Lydia experiences a transformative Valentine’s Day with Thomas. After a romantic letter and a thoughtful picnic she grapples with her emotions and her past, gradually opening up to love. This Valentine’s Day becomes a turning point in Lydia’s life.
February 1912 A.D.
Lancaster, United Kingdom
It was a rather frosty morning for February the 14th of 1912; but it began like most other days in Lancaster; snow had been falling these past few days, that it had set a thin veil which blanketed the streets and along the rooftops of the buildings; gentle trails of smoke flew into the sky; while ordinary for most people going about their days, aside from the few public displays of affections between couples; for Lydia, it was something far more special; it was the first time she could truly consider what this day meant; what valentines day meant.
Lydia had been so use to her travelling and not use to settling in one place, the adventurous lifestyle had often taken her were she could barely keep track of days; and as for romance, that was something she had only had brief moments to experience when she first met Thomas; and until he had actually started becoming much more present those moments were still only brief and fleeting, but they meant a lot to Lydia, she didn’t really understand it, but they were something she kept close; from being raised as a weapon of death, she often displayed a dark exterior; she never really allowed herself to rely upon her emotions; that was changing, and Thomas, a British soldier had worked hard to let Lydia to allow him in; she still struggled to admit it, but she was in love with Thomas.
Thomas had met her all the way in the Himalayan mountains; and ever since the first, brief encounter; he had developed a crush on Lydia; the second encounter in Egypt, he along with his friend Miquel; a fellow soldier, had to intervene to save Lydia from death; and from there, their bond began forming.
Thomas had a tenacity to push; he never allowed things to stop him trying, his time in the army had made him that way.
Since Thomas had left that morning; Lydia found herself on her own there wasn’t much for her to do around their small house; she decided to try and relax, sitting down in the small kitchen; she could feel the coldness of the floor against her feet, tilting her head a moment as she glanced down at the floor thinking; then there was a knock, she raised her eyebrow as she twisted around to look, then stood after a moment, she tied the housecoat snugly around her waist and made her way towards the front door; when she opened it though, there wasn’t anyone there, she raised her eyebrow and a look of confusion formed, leaning out she glanced about “Why would you knock and not wait?” she question aloud to herself
Glancing down, her eyes caught sight of the small envelope on the floor; it bore her name in a familiar handwriting, it made her suspicious as she looked at it.
Reaching down she collected the envelope and straightened back up; closing the door against the chill, as she stepped away from the door she looked at the envelope a moment turning it about before tearing it open with careful fingers; the letter inside was short, but it brought a warmth to her face, she felt her cheeks warming up.
‘Dearest Lydia,
Today, we will celebrate you – not with extravagance, but with love and thoughtfulness; you have given me a happiness that I never dreamed possible, now it is my turn to give you the same; I shall be back by noon, be ready
Yours always,
Thomas’
She couldn’t help but smile as her cheeks felt warmer now than before; shifting her attention a moment she went to check the time, she had plenty of time to get ready.
By the afternoon; Thomas had returned, all morning he had been busy with arrangements; he went up to the front door, knocking gently before opening it and smiled as he saw Lydia; he made a gesture for her to follow him as he stepped back and outside of the house; he’d gotten himself dressed smartly; as Lydia came outside of the house, he brought his left hand from behind his back holding a red rose.
Lydia froze a moment as she looked at him, her breath had caught in her throat; in comparison to Thomas, she had dressed rather simply, she still had to build a wardrobe of her own, and with only limited money, she prioritised what was important for the both of them.
Despite how simple she had dressed, to Thomas, she looked perfect, as if adorned in diamonds “Happy Valentines Day Miss Langdon” he said as he offered the rose to her, he spoke with a steady voice, only the slightest hint of nervousness was present in his eyes, a vulnerability that mirrored Lydia’s own vulnerability in that moment
“Only one?” she said lightly, hoping the jest would steady her own nerves
“Ah, but the finest one in all of England” he countered with a wink
She gently took it from him, smiling as she did; though this gesture felt very foreign to her “It’s beautiful” she whispered “Thank you”
Thomas then turned and gestured towards a carriage waiting nearby; smiling at her “Shall we?” he said, Lydia looked towards the direction he gestured, then to him; he really had been busy that morning; she felt her cheeks warming up yet again as she accompanied him to the carriage; he helped her in, then climbed up to sit beside her; they soon set off, at first, their journey was rather quiet; she seemed transfixed on the rose in her hand, her thumb gently tracing the velvet petals of the rose
“Where are we going?” she asked breaking the silence
“You’ll see” he replied, though the corner of his mouth twitched upwards, betraying his satisfaction in keeping her guessing
When the carriage eventually came to a stop; it was just outside of the town, and just a short walk away; they would find themselves making their way through some woodlands, he had brought Lydia out to a spot that she had found but rarely spoke of, a place she found rather peaceful; a spot along a river, Lydia was surprised about how he had found where she liked to visit the most; he had been very clearly busy setting things up; Lydia blinked, she was overwhelmed by the charm an intimacy he had put great effort into building “Thomas…” she looked towards him “What is all this?”
He smiled as he looked at her “I thought you deserved something special, something different; memorable; do you like it?”
Feeling so many new emotions, and not needing to keep them bottled up or hidden away was still new to her; and the emotions she felt bubbling were beginning to crack her usual stoic exterior; and these particular emotions she certainly wasn’t use too “It’s beautiful” she said at last, her voice was thick with emotions that she did not have any true understanding of; and she certainly hated that it brought tears to her eyes
“Good” Thomas said; gently taking her hand, he waited for a moment though as she wiped her eyes, then, he led her to the plush cushions “Today is about showing you how much you mean to me Lydia; and I want you to never doubt that”
Collecting a thermos, he poured hot cocoa, before carefully handing it to her; the warmth seeped into her hands as she clutched the cup tightly, staring into the steam as though it held answers to these new emotions she felt.
They would enjoy the picnic prepared by Thomas; as they ate, they would talk to one another about things from their pasts, she found herself able to let go of things she had kept locked away for so long, and would listen with a great intensity about his stories from the army; his mishaps.
As the sun began to dip, turning the sky into a watercolour of amber and rose a comfortable silence settled between them, Lydia stared as something processed in her head for a moment, then she spoke, without thinking “Thomas…” she started, her voice was quieter than intended “Why are you so kind to me?”
He raised his eyebrow, a look of confusion was present “Lydia” he said
“I mean it” she continued, she tightened her grip on the now empty cup “I am not easy to love; I am not open, I have shut myself off for so long, all this is new; and I am certainly stubborn…, and…”
“And you are you” he interrupted gently “Strong, clever, compassionate; and above all, you are real; I love the parts of you that you too afraid to show, I love you because you are worth the effort Lydia” he told her
His words struck her like a hammer against armour; cracking the walls she had thought impregnable; she turned away, blinking furiously as tears threatened to fall “I…” she faltered, she was unable to find the right words, but Thomas saved her, he reached out, taking her hand into his
“You don’t need to say anything” he murmured “Just trust me; let me love you”
Lydia’s gaze returned to Thomas; her eyes met his; raw, unguarded; she let her tears fall; she moved a little, leaning forwards, placing her head to his shoulder; she felt his arms wrap around her, holding her as if she might break.
In that moment she realised that something terrified and thrilled her in equal measure; she did trust him.
As the last light of valentines day vanished beyond the horizon, Lydia felt the unfamiliar, but welcome sensation of true happiness blooming, fragile, but full of promise.
By Westley H.
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