E M T
'Hope Valley
December 16, 1918
My dear Lucas,
I just received the letter you wrote me in Union City and was delighted to hear your description of your trip to Mr. Darcy's bookstore. From what you have told me he sounds like a sweet man and I look forward to meeting him when next we find ourselves in UC. I can't wait to see what you bought Jack and me in his shop, but I guess I will contain myself until Christmas.
I thoroughly enjoyed your accounting of our grand venture… HV Library. The day upon which you took me to the investment property and donated it for the library I believe is the cornerstone of our relationship. Our profound love of literature has played a large part in each of our lives and no less a part of the bond that we share. I fondly think upon the days that we worked with the children to prepare the library. One of my sweetest memories is of you with that hammer diligently working away and bending as many nails as you managed to successfully drive-in. But you were so proud of those shelves and I can't help but smile at the memory. Together, with the help of the children, we got the library going and it was a labor of love to be sure. And largely thanks to you, it continues to expand in terms of the quality and quantity of books that we offer the community. Hope Valley truly owes you a debt of gratitude for your generosity. And yet it took some persuading to get you to participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony; in the end, the solution you came up with was perfect. We did it together and I was so happy for the library and for our friendship that had developed in the course of our labors.
But just before we opened the library there is a memory that stands out that still makes me blush with embarrassment. I am sure it will not have faded from your memory either. It was dark and I saw the lights on in the library. I had just come from the infirmary as Opal had been injured in a prank, carried out by Allie, after the children read an excerpt from the House of Usher. Nathan was there and was blaming the library and by inference, you, for the event. I told him he couldn't blame what Allie did, on the library. But then he said some things which questioned your motives in donating the building for the library. I am thoroughly ashamed that I let a kernel of those comments set in my head. I should have known better than to doubt you for one second, but alas, I, unfortunately, let his words influence me.
So, when I entered, you were shelving books and greeted me "Madame Librarian." And before long I found myself asking you about your motives, to which of course you replied, "Hope Valley needs one." Then you got the gist of my question and calmly started towards me reciting excerpts from Dangerous Liaisons.
"I won't deny that I was aware of your beauty. But as I got to know you, I became fascinated by your goodness."
At first, I didn't realize that you were quoting and stood in shock not knowing quite what to do. Your deep voice and mesmerizing eyes had me captured in your thrall. I dared not move as I was unsteady on my feet. And, then you reached around me, I could barely breathe and felt weak-kneed, and totally confused. And then I realized that you were quoting from a book and I felt totally ridiculous.
When you restated your reason for the donation finishing with "no disrespect" I wanted to crawl under the rug if there had been one there. You left and my knees buckled and I might have ended on the floor had I not been holding on to a table at the time. After that night, I was constantly aware of your presence whenever you were in close proximity. And that hasn't changed, but now I can indulge the feelings and step into your arms and go weak-kneed all I want because I know that you will be holding me and will always keep me safe.
Ever yours,
Elizabeth