Violets are blue
My heart is breaking
I must speak with you.
Sebastian
“Hmmph!” Did he really believe that more of his nonsense would appease her?
She tossed the missive onto the table with the flowers. The sheets shifted to reveal more writing on the enclosing sheet. She took up the pages again and read the words in Sebastian’s bold handwriting.
My dearest Violet,
Please grant me your forbearance and read on.
I have so much to explain to you.
I had hoped to reveal my identity to you last night. Please listen to me now.
Firstly, my billets-doux to you over the last few years have never been part of a prank. It was initially an ill-conceived drunken joke, and one that I never expected to become a reality. Alas, my friends carried out their intentions that Valentine’s Day, sending Valentines to their selected victims.
I, however, sent an anonymous Valentine verse to you as a way of secretly conveying my esteem when I dared not in person.
At no time did your name pass my lips as the recipient of my secret Valentine. In fact, I claimed there was no one of my acquaintance who fulfilled the necessary requirements. Which is true.
After that Valentine’s Day, my friends gave up their prank, having achieved their hoped-for laughter.
I, however, having been so bold as to send you one missive, decided that I would continue to send them to you until I detected the slightest sign of affection for me in your demeanor. Until that happened I did not have the confidence to speak of my feelings and jeopardize both my friendship with you and with your father.
For the very first time, during my visit to you prior to my departure for the Continent last February, I believed I saw an appreciative look in my direction. I said nothing then as I was to immediately leave the country for many months.
When I felt your favorable look upon me again yesterday, I became more confident of the success of my plan to reveal my identity to you at the Yule ball and was eager to execute it.
Surely our kiss under the mistletoe proved my sincere regard for you? The mistletoe was collected and hung in that place upon my instructions. Just so I could finally kiss you.
We have been friends for many years now, and I have loved you constantly since the age of eighteen. My feelings for you have stood the test of time and, I believe, formed into enduring love.
This letter has been all about my feelings which, of course, are irrelevant if your own feelings and desires do not match mine.
I await your answer with fearful hope. You hold the power, through your answer, to elevate me to euphoria or flatten me to the ground.
I re-iterate that my love for you is genuine and my intentions are honorable.
Please end my distress and allow me to speak with you before the service this morning.
With all my love,
Your devoted servant,
Sebastian.
Violet clutched the letter in shaking hands. Her heart hammered against her chest.
He loved her!
Could that really be true?
She stared unseeing at the winter-bare garden outside the sitting room window. A sliver of hope crept into Violet’s heart. She re-read the letter and that feeling grew stronger. With each reading of Sebastian’s letter, her pulse ratcheted higher.
