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Authors: Astrid Yrigollen
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My plans, of course were bungled by Kurten who chose to force himself on you and not wait. I am so glad you were not harmed. I read in the paper that you had escaped during the night.”
“How did you know my aunt? How was it that she never mentioned you to me?” He smiled wistfully.
“I met your aunt quite by accident at the park. She engaged me in conversation which proper ladies do not do, however, I knew right away there was something different about her. She had a free spirit about her and I took to her right away. I only knew her for a short while before she grew ill and passed on, but I knew right away that if I could help you I would be honoring her memory.” I felt sad not to have known that my aunt cared so much about me. All my life, my parents tried to keep me away from her and here she was thinking of me that whole time. I felt a strong urge to take out the teapot she left me from my baggage but it was packed away in another car. Mr. Brighton continued his narrative.
“When I had found that you had gone, I tried to put myself in your shoes as it were. You would be seeking refuge and would need a way to support yourself. I placed that ad the day you vanished. I was worried that something had happened to you, but I felt that I had to stay here until I knew for sure.”
“So you were waiting for me all those weeks Mr. Brighton?” He nodded.
“Now I have to tell you I have not been completely honest with you. My name is not Mr. Brighton. The servants at the brownstone know me as Mr. Brighton but I am actually Fredrick Lowood. It was necessary to take on what I call a traveling name when I purchased the brownstone to be closer to your aunt. It also came in quite handy when I went in to St. Marhen to investigate.” My mind raced turning his words over in my head.
He was not Mr. Brighton, he was Fredrick Lowood. He actually purchase a place to live near my aunt, were they romantically involved?
“I see by the expression on your face you have more questions. Please Claren, ask me anything. From now on there is no need to hide or lie and that goes for me as well.”
“You said you purchased that brownstone to be near my aunt. Were you two romantically involved?” I felt embarrassed asking him such a question which was really none of my business, but I felt I needed to know the nature of his relationship with my aunt.
He smiled as if remembering her.
“No Claren, we weren’t. Your aunt, even though she shirked modern convention, she was still a very proper lady. When she grew sicker, I wanted to bring her to the brownstone and care for her but she refused. I found a friend in your aunt, someone I could talk to who would not judge me. We had a few precious months together but she refused all my gifts, and even when I would send doctors over, she would turn them away.” It was his turn to look out the train window sadly.
I cleared my throat awkwardly.
“When I was finally allowed to visit my aunt she was very ill, in the last stages of her illness. I did not understand it since the influenza is easily cured if treated right away.” He nodded sadly. The porter announced the train leaving the station and we felt it give a lurch. Slowly we left the city behind.
“Sometimes a simple illness can become much worse if one’s heart is broken. I felt that your aunt’s heart had been broken, and I think that is what made us good friends since I am the same, a heartbroken old wretch. Your aunt carried a deep sadness within her, but she gave up. I do not have that luxury. I felt compelled to find you Claren. I thought that perhaps if I went to St. Marhen and sought you out…”
“You mean you went in to St.Marhen after the funeral?”
“Oh yes, I wanted to know what had happened. Once I got it into my head to help you out of that entanglement, I made my plans. I arrived the next day to your home but of course, you were not there, and your
“How did you know my aunt? How was it that she never mentioned you to me?” He smiled wistfully.
“I met your aunt quite by accident at the park. She engaged me in conversation which proper ladies do not do, however, I knew right away there was something different about her. She had a free spirit about her and I took to her right away. I only knew her for a short while before she grew ill and passed on, but I knew right away that if I could help you I would be honoring her memory.” I felt sad not to have known that my aunt cared so much about me. All my life, my parents tried to keep me away from her and here she was thinking of me that whole time. I felt a strong urge to take out the teapot she left me from my baggage but it was packed away in another car. Mr. Brighton continued his narrative.
“When I had found that you had gone, I tried to put myself in your shoes as it were. You would be seeking refuge and would need a way to support yourself. I placed that ad the day you vanished. I was worried that something had happened to you, but I felt that I had to stay here until I knew for sure.”
“So you were waiting for me all those weeks Mr. Brighton?” He nodded.
“Now I have to tell you I have not been completely honest with you. My name is not Mr. Brighton. The servants at the brownstone know me as Mr. Brighton but I am actually Fredrick Lowood. It was necessary to take on what I call a traveling name when I purchased the brownstone to be closer to your aunt. It also came in quite handy when I went in to St. Marhen to investigate.” My mind raced turning his words over in my head.
He was not Mr. Brighton, he was Fredrick Lowood. He actually purchase a place to live near my aunt, were they romantically involved?
“I see by the expression on your face you have more questions. Please Claren, ask me anything. From now on there is no need to hide or lie and that goes for me as well.”
“You said you purchased that brownstone to be near my aunt. Were you two romantically involved?” I felt embarrassed asking him such a question which was really none of my business, but I felt I needed to know the nature of his relationship with my aunt.
He smiled as if remembering her.
“No Claren, we weren’t. Your aunt, even though she shirked modern convention, she was still a very proper lady. When she grew sicker, I wanted to bring her to the brownstone and care for her but she refused. I found a friend in your aunt, someone I could talk to who would not judge me. We had a few precious months together but she refused all my gifts, and even when I would send doctors over, she would turn them away.” It was his turn to look out the train window sadly.
I cleared my throat awkwardly.
“When I was finally allowed to visit my aunt she was very ill, in the last stages of her illness. I did not understand it since the influenza is easily cured if treated right away.” He nodded sadly. The porter announced the train leaving the station and we felt it give a lurch. Slowly we left the city behind.
“Sometimes a simple illness can become much worse if one’s heart is broken. I felt that your aunt’s heart had been broken, and I think that is what made us good friends since I am the same, a heartbroken old wretch. Your aunt carried a deep sadness within her, but she gave up. I do not have that luxury. I felt compelled to find you Claren. I thought that perhaps if I went to St. Marhen and sought you out…”
“You mean you went in to St.Marhen after the funeral?”
“Oh yes, I wanted to know what had happened. Once I got it into my head to help you out of that entanglement, I made my plans. I arrived the next day to your home but of course, you were not there, and your
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