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Dear Edmund,

.....How are you? It’s been such a long time since I’ve last had the chance to write to you, much less see you. Between the children and Vladimir, I’ve scarcely had the chance to sit down! This past month has been a flurry of activity. We just returned from a vacation at Bass’ken Lake. Such a quaint little spot! Why, I don’t think I’ve been to the lake since we were in preparatory school. It was winter and the lake had frozen over enough to skate across it. Let’s see, Logan went with Aggie (such a charming couple! I am so sorry that they did not last, especially since they have a little daughter. I know he is your friend, but I simply cannot forgive him for what he did.), Horace Baudelaire went with Doris Louise, and you went with two of those horrid Caruthers girls, Thelma and Yolanda. I was so amused when you announced to the family a few years back that you had given up your habit of constant wanton romances in order to focus on your career, since you are most likely seducing your lab assistant as I write this. Oho, as long as you treat her like a queen, I will not tell anyone that I have caught on to your little ruse! Oh Ed, my dear cousin, I do hope that you settle down eventually and maybe raise a whole brood of little brown-eyed scholars, but I suppose that shall not happen for a long while, if at all. At any rate, I digress. You should have seen Damian at the lake! He’s usually so listless, but he was a little bundle of energy as he chased after dragonflies and made friends with the local felines. He wanted to go fishing with his father but you know how busy Vladimir is and at any rate, he wouldn’t approve of something so hoi polloi, as he always says. Damian managed to convince Vladimir’s manservant to take him, but that outing didn’t last very long. The girls still haven’t quite warmed up to me as their stepmother and they are in that broody stage that all girls go through, but they consented to helping me garden. As for little Louie, I think he was a bit intimidated by all the water and the change in scenery and was quite cranky the entire time. He hasn’t been away from the mansion very many times and he’s at that age where all children are fussy. As soon as we returned home, Vladimir received a business call and he shall very unfortunately be away in Aekea for a few weeks starting next month. He’s interested in opening a hospital in that city, which is certainly very noble of him. He is often consumed with his business and while other wives would get frustrated and leave or have secret affairs, it makes me proud that my husband does so many great things and I am happy to be by the side of such a good man and wouldn‘t have it any other way.

.....Everyone here is excited for Christmas and it’s fast approaching! What are your plans for the season? I imagine that you are very busy working on your latest project, but surely Mr. Gambino will have to let his overworked scientist have a break sometime, eh? I’m assuming you, Eliza, and your parents are going to Grandmother’s house. I wish I could join you, but I still haven’t recovered completely from my miscarriage and while a nice, quiet vacation is one thing, I think that being around Daniel and his high-strung wife would stress me entirely too much, which is no good on a healing body. I feel so sorry for little Vincent: he shall either turn out just like his father or into an utter libertine. That’s a terrible thing to say, but look at their other two children. I do not know when our cousin got to be so cold. Vladimir thankfully isn’t like that at all: he’s the white knight that rescued me and dashed me off to his lovely castle. The mansion is always beautiful, but it’s ever so very charming in the winter. There’s holly garlands on the banisters and wreaths on every window but Louie’s. There was one but the sound that it made when the wind blew scared him. Although Vladimir is always on a quest to encourage masculinity in his sons, he conceded that it is no good if his boy can’t sleep for fear that a boogeyman is trying to come into his window, silly little thing. He has nothing to fear because nothing or no one can hurt the son of Vladimir Von Helson. We’ve put up a great Christmas tree in the parlour and it’s easily as big as two regular trees put together, if not more. It’s covered with lovely silk bows, candles, and all sorts of pretty baubles. Mother and Father had lovely trees but never anything like this. I shall love it when we open presents. All my dresses are finer than the next, but the one I have picked out for that morning is the finest Vladimir will ever see me in. It’s of a rich, red velvet with an ermine trim and a green cloak. I shall be heartbroken if he doesn’t notice it. I can’t wait to see Damian’s face when he sees the pup that Vladimir has for him. It looks exactly like a wolf cub, but it’s a Malamute, of course. I know Damian likes kitties, but I agree with Vladimir that it’s important for a boy to have a white-haired, quiet thing around to set to work and intimidate would-be enemies with. At any rate, he can always get a cat later, maybe a pretty, big black kitty. We could name it Pluto and I’m sure Vladimir would love it. He loves pets, you know. He has an imported lapdog that he keeps around his office that simply loves him, though I fear it’s the sort that’ll n** at his fingers if he doesn’t pay it enough attention and Vladimir is always busy. Personally, I think it’s a charming little beast, though it needs to be socialized to other people.

