#g1890s

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December 9, 1894

The funeral service for Grover was hard for Eva to go through. She tried to remain strong for her husband and children, and as her position as the eldest of his children. It took so much out of her by the end of the day, and once he was buried in the ground, she wanted nothing more than to lay there beside him.

The reality of it all hit her the hardest upon setting her eyes on his headstone. Eva was now an orphan with no more parents in this world to guide her along. How was she expected to continue on without them? Her loneliness almost consumed her there in that cemetery before she turned her head and her eyes landed on her brother. Her dear brother, dressed in black, who did not look sad in the slightest.

📜  ៸   𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧  ៸   𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔  ៸  𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕

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G1890

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April, 1895

To try and get back into better spirits, Evaline hosted a soiree in the springtime well after the snow had melted. In doing so, Evaline craved to return back to the version of herself before her father's death. The one even before children who partied and carried on in life without any worries. It felt impossible, however Eva was once that girl before. Surely she could return to her.

Getting all dressed up and painted, Evaline went on to ready her children as well. She would allow them just two hours to join in on the festivities with their guests. And the boys were very excited to be apart!

For those first few hours Eva easily lost herself in the music and laughter. The swell of people allowed her to sway in and out of her mind. She focused her time on her boys and the fun of having them there with her.

her. In spite of that, when it was time for them to retire for the night, Eva suddenly found herself empty again. The party continued on but she could not find it within herself to do so as well.

After just one more glass, Eva kissed her husband goodnight and returned to her bedroom, where she cried herself deep into the darkness.

📜  ៸   𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧  ៸   𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔  ៸  𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕

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December 9, 1894

Evaline: You came. Irving: He was still my father, Eva. E: I just... didn't expect you to. I'm relieved that you are here.

I: ... Don't think anything to come from this. E: What do you mean?

I: I came to pay my respects, even if he didn't have any for me when he was alive. E: Irving...

I: What the two of you did to me will never be forgiven, Sister. Not in this lifetime. E: Please, please do not do this. I cannot do this without my brother. I: I will not-

E: You have two nephews. Two wonderful nephews who should know who their uncle is.

I: They will have to grow up without knowing me. That was a choice made by you.

📜  ៸   𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧  ៸   𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔  ៸  𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕    

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December, 1892

It was a cold winter's morning when Evaline had to rush out of bed and down the MANY stairs to the outhouse. How she didn't wake her husband she hadn't the faintest idea. Once outside, she vomitted all of the contents of her stomach and more until she could no longer stand to strain herself.

A horrid thought crossed her mind; had she contracted something? Had she given it to her son? Would his tiny body not be able to handle it, could he die? It was all in the split of a second, for she then abruptly knew the reason for her illness.

Trekking back inside and to her bedroom, Eva gently awoke her husband with a smile to her face. "Walter," she cooed to his sleep, "Walter, my darling, wake up."

"What for?" he groaned aside. Stifling her laughter, Evaline whispered three soft-lined words, "I'm with child."

This resulted in Walter throwing the sheets to the side and swallowing his wife in his arms. Another baby, they were going to have another baby!

📜  ៸   𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧  ៸   𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔  ៸  𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕  

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Late August, 1893

ℳ𝓎 𝒟𝑒𝒶𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓉 ℰ𝓋𝒶,

I write this letter to you with great sorrow. I have fallen ill. Pnemonia, the doctor tells me. He says that there is hope for me, as I am in good shape for a man of my age. Alas, I fear he was only telling this old coot what he thought I'd like to hear. In truth I am not sure how much time is left for me and I do not wish to hide it from you. I may not live to see my grandchildren grow, or to meet any future little ones.

Please do not come to see me Eva. I would hate to have you contract any of my illness, and in turn contract it to the boys. I only ask for you to send as many letter as you can write, and to send any photographs of the children. I regret not meeting my newest grandson any sooner, and I would appreciate if you could give him a gentle hug from his old grandfather.

I love you, my dear. I will fight to beat this illness and meet Mycroft soon.

Your Loving Papa,

𝒢𝓇𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒮𝓉𝒶𝓃𝒻𝒾𝑒𝓁𝒹

📜  ៸   𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧  ៸   𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔  ៸  𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕  

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November, 1894

𝒟𝑒𝒶𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝒫𝒶𝓅𝒶,

It is so endearing to see how wonderfully my children are getting along. Sylas and Mycroft are practically attatched at the hip- they do nearly everything together! Sylas has taken to personally teaching his brother to speak. He will spend his entire afternoon sounding out sounds and pronunciating words together. It is an endearing sight to behold, Papa, and I know beyond hope you shall see it for yourself soon.

I had always prayed my children would be the closest of friends, and it appears my prayers were answered. Now I can only continue to pray any future babes will be the same. Nothing is more sacred than the friendship between siblings. They carry on after we are gone, and they are all they have left.

Your last letter arrived nearly two weeks late. Are you sure you are fairing well? Please tell me Papa, and I will be on the next train to see you.

