After three days of ink stained fingers, an entire stack of ruined parchment, and countless inner debates over whether or not she was making the right decision, Rosalie finally drafted a letter that she deemed acceptable. She deeply feared his response — or worse, that he wouldn't respond at all. She could handle him having an angry response to her invasion of privacy, but she didn't think she could cope through the anxiety of not knowing whether he was coherent enough to respond.

Thus far, there had been no mention of him in any newspaper or society page (Rosie scoured over them all every morning). Which meant, presumably, that he was at the minimum alive. (Or that his family was still handling the potential scandal a death by insanity would cause and hadn't yet revealed Ezra's death.)

He would respond and then she could continue on with her life. He had to.

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The letter itself was written on crisp parchment and folded neatly within an equally neat envelope bearing a "Mr. Ezra Applegate" in Rosie's familiar script.

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August 6, 1892

Dear Mr. Applegate,

I hope you're well.

I am writing to follow up on your health after the events of the Daphnel's ball. Your absence at the Wisteria Ball was commented upon and I thought it necessary to ensure you're being treated by someone if you were still ill.

I've included a list of a well respected healers dealing with different ailments. I hope you find this useful.

Sincerely,
Healer Rosalie Hunniford

  

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stunning set by Lady <3

Healer Hunniford. Had he known that? Of course he hadn't, though it was almost certainly common knowledge. No one volunteered information about Rosalie to him, given how infamous his reaction was when she called off the wedding. And of course he didn't ask. Looking back now, he chafed over how insistent he'd been during their last conversation that she not take him to a hospital. Had she interpreted it as a rejection of her personally?

Healer Hunniford,

If I'd known the matter was still weighing on your mind, I would have written earlier to put your concerns to rest. I apologize. I am perfectly well, and my absence from the Wisteria Ball was attributable to nothing more dire than a busy schedule.

I am sorry to have worried you.

Sinc., etc.,
Ezra Applegate

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Perhaps it was naive of her to believe he wouldn't see through her crafted excuse. She thought enough time might have passed now that he wouldn't know her so well. Such was quite obviously not the case.

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August 11, 1892

Mr. Applegate,

There are no apologies necessary. It would be remiss of me not to follow up with someone when I believed their health to be in question.

I'm glad to hear you are well.

Sincerely,
Healer Hunniford