Dearest Anna,
My heart leapt in my chest when the desk clerk handed me your letter. Oscar mocked the smile on my face until I came away to write to you, but I was not—am not—even a little embarrassed and I only raised an eyebrow at his more colorful turns of phrase. When he puts his mind to it Oscar can fluster anybody, but today he failed with me. I think he was truly shocked.
It is a great relief to know that you like the ring. It wasn’t until I had sent it off that I realized that I was putting you in a difficult position, so let me say this clearly: never pretend with me. If I misstep, you must tell me, and I will do the same. It is one of the things I value most about you, your ability to speak plain where others hold back out of fear or manners or habit.
Assuming for a moment that the ring does please you and that you want it and me: I am happy to know that Sophie and your aunt approve of it. And of the man, as an aside.
We are scheduled to testify on the morning of the 17th in Superior Court, and by noon Oscar and I will be on the way home. If I have to push the train myself I will arrive at Grand Central on Saturday the 19th late in the day. I will come to you as soon as we are free of our prisoners.
Now about my sisters. You are right, I didn’t think to describe Sophie to them, though in retrospect it is clear that I should have. I am very sorry that Bambina handled herself so badly. I can apologize for my sisters, but the only promise I can make is that they will never again treat Sophie or Mr. and Mrs. Lee or anyone else with anything less than the respect they deserve. There is no excuse for Bambina’s behavior and I would not try to manufacture one, even to quiet your fears. But I do have thoughts about where these opinions originate.
Bambina considers herself ugly and undesirable, a belief that goes so deep that I doubt even a sincere marriage proposal from someone she liked would make a difference. And Sophie is beautiful, and accomplished, and wears a ring which, to Bambina at least, is anything but ugly. I would guess that she sees the color of Sophie’s skin as insult added to injury. I hope and trust she is clearheaded enough to admit fault and change her ways, though it may not happen as quickly as it should.
Now I’ll surprise you: I do think you should pay Bambina a visit. At some point when it feels right, ask her why we left Italy. This is a subject I have been meaning to raise with you, but it may be a way to start a conversation with Bambina.
As to the rest of the family, I wrote to my parents about you and mailed the letter on my way to Grand Central on Monday morning. It will give my mother time to think, so that when she meets you she will be ready to love you.
When I come I expect to find you with a ring on your finger. I imagine you wearing nothing else, but that falls soundly into the realm of wishful thinking.
you and no other
Jack
PS: I was promised time off in compensation for what was to be a short trip, remember. Now I have grounds to request a couple additional days, and I will see to it that I am available to be inspected by your extended family on the 24th and 25th, on board a ferry, at a wedding breakfast, or anywhere else as long as you are there. I am yours to command.
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11th May, 1883
Dear Dr. Anna,
I write to say that I have inquired with my friends who live in a district you will not know, the one the coppers call the Tenderloin, asking about the two boys you are looking for. Nobody knows anything about a Dago kid with blue eyes. Now it could be that somebody does know something but is waiting for more encouragement to speak up. This is something I should have talked to you about the day we signed our Contract, that information usually comes at a price. If you are willing to put up some kind of reward please let me know. It might make a difference.
Also on another matter there is a rumor going around that you are going to marry D.S. Mezzanotte. I have declared this to be a falsehood. Why would someone like Dr. Anna who has money and position and everything she needs want a copper for a husband? So now, if this rumor is true, then of course I must offer you my best wishes but I will also offer you an observation: even those convicted to the penitentiary can look forward to the day they will be free of the law, but you won’t have that comfort. You will have a Life Sentence with no possibility of parole.
I will wait for your instructions on how to proceed.
Yours Most Sincerely,
Ned
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11 May 1883
Dr. Savard
New Amsterdam Charity Hospital
New York, N.Y.