unexpected hazards in letter-writing

So I wrote the first Onyx Court letter tonight, and after abandoning one slightly messy-looking attempt two sentences in, succeeded at producing fair copy.

Then I folded it up, got out the sealing wax stick -- which has a wick, like a miniature candle designed to drip copious wax -- and nearly lit the damn letter on fire.

Need to experiment and figure out if it's wick length or what that caused burning bits to drip off it along with the wax. Or, y'know, give up on the sealing wax thing. But I have this stuff, and never use it! This seems like the perfect excuse! I just didn't consider this as one of the possible hazards when I set out to write these letters.