[1760-1770]. Carta de [Gertrudes Maria da Conceição] para Francisco Pedro Vital.

Love letter from [Gertrudes Maria da Conveição] to Francisco Pedro Vital

The author arranges for a new appointment with her beloved and speaks about her previous fear that they might be surprised by her father.

The young Gertrudes Maria da Conceição, resident in Lisbon, got engaged to Francisco Pedro Vital, a soldier within the Prince's regiment. Later on, she wanted to become engaged to another youth, Epifânio José Barbosa, caulker. Francisco, however, legally tried to make her marry him, presenting as proof of their connection the love letters previously exchanged between them. Conversely, Epifânio decided that he no longer wanted to marry her, since she was committed to someone else. This legal process dragged on for 3 years and the court papers include the love letters that Gertrudes wrote to her first fiancé.

My loved ones, my beloved, I want to set you free from the weight of Monday night. It was not my father, since he didn’t come outside. It was our mistake. Don’t worry; nothing happened to me on Sunday. Wait for me in the Rato fairs; I will be in front of the porcelain factory, where Joaquim works. Wait for me there, at those certain hours. Don’t miss it, I will not miss it. I don’t have anything left to say, except telling you to be there. I don’t want to bother you any longer, my love. When you come at night, follow the wall. By the other side, I don’t know, and trust no one. Do everything I tell you to, if you want to. From the one who is steady, and will be so until death, you will not lose love. May God keep you for many years.

Gertrudes

Don’t miss it on Sunday […] where I tell you.