August 30th, 1891

Dear Alexander

My heart has been stolen. It has been simply and thoroughly rent from my chest as easily as one might lift a finger. And the culprit, I believe, is a charming and well-bred young lady by the name of Cynthia Essex.

Allow me a moment to think on her, and to describe her to you. She is a petite woman, coming perhaps to my shoulder or chin. She is crafted like a sculpture, Alexander, like a fine painted doll. She has skin of cream so sweet that it brings water to my mouth. Her hair is the color of pure sunlight, eyes the shade of sky beside a deep lake. She is fashionable, well read and educated.

She’s stolen it, Alex, I swear. She even has me getting quite poetical (note above...?!) in my correspondance to her.

Cynthia is neither a frail nor weak willed woman. She is as healthy as they come, considering the events which have shaped our time together, and she has weathered those same events with a firm mind. I shall tell you of the African adventure I’ve had soon enough, if we see one another this Christmas or over the New Yesr gatherings. Suffice to say that when I was told there was a woman of good standing in need of rescue I was able to rise to the occasion.

I was helped, in no small ability, by my new compatriots at the Society for Enlightenment (which I believe I have mentioned in a prior letter, have I not?) Reginald and Less, the latter of whom came back to America with us, as he had been in Africa when we arrived. Cynthia was indeed needing a rescue, but after that she also needed a firm shoulder to cry on and steady hand to be held by. I am so glad that I decided to attend to her needs, Alex. You know how I am. I could just as easily have gone, come back and been no different.

But Cynthia... Is more than that. She is an archaeologist, and is studying at my very own Miskatonic University! She loves playing in the dirt, she adores ancient things and discovery. The discovery part was our first obvious similarity, as you can see the first two are a little beyond my normal pale.

That was just the start. We became more acquainted along the trip via caravan and then by ship back to America, and it was only after a few days at the start when we became practically inseperable! My other companions noticed this, but said nothing at the time. It was only afterwards, when she had returned to her parents’ estate in Boston that they said anything... And the things they had to say!

I had to apologize to them both for having kept them awake. Funny, but I never needed to do so to Cynthia... Or you!

Alex, please do not feel in any way jealous of this wonderful woman I have discovered. I should introduce you -- I know you will like her. She has spirit like your sister’s! In fact, they are quite alike in many regards. Both of them have strong language skills, and are quite knowledgable about research techniques, both are women breaking ground in a here-to-fore man’s world (how detestable that anyone would want to keep either of these women from their callings!) and both women have parents who are slightly off about her chosen career. That has been a bone of contention in your family for quite some time, Alexander, and I hope that some day your parents come to realize that it is best to let Rey do everything she is capable of!

I only hope that Cynthia’s parents soon understand her own lifestyle is that of her choosing and not to be of their design. She alluded to some point which she greatly disagrees with them, and would not yet tell me what it was. I shall give her time.

Time was all that it took for her to begin telling me of the plight that she had been dragged into in Africa, and let me say that it must have been hellish for her. Alex, do you remember when I made the mistake of allowing Julian into my life?

Her situation was somewhat similar, but I believe a little more direct and physical rather than my emotional and mental anguish. I still sense a bit of hesitation in her when I tell her that I understand her anger, regret and fear at her captivity (yes, held captive by someone! It is all horrid!), and that I will keep to boundaries she establishes just for that reason. She perhaps suspects that I am merely agreeing with her to keep her by my side, but you know me better than that, and some day -- hopefully soon -- so shall Cynthia.

On our journey back home across the chill Atlantic ocean, we developed quite a taste for one another, Alexander. At first, and largely while we were still traveling across the African mountain and plain lands, she would only allow a comforting arm around her, more kind words said softly than anything physical. But as the days went on, and she was able to heal a bit, eat regular meals again and get some sun on her beautiful face, she became more relaxed with the idea that I could gently ease her fears. That I might be able to apply some of the tenderness which she so desperately needed to assuage her mind -- and I dare say her body. She was harmed greatly by her former expedition leader Dr Renlow, but she has not yet said exactly how.

Frankly, Alex, by the wounds I saw and attended to later on, I know exactly what he had done to her, and I feel no remorse in having had a hand in his death. He was a monster. I have too many memories that are far too clear of Julian and his attacks on my person to think that Renlow was a gentleman to Cynthia. He kept her in a pit, Alex...

I find myself wishing that you were here, right at this moment, because I know that you have comforted me before regarding these memories, and you doubtless shall do so again.

Ah, but enough of that morbidity! I wish to tell you more about my dear Cynthia! We learned much about one another’s expectations along the sea voyage. She kept my attention well enough that I did not complain over-much about the journey itself. You have never seen me on a boat, have you, Alex? You don’t want to. I assure you. I don’t intend to use that method of travel any more than I must, I still do not swim and do in fact fear the water at least that deep! She learned too that I prefer to be clean at all times but one, and I learned that she can be quite the "dirty girl" when she puts her mind to it!

Also, Cynthia likes a morning meal of lightly creamed coffee, a fresh melon bowl, and toast with butter, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg on it. I am pleased to be the one who served it to her in bed on those mornings at sea. I must say that she is disposed to leave crumbs of the toast upon those sheets so that later she might enjoy their scent while back between them. Strange girl sometimes.

She has crept so deeply into my heart, Alex. I am not even at a loss to say my mind about this: I feel I must be falling quite in love with her! What started out as a simple (and I must admit purely social-climbing induced) rescue, has become something I must pursue.

Since she had been on this "dig" in Africa for quite some time, she had then to not only return to her home in Boston but then to the University to make amends with her professors and to catch up on her life at home. She has come to my own home in Kingsport but twice, however they were both wonderful week-ends.

Some time soon, you must meet her. I have told her a bit about you, as well as your sister and some of our old family friends. She is aware of my taste not only for "antics" of a certain slightly painful bent, but as well of my other more exotic needs of the flesh, both of which she seems to accept with a grace that I had never thought possible! When I admitted to her that I found certain men of our University to be very attractive, she merely giggled with a sly grin, and bid me tell her what I wanted to do with them!

That has solved it, Alexander. Cynthia has in fact stolen my heart, and possibly grafted it to her own. She knows just what to do, just how to move to make me respond, and better yet she responds to me -- my touch and my conversation -- equally.

I will send this, though it is a short letter, and hope to hear from you soon. If you see Rey tell her that she’s got competition for the "strongest of women" in my life!

Ever your friend -- Istvan