Best,
Dain
A link has been added below his email. Clicking on it opens up a page to a catalogue of items relating to the Brontë family: original letters, diary papers, documents, poems, artwork, items of clothing, and household artefacts. Wowser, it’s like being given the key to a treasure trove.
Before I can overthink it, I send him a reply.
Hi Dain,
I checked out the link you sent. Oh my god, it more than makes up for you hogging the conversation. Not that you did. I enjoyed chatting with you too. Thanks so much for this. I see I’m going to be up to my eyeballs in Brontëana tomorrow.
Looking forward to it :-)
Lizzy
Overly friendly? Possibly. Maybe I should’ve slept on it and sent a more formal reply in the morning. But it’s too late now.
I put my laptop away, mentally kicking myself, but my phone lights up again. An illicit thrill goes through me: Dain’s sent a WhatsApp message. This is getting more personal.
Swallowing hard and listening for Klint’s footsteps in the hallway, I check it.
Hi, me again. Hope you don’t mind me messaging here. Easier to chat. Enjoy your Brontëana browsing!
Hmm, that doesn’t necessitate a reply, but I should probably say something. Otherwise, it will look rude.
Hi, no, it’s fine. Yes, I will. Thanks again!
I wait as I see he’s typing a reply. Yikes, if Klint were here, this could get awkward; he’d be asking who I was messaging.
Dain:Which bit are you up to in Villette?
Me:I just finished it.
Dain:The ending is depressing, isn’t it?
Me:Lol, yes, a little.
Dain:The bit with the wind shrieking like a banshee and Lucy wandering through the house always gets me. It’s Charlotte herself of course. I know what she means. I’ve been there at night, and it does sound like someone screaming.
Me:What? Please tell me you didn’t stay at the parsonage overnight!
Dain:OK, I won’t.
Me:But you did?
Dain:I did.
Me:Wow, you’re brave! How come?
Dain:It was a dare. I wouldn’t do it again. I didn’t sleep very well.
Me:I’m not surprised. Which room were you in?
Dain:Mr Brontë’s. The bed is flipping uncomfortable.
Me:Lol. Was it spooky?
Dain:Sooo spooky. You should’ve seen me cowering under the bedcovers with two lit candles on either side. Then they blew out, and I screamed. Loudly.
