While the Storm Fiend did laugh, and angry did bray,

Along the Railway Bridge of the Silv’ry Tay,

Oh! ill-fated Bridge of the Silv’ry Tay,

I must now conclude my lay

By telling the world fearlessly without the least dismay,

That your central girders would not have given way,

At least many sensible men do say,

Had they been supported on each side with buttresses,

At least many sensible men confesses,

For the stronger we our houses do build,

The less chance we have of being killed.’

CHAPTER 35

Chapter 35

Monday 5 January 1880

Ann pulled the clasp from her hair and shook her tresses loose. She buttoned up her nightdress and threw a shawl round her shoulders. Taking a deep breath, she moved towards the fireplace. She lifted up the letter; it definitely felt drier. She could wait no longer. She cleared her hairpins, combs and brushes aside and laid it on the dressing table. Slowly she opened the envelope and pulled out the crisp paper. Hopefully she had not dried it too much. It was brittle, but as she unfolded the letter with a delicate hand, she could already see words. The ink had remained clear. She took a large slurp of Madeira she had poured after her guests had left, drew the lamp nearer and began to read.

My dear Ann,

By the time you receive this in Tuesday’s morning post, I will be gone.

Gone? What on earth did he mean? How could he have foretold the accident?

And it is here in this missive I want to tell you my reasons. I know you will find this difficult reading, but I feel I owe a full explanation, to our children at least.

And not to me, the wife who has put up with your foibles and moods for the past twelve years?

I do not feel I owe you anything, Ann, having taken you from the deprived life you lived up in Glenisla, from the misery and hardship of work at my father’s jute mill in Alyth, to a life of grandeur and…

Here the ink bled over the page. She thought it read opulence. Ann sighed deeply. Was he to bring up his Master Bountiful once more? Had she not been grateful enough when she stayed at his Aunt’s house in Perth for three long years then married him, ugly wee sprauchle though he was. Another sip.