WHAT'S NEW
Editing of Neive Denis’ latest work continues. After four edits, it now exists in the much-altered form of its fifth iteration. Any day now, the final (pristine?) version will be ready for release. In the meantime, there has been other progress. The work now has its official title, A Dark Place, and the cover is ready. Kayla Danoli reports her muse appears to have gone on vacation to some far-off destination that has poor reception. She has some embryonic outlines awaiting further development when her muse finally returns. While she waits, she hasn’t been idle and has assisted colleague and fellow author Neive Denis with editing her new work. SOME LIGHT READING This month we continue and conclude last month’s epistolary story Letters Home. Letters Home (continued) April 1887 My Dearest Jane It is with a heavy heart I write you a brief note today to share my tragic news from this week. My darling William is dead. William left our camp at first light to clear trees from an additional area of the property and did not return that night. On his way back to town, the carrier called in first thing the next morning, and together, we searched for William. A branch from one of the trees William felled struck him on the head as it came down. Badly injured but still alive, we loaded him onto the carrier’s wagon and, with James and I also on board, we conveyed him to the doctor in town. The carrier and his wife accommodated James and me while we stayed with William. Two days later, William succumbed to his injuries. He now rests under a big tree in his favourite place on the property. James and I remain guests of the carrier and his wife while I attend to matters relating to the property and try to plan our future. I find our finances are in a perilous state from the property’s constant drain on our reserves. I hope the next time I write, the news will be better Your ever loving sister Anne July 1887 My Dearest Jane Today’s news is a little brighter than in the recent past. After disappointment and despair, at last, there is the promise of a future for my son and me. Following William’s death, I wrote our father to ask if he would take us in should we return to England. I stressed it only would be until I established my own home. He refused my request because he considered it too stressful and inconvenient for his new bride, who, as you informed me, is young and unused to managing a household. I have sold William’s land and put the money aside for James’ education. Our intention always was for our son to have a proper English education. It will be only a couple of short years before he is old enough to be sent home to school. The thought of not seeing him again for so many years while he completes his education fills me with dread. On a brighter note, I have been successful in securing a position as governess to the two young daughters of Sir Richard Grant. Sir Richard has a large estate on the outskirts of town. His wife has been in poor health for some time, and she continues to decline. As a result, the Grant daughters’ training and education are much neglected. I find my new position quite agreeable, and Sir Richard has taken a great liking to young James and is developing the lad’s interest in all things about the estate. While it is not the future I had planned for us, at least for the foreseeable future, there is some hope. Your ever loving sister Anne June 1889 My Dearest Jane I have exciting news to share. I am to be married again. As I wrote you some time ago, my employer’s wife died not long after I took up my position here as governess. Since then, Richard and I have grown close. Now Richard has proposed, and I have accepted. Our initial thoughts were for a wedding early next year, but it will now be in two weeks’ time to coincide with other family events. Richard’s two daughters are to go into a prestigious girls’ school in Sydney. James must leave to begin his education in England at about the same time. Richard, who has family business to attend to in England, had delayed his trip to be able to accompany James on the voyage and help settle him into his new school. Now, I will sail with them and I will be able to attend to James’ needs. With our wedding brought forward, immediately afterward, we all will travel to Sydney to see the girls settled in their school there before James, Richard, and I board the ship for our voyage to England. After settling James into school, and Richard has attended to his business matters, Richard and I will travel to his family’s property in Scotland for a belated honeymoon. So, my dearest sister, only a short while after you receive this letter, I will arrive on your doorstep and, at last, we will be able to spend time together again. I am so looking forward to my new life, and I’m counting down the days until we meet again. Your ever loving sister Anne
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