FAO: A Second Chance at Love

Dear Second Chance,

Sir,
I am a lady who was widowed young, I lost my husband when our marriage had just begun and I lost the opportunity to dedicate my life to another in the role of a wife. I feel I have a lot to give another in that regard.

I speak multiple languages and adore reading in any of them. Are you bilingual?

Kindly,
A Second Chance.

  

Mr. Nick Blott,
Witch Weekly is pleased to inform you that your recent submission to our Lonely Hearts article has generated a response. Witch Weekly is devoted to providing help to all of our readers, no matter what their social disadvantages, and we are delighted to provide this service to the lovelorn in our magical community. We hope that you will be able to create a happy ending with our help, instead of being doomed to a tragically lonely life.

Please see the enclosed letter and advise us whether you will need your advertisement repeated in further issues of our magazine.
Y. Ventus
Editor in Chief
Witch Weekly

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Nick Blott

  

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11th September, 1893

Second Chance,

Thank you for your letter. I am delighted to hear from you, though you have my dearest condolences for your situation. I had hoped to marry once before, myself, but the woman in question chose another. But it has been long enough, and I hope my heart is mended.

I speak multiple as well, in fact! Some typical – French, Latin – and some less common, including Portuguese and a few languages that hail from India. Which languages are you familiar with? What do you like to read?

Sincerely,
N.B.

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Written in Hindi

N.B
I took a chance that you might understand this - it is rare to find someone with knowledge of Hindi, but I thought it the best chance of the languages I know. My husband left this earth 3 years and thousands of miles ago. I lived in the United States when I was a wife, I have returned to England because I am now ready to move on.

I am sorry that you too know something of the pain of loss.

I have French, Latin, and German, alas I cannot compete with you in portugese. I speak several languages from the Indian subcontinent as my family are originally from that corner of the world.
As to reading, I enjoy literature in multiple languages, at the moment I am re-reading Doorgeshnondini by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. I heard that Suryakantha by Lakshman Rao Gadagkar is excellent, but the chances of getting a copy in England are small.

What about why? Why is it that you can board a greater expanse of linguistic prowess than most men in England?

Kindly,
A.B.

  

18th September, 1893

A.B.,

Forgive me for my delay in replying. What serendipity, though. I am more used to writing in Marathi than Hindi – but I do like an excuse to practise.

My parents were very diligent, when I was young, so I should admit to having a headstart on most people. But I use languages in my daily work and my career at the Ministry, and I do some literary translations from time to time of my own, as I have always been fond of books. On that note, I have enclosed a small gift.* I hope it proves worthy of your interest.

If I might ask you something more personal – what would you look for in a second marriage and a potential husband? What is it you desire your life to look like one day?

Sincerely,
N.B.

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also written in Hindi
* a copy of Suryakantha in the original language

  

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N.B.
Sir! You are too kind! I cannot say how excited I am to read this! I have a period of some social isolation pending, and

Your access to books is clearly much more impressive than my own, but I've enclosed a book of sanscrit poetry that you might enjoy.

As to what I am looking for in another marriage - I seek a companion first and foremost. I was barely a wife so short was the duration of my first marriage. As to the man himself - I think in the first I would liek someone intelligent, someone with whom I can share conversations and interests, and who I can support in bettering our mutual position in society.

And what of you? What is it you are looking for in a companion in life?

*Written in Marathi because she's showing off.
A book of sanscrit poetry

  

25th September, 1893

A.B.,

Thank you for the book of poems. You needn’t have – be assured I did not expect a favour in return – but I am enjoying perusing the poetry. And if you have any especial requests for a book, in translation or otherwise, you do not have access to, please do not hesitate to request it. I should be glad to obtain it for you – I still have some useful connections in that area.

You speak candidly, I think, in your descriptions. And you talk of mutual betterment of our (the theoretical ‘our’, I do not make assumptions) positions. Have you found you have fallen in station, as a widow? You say you were not a wife long – but it seems cruel to think you might be so swiftly overlooked by society and perhaps not well-served by your husband’s legacy?*

For my part, I tried to phrase my inclination for a wife in the advertisement – but as you responded to it, I must mark you down as possessing all such qualities, I am sure.

Perhaps I might call on you one day soon, so that we might become acquainted in the conventional manner?

Sincerely,
N. Blott

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*An exaggeration, of course, that society had been cruel to her, for he did not even know who she was: though it might be cruel if she were a handsome woman, prematurely left to wither. He had to imagine her husband had left her either inconsolable or poor. (Merlin, he hoped she was not poor.)

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Mr. Blott,
You may come to regret that offer sir! I am a voracious reader, and I miss the literature of my native tongue most of all. You are one of few gents that I have 'met' who has any sort of appreciation of its richness.

As to my station- it is unchanged as a result of my widowhood, and yet I will speak candidly when I tell you that I am a woman of ambition, I believe that all positions can be bettered. I will not blame you if you disagree with this view, if it does not align with your sensibilities, but the role of the woman, of the socialite, in my estimation at least, is to develop the social position of the family. A role that always requires work.

As to my qualities, I would generally consider myself to have the qualities you describe - organised, passionate and ambitious, in equal measures - I would say. Perhaps you can assess my claims in person, I often visit the Library in the afternoons, most days, usually wearing a lotus flower in my hair. I am no longer wearing mourning clothing, but a missing handkerchief is an appropriate way to engineer an introduction for two people of good breeding who have never been formally introduced.

Kindly.
A. Banges.

She had thought long and hard on how to phrase this letter- careful in her choice of words, not wanting to comit herself too closely to any of the contents. There were no outright lies, but she had perhaps given the truth scope.