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Romantic Friday Writers hold a fortnightly writing challenge: themes set by RFW. Why not pop along and join in the fun!
GUIDELINES: 400 words of prose or poetry. Must contain a romantic element, small or significent.
This is snatched from my Regency Romance *Scandalous Whisper*. In days gone by letters were commonplace and the art of writing such was something to be proud of. Anyhoo, the letter below and the heroine's anguish says it all! There is an underlying message in the letter but Christina has yet to fathom that aspect of the message. Can you grasp what Robert Lord Devonish is telling her? If you would like to read the first chapter of this novel you'll find it here.
Butterfly
girl,
It is with deep regret I have
to inform you the door to the tower folly will be padlocked and remain
inaccessible for the foreseeable future. I cannot in all honesty bear the
thought of another man trespassing in what has now become a precious place to
me. Recall to my regiment arrived a day past, and I know not when we shall
return. We are bound for India soon after Yuletide. The painting you so admired will be put into storage on Wednesday
morning. However, I have a miniature
you might like to consider in fair exchange for my having full possession of
the portrait. Should you wish to accept my gift and cannot oblige in person.
Look for a moss covered stone close to the hinge side of the door. It is loose
and will prise free.
God bless, and should you see
a Purple Emperor come summer, remember me.
Yours ever,
Robert Devonish.
Tears spilled forth. The letter was so formal her heart sank to the depths
of despair. He could have, should have
expressed the love shared between them but had not. She could not see it if it
was there.
What did his words mean beyond imminent embarkation for India and some
miniature gifted to her? What a cruel trick after . . .
She dared not dwell on her recklessness in throwing herself at him. What
a foolish thing to have incited lust within him. For that is what it was.
Nothing more. She glanced at the letter again. Yet it was signed yours ever,
something no gentleman should impart to a lady of no consequence.
Confusion befell her, for her heart screamed to see only good in his
letter while her head saw clear evidence of his backing away. Why would he do
that? Was it then true, that he was to be wed to Lady Emily Roach? If that was so why had he wanted to approach
her parents and ask for her own hand in marriage? Had their liaisons at the
folly meant nothing more than a pleasant distraction, and mention of marriage
mere overture to seduction? How foolish she had been and a terrible lesson
learned.
She reread and reread his words again and again, sobs catching in her
throat, tears spilling onto the letter-headed paper. She cast it aside tempted to put it to flames in the hearth for
her heart felt torn apart; a terrible hurting never experienced before. She
glanced at the very window where once roses in a vase had stood, and she
recalled the incident of his looking up and his catching her spying on him.
What had she
done wrong? To see entries by other participants go here.
