After that, exchanging letters with Wilson became one of Eleanor’s daily routines. Whenever Eleanor sent a letter, Wilson would invariably reply within a day.
It seemed that Wilson’s claim of being an ardent fan of Marcus Miller was no lie. He was familiar with almost all the works Eleanor had published. Wilson would mention each piece, asking about the background behind its creation and if there were any special episodes associated with it.
Eleanor didn’t paint to hear praise from others. However, meeting someone who cherished her work so much was indeed a pleasant feeling. She earnestly responded to Wilson’s inquiries.
[Later on, if I have the chance, I would like to compile the background stories of the works you’ve shared, Miss Townsend, and publish them as a book. It would surely be a great gift for fans like me.]
[Such kind words, but the stories are too trivial and insignificant for a book; I would be embarrassed. Please keep them to yourself, Mr. Wilson.]
[Then I will be the only one privy to all these stories. It’s an honor too great for just one of Miss Townsend’s many fans to enjoy, but I will gratefully cherish it as you wish.]
Wilson’s letters were always polite and filled with a fan’s affection. There was even a time when he sent brushes and paints as a gift along with his letter. They were high-quality art supplies that could only be found in the capital.
[I bought these items on my way back from the capital last week. Since it’s not easy to find art supplies in Wembury, please don’t feel burdened and accept them with joy. Consider it a small token of appreciation from someone who has received much comfort and inspiration from Miss Townsend’s works.]
Upon reading the letter, Eleanor wore a troubled expression. It was burdensome, but sending the gifts back would also be rude. And it was true that she would soon need to replenish her art supplies, given her continuous painting.
After some thought, Eleanor wrote a reply.
[Mr. Wilson,
I have received your gift, and I am truly grateful. As you said, these items are not available in Wembury, and I believe they will be very useful. However, from now on, I would prefer to receive only your precious thoughts rather than gifts. The letters you send already bring me immense joy, and receiving more gifts would leave me at a loss for how to reciprocate.
As a modest gesture of thanks, and if you agree, I would like to invite you to a dinner. Our cook is planning to catch a turkey, and since it’s quite a large one, we could use some help with it. I would be grateful if you could assist.
I await your reply.
- L. Townsend.]
[Miss Townsend,
Thank you for the invitation. It is a joyous and honorable proposal, but I regret to inform you that I will be unable to attend this time. I have planned a trip starting tomorrow. I intend to slowly travel across the entire empire, which will likely take several months. I will write to you briefly from my travel destinations.
[I regret that I must decline your kind invitation. It’s embarrassing to ask, given the circumstances, but there is a favor I would like to request.
Actually, my dog, Vinnie, has just had puppies. There are four of them, and if it’s alright with you, Miss Townsend, I would be honored if you could meet them and perhaps name them? A name given by a respected painter like yourself would hold special meaning for both me and the puppies.
I have already informed my butler, Isaac, so please feel free to visit at your convenience.
I look forward to your response.
Lewis Wilson.]
Eleanor’s eyes widened in surprise as she finished reading the letter. She knew from previous correspondence that Wilson had a dog. But to hear that it had given birth to four puppies!
Eleanor had never raised any animals other than her horse, Molstead. She wondered what newborn puppies looked like and felt a flutter of excitement and curiosity that kept her awake that night.
The next day, Eleanor and her companion Emily visited Wilson’s estate. They were greeted by Isaac, a relatively young butler in his 30s or 40s, who led them to the barn.
As soon as they entered the barn, Eleanor and Emily instinctively held their breath. On a bed of hay that was as soft as a cushion, four small puppies lay curled up. There were three white ones, just like their mother, and one black one.
The mother dog didn’t seem particularly wary of the strangers. She looked up at Eleanor with gentle eyes.
“So you’re Vinnie.”
When Eleanor stroked her head and neck, Vinnie relaxed into her touch. Her curly fur was soft and pleasant to the touch.
“You’ve had a hard time giving birth to four. Well done.”
Vinnie seemed to understand Eleanor’s whispered words and responded with a soft growl. Eleanor smiled gently.
She hesitated for a moment in front of the puppies.
“You can pick them up and hold them if you like.”
“Really? But what if I hurt them…”
“Don’t worry. They’re sturdier than they look.”
Even with Isaac’s assurance, Eleanor was reluctant to touch the puppies. But finally, she reached out slowly to the nearest one.
The puppy was so small that it almost completely covered Eleanor’s palm. As she gently stroked its warm body, its closed eyes opened halfway. The puppy wiggled its four legs and flipped over on its side as Eleanor’s touch moved along its belly. It even hugged her fingers with its paws.
Eleanor lifted the puppy with both hands. It was chubby, warm, and too small. She was afraid to apply too much pressure, so she petted it with just two fingers, being as gentle as possible. She even kissed its little nose.
“It’s so cute…”
Emily exclaimed with genuine admiration.
“Do you want to hold it, Emily?”
“What? No!”
Emily waved her hands in surprise.
“It’s okay. You’re much more careful and gentle than I am. Here.”
Eleanor placed the puppy on Emily’s hand. Emily’s eyes widened and she held her breath. The puppy squirmed on Emily’s stiff hand.
“…It’s warm…”
“Isn’t it?”
Eleanor held and greeted each of the other puppies one by one. They all looked similar but had slightly different faces, which was fascinating. Once she got used to them, she could easily tell them apart.
Even after petting and playing with them for a long time, Eleanor couldn’t bring herself to leave. With permission, she could have stayed there all day.
[Miss Townsend,
I have arrived at Elquin and am writing this letter. As the rumors suggest, it is a fairly bustling city that competes for the top two spots in the south. It has a unique atmosphere that is similar to the capital but different. It has a generous simplicity even within its bustling atmosphere. I wonder what kind of wonderful work will be born if this city is captured by Miss Townsend’s eyes.
Have you met the puppies? I’m curious about the wonderful names Miss Townsend might have given them. I plan to stay in Elquin for about ten days, so I would be grateful if you could send a reply. I have instructed Isaac to forward it to me. I will leave the address of my next destination at the inn, so even if there is a delay, there is no worry of the letter being lost.
As summer approaches and the days grow warmer, please take care when you go out.
Lewis Wilson.]
[To Mr. Wilson,
It is truly a joy and I am grateful to receive a letter from you even while you are traveling. The puppies at your home were an incomparable gift indeed! (Of course, I am not belittling the gift you sent me before. I used the brush you gave me a few days ago, and I could immediately tell it was a precious top-quality item. Thank you once again.)
I think it’s the first time I’ve seen something so adorable. The thrill of feeling the little heartbeat in my palm as I held one of the puppies, and the way they reached out their paws to me even though they couldn’t fully open their eyes, was so overwhelming that I almost teared up.
Thank you so much for introducing me to these little ones. In fact, I’ve been visiting your house every day since then to see them. Thankfully, Isaac doesn’t seem to mind yet… but I suppose I should restrain myself a bit, shouldn’t I?
Please give me a little more time to name the puppies. I don’t want to decide on something so spontaneously and lightly. I will let you know after thorough consideration.
By the time this letter reaches you, will you still be in Elquin? Even if you have already left, I hope it finds its way to you wherever you are.
Wishing that my abundant happiness reaches you, E. L. Townsend.]