With everlasting love,

ℰ𝓋𝒶𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑒 ℬ𝒶𝓊𝒹𝑒𝓁𝒶𝒾𝓇𝑒

📜  ៸   𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧  ៸   𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔  ៸  𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕

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𝒟𝑒𝒶𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝒫𝒶𝓅𝒶,

Sylas turns one year old today! How fast my sweet little boy grows, it is almost too much to handle at times. He has grown into his raven curls that remind me so much of Mother. Yet he seems to have Walter's gray eyes. How inquisitive my boy appears, those sterling eyes taking in everything about the world around him. Sylas is eager to learn even at his young age. This only excites Walter, who talked on and on during my pregnancy of how much her yearned for a little scholar to bring about in the world. He may have gotten his wish.

For now, however, Sylas must focus his attention to toilet training, an act he is very determined to master.

How are you fairing these days Papa? I shall have to come visit you soon. A girl mustn't go on too long without receiving an embrace from her father. You can look upon Sylas with your own eyes then and see just how handsome he is.

Have you learned of any news of Irving? He has not written to me, and I worry about his whereabouts.

Your loving daughter,

ℰ𝓋𝒶𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑒 ℬ𝒶𝓊𝒹𝑒𝓁𝒶𝒾𝓇𝑒

📜  ៸   𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧  ៸   𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔  ៸  𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 

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December, 1893

𝒟𝑒𝒶𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝒫𝒶𝓅𝒶,

I pray to the Watcher you are well. Each letter I receive from you brings me great solace. I worry over you and though I want nothing more than to be at your side, I understand your dismissal of the notion. But please know that at the very first opportunity I will be there with you and nurse you back to health as best as I can.

With news from the boys, they are the world to me. They are the sun to my earth, the very reason I live in this life. Papa, you never told me how much one's purpose can change so drasitically once they have a child. Oh, how I wish for nothing more than to stop time and live in these moments forever. Sylas is two years old and what a precious tot he's become. He is infatuated wit his younger brother Mycroft. When the baby feeds, Sylas desires nothing more than to watch and speak with him. These moments have become very dear to me. I would trade nothing in the world for them.

We have allowed Sylas to hold Mycroft for small increments at a time, but the boy seems to know how gentle he must be. He sits patiently with Mycroft and talks of the fun games they will play once he is older. Afterward, Sylas asks what appears to be a hundred questions about babies and such. I try to answer as much as I can, but it becomes quite tiresome after the first twenty.

Please write to me soon. I miss you more than you could ever know.

Your Loving Daughter,

ℰ𝓋𝒶𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑒 ℬ𝒶𝓊𝒹𝑒𝓁𝒶𝒾𝓇𝑒

📜  ៸   𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧  ៸   𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔  ៸  𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕   

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May, 1894

Walter was called for another excavation. A country they called Sulani was written to have relics that needed an expert to identify. There was also the possiblity of more items to recover! It would take weeks to dig through, Walter told his wife, he might not be back home for even months. Despite her wanting to protest, Eva simply nodded her head and kissed her husband goodbye.

As she watched him hug their son goodbye, she couldn't help but let her anxieties take over for just a moment. Sure, she was not with child this time he was leaving, but they had two young children that could come down with an illness at any time. Her father was already sick, and she didn't know what she'd do if he were to pass with Walter gone. So many different scenarios overtook her mind while Walter walked out their front door, and it took her the rest of the day for her breathing to come to a calm.

📜  ៸   𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧  ៸   𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔  ៸  𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 

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August, 1893

When she wasn't attending to her child, Eva snuck away to her garden room any moment she could. She was beginning to try her hand in the art of flower arranging. Eva could remember when she was a child and how her mother once told her that fashionable ladies knew what flowers went with the coming seasons, and how to dress according to the flowers. Now as a mother herself, she wanted to one day pass that knowledge onto her daughter. Yet she would need to know just a tinge of flower arranging lest she set herself and her future daughter up for failure.

It was in doing so that suddenly, the mother felt that all familiar pain sprouting from her lower belly. Eva felt the waters leak down her legs and in a cry she shouted, "Mrs. Smith!!"

Trying to calm her horrid thoughts inside of her, Evaline told herself that she would be okay. She had done this once before and Sylas and herself came out the other side perfectly fine. This baby would not be the exception. This baby would be okay.

Not even hours later, another Baudelaire was born! And another baby boy at that. Mrs. Smith praised Eva for birthing another boy, telling her that she was making her mother proud. This didn't, however, bring a sense of pride to the young mother. Instead, it began to twist something deep within herself, something she would not come to recognize until much later in her life.

For now, Eva simply smiled and went on. When all of the blood was gone, and both she and baby were cleaned up good, Walter and Sylas came in to meet the new baby. Sylas was instantly amazed, his intense gray eyes never leaving his new little brother. While Eva beamed at her two boys, Walter asked her what they would name their son.

"I was thinking of Mycroft," Evaline exhaled. Exhaustion was creeping in on her. All she desired more in that moment was rest. Walter nodded and finished the rest of the boy's name.

