Work Text:
Hamburg, 1843
The Hansen house had stood empty all these years.
"Why has no one bought it? It's beautiful." Sophie wondered aloud as they stood in the fashionable parlour.
The estate agent shrugged. "Some people say it's haunted. You know, because everyone in the family died of a fever."
"Not everyone." Leander hissed. It was not the estate agent's fault, so he kept his anger inside. But Sophie noticed and put a hand on her husband's arm. Inevitably she had to think of the youngest Hansen daughter, who had ended up rotting somewhere in the alleys - probably with a fever, yes, but not as the stories had it in Hamburg in 1826. Sophie felt Leander pat her hand with a weary smile.
Poor Leander. Would he ever get over the betrayal of his own grandfather?
"Well, you have time to consider the deal." The agent said.
"What deal?" Sophie tilted her head and this time it was Leander who squeezed her hand. "You like it?"
Sophie gasped. "You don't think Uncle Ben will let us leave the Achtmann house?"
"No. But what about that boarding school we talked about?"
Now she bit her lips and gripped her husband's hands. "You... you mean that... oh, yes, yes... I can see it. The house where less privileged children could learn to read and write while..." She lowered her face. "I'm sorry... I shouldn't."
"But that's exactly what it is, Sophie. Don't flinch. It would be a shelter for those who are forgotten, while the daughter of this very house was heartlessly cast out into the streets."
Sophie raised her eyes, just as Leander had once told her. To hold her head high and face the cruel world with pride. But now it was not about her, it was about righting a terrible wrong.
Perhaps then... perhaps then he would overcome his grief...