Everett,

though I admit to using drink as balm to my soul I implore you to abstain. At least moderate your indulgence. I understand the need. I miss my son grievously but we do not have that luxury. Clear heads are needed at this portentous moment. I will bring you some of that excellent vintage you requested but we must indulge sparingly.

I see from your letter I need not I remind you of how our mother chastened us for insulting the girls in their first corsets? It was long ago when we were in our eight summer but I remember it still, do not you, Everett? I have long looked up to you as my better yet I hear you have all but fallen into the bottle pulling in the cork behind you. Act as the gentleman and king's ambassador you are.

Do you desire once more the gentle caress of a corset or be a woman the rest of your existence? Mother is vexed with us for not informing her of our son's calamity. The scrolls appearing out of the ether is proof of her displeasure. You know how dearly she loves our sons now her granddaughters. As they cannot be restored to men can you envisage what will become of us? Do you wish to be your daughter's younger sister or her twin? Dare we provoke her wroth?

I fear what she might do in her displeasure with us, I heartily admit. Pray, brother, do you know of any man or woman more qualified to bring a triumphant resolution to this emergency? I urge we be scrupulously honest with mother as she can smell deceit as readily as the hounds uncover the fox and with equally dangerous results.

We must ignore the vanity of our pride, be as honest as saints if we are not to suffer the foxes fate.
I shall instruct my servants to keep a wary eye and a keen ear regarding your missing servant Charles. I know him well and he is not one to fail in his duty. His disappearance under ordinary times would be strange. Under current circumstance this is ominous.

A last word of advice, my brother. Do not abandon your child. She needs your stern determination and fatherly love if she is to prosper. I reflect on my treatment of young Francis and am ashamed. I have failed her.

If mother judges me lacking I will endeavor to be the best ladies maid and faithful friend to my daughter as I am capable. My pride will be stung but I will survive. I care not for my own fate but despair of the harm this would do to my wife. She is blameless in every respect.

Your loving brother, for now.

Francis

* * * *

Colleen,

I have the most distressing news. Tis not about myself. I am fine or a fine as a young man now a young woman with frequent bouts of mating fever, if I may be so blunt.

You know me, well knew me. I was a calm and rational man. I'm nit sure if I know myself anymore but my maid brought me a strange note from that young woman she wanted me to meet. She said it was important I read it first . I include it with this note.

I observed from the note the person writing this was educated but under great distress, perhaps some compulsion she struggled to control. Her missive follows immediately.

* * * *
Milady Francis

You Maid did beseech me to write this letter.

It tis I Charl...otte Milo...ady's mannaaaaid to Carleeen. I was a chatting with the haaaannndsoom men down on the docks about the rumors of strange bodies. I was on my way to a rumored cottage of beautiful women on the edge of the forbidden forest of mists. When I was wailaid from behind.

I woke to a strange shadowy figure as my eyesight was fussy, not fuzzy enough to fail to notice a flask on my lips and a liquid in my mouth which I did spit out into the face of my assailant.. It did screech at this and throw the flask on me which did break and with words that im sure would have meaning to a wizztch. Twood seem I bee a cursed most foul.

I am not myself anymore the liquid did affect me my upper body is now that of a woman while my lower is most definatly not fffff fffff male. I find myself unable to refer to myself or you in former terms.

I was quite distraught when I tried to gain entry to mmmilaaddys. And judging from the curse upon my clothing seen as a madwoman
I beseech thee to listen to my tale and if possible give me a warm place to sleep and eat till I can manage to gain employment somehow. I am a feared greatly.
* * * *

You know well the regard I have for my maid. I met with this strange young woman and ...

I will have to tell you in person as I do not trust our letters to be safe from interception. Understand this at least. Your servant Charles is alive if not wholly well. I am keeping him safe with us though none know he is here sans my loyal maid and one of the wizards you gave me the letter of introduction to. He is tending to Charles as I write.

As to the matter of my vexious bouts of animal desires I am informed there is no easy remedy. Too much time has passed and whatever the foul magic used on my is bound to my very being. Pray for me that there is hope. The magical traces are too old and faint to determine precisely the curse upon me. If he could but determine what was done then a counter spell might be efficacious. Not knowing the cause of my bouts any spells cast to ease my burden might have disastrous consequences for my mind and life. The slim hope I have is that I have lasted this long without succumbing to the compulsion. It is possible with time and with due diligence on my part these urges will recede and become manageable. Uncomfortable, inconvenient but manageable.

It is possible this compulsion might be altered by training much like a person trains a horse to pull a plow or a dog to retrieve game. There is a chance the sacraments of the holy church might bring me some succor but likely only in the form of marriage. I have confused you, my cousin. Put simply if I can but focus upon one good and honorable man at my times of weakness I could use the curse against itself. It may be possible to alter the curse to compel me to love my husband thus making the curse a blessing.

I find as the days pass the thought of living as a wife of giving myself to a man as a woman is not so repugnant. I find myself thinking of it pleasurably when not under the compulsion. Is the spell weakening or am I becoming accepting of my fate? I am told I am most pleasant to gaze upon, a rare beauty and I must admit I like feeling attractive. This is a fortuitous sign for would not our tormentor want us to remain tortured by our transformations? I will tell you this, cousin to cousin; I Lady Francis will NOT let this miscreant have victory. I WILL find the strength to live as a woman in every way. I WILL not but accept my fate but revel in it. I may be female but I will by MY female, just as determined to succeed as I was as a man.

What was done to us angers me. If it was meant to make us cowards it has failed. But what has been done to others enrages me. You poor servant Charles.... I promise if it is within my power to aid him I shall.

Cousin Colleen. I propose we meet me at the place where that delightful chambermaid's daughter inducted us into manhood. You know the place. At noon two days hence. Let no one follow you there except your trusted maid as I have a great secret to tell.

As ever your devoted cousin.

Francis

* * * *

( John in Wauwatosa and tels )