Vivien harbored a romantic relationship with her closest childhood friend and neighbor, Violet Shillito – a relationship that remained unconsummated. Shillito introduced Vivien to the American heiress, Natalie Barney. In 1900, Vivien abandoned Shillito for Barney. The following year Shillito died of typhoid fever, a tragedy from which Vivien, guilt-ridden, never fully recovered. Perhaps because of this death, but likely also in part of Barney's infidelities, Vivien and Barney split a year later, in 1901. It is thought that Shillito is mentioned in Vivien's poems using the word violet or purple.