William Waters has suggested that as, at this time, Burne-Jones was in a highly charged sexual relationship with Maria Zambaco, he made a number of unusually passionate drawings some which were destroyed after his death - this is one of the series that survived. Although the couple relate to decorated initial letters for Love is Enough, there is also a possibility that they relate to the lovers in an unrealised design for a painting of The Fates begun c1868
Morris illuminated The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam and Burne-Jones added six pictures which show lovers in various states of expressing affection. This drawing, much more passionate than the melancholy lovers in Love among the Ruins, is more likely to be for the illuminated manuscript.