458

Dearest Joshua,

These will be the final words of mine that you shall read.  By the time these words reach you, the poison will have claimed me.  I will always love you and I will always love the man Barnabas was.  Tonight, you showed me a capacity for care I thought was a distant memory.  For that, I thank you.

Our son is a murderer, and for that, someone must atone.  There was little meaning to our lives.  Now, there is none.  Tragedy is now the constant rule rather than a passing exception.  In such a world, I cannot continue.  You can, and thus, you are worthy of living, perhaps because of your stalwart inability to love.  I have not the strength for that.

Farewell,

Naomi

456

Dear Daniel,

In the event of my passing, please have the tower room sealed post-haste.  There is a lice infestation, and we have determined this to be the only solution.  Do not go in!

Yours very truly,

Aunt Naomi

434

Dear Daniel,

Take this as an example of how a man should behave, for there is a notable absence of them at Collinwood.  Right and wrong do not exist by the sanction of others. I am now to approach the bar and expose the character of those who wear the masks of goodness.  This will spell dire consequences for me, but I seize the enterprise fearlessly.  In doing so, I hope not only to render justice for Miss Winters, but to set some small example for you as a model of resolve and character.

Lovingly,

Naomi Collins