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Dear Lavie,

This letter will be a sort of series of letters as over the past few weeks I have grown lonesome for your company and resorted to writing you even before I received your letter.

As to your letter, there is only one thing that is really bothering me. What do you consider the non-necessities? I do hope that you were not compelled to give up your scarlet ball gown. Heaven forbid! It is your best dress and I was so looking forward to the time I could show you off in it and see Madalyn's face match the green of her own old gown.

Other than the thought of you having to give up the "non-necessities" I am nearly horrified at the thought of the bugs, nearly capsizing, and the alpacas. I do hope you had sense enough to change into one of last years dresses and save your new things for a slightly cleaner environment. 

I am not so very fond of the name Narcissus and I highly recommend you ask them to stop calling you that. 

I must point out that it would be foolish of you to regret your decision of leaving as you are already there and may as well make the best of it. Although I miss you dearly and wish you could share in my joy of late. But I will let you hear the story in order and share in the ups and downs in order to fully appreciate the climax.

Two Weeks Ago (Probably about the time you received my letter.):

Dearest Lavie,

Oh how I miss you! Good heavens it seems as if you have been gone for years. Your house is lonesome without you and I rarely visit the old place. 

Father left two weeks ago and left me in charge of getting Mr. Rush on his way in the business. I pled with him before he left to change his mind but he was firm about the whole thing. I still whimper at the thought of him giving the business away. I am allowed to do as I have always done for at least the coming month or two but I have no desire to work my heart out on something I will soon have no part in. 

It is Sunday and I begin work with Mr. Rush tomorrow. I should have begun last week but I was ill and then I took the cowardly road and pled busyness for this past week. Mr. Rush kindly believed me and I have spent the majority of my time with the committee, working on the Winter Ball which is less than two weeks away!

So, I have lived this week in happiness, ever mindful that with each passing moment of bliss, I draw a moment closer to torture, terror and fatigue. 

It's not that I have anything against Mr. Rush personally. He is every bit a gentleman and bound to be a good enough businessman. But that he should be the one to have the business and me, who has worked so hard and for so many years, be left with nothing! That cannot be right nor fair. I only wish Father would see my point of view. But he is blind to my pleas and continues to write of his happiness in my good temper and the good way I have taken this. 

Oh Lavie... I wish you were here. We would concoct some wonderful, childish scheme to ruin Mr. Rush's career and before we could go through with it, we would be caught and sent to our rooms, gleefully aware that our secret letters and signs would keep us content for at least a week as our Father's attempt to discipline us.  Ah... the good old days. 

My mouth won't stay shut for all the yawns it keeps producing. Good night my dearest friend.

One Week Ago:

Dear Lavie,

Heavens forbid! I can't believe I have waited a whole week to write you. 

Monday went better than expected. I arrived at the office early in the hopes of catching Mr. Rush walking in late but he was there before me. He was such a gentleman all the day through and I begin to feel that working with him would not be such a punishment after all. As much as I tried to remember my promise to myself about proving him a nincompoop, I continued to be pleasantly surprised at his abilities.

Laves, you know we have talked countless times of a man's screwed vision of woman and their "frail nature". I still hold true to that opinion, but not all men are bad. I actually feel... capable, when I talk to Mr. Rush. He has been good enough to let me take the lead in most matters while he is still learning the ropes and yet he has shown that he is fully capable of taking over even at this early stage. 

I thought I would never say this, but I am not completely put out at the thought of Mr. Rush taking over. I certainly have not yet given up my hopes and dreams but I begin to see why Father was so convinced at this man's ability. 

The first few days working together, I tried my very hardest to find fault with Mr. Rush and even critiqued where it was not necessary but he took everything so graciously that I felt each time as if I had complimented rather than berated. 

Anyway, the days do go by rather quickly and that is one of the reasons that I have not taken the time to write you. I find it rather enjoyable to work with someone, you know, as a partner type. Father and I have done some things together in the past but we never worked on something so closely together as Mr. Rush and I do. It is just so much more enjoyable to actually be with enjoyable people while I work. 

The Winter Ball is next Tuesday and it is now Saturday. Mr. Rush has asked to escort me and I of course agreed. I am rather looking forward to it and to add to my excitement, Madalyn got a glimpse of Mr. Rush on Wednesday when he dropped me off at the committee meeting and she declared him the most handsome man she ever set eyes on. Half the committee agreed after her slightly exaggerated description of him. The other half said they would have to see him themselves to decide. Even if they do not declare him the most handsome, they are certain to vote him the most agreeable. 

