possesses shall fall to the wayside, lost forever to the world and the halls of medicine. How I wish those words could be taken back, for now I must find Vladimir before it is too late. I must find a way to save him for the sake of my beloved daughter Claudia before death comes to claim her.
Correspondence to Amelia VanDuresburg
12 August 1893
My dearest Amelia,
I hope this letter finds you well. How I wish you were here with me in London. You would so love the museums and science tours I have taken thus far. This afternoon Father is to take me to see the cinematograph, a type of moving picture; they say it is a wonder to see. I am so looking forward to it.
London is so cultured and advanced compared to our Amsterdam. The fashions of the women here are astounding. They have such colorful patterns and prints to their dresses. Father says I may have a dress made for you as well which I shall have sent by courier as soon as it is completed, as an early present for your birthday.
I met Father’s former understudy only a few days ago at dinner. He is a nervous sort who fidgets continuously but is quite pleasant. It was one of his associates who accompanied me to the Natural History Museum only this morning. I must tell you, Amelia, the things I saw there!
They have a large exhibit on mummies from Egypt. How strange it was to see them so closely and how well preserved they were. It seems they have little idea how it was they did the actual embalming part, but they believe they used the harsh climate of the desert to dry the bodies and then coated them with some type of sap before wrapping them in yards and yards of linen. I found the entire process very fascinating. Can you imagine being so important that they took that kind of care in your burial? I can only hope to be so fortunate to have twenty in attendance at my funeral when the time comes. I know you are angry when I speak of such things, but I must be realistic as Father has not yet found a cure and time is becoming my enemy.
I am hopeful, though, that now we are in the company of Dr. Seward that he might be able to unlock the mystery behind this strange form of hemophilia that I possess. He knows many scholars at Cambridge whom he promised to introduce me to and to share my case. It does give me hope.
The case Father is working on is also a unique one akin to my own, but I fear her blood is not replicating as it should be and is consuming itself. How it is that there should be someone else in the world who would be my exact opposite is a mystery.
I leave in only a few hours to begin the fitting for my dresses and for yours. I shall give her your measurements and have the dress dispatched as soon as completed. I will write as soon as I am able to keep you apprised of all our undertakings.
With love,
Claudia
Claudia Van Helsing’s Journal
15 August 1893
London
I have not received a letter from Amelia, but I am certain one shall arrive any day, as she promised she would write every day that father and I were in London. Mrs. Billingsley’s seamstress was every bit what she told me she would be. I can hardly wait for the final fitting later today. I selected three fabrics for the dress I wish to present to Amelia. It will have a harlequin print bustle in rose and burgundy with the outer shell in peach crafted for her. She will be so radiant I can scarcely wait till our return to see her wear it.
I, too, chose similar patterns for my dresses with short wasted jackets in cream, moss green, and forest for the first; the second in peach, rose, and wine; and the third in rose, lavender, and purple. Father will say they are far too extravagant for the daughter of a physician, I am certain. But I have never owned dresses such as these, so a little indulgence he can afford just this once.
This evening he says we will have a guest who is visiting from abroad. Father says he has known him for many years, but that I am not to mention him to
Correspondence to Amelia VanDuresburg
12 August 1893
My dearest Amelia,
I hope this letter finds you well. How I wish you were here with me in London. You would so love the museums and science tours I have taken thus far. This afternoon Father is to take me to see the cinematograph, a type of moving picture; they say it is a wonder to see. I am so looking forward to it.
London is so cultured and advanced compared to our Amsterdam. The fashions of the women here are astounding. They have such colorful patterns and prints to their dresses. Father says I may have a dress made for you as well which I shall have sent by courier as soon as it is completed, as an early present for your birthday.
I met Father’s former understudy only a few days ago at dinner. He is a nervous sort who fidgets continuously but is quite pleasant. It was one of his associates who accompanied me to the Natural History Museum only this morning. I must tell you, Amelia, the things I saw there!
They have a large exhibit on mummies from Egypt. How strange it was to see them so closely and how well preserved they were. It seems they have little idea how it was they did the actual embalming part, but they believe they used the harsh climate of the desert to dry the bodies and then coated them with some type of sap before wrapping them in yards and yards of linen. I found the entire process very fascinating. Can you imagine being so important that they took that kind of care in your burial? I can only hope to be so fortunate to have twenty in attendance at my funeral when the time comes. I know you are angry when I speak of such things, but I must be realistic as Father has not yet found a cure and time is becoming my enemy.
I am hopeful, though, that now we are in the company of Dr. Seward that he might be able to unlock the mystery behind this strange form of hemophilia that I possess. He knows many scholars at Cambridge whom he promised to introduce me to and to share my case. It does give me hope.
The case Father is working on is also a unique one akin to my own, but I fear her blood is not replicating as it should be and is consuming itself. How it is that there should be someone else in the world who would be my exact opposite is a mystery.
I leave in only a few hours to begin the fitting for my dresses and for yours. I shall give her your measurements and have the dress dispatched as soon as completed. I will write as soon as I am able to keep you apprised of all our undertakings.
With love,
Claudia
Claudia Van Helsing’s Journal
15 August 1893
London
I have not received a letter from Amelia, but I am certain one shall arrive any day, as she promised she would write every day that father and I were in London. Mrs. Billingsley’s seamstress was every bit what she told me she would be. I can hardly wait for the final fitting later today. I selected three fabrics for the dress I wish to present to Amelia. It will have a harlequin print bustle in rose and burgundy with the outer shell in peach crafted for her. She will be so radiant I can scarcely wait till our return to see her wear it.
I, too, chose similar patterns for my dresses with short wasted jackets in cream, moss green, and forest for the first; the second in peach, rose, and wine; and the third in rose, lavender, and purple. Father will say they are far too extravagant for the daughter of a physician, I am certain. But I have never owned dresses such as these, so a little indulgence he can afford just this once.
This evening he says we will have a guest who is visiting from abroad. Father says he has known him for many years, but that I am not to mention him to
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