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VIRGINIA LEANED ON the rail of the steamboat, looking out over the water. Waves swelled in the boat’s wake, starting rough and wild before they calmed to soft ripples as they spread toward a distant shore Virginia couldn’t see through the darkness.
The reflection of stars glittered on the water, giving it an ethereal glow. A warm southern breeze floated off the water washing over her. This was the kind of evening poets wrote about—one in which, if fairies truly existed, they would dance upon the water, casting the shimmer of their magic over star-crossed lovers.
The fresh, open air on the water was a welcomed relief from the cramped confines of the train. Virginia wished they could travel this way for longer than a few hours. But the journey was almost over, which Virginia was grateful for.
“I was told to give these to you.” Anna walked up to Virginia, two beautiful red roses in her hands. She held them out to Virginia, a wide, jubilant smile on her face.
“Where did these come from?” Virginia asked in confusion.
“Read the note!” Anna sang with excitement as she pointed to the item in question.
Virginia picked up the note tucked between the roses and lifted it out as slowly as she could. She erupted in laughter when Anna’s smile fell, while she deliberately drew out opening the note.
“What are you doing? Hurry up—open it,” Anna said, waving her arms to hurry Virginia along.
Virginia barked a peal of laughter at the other woman’s antics. She smelled the roses, closing her eyes to bask in the scent. When the sound of Anna’s tapping foot reached her ears, Virginia opened her eyes and gave her an innocent smile. “I thought this gift was for me. I can enjoy it at any pace I like.”
“Read the note, or so help me, I will sit on you while you sleep.”
Virginia laughed harder but quickly opened the note. She scanned the letter, reading the contents to herself.
“Out loud!” Anna shouted, throwing up her hands and rolling her eyes.
“It’s a note from my husband.” Virginia clutched the note close to her chest, away from Anna’s prying eyes.
“Yes, I know that. He’s the one who told me to give it you.”
“Notes between husbands and wives are generally private.”
“Sit. On. You.”
Virginia laughed so hard her stomach began to hurt. Boundaries were something Anna clearly didn’t understand, but that only served to inflame the mischievous side of Virginia that enjoyed keeping Anna in suspense.
“All right. It says, ‘My dearest Virginia, a part of me would like to write you the sweetest sonnet or letter of love that has ever been written. I would like to fill it with loving words that would make the angels in heaven weep. But, alas, I was given you for a wife. As such, I know that you have already condemned me for calling you ‘my dearest,’ and frilly words would only serve to make you avoid me at all costs. So, my radiant wife, I will simply say nothing at all. But know that my thoughts of you are filled with words such as divine, stunning, brilliant, and kind. From my heart to yours. Your husband, Charles.’”
Virginia sighed as she finished reading the letter. Never before had she received such a letter that spoke to her soul and made her want to shout with joy. Her heart warmed, and she yearned to read the note again and again.
“Lovely,” Anna said with a sniffle, wiping the tears from her cheeks. Blotchy red spots covered her round face and cheeks as she fanned herself to make the tears stop. “That was truly marvelous.”
“Yes, it was.” Virginia smiled to herself. Drat and tarnation. Charles was good. Very good. With one note, he made Virginia yearn for things she shouldn’t want. He made her want him.
“Oh! Before I forget,” Anna said, wiping the last tears from her face, “I was supposed to tell you to go to the boiler deck.”
“What’s on the boiler deck?” Virginia asked, crossing her arms. She tilted her head to the side, narrowing her eyes to give Anna the most intimidating stare she could muster.
Anna stared right back, hands on her hips. “I hope you don’t expect me to answer that. Go and find out.”
Left with little choice as Anna shooed her away, Virginia turned and did as instructed, making the short walk to the boiler deck.
Oil lamps placed around the deck greeted Virginia when she ascended the stairs. They cast off their soft light, wrapping the area in a warm, cozy glow. A man sat in a chair off to the side near the railing, a violin resting in his lap.
Charles stood in the middle of the floor, back rigid, hands clasped behind his back. His foot bounced, tapping the floor, seemingly unable to be still. If he were any other man, Virginia would say he looked nervous, but surely, Charles was not prone to falling victim to sentimental emotions.
“Hello, Wife.”
“Hello, Charles. What is the meaning of all this?” Virginia gestured to the lanterns and violinist.
Charles stepped toward her, not stopping until they were inches apart. Virginia wanted to take a step back to restore the distance between them, but refused to give Charles the satisfaction of knowing how he affected her.
She couldn’t think straight with Charles so close. Her mind filled with silly notions and questions, such as what would it feel like to be kissed by him? And the yearning to be held tightly in his arms again. Her fingers tingled with the desire to reach out and stroke his soft blond hair.
“This is my attempt to win over my wife.”
Charles signaled the violinist, who began to play a slow waltz. Before Virginia could protest, he removed the roses from her hand placing them on the ground. Then he placed one of her hands on his shoulder, wrapped his hand around her waist, took her other hand in his, and began twirling her around the deck. “Do you remember the first time we danced?”
“I do.” Virginia smiled, remembering the night she first laid eyes on Charles. As soon as she saw him, she made it her mission to introduce herself. Not only because he was the most handsome man at the party, but also because of his eyes. They were the eyes of a humble and kind man; a fact that Virginia could now confirm without a shadow of a doubt.
“You marched up to me and dragged me onto the dance floor,” he said.
“I knew what I wanted, and that was to dance with you,” Virginia quipped, giving Charles a saucy smile. It quickly faded as their current reality slammed back into her. “But that was a different girl. Charles, you can’t win my heart. I won’t let you.”
“Why ever not?”
“Because...I just can’t.”
Charles pulled her in closer. He leaned in, capturing her gaze, and whispered, “I won’t stop pursuing you. I saw even back then that you were special, but I foolishly let you slip away. I won’t squander my second chance.”
Virginia averted her gaze. She couldn’t let him see what those words did to her, how much she cherished them. “You will be wasting your time.”
“We shall see.”
Charles spun her around faster, ending the conversation. They continued to dance in each other’s arms, never taking their eyes off the other.
Virginia basked in the warmth of his embrace and the tender way he watched her. If she were ever to allow herself to fall in love, it would be with a man like Charles. If only.