Wish me luck!

The Morning After The Winter Ball:

My Dearest, Darlingest, Lavie,

Lavie!!! Leaping Leapfrogs! I wish you were here! 

We have often dreamed of the time we could huddle together in our bedrooms and tell deep dark secrets of our love life and now that mine is happening, you are not here for me to confide in!

But I will go back and tell you from the beginning of the night. 

Mr. Rush and I entered the grand ballroom and the entire committee glanced our way. I caught in some glances jealousy, some apathy, but most admiration. 

The first part of the night was good I suppose, but nothing in comparison with the time spent after the clock struck nine. 

At precisely nine o'clock, Mr. Rush asked me to dance and we stepped out onto the floor along with Madalyn and Theodore Moon, and a few other insignificant people. But before we were half way through the dance, the entire room seemed to freeze and all eyes turned towards the newly arrived couple. 

Madalyn's sister Narissa Johns was standing there, as awful as ever, and holding her arm was the most gorgeous figure of a man to ever grace this planet. Mr. Rush was quickly dropped to second in every girl's esteem and nothing could rid my mind of the image of that man. 

Every inch of him proclaims wealth and dignity and to add to that there is something so suave and debonair about him that it caused even my knees to go weak. His strait, light hair gives him just enough playfulness that, as perfect as he is, he is not unapproachable. 

As soon as the dance was finished, I searched the room for a sign of who I now knew to be Mr. Edward Stone. He is a friend of Mr. Johns and as Narissa is his daughter, Mr. Stone must have felt obligated to escort her. 

My search was in vain, as was every other girl's in the room and soon Mr. Rush got back a little bit of the attention he had been privileged with the first part of the evening. 

Seeing Mr. Rush in the good hands of three girls from the committee, I allowed myself the luxury of some night air out on the veranda.  You know I usually avoid the veranda, as it is the gathering place of love-sick couples and oversized ladies in need of more room than most.  But I made an exception and soon found myself near the Rose Fountain. 

I could not stop my mind from wandering to the romantic image of Mr. Stone and when he appeared before me, I had a hard time convincing myself it was not still my imagination. 

He introduced himself gallantly, in a voice that perfectly matched his already perfect image in my mind. 

He already knew who I was and explained that the talk in the ballroom could not keep him ignorant for long. I blushed and gestured for him to join me. 

We said things that would seem normal to a listening ear but Laves, there was so much behind those simple words. He would touch my hand as we laughed about the color of Jenna's gown and the ribbon along with it and soon I was so comfortable with him it seemed I had known him years. 

We adjourned to the ballroom and I was giddy with happiness as we danced. I forgot all about Mr. Rush for the rest of the night. It was all Edward. 

Edward arranged to take me home and soon we were walking the short distance. The night was chilly but clear and Edward lent me his coat to go over my own. I don't recall exactly what we talked about, but it was wonderful nonetheless. 

When we got to my place, he thanked me profusely for such an enjoyable evening and saving him from having to endure the company of Narissa all night. 

"Ember," he said. He looked down and began to look so beautifully uncomfortable. "may I have the pleasure of calling on you tomorrow evening?" He  looked up hopefully.

"It would be an honor Mr. Stone."

"Edward." he quickly corrected me with a smile. "Always Edward."

I nodded and he kissed my hand before gloriously skipping down the street. I went in and it took me hours to fall asleep. I expect Edward sometime later this evening and I can hardly contain myself. 

I sent Gerald with a letter for Mr. Rush informing him that I was taking the day off. I intend to spend all day preparing myself for what is certain to be a glorious evening!

Present:

Laves, 

Now do you begin to understand my joy? Edward called on me that night and every night since. He has also taken me around town in his splendid white carriage and he has already asked to escort me to the Christmas Party. 

Father has not yet returned nor will he return for another two weeks. I simply cannot wait for him to meet Edward. Or for you to, for that matter. It seems I have known Edward so long and yet you have not even met him. 

Oh dearest Lavie, just wait, you will love him and we shall have to fight over who gets him. He is everything I ever dreamed of. 

Don't get too comfortable on that island of yours, you may need to come home to help me plan my wedding. We of course won't wait too long, but I also don't want to rush into things. Can you imagine the talk that would create? Although, if it were just me, I would marry him tomorrow!

Your Dearest Friend,

Ember