Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. Cathy’s First Letter.

24 October 1023, Bois-de-Bas

Amelia,

I apologize for not writing last week—though perhaps it was restful for you—but I have been too busy. My brother John will be here soon, and Jack and I have been rushing to make the Two Sloops livable.

I had expected John to send me a letter announcing his arrival, but the only letter I have received was from Octie. It is the first, and I presume only, letter I shall ever receive from him.

This is hard to write, and not only because of my own sorrow and regret.

John is on his way, with all his projects and goods, only through the kindness of Octie and his man of business. It was they who managed the sale of The Attic, they who arranged for the packing, and it is they who got the whole to Yorke for shipping. Octie sent the letter by Courier’s Guild packet, but John and his goods are coming on a freighter. It should land in Mont-Havre in about two weeks.

Octie also told me that he will be married soon. I have written and wished him well, and thanked him for his mercy to my brother.

I knew it was coming, and yet I am still devastated.

I immediately informed your cousin, Mr. Tuppenny, of John’s imminent arrival. I did so reluctantly, for I knew he disapproved of me; and though I have seen him every Sunday and in passing here at the wagonworks, we have seldom spoken.

I found him in his workroom with his apprentice, Jean-Marc, tinkering with something on the workbench. He has a desk, and is sometimes found at it, I am told, but if he is not out in the sheds forming parts for one or another conveyance, he is in the workroom training his apprentices and looking for new applications of forming, so Amelie tells me.

“Yes, Miss Gamble?” he said when I appeared at the door.

“Good morning, Mr. Tuppenny. It’s my brother—he will be arriving on the Lombard in a month’s time.”

To my surprise he smiled. “The Lombard, is it? I came on the Lombard myself. Thank you, Miss Gamble. Was there anything else?”

“My brother—” I began, and stopped. Finally I handed him Octie’s letter. “I expect you should read this.”

He went to his desk, waving me into a chair beside it, and did so, frowning occasionally. “I am sorry,” he said when he had finished, handing the letter back to me. “This must be rather hard for you.”

I nodded back, unable to speak. Of all things, I had not expected sympathy.

“Now, what have you to say concerning your brother?”

I gathered myself.

“I am distressed at the lengths to which Mr. Archer had to go to get him moving. My brother is brilliant, Mr. Tuppenny, but his projects have always come first with him, and now it seems they come last as well.” I took a deep breath, and continued. “Some time ago, Mme. Tuppenny showed me a place where JOhn can build a house and workshop. I have done nothing about it, having no funds—”

Your cousin held up a hand. “—but you do not trust him to attend to it. I understand. Amelia has written to me about your brother, and of course my wife has spoken to me about your reasons for choosing to work with Jack.” He paused, then said, “I suppose my cousin has never spoken about this, but I came to Armorica for similar reasons. My father wished me to live his life; I wished to live my own.” He looked off into the distance for a time, his mouth set in a slight smile that spoke of contentment. “I came with many doubts and fears, but I doubt no longer. I hope you will find the same, in time.”

It was all I could to do to say, “Thank you, sir.”

“Now, as to your brother, my cousin wrote me of his character months ago, and so we have not been idle. The house is nearly finished, and will be livable by the time your brother arrives. I have assigned Master Luc to work with him on his projects, as I will also do at need; and since you will be otherwise occupied, we have arranged for a housekeeper, Mme. Ouvrard. She is a widow with grown children, and she will keep him from starving.”

“Truly, sir? I did not expect such kindness. I am overwhelmed.”

“Let us be clear, Miss Gamble. My cousin told me that your brother is brilliant, but will need to be managed. Those were her exact words. She believes that if he is managed properly, he will be an asset to Tuppenny Wagons. I trust my cousin, and so we are giving him the opportunity.” He looked me in the eye, and shrugged. “So long as he is able to grasp it, he has a place here. If we find that he is unable, he will have to make his own place—as you are doing, Miss Gamble.”

He pursed his lips, and then nodded. “You will wish to greet your brother when he joins us, I know, but it might be best for all concerned if you are, ah, already out of reach. Perhaps you may wish to transfer your quarters from the Grier’s house to the Two Sloops before he arrives. Now, if there is nothing else?”

I rose. “Thank you, sir.”

“And tell Jack I’d like to speak with him, if you please.”

“Of course, sir.”

That was two weeks ago; and so we have been busy, for we had not intended to be ready for guests until spring. Instead we have assembled a tiny staff—Jack, me, and a married couple who will serve as handy man and cook—and are planning to open two rooms for guests as soon as may be.

I find that I am both grateful and apprehensive, and not at all eager to greet my brother.

Cathy

Next letter.

____

Photo by Nicola Fioravanti on Unsplash