He would be named Mycroft Charles Baudelaire.

📜  ៸   𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧  ៸   𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔  ៸  𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 

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November, 1891

It had only been a month since Walter had left to Selvadorada, much to Evaline's displeasure. Mrs. Smith offered to stay later in the nights to accompany Evaline during the cold autumn. It gave her an opportunity to get away from all of the chaos of her own household and listen to the melodies that danced off of Eva's fingertips. Eva was also grateful for the company, she wasn't sure how she would survive alone.

It was on such a night, with Mrs. Smith only half an hour away from bidding the Mrs. goodnight and Eva practicing another melody, that a sudden sharp pain rushed at Eva. It crept up her backside and froze her to her spot, only a highly pitched cry indicating that anything was wrong. Mrs. Smith was at her side in an instant, helping her up and trying to calm her down with, "We're going to get you up the stairs, okay lass?" Eva wasn't sure if she could understand, if she even gave a response at all. Yet before she knew it, the pair were in her bedroom, with Mrs. Smith changing not only herself but Eva along side her.

The pains weren't anything Eva had ever felt before. Each wave became more and more intense. So much so, Eva thought at one moment in time she would split in two. Though, through every step of the way there Mrs. Smith was, reassuring her that everything about the birth was going exactly how it should. Her words soothed Eva like nothing else. When the time came to push, all of Eva's doubts had long slipped from her mind and she fully felt ready to birth her child.

In no time at all, Eva had given birth to her first child, a boy! Sweet tears of relief welled up in her eyes whenever she held him in her arms. Her little boy felt so perfect in this world with her. Unnatural did it feel if her babe were anywhere else.

After all the fuss was over, Evaline named him Sylas Alexander Baudelaire, and by the Watcher, was he flawless.

📜  ៸   𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧  ៸   𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔  ៸  𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 

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July, 1895

On one hot summer's day in July, Eva took her boys out with her to go about town. She had a few things to buy and didn't ease into the idea of leaving her children at home. So, along with her they went, happy to accompany their mother on whatever tedious errands she had to run.

It was on that day that Eva saw a sight that angered her more than anything- a woman yelling and screaming at a young lady, right around her own age. She was dressed in simple clothing, yet that didn't justify the woman in yelling at her. Evaline nearly marched over to the two at first, right when the arguement appeared over the older woman marched away. Mrs. Baudelaire walked over right away, asking if the woman was alright and what in Watcher's name was she berating her for.

"She didn't like the posters I wanted to put up," was the reply. After seeing just one, Eva invited the woman out to a lunch with her. The woman agreed instantly.

Eva wanted to learn more about this "Women's Rights" posters immediately.

📜  ៸   𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧  ៸   𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔  ៸  𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕    

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September, 1894

Eva couldn't wait until the day her husband arrived back home, where he belonged. Home with her and her children, where she felt safe in his company. Her anxieties slipped away just by the sound of his voice, and how she begged to hear in since his departure.

It was weeks after Mycroft's birthday when the letter arrived containing Walter's return date. He was boarding the ship the day after he wrote the letter. He would soon be reunited with his loving family. Evaline couldn't wait soon enough.

And then the day came. Mrs. Baudelaire could hardly sleep the night before. All day, she waited by the front windows, sitting at Walter's chess table. He didn't come into view until the afternoon. Evaline nearly threw the door off of it's hinges. She jumped into his arms, kissing him all over as he chuckled and held her. His wife, his beautiful wife, was so glad he was home.

📜  ៸   𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧  ៸   𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔  ៸  𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕

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December, 1894

The next letter Evaline would recieved would be from her father's butler. He wrote of Grover's condition and how it had gotten worse. The doctor did not expect him to live out the week. With that, Evaline left that very night. She hugged her husband and children goodbye with such a heavy heart. Looking at her boys, and especially Mycroft, she thought of how they would never truly know their grandfather and the type of man he was. How much he loved his family and would do anything for them. They would never truly feel that love. It broke her heart the more she thought on it.

When she arrived at her father's house in Newcrest, she could hardly recognize the man that laid before her. Grover had paled so much since last year. His breathing, so raggid and hoarse, made Eva flinch. Yet, despite his condition, Grover smiled filled the entire room once he saw his daughter. His only daughter, his eldest child.

Eva was there until his last breath. When the first sparks of morning shone through the windows, Eva was exhausted. Seeing her father cling to this life was more than she could handle, yet she remained to soothe his soul along. In his last moments, she leaned in close and whispered, "You can go Papa. Go be with Mother."

And just like that, Grover Stanfield was gone. All of a sudden, Evaline was ten years old again and she had just been told that her mother, who was giving birth to her baby brother, had died.

Grover Stanfield was 49 years old when he died on December 2, 1894. He is survived by his two children, Irving Stanfield and Evaline Baudelaire, and two grandchildren, Sylas and Mycroft. He succumbed to his illness of pneumonia.

📜  ៸   𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧  ៸   𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔  ៸  𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