doing well," she said, doing her best not to speak too loudly. "You should come there."
"Where are the others?" the General asked.
"Captain Olsen is there," Inga replied, "and Halima asked for me to find you and wanted you to come over. Kate and Edith came back home."
"Can I go back?" Meibel asked.
"You can come with me," the General replied. "Inga, can you check in on Kate and Edith?"
Inga nodded as the General and his ward, Meibel, left Hudson's Hearth.
She walked back over to the house, knocking on the door, which was locked again. Kate opened the door.
"How is Edith?" Inga asked.
"She won't let me talk to her either," Kate said with resignation.
Inga looked up the stairs. "Shall I try?"
"I don't see what harm it could do at this point," Kate shrugged.
Inga quietly walked up the stairs, knocking gently on Edith's bedroom door.
"What is it?" Edith called out, sounding like she was still crying.
"It's Inga. I just wanted to see how you're doing."
Edith opened the door. Her face and eyes were red.
"Look, if you'd rather be alone right now, I understand. I really do."
"No, come on in," Edith sighed.
Edith closed the door behind them as Inga walked in, and motioned for her to sit down on one of the chairs by the window. Inga sat down and looked outside at the market square and harbor. Inga had never been here or any of the girls' bedrooms before, and watching the people going about their business in the market square like it was any other day transfixed her.
As Edith sat down in the other chair, Inga noticed a small book on the table, open with a loose photograph. Edith was touching it gently.
"What is that?" Inga asked without thinking, instantly regretting her question as soon as her eyes adjusted to the light inside the room and could see the details. The photograph was of a woman holding a baby, both appearing to be asleep, though Inga knew they weren't sleeping.
"That's my mother and brother," Edith explained.
"I didn't know you had a brother," Inga said.
"I didn't, not really," Edith mumbled.
"What do you mean?"
"Not the way you know your brothers," Edith said.
"Oh," Inga replied, not sure what to say.
"Kate doesn't remember any of it," Edith continued. "And everyone else in the town was worried about your mother- I'm sorry, I don't mean to sound bitter."
"I- no, please don't apologize," Inga insisted.
"Inga, you don't mind that I'm telling you all this?"
Inga was taken aback by the question. "Why would I mind?"
She never minded people telling her things, but she suddenly realized that hardly anyone told her anything, not like this. Did she really know anybody here?
0o0o0
September 10th, 1865
Dear Henry,
I'm so sorry I haven't written in over a week. I'm fine, as is my family, but you were correct that something was wrong for me not to write for so many days. You may remember I was telling you about my friend Isabel, the wife of the captain of the castle guard. She had the baby, a girl, who is healthy and doing well, but Isabel has been doing very poorly, and for several days no one was quite sure if she would make it. I think she will be fine now, but she's still quite ill, and we've all been going over to help out.
I'm going to take my mind off that business this morning and meet with my mother to begin planning the harvest festival. It will be at the beginning of November, so I hope that you can find a way to visit. And thank you for the paste suggestion. You're right, the one she brought up was rubber cement, so perhaps the one you sent will be nicer. I'll ask my maid if she's seen something arrive for me in the last few days.
Love,
Inga
Inga whispered for Gale, and released the letter out her bedroom window, then left to visit Isabel. She had a basket with treats from the castle kitchens, though she wasn't entirely sure who would be eating them. Isabel was still only occasionally taking some broth, and mostly sleeping, and Inga couldn't remember seeing Captain Olsen ever eating pastries. Perhaps they could be offered to guests. They were getting a lot of visitors, and Inga was rarely there with just the maid.
Soon after she knocked, the maid arrived at the door, looking rushed.
"Your Highness," she said, curtseying.
"Is everything all right?" Inga asked.
"Nothing has changed," the maid replied before noticing Inga's face. "That is, there's nothing to worry about."
"Is there anything I can help with?"
"Well, since you mention it, the nurse has taken the afternoon off, but there's extra laundry I need to take out. If you could just watch the baby for a few minutes? The mistress is sleeping, and she wouldn't be able to do anything, anyway."
"Oh, of course!" Inga said, knowing from her youngest siblings that there wasn't much to do with a baby this young, anyway.
The maid went to the back to gather up the mass of laundry into a basket and went out the back door. The baby was napping in a cradle in the front parlor, so Inga took a moment to walk upstairs and check on Isabel. She was sleeping peacefully, her breathing now gentle and regular, at least.
