Victorian ladies flirted and sent their lovers messages with their fans, a language with its own codes:
You have won my love – place your fan near your heart
You may kiss me – press half-opened fan to your lips
I love you – hide your eyes behind an open fan, or draw it across your cheek
You are cruel – open and close your fan several times
I am married – fan slowly
I am engaged – fan quickly
You are being watched – twirl the fan in your left hand
I will marry you – close the fan very slowly
Don’t be impudent – threaten with a closed fan
Don’t tell our secrets – cover your left ear with an open fan