Herondale Family (Owen, Elizabeth, Cordelia, & James Herondale)
September 1929
Berlin, Germany >>> New York City, USA
Lizzie
Elizabeth,
I know it has been some time since we last corresponded (or, well, since you last deigned my messages with a response), but I hope you have been doing well in New York. I miss you, and I wish every day that this farce would end between us.
I am not writing to you today to discuss that, however. Rather, I am writing to inquire as to whether you received the invitation to mine and Lydia’s wedding and, if so, if you would please enlighten us with a response regarding your attendance. Mâmân is already fretting over the guest list and, while she has already put you down to attend (of course), I told her that she should not make such assumptions and that she should wait to hear from you. I do hope you will attend (though I know your feelings on the matter quite clearly), as I would love to have you there on this important day.
In case you did not receive the invitation (though I know you did - Margie already responded to hers, so yours must have been received as well), the wedding will be at the London Institute on the 16th of November. Margie is coming (I know she must as her parents run the Institute - I am sure you tried to talk her out of it), but you can take the portal back to London with her on the 14th of November.
Please do let me know; I am eagerly awaiting your response.
I miss you and hope you are well.
Yours,
Owen
New York City, USA >>> Berlin, Germany
Owen,
I got your invitation.
No, I will not be in attendance. Just tell Mâmân that I cannot get off the patrol schedule that evening - after all, this is all happening so quickly, and you are hardly giving anyone adequate notice to make plans to attend.
You know what you need to do to change my mind; you have to tell Mâmân and Papa what you saw on the night you proposed to Lydia. If you do not, then you cannot blame my absence on any but yourself.
-Elizabeth
Berlin, Germany >>> New York City, USA
Elizabeth,
It does not mean anything; I am not going to worry our parents over meaningless speculations. They have enough going on right now without my insignificant concerns piled on top.
I am sorry that you cannot respect my choice enough to be in attendance on one of the most important days of my life. We will miss you there - Lydia too. She fears that she is the wedge that is driving us apart, and all of my attempts to reassure her have gone nowhere.
I will tell Mâmân of your decision. If you change your mind, you can let either (or, ideally, both) of us know.
Yours,
Owen
London, England >>> New York City, USA
Elizabeth Lucille Herondale,
Please tell me why, in the Angel’s name, you thought it would be okay not to attend your BROTHER’S WEDDING?
Your father and I are very disappointed in this behaviour. Do not think we are entirely ignorant to whatever has been going on between you and Owen - we are your parents, and we can tell when something is wrong. We have suspected (for some months now) that your relationship had deteriorated somewhat, but this is entirely unacceptable.
He is your brother, Elizabeth. I know you may be upset over something, but he has always been your best friend and biggest supporter. You do not want to turn away from him now - you know that he and Lydia will need all of our support, as a family - and you will regret if you miss this day.
Trust me on this - Alastair and I did not always get along, you know, though he has been there for me always and, as we matured, grown to be one of my closest confidants and best friends, along with your father, of course, and your Aunt Lucie. I cannot imagine my life without the three of them - nor can I imagine it without you and your brother, and our little family all together.
The wedding is happening, whether you like it or not. This act of protest will do nothing to change the outcome.
I am putting you down as attending. If you want to get out of it, you better think of a reason better than “patrol” to tell your father and I.
We love and miss you,
Mâmân
New York City, USA >>> London, England
Mâmân and Papa,
I am sorry that you are disappointed.
I told Owen that I would attend his wedding - but only if he tells you the truth about what happened on the night he and Lydia were engaged.
I would tell you myself, but I find myself unable to betray him, even now. He made me promise not to tell a soul, and I still have not - despite all that has transpired between us in the months since.
I will not say anymore. I love and miss you too, and please give my love to everyone in London.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth
London, England >>> Berlin, Germany
Owen,
Elizabeth replied - what happened on the night you proposed to Lydia?
Love you,
Papa
Berlin, Germany >>> New York City, USA
Elizabeth,
Thank you for the ultimate betrayal of my confidence. I told you not to tell anyone what happened in January - why are Mâmân and Papa asking about it now?
Don’t worry about attending - I do not want you there, not after this.
Don’t worry about responding, either.
-Owen
Berlin, Germany >>> London, England
Mâmân and Papa,
It is truly nothing to worry about, but I suppose the truth was always going to come out eventually.
Elizabeth is being entirely immature about the whole situation, but it would be much simpler to explain in person. Is there any chance Lydia and I could come to London and discuss this with you in person? No one knows about this outside of Lydia, Elizabeth, and myself, and I do not want to make it bigger than it is.
That being said, it might be easier to explain when we are all together - and perhaps Aunt Lucie and Uncle Jesse should be there, too, since they run the Institute.
Again, do not worry - we are all safe and healthy.
We do not have patrol this weekend - perhaps we could portal over on Friday night?
Yours,
Owen
London, England >>> Berlin, Germany
Owen and Lydia,
We cannot help but worry, but we will trust you when you say everything is fine.
Malcolm can open a portal on Friday evening, at 18:00 London time. You are both, of course, welcome to stay as long as you’d like.
We’re looking forward to seeing you Friday. If this concerns Elizabeth, should she perhaps be in attendance at the meeting as well? Her and Margie both have been avoiding London, as of late, but I’m sure we could get her to portal back for the meeting with Lucie and Jesse on Saturday afternoon if necessary.
We will write to her to inquire. Whatever is going on between you and your sister, Owen, needs to be handled like adults.
We love you both and cannot wait to see you,
James & Cordelia
New York City, USA >>> London, England
Mâmân and Papa,
I am glad that Owen and Lydia are coming to see you - it is well past time that he is honest about what occurred.
Unfortunately, I will not be making the trip back to London for something that Owen should have handled months ago. I have made my position on the matter very clear, and he has done nothing since but swear me to silence and ignore my advice. I have nothing else to offer on the matter and, besides, seeing Lydia would only make everything worse.
Further, I already have plans this weekend. Edmund and Vienna are both in town and visiting Margie and I in New York; Vienna and I are going to Ellis Island on Saturday morning while Margie and Edmund catch up, and we are all attending a friend’s party in the evening. (Well, the fiancé of our friend’s sister’s party - all the same here in wild Manhattan!)
I am glad Owen will finally come clean. I hope you will be able to help him - I certainly have not, though I assure you that I did try. After he tells you, perhaps you might better understand why I will not attend the wedding.
Yours,
Elizabeth
[Saturday Evening]
London, England >>> New York City, USA
Elizabeth Lucille Herondale,
THAT is the reason? That is unacceptable.
We will see you on the 14th of November - you are coming to the wedding.
Sincerely,
Mâmân and Papa