( december 12th )

[firegap]

The news of your great tragedy have reached me, he wrote, meaning our great tragedy. The letter crumbled from the strength with which she was grabbing it.

And although you will continue to be in my prayers, I feel I would do us both a disservice, he wrote, to continue our arrangements as hitherto planned.

She could not carry on, but called her maid and had her read the rest aloud.

I shall need a strong, capable wife to manage my estates, he wrote, meaning beautiful, a beautiful wife. However, I wish you well in your future endeavours, he signed off, in humility.

Despite how she had vowed never again to touch fire, she burned his letter to ashes.