The very next day, a letter arrived for Clara. Not
recognizing the penmanship, she took it upstairs to her
room to read on her bed.
She flopped down on her belly and broke
the seal.
My Dear Miss Wilson, it began....
Clara’s heart began to pound.
You must forgive me this indulgence, but I could
not
resist the inclination to write to you and tell you how
thoroughly I enjoyed our discourse last evening at your
sister’s assembly. I had considered calling on the
duchess today, but decided against it, as I felt it was
too much progress for a man like myself, in too short a
time. I cannot, I’m afraid, delve into a complete
recovery from my wicked ways and evolve overnight into a
proper gentleman who pays calls to respectable young
ladies, sipping tea in brightly lit drawing rooms.
Instead, I chose to write you a letter, where I
would be free to say the things I would have wanted to
say, had I been in your delightful, delectable company
this afternoon.
Why am I writing this? you must be wondering. I am
wondering that myself. I have no idea. As I mentioned
last night, I am not presently seeking a wife and I
usually confine myself to less perilous associations.
Perhaps it is the French wine I am sipping. No, it is
not. It is you. You enchant me.
Clara’s heart did a back flip inside her
chest. A huge, goofy grin split her face. She rolled
over and sat up, then walked to the window to read more.
I have no wish to spoil your chances of meeting the
decent and respectable man you desire, yet I find I cannot
sit idly back and accept that I will never see you again,
or - forgive me for my plain manner of speaking - kiss you
again. I could not stop looking at your lips last night.
I wanted to find another dark staircase.
But I digress. As you see I am too frank for the
society you accept as your own. If I were like other
gentlemen, I would say goodbye to you now and wish you the
best. But I have not behaved as a gentleman for many
years, and I find myself plotting mischievous ways to kiss
you again and satisfy my passions without causing too much
damage in the process. Do you understand my meaning? Do
you have any ideas?
Sincerely,
S.