The Hargrove Letters

A deadly passion

I did not know how heavy my heart could feel until our separation. I can only hope your misery does not mirror mine.

— 24th of Ascalus, 5293 EA

The Hargrove letters are a series of 215 letters written between 5293 and 5305 EA by the then High Lord Ezra Hargrove to his mistress, Lady Ethel Forwood. The discovery of these letters by Ethel's husband, Lord Thomas Forwood, led to a bloody rebellion and the eventual murder of the High Lord.

by jarmoluk

It stands to reason that corresponding letters from Ethel to Ezra exist, but they have not yet been discovered. It is believed that Ezra burnt these after receiving them, or they were later burnt by his wife, Camilla, following his death.

An Illicit Relationship

I will take the lessons you have taught me to my marriage bed, though my heart aches it will not be you I share it with.

— 13th of Pallus, 5294 EA

Ezra Hargrove was eighteen years old when he met Ethel Forwood for the first time. She was a married woman a decade his senior; Ezra himself was not yet married, but was betrothed to Camilla Matherly, Ethel's younger sister. Neither of these facts prevented the young man from, as he himself put it, 'falling deeply, irrecovably in love' with her.
From the letters, the affair started then, though without Ethel's writings it is impossible to tell whether she felt the same immediate love as Ezra did. Several times, however, Ezra tried to end things. He wrote once that his wife was 'good, and kind, and does not deserve a wandering heart such as mine.' It is not known how Ethel responded to these attempts, but it is clear from following letters that the affair continued uninterrupted.

I long to press my lips to your thighs and breathe in the scent of you.

— 9th of Scandus, 5304 EA