Chapter Text
Home of Viktor Mironov.
March 30, 1889.
Anna Viktorovna Mironova.
Dear Anna,
I put off writing this letter, believing that it was unnecessary and unwelcome. Every time the notion arose, I rejected the idea with the simple recollection of our last argument. And while it may be true that you wish to quit our correspondence, I can no longer brush off a nagging sense that we have left too much unsaid.
The regrettable circumstances following the engineer’s death understandably still anger you, and I dare to speculate that my actions surrounding that case caused you to also doubt the sincerity of my affections. I was not completely forthright the other day when I confessed to not know what had come over me when I treated you so harshly following Mr. Busse’s death. At the time of that interaction, I could not have given you a sensible explanation of my motives. But in retrospect, I must confess that jealousy played a role - jealous of the time you spent in comfortable companionship with another man, jealous of the lack of danger your association with him required.
I wish for you to know how sorry I am for this rift that my foolishness has wrought. While I stubbornly dismiss the information you glean through your contact with the spirit world, the truth is that your revelations are more often than not instrumental in solving the case, to the extent that I now regard your conjectures as indispensable counsel. It is both a blessing and a curse, for you are not a police detective or a constable, and, thus, it is an insurmountable challenge to engage your assistance while I am at the same time charged with your safety, not just as the chief investigator but also as your friend. I have fallen too easily into a routine of allowing you to participate in every aspect of our investigations.
If your instincts and thoughtful deductions were not quite as fruitful, it would be far simpler for me to refuse your requests. But, as I have previously stated, that does not describe our situation. And so the predicament will remain - how to balance the risk of life and limb with the benefits bestowed by your involvement.
I feel certain our paths will continue to cross despite our estrangement. When they do, I will be rewarded with your fresh perspective and insights, leading us to a successful investigative outcome despite my cynical and deprecating tone. I will hope that one day you can find it in your heart to forgive me, and we can again enjoy conversations on other topics. For whether we are discussing trivialities or you are railing against injustices, I find much joy in sharing such moments with you.
Yours truly,
Yakov Platonovich.