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| Published by Tor Books |
Dear Gertrude,
Did you know that Mr Poole has disappeared?
I am just back from a trip into town, and his brother and
cousins are tearing the place quite apart. Mr Poole seems to have sold the
bookshop right before he left. In charge of it now is a Mr Doe. He is an odd-looking man with an odd accent,
but he seems perfectly civil and gentle. I am convinced that he deserves only a
small fraction of the trouble Mr Poole’s family is currently giving him.
Was it indelicate of me to purchase a book anyway? I think
so, but what use is our old age if it does not give us license to behave as we
wish. Sitting on my writing desk not a hand’s-breadth from this letter is A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir By
Lady Trent.
I have never heard of
a Lady Trent, but I decided I must have it anyway the moment the new bookseller
recommended it. You see, it isn’t possible for this book to be what it
pretends, and what fun it will be to see how it accounts for itself.
I think I must describe the cover to you, because I know I
may not see you for days. It is a mostly brown book, all covered oddly in a white
paper with a colored anatomical drawing of a dragon printed on it. This drawing
extends to the back cover, where a Jim C. Hines proclaims that “Lady Trent is
the Jane Goodall of dragons.”
This is not as immediately illuminating as Mr Hines seems
to intend. What, precisely, is Jane Goodall the Jane Goodall of, Gertie? I have
asked Alfie (who insisted on accompanying me into town and also insisted on
being of no help) and Lucy (who was much the same, though made much more noise
in doing so). If it turns out to be
unicorns, I will take extra wine at dinner tonight.
In any case, all is currently very well at home, by which I
mean very dull. There have been no disappearances here. In fact, Mr Pennylegion has discovered a new
fishing pole he must have bought last year and has determined that I must have
had a hand in it. I assure you, Gertie, I have not and would hope that these
shocking and baseless accusations do not color your opinion of me.
With love,
Prudence Pennylegion
Ps. I told the new bookseller that you would be by & he
seemed eager. I daresay that Mr Poole told him exactly how much we spend on
books.
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