IF - {Secret}

 Nib pen and india ink wash on moleskine.  This week's IF theme is "secret", which made me think of Rappaccini's Daughter (short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne) and their secret.  SO - this is also going to double as a quick review of the story, since I've read it recently.  If you don't like reading (boo), you can just look at my illustration instead.  In short - that's his daughter.  She likes flowers.  She has a dangerous secret that reveals to be horrifyingly fatal.  The end.  If you DO like reading, and haven't read this one yet:  Was Nathaniel Hawthorne describing a jeweler and his daughter, or a mad botanist and his "experiment"?  Either way, descriptions are absolutely lush with comparisons of petals to gems, blossoms to rubies, and water to diamonds.  The garden that Giovanni sneaks into is filled with beautiful flowers, and there is one in particular that emits a potently fragrant and alluring scent.  This purple planted wonder is tended to by Rappaccini's beautiful daughter, Beatrice, who treats it with the utmost reverence and love.  Of course, Giovanni is lovestruck and goes into stalker mode and bribes his way into finding the secret passage into the garden and woos said girl with a bouquet of flowers which withered ASAP, (and he also witnesses a lizard and an insect that keel over when coming into contact with her, hmmmm SUSPICIOUS) but of course if you're absolutely smitten with love, details, details, you know?  Recommended for those who love reading flowery language (yes, pun intended) and/or sad love stories.