By the time you receive this diary, likely you will have already seen to the odd business of the painting, or what’s left of it, anyway. The answer lies within these pages, and while I realize you’ll hardly believe them, please be content in the fact that I am safe and that I am following my destiny. Please do not read the part(s) about kissing and such. You don’t want to know, and I don’t want you to.
I send this to reassure you I have not been abducted and so you’ll have a testament to the strange events surrounding the portrait of Lord Denbury. (That very man himself has vowed to send me back to New York City unless I assure you of my safety and give you the full story.)
Whether or not you believe that Mother told Mrs. Northe that this was my path, I believe it. I was not coerced; I am here of my own free will. I pursued the innocent man I love because we will be safer this way. We shall be in contact, and none of this is permanent. I am still a lady, and Lord Denbury is a consummate gentleman. It is my hope that you and Mrs. Northe can come visit. I will write you often.
I am so grateful for your love, your support, and all the gifts you’ve given me. I cannot express that enough.
Please respect this path, however strange, and know that I endeavor to make you proud. Jonathon and I want to do the public some good, and we shall do so.
Through the unusual circumstances of the last weeks, I have once again found my voice. I cannot wait for you to hear it. To converse with you, Father, will be such a gift! And that’s all due to Lord Denbury.
He is convinced I should make sure I’d rather not have any other suitor—but here is the only area in which he is a fool. I want no other, and when he asks for my hand, I do hope you’ll give your blessing. I daresay a better match could not be made. I love him. Again, please skim over the kissing part(s), and we’ll both be far less embarrassed.
I cannot mention where we’re going. While Denbury is innocent, I can’t expect the police to believe a word of this and must protect him until he can be absolved of any wrongdoing.
Please keep in mind that Mrs. Northe suggested that lingering traces of the magic may still be upon us, a beacon, if we remained in New York. Please realize we have both taken ourselves from the area in the interest of safety. While you may not believe us on account of magic, I hope you will believe that we mean you no disrespect or harm. As for public opinion, as an “unfortunate” anyway, I daresay this won’t ruin anyone’s expectations of me as I had none to begin with. Please do be careful around the Metropolitan. It unwittingly housed a curse. We’re sorry we brought it upon you.
Mrs. Northe will corroborate as much of this as she may see fit, and she is attending to the loose ends of this odd case so that all may be put to rest.
I love you always,
Natalie