The Spinster & the Beast by Caylen McQueen

Author:Caylen McQueen [McQueen, Caylen]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: fullybook
Published: 2011-11-15T09:10:31+00:00

* * *

Dear Miss BB,

To be less significant than me is entirely impossible, as I am no more significant than a soggy piece of driftwood on an abandoned beach. When you decided to call me Mr. Nobody, I believe I was aptly named.

I am honoured that you would take the time to reply. I would happily "lend my eyes" anytime, because time means nothing to me. My days are as mundane as they could possibly be. Rest assured, I have all the time in the world.

I do not fault you for saying your nieces are daft. How old did you say they were? Eighteen? Daftness is a trademark of the age, the foundation of youth. You wanted to know my age, and forgive me for not divulging it sooner. At nine and twenty, I am not much younger than you. It is a tricky age, as I am not sure if I should be described as young or old. To someone very old, such as my grandmother, I suppose I would be very young. The poor woman is eighty, and I am her only companion in the world. I am sure she would describe ME as daft, in fact, I am pretty sure she has called me just that. Actually, "dunderhead" was her word of choice. Unfortunately, there might be some truth in that.

However, to someone very young, such as your niece, I am sure nine and twenty would seem very old. Is it not strange how the years can sneak up on you? Not long ago, I could have sworn I was wet behind the ears. Now I feel like a dried up old man. Unlike you, however, I have spent little time fretting about my age. Perhaps that is because I am a man, and men, as you have mentioned before, have no time limit when it comes to finding a bride. However, I have no intention of finding a bride. Ever.

I am sure this will sound terribly melodramatic, but at times, I feel I would be better off dead. I am afraid I have not been entirely honest with you, Miss BB. When I returned from the war I was less of a man than when I left. And before your mind conjures an image of a man without limbs, let me assure you, I have all of my appendages. However, it would be accurate to say I am missing half of my face.

From the bottom of my heart, I hope you do not swoon when you read this. A captured Frenchman escaped, stole my rifle, and fired at me at close range. The shot should have resulted in my death, and yet... I somehow managed to cling to life. As morbid as it may seem, I regret that I lived. If I would have perished on that night, it would have been a blessing.

Fear not, Miss BB, for I am not so sullen that I would take my own life (although I have considered it many times).

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.