Mina, with no interest in pansies, birds or ornamental paper, understood completely the necessity of guarding her weakened body from harm, but did not think her mind required the same consideration. She decided that when she was well, and able to sit at her writing desk, she would compose a tale of horror in which a book of anodyne advice for young ladies proved to be the work of an evil magician designed to lure weak invalids to a terrible doom.
Thankfully, she passed a restful night, and awoke to the encouraging prospect of seeing her correspondence. After a breakfast of toast soaked in milk, she submitted without protest to her morning ablutions, and waited expectantly for Rose to bring her letters.
There was a small but promising looking bundle of correspondence, and Rose and Miss Cherry stood by with expressions of great solemnity to observe her responses.
Mina was first handed an advertisement for a conjuror called The Great Mysterioso who claimed to be able to use his special mystical powers to reveal all the secrets of the spirit mediums. He was assisted in this endeavour by wearing a feathered turban and exotically patterned oriental trousers. He would be performing throughout the summer months starting in June, from 10am to 9pm in a booth on the West Pier at a charge of one shilling per visitor.
‘That could be interesting,’ said Mina, keeping her manner deliberately bright, ‘I would love to know the secrets of the spirit mediums, and will certainly pay him a visit. Rose, please place it on my desk and bring the next letter.’
Miss Cherry nodded to Rose who complied.
The second letter was from Mina’s friend Mrs Honeyacre announcing that she would be in Brighton all next month and would be holding a salon, which she very much hoped Mina could attend.
‘What a charming invitation! I will send a reply saying that I hope to be well enough to do so,’ said Mina.
Rose grunted. ‘Are you supposed to be writing letters?’
‘Dr Hamid did not forbid it, therefore I am,’ said Mina firmly. Rose and Miss Cherry exchanged glances but conceded victory to the patient.
A letter from Italy was of more than usual interest and she opened it eagerly. It had been some time since she had enquired after Nellie’s happiness in her marriage to Mr John Jordan, since to do so was to invite responses best left unvoiced. The marriage had been motivated by Nellie’s wish to acquire a secure establishment, and Mr Jordan’s admiration of her person, which he adorned with all the latest fashions in his emporium, thus making her a walking breathing advertisement. Admiration of the gowns was always encouraged, but not of the voluptuous wearer. He had once employed a detective to spy on his wife during his absence on business, and she had narrowly escaped discovery, but this time he had simply removed her from temptation.
Palazzo Hotel
Florence
March 1872
Dear Mina,
The weather in Italy is so pleasant at this time of year, neither too warm nor too cool. I do hope that Brighton is being kind to you.
As you may imagine John is very occupied here with visiting all the workshops that produce such beautiful fabrics, and he is sure to make substantial purchases. I can promise that there will be much to astonish the fashionables in Brighton. But I am not idle or wanting for company. There is a delightful English lady here with two charming daughters of about my own age and we go everywhere together. I shall have so much to tell you when we return, which will not be for a few weeks at least, and I will make sure that you have the very best and latest trimmings before anyone else, so you will be envied!
I am very well indeed, but poor Zillah is finding the diet does not agree with her. I hope she will become accustomed to it in time.
With fondest good wishes
Nellie
As ever Mina was obliged to interpret the letter and realised that not only was Nellie accompanied by her personal maid, Zillah, but her husband had, in the guise of ensuring her safety and entertainment, supplied her with a guard of ladies carefully instructed not to let her out of their sight and to keep gentlemen at bay.
The third letter was from Mina’s brother Edward and was dated the day she had been taken ill.
Scarletti Publishing
Regent Street
London
March 1872
Dear Mina,
I hope this finds you well, and that the Brighton weather is more pleasant than that of last month. London is still unseasonably cold, and there are the usual coughs and chills about, so we must all take great care, and it would be best for you not to visit us at present.
My darling Agatha is like a spring flower, her beauty is admired wherever she goes. I am truly fortunate. We have decided on an autumn wedding after which if business permits, we will take a short tour of the continent.
Enid and Mother are both as well as they can be under the circumstances, but they cannot agree on anything, and for reasons which entirely escape me I am expected to settle their quarrels, which can be very tiresome. There are whole days when they hardly speak to each other, and that is a blessing.
Nothing further has been heard from Mr Inskip in recent weeks, from which we may deduce that he is either alive or dead, but we have no means of knowing which. Enid remains frantic about the prospect of his early return. She has been perusing the newspapers reading about storms at sea and attempting to divine the chances of passenger ships foundering with all on board, which to her taste were disappointingly slight. Mother keeps asking for my advice, but she never takes it.
I feel I should warn you that you may discover Richard on your doorstep in the near future. I am sorry to have to inform you of this, but his association with Scarletti Publishing is at an end. If he wishes to make money without working for it then our business is not for him. In fact, I can scarcely think of any business which is. You may think it a cruel thing to dismiss one’s own brother, but sometimes one must be cruel to be kind. While he has some artistic talent, he does not take the trouble over it that he once did, and I am frankly wearied of his petty excuses.
Likewise, I can no longer allow him to live with me without paying rent. Agatha has been looking over the house with a view to making preparations for our marriage and has made it clear to me that Richard’s absence from the premises will be essential to her domestic happiness. He has therefore been advised to find fresh accommodation. I have not yet told Mother about these arrangements. I have quite enough to do without facing her displeasure with which I know she will regale me on a daily basis.
Your affectionate brother
Edward
‘Are you alright, Miss?’ said Rose, with a frown.
Mina realised that she had been perusing the letter rather longer than might have seemed necessary from its length. ‘Oh — er — yes, this is from my brother Edward with so much interesting news in it,’ said Mina, forcing a cheerful smile. ‘Just think, he plans to marry Miss Hooper in the autumn. That is something to look forward to. Are there any more letters?’
‘One more.’
‘Please bring it.’
Saltmire & Vardy
Fine Porcelain
Hove
March 1872
Dear Miss Scarletti,
I hope that you will permit me to appeal to you since I am a mother in torment. I find my family afflicted by a very strange and disturbing plight which has at its centre my elder son, Franklin, who is aged just fourteen.