As she walked back down to the parlor, a wagon went by with a wheel that suddenly squeaked, which woke the baby. Inga picked up the little girl carefully and held her, keeping her from fussing too much.
Inga paced the room, gently rocking the baby up and down, as little Hallie slowly fell back asleep. Just then, a key turned in the front door, and Captain Olsen walked in.
"Oh, hello," he said in surprise.
"Is that how I get greeted now?" Inga asked.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness," he scoffed.
"Sorry, sorry," Inga sighed, "I didn't mean to be teasing like that, Siggy."
"Don't worry about it," he quickly replied. Inga looked a little more closely at his face, and realized he suddenly looked much older.
"I- I just didn't realize you would be home this afternoon," Inga said, then began to ramble. "And I'm alone here, since the maid needed to take the laundry, and I guess the nurse is out for the afternoon, but I'm surprised that nobody came in to replace her. My sister is over a year old now, so we could send her nurse over here a few days a week. You could think of it as a gift, I suppose-"
"How is she?" Siggy asked, looking at the baby.
"Sleeping again," Inga said, looking down at the baby. "Would you like to hold her?"
Siggy nodded and walked over, as Inga gently handed the baby to him.
"Isabel has mostly been sleeping," Inga added, realizing that he might have been asking about his wife.
"I know," he said. "Craig has been taking some of my guard shifts so I can spend more time here. I'm giving him leave for all of December so he can visit his grandfather in Glasgow."
"That's nice of him," Inga said, adding, "and for him, I suppose. I imagine he doesn't get there very often."
"I have a grandmother in Bergen, and I don't even get up there very often," Siggy said, latching on to a neutral topic.
Inga stayed where she was, looking at the baby some more.
"Does your grandmother visit Arendelle often?" she asked, hoping the conversation could continue.
"I've written to her. I suppose my grandmother will visit soon enough, but we do need to make sure that it's a good time."
Inga didn't need to ask if he meant waiting for Isabel to be healthy enough to see someone from out of town.
"She's a very sweet baby," she said, stroking the baby's cheek.
"Yes, she's very precious," Siggy said. "I hope she stays healthy, since..."
Inga waited for him to complete the sentence, but he simply sat down near the window, still holding the baby, and looked out across the harbor. She wasn't sure if she should pry, and yet, lately, she had realized how little she knew about everyone else here.
Sitting down in the other seat by the window, she briefly took notice of some women standing at the corner nearby gossiping. She wondered how visible she and the captain were here in his parlor, but pushed the thought out of her mind.
"Siggy," she began, "how is everything?"
He sat deep in thought for a moment. "I suppose I can't complain. I have a beautiful daughter, and hopefully she will have a mother."
"I don't mean to assume, but…" Inga considered her words for a moment. "The way you say you can't complain, it makes me think that something is wrong."
Siggy gave a long, heavy sigh. "The doctor told me that if Isabel had any more children, she would almost definitely..."
In her mind, Inga could fill in the words he had left out. Siggy didn't want to say out loud the idea that his wife would probably die if she had another child.
"Oh. That must be difficult."
"I plan to focus on the good," he said, sounding like he was trying to convince himself of this.
Inga looked out again. The women standing nearby quickly turned away.
"Have you seen Frederick today?" Inga asked after a moment, hoping to change the subject.
"I saw the General and the Admirals going into the castle before I left, so I think they've finally settled on examination results," Siggy explained, probably as relieved as Inga herself was for a different subject to discuss.
"Frederick has been so nervous about that," Inga told him. "I've been telling him he'll do fine, and I hope he does, because I don't want to be wrong about this."
Siggy smiled. Just then there was a knock at the door. He started to get up, but Inga shook her head at him, nodding at the baby, and got up and answered the door.
"Inga!" Meibel chirped as the door opened. Kate and Edith were standing right behind her.
"Oh, hello, Siggy!" Kate said.
"We didn't know you were planning to come this afternoon, Siggy," Edith explained, "or we would have come sooner."
Siggy nodded.
"I should go check on Isabel," Inga said. "You can keep your brother-in-law company."
Inga walked upstairs, quietly entering the bedroom. Isabel was still sleeping, but looked like she was going to wake up soon, so Inga sat down next to the bed.
