Chapter Text
She’d only been gone a month, she thought desperately, her heart pounding, her lungs burning, the sun beating hot on her neck as she ran full tilt away from town. She’d only been away a month, how could it be true? Did Taako have an understanding she did not know of? But Taako told her everything - and he had told her of no prospects. And all the time she had been with him, she noticed nothing -
It must be a rumor, she thought. It must be. How could Taako be -
It did not take long for her to arrive back at the Burnsides home, and she burst through the door with hardly a second thought for propriety -
“Goodness, Lup!” Julia cried, starting up out of her chair, “What on earth is the matter -”
“My brother,” she said desperately, “Have you - have you received any correspondence from my brother, anything at all?” Her brain seemed half torn apart, her breath coming short - she could not seem to piece two thoughts together in sequence. Everything in her mind was crying out: it cannot be, he would have told me -
“Why yes,” Julia replied, her brow furrowed, “I was going to tell you, a letter came just today while you were out-” she gestured to a it - a simple rectangle of paper on the desk by the door that could have been a loaded gun for all that it made Lup’s heart race, and she snatched it up, departing the room and running up the stairs without another word, heedless to Julia calling out behind her.
She slumped against the bedroom door heavily as it shut, and turned the envelope over frantically in her hand, and yes, there was Taako’s handwriting, his loose, looping scrawl, and Lup should have suspected something - why didn’t she write, why didn’t she demand he write her - she hadn’t suspected a thing -
She tore open the envelope, tore out the pages, and began to read:
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Dearest Lu,
I hope you are not too angry with me upon reading further in this letter. I hope, too, that the news I am about to impart to you has not already reached you through other means. Please believe me when I say that I had no intention of keeping you in the dark. Sometimes gossiping tongues move more quickly than the post, and that I cannot help.
The news is this: I have married. It is to a Mr. Kravitz Sinclair of Davenshire of ten-thousand pounds a year, though I beg that you believe me when I tell you that I think I would have taken him if he had not a penny to his name. I do not think, in all the kingdom, I could have found a man more perfectly suited to my character, young or old, bachelor or married, rich or poor.
We are gone to France at present - though I am half afraid the trip will make our marriage resemble an elopement even more than it already does - but then, who could argue with an elopement between two eligible, land-inheriting bachelors? Tostaada is too ancient and senile, as you well know, to say anything of consequence to that effect, and Kravitz is so rich that his reputation is beyond tarnish. All that’s left to consider is his mother, and he has assured me she will be more than happy to hear of our connection - but I am neglecting what I meant to say. We are gone to France, and shall be returned in two months, at which time I implore you to pack your things and come to Davenshire to live with us. I have not seen Kravitz’s estate, but it is said to be everything one could wish - large and beautiful and far enough from everything that we need never be bothered again. He has likewise expressed an eagerness that you should join us there and wishes me to tell you how greatly he anticipates making your acquaintance and becoming a true sibling to you upon our return from abroad. I think that you shall come to love him as much as I do - or nearly, at least.
Before I conclude, I have news of a nature that might interest you as well, that of an old acquaintance of yours from last season. I was surprised beyond measure that our marriage was witnessed by none other than a Mister Barold Bluejeans. I would have you know, darling, that he was perfectly cordial during the ceremony, and even inquired after you upon our reintroduction with an artlessly concealed eagerness; I hope you do not mind me relating to him how exceedingly well you have been and that you have found great success in your endeavors toward courtship since departing Town. He looked very sour at that and said little more other than to offer us his finest congratulations, and to wish you all health and happiness, which he was keen that I should relate. And now I have related it. For my part, I have little interest in passing time with the man who so shamelessly broke my sister’s heart, and was grateful for my husband’s and my departure of the country on holiday as such. A month or two across the Channel should rid us of societal obligation for a time to the bores of Davenshire or London or Hertforshire or anywhere else they should seek to irritate us with their boorish manners and impositions. I’m sure I shall tire of France in time, as well, but that my husband shall be with me, and Lulu… I feel that anywhere I go with him by my side would be a most pleasant and agreeable venture.
Dearest, I know this news comes suddenly but I must assure you that I am happy beyond compare and I sincerely hope you can find it in your heart to be pleased for me. You will come to love him in time - his nature is such that I think you will not be able to help it. I shall send you a letter when Kravitz and I return, at which point I beg you to make the journey to Davenshire, or I promise I shall come to Tostaada’s and drag you back with me myself. Do not imagine that I won’t.
Time and paper run short, sister, so I will simply say that I am, as always, joyfully and lovingly yours,
Taako
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