..... Louie has grown so much since you last saw him. Why, that was when he was just a little babe, is that correct? He was such a pretty baby and had so much hair and the longest eyelashes as an infant that everyone we met confused him for a little girl, even when he was wearing those little suits. There is nothing I’d love more than to be able to see the man he’ll grow into. I think that he takes after me, though I haven’t a clue where he got that stick-straight hair and he certainly got his temper from his father. Oh, he can be a feisty little thing sometimes! He’s quiet most of the time though. Both of my boys are like that, which is something most mothers do not get to say. It’s just as well: Vladimir wouldn’t like to deal with noisy boys. He’s such an involved parent. He is immersed in every aspect of their lives and it’s certainly had its effect on them: you wouldn’t find two boys more polite and obedient towards their father. He’s picked a boarding school and Damian shall attend it next month. I haven’t personally visited it yet, but Vladimir has a picture of it in his study. It was where he attended school and it is certainly an old campus. I hope that at very least, he enjoys it. I know for a fact that he shall be a little prince among his social circle, and there shall plenty of people to take care of his every whim. Louie will attend that school in a few years but he’s much too young now, of course. He’s going with his father on his business trip. Vladimir wants to start his education about the world of business, though I am not sure that Louie is quite old enough to make decisions about that yet. I hope that he has a nice trip though and that he does not forget about his poor mother. It will be so lonely around the mansion with the family gone. There’s the hired help, of course, but they do not offer much in the ways of companionship. At very least, Avdotya and Andrei Zhivago will still be around to keep an eye on me. What would my parents think if they knew I had my own chambermaid? She is an interesting enough girl and always makes sure that what the master wants is in the room. As for Andrei, he’s the same as he’s always been. He’s quite an intriguing man when he can pulled away from his master’s side, which isn’t very often. I still don’t quite know what exactly he does: he’s not quite a butler and not quite a valet. At any rate, I do not supposed that is any of my business, as long as he does whatever he does well. He makes an excellent chaperone. Not many men would trust another to watch their wives, but Vladimir knows quite well that his manservant isn’t the sort to bother ladies. Nevertheless, the house shall be very empty.

..... Perhaps you can pay me a visit sometime? I think that it would do me a world of good, and you certainly need a break. I’ve read in the newspaper about all of G-Corp’s latest inventions and whatnot and it makes me happy to know that my very own cousin is in charge of them. You’re all Vladimir can talk about, you know. He would like nothing better than to snatch you up and set you to work for one of his companies. I know there are some things that he is simply dying to say to you. He thinks that you are the sort of man that is necessary to have by his side. You should have seen the look his manservant gave him! I do not think that I have seen someone look so utterly defeated and sorrowful before, save for Damian when he’s having one of his spells. At any rate, I know you could use a change in scenery. I can hardly imagine living on that island year round. You must be getting quite a tan by now. That is, if you’ve been able to get outside at all. Please don’t coop yourself up in front of your computer screen and chemical set all day. It’s very important to work, but what’s the point if you can’t enjoy yourself? However, please don’t spend much time at the casino. That sort of entertainment isn’t very healthy and the chances of becoming rich from that are very, very slim. If you get the chance and are in the area, there’s a lovely restaurant called De Luca and it’s simply fabulous. Do be warned, it’s completely vegetarian except for some dishes with fish. They have a very tasty dish with salmon and watercress salad that I greatly recommend. If you go, do so after nine, because that’s when the local singers come in to perform. There’s one in particular that I like, though I can’t quite remember his name. You’ll know him when you see him: he has the face of a demon and the voice of an angel.

..... Motherhood has proven to be a difficult challenge and most rewarding. I know that all my letters are filled to the brim about what Damian said over breakfast or the funny faces that Louie makes, but they are my world and all that I have. I think that you’ll understand if you ever become a father. If that ever happens, be the best you can possibly can and they should hopefully turn out alright, even if their mother is a psychopath. But don’t rush into things, get married, and start having children, like I and all my friends did. Give it time, find someone you wouldn’t mind living with for about two decades, take it slowly. You don’t need to have children to live a fulfilled life either, so don’t listen to what Grandmother always says when she sees you. Edmund, you’re still young, you’re handsome enough, you’ve got a very important career, and you can hardly be called poor. That’s more than what most people can say. By the way, were you able to buy that house you sent me pictures of? It looked very lovely and you can’t live in an apartment forever, you know. Having a space that you can call yours and yours alone is thrilling. I know you must be ecstatic that it means you can finally get rid of your roommates, oho. Robert sounds like a chore to put up with, but sometimes we must live with unpleasant people and we are forced to deal with it until the situation can resolve itself.

..... Edmund, I’m afraid that I must cut this letter off right now. My hand is getting sore, and the boys must be put to bed. I know I could always have one of the servants do it for me, but I want them to remember that it was their mother who always took care of them. Vladimir’s out right now with Zhivago and some of the servants, doing who knows what and the house is so very quiet. I should get to sleep soon myself. So I wish you well in all of your endeavors! And don’t be a stranger: I always love visitors.


Your cousin,



Rosalie