Isabel gave a small groan and blinked a bit, looking at Inga. "Hello," she croaked out.
"Hello, did you rest well?" Inga asked.
"Not really," Isabel admitted. "I have the strangest dreams."
"Oh?" Inga commented.
"Where is the baby?"
"She's downstairs. Your husband got home early, and your sisters are here, giving her lots of attention."
Isabel smiled. "Do you like the name? I'm so glad that Siggy and I had talked about names before. I'd hate to think of him trying to figure that out while I was so ill. We had been talking about naming a boy for Siggy's father, but that will have to wait."
Inga forced herself to smile and nod. It was obvious that Isabel hadn't been told anything about how serious her condition was.
"Has Frederick taken his exams?" Isabel asked.
"He has, and they might find out the results soon," Inga told her. She remembered what Isabel had asked what seemed like ages ago. "I found out their names, by the way. Frederick's friends, I mean."
"Really?" Isabel chuckled.
"Lukas and… oh dear, who was the other one?" Inga paused. "Anders!"
"Do you remember which was which?"
"Oh, goodness, no, they told me-" Inga cut herself off, remembering why that conversation with Frederick's friends had been cut short. "I can't remember which was which. But those are their names."
"Well, I'll tell Kate and Edith and leave them to decide who is who. I heard you're also planning the fall festival this year? I hope I'll be feeling a bit better by then."
"My mother and I only just started, but it should be about the same as last year," Inga replied.
"Don't talk that way," Isabel chastised her. "This sort of thing is always harder than it looks to people who have no experience with trying to get everyone doing what they're supposed to be doing."
"Well, thanks," Inga replied.
Edith and Kate walked in just then. Kate was carrying the baby. "I told you I heard her wake up," Kate whispered loudly to Edith.
"Hello, you two," Isabel smiled.
"We thought you might like some time with the baby," Edith said. "Everyone else has gotten time with her today."
"Thank you, that would be wonderful!" Isabel said, holding out her arms, though she wasn't up to sitting up yet.
Inga stood up to let Kate and Edith sit by the edge of the bed.
"I should be getting home. Shall I come by tomorrow, Isabel?" Inga asked.
"Yes, please. You have a nice evening," Isabel said.
Inga made polite apologies to Meibel and Siggy as she left the house and made her way back to the castle. She still hadn't eaten that day, aside from the piece of toast her mother had forced on her. But there was so much to think about. She didn't want to think about food.
She saw Frederick and his friends coming across the bridge laughing. The examination results must have been good. Frederick saw her and ran ahead to meet her, startling her by picking her up off the ground.
"I guess it's good news, then?" she asked, laughing a bit.
"We all got in!" Frederick exclaimed.
"Well, of course you did," Inga said.
"It was never a sure thing!" Frederick insisted.
"Yes, but you were studying, all of you were. I've seen you working at this all summer."
Frederick blushed a bit. "Well, this time, would you like to come for an actual celebration?"
Inga smiled. "I'm a bit tired, but thanks for the offer. We can go out some other time."
"Oh, fine." Frederick looked almost sad.
"But you should all enjoy yourselves. You deserve it."
"Thanks," Frederick said, as his friends slowly caught up. "Let's go!"
Inga walked into the courtyard. She could hear the twins and her father talking in the stables. She wouldn't interrupt them. It was a beautiful afternoon, but she really was tired. She hadn't been trying to avoid going back into town with her brother.
As she got to her room and closed the door behind her, some leaves were hitting the window. She opened it up, and a letter fluttered down to her bedside. It was from Henry. She tried to remember if she had written to him that morning. He had sent her some paste, which was oddly thoughtful, but she had been so distracted.
She opened the letter.
September 10th, 1865
Dear Inga,
I'm so glad to hear from you again. I hope your friend makes a full recovery, that sounds terrible. I do remember the Captain, he seemed quite nice.
I'm glad you've found the paste useful. I'll have to come see what you've done with my drawings, as I always like to see when people have displayed my work. I've made plans to come in time for the fall festival, and I will have the letter signed by my grandfather with me.
Love,
Henry
Inga smiled at the thought of the council no longer having reason to hold off on an official engagement, though the wedding would probably still not happen until the following summer. No matter how often people promised that the time would go by quickly, it still felt so long.