A different maid from the one who had carried off his original message entered. Gaze lowered, she paused just inside the door and curtsied. “A letter from Lady Felicity, my lord.”
Both eager and yet dreading to read the missive’s contents, Drake motioned the girl forward. “Thank you.”
She hurried to place it in his hand, dropped a quick curtsy, then scurried back out again as if he were the devil incarnate.
After a hard swallow, he broke the seal and slowly unfolded it, fully expecting three simple words:I reject you.When the page revealed more than that, his heart pounded as he devoured every word.
The Lady’s Replyby One Not Easily Moved, Yet NotUnmoved
Thou speakest now of love and ruefulpain,
Of pride laid low and words thou wouldstreclaim.
Yet though thy voice with trembling sorrowpleads,
The hurt thou gave my heart yet softlybleeds.
For true love’s hand should never wield ablade,
Nor turn from warmth till hearts grow halfafraid.
Yet still—thine eyes hold embers, faint butbright,
A candle flickering through the tempest’snight.
Thou called to mind the lilacs, and ourspring,
The laughter that once made my spiritsing.
And lo—my heart, though bruised by folly’sart,
Still leans toward thee, as flowers toward light dopart.
I shall not yield with girlish sigh or feignedforget,
Nor let soft lashes hide my heart’sregret.
But mark me well, if thou wouldst seekanew:
Love is not seized—it is earned, andtrue.
Rise, dear sir; thy penance butbegins,
Not with fair vows, but deeds the dayrescinds.
Let constancy guard thee, let honor guide thytongue,
Perhaps then I shall see again the man I onceloved.
Forgiveness awaits—not like a prize towin,
But as a hearth where warmth may growagain.
Tend it slow and steadfast, ever provingtrue,
And we may find the love we onceknew.
Hands trembling, he reread the last stanza. “Forgiveness awaits,” he repeated. Dare he hope and pray that this graceful response was the promise of another chance?
