Item 165 - Letter from Venetia Montagu to Edwin Montagu

Penrhôs, Holyhead.—Discusses her birthday presents. They went for a picnic yesterday. Montagu is doing well, she thinks, despite what the newspapers say. They could not go prawning today, but bathed instead, and are about to go to Mill Island. Asks about his plans for Saturday and his news.

TRANSCRIPT:

Penrhôs, Holyhead
Aug 22nd 1916

My darling did Diana tell you what she’d sent for you to give me? {1} I think its lovely, a shagreen box for powder to go in my purse, I like it immensely. Thank you darling a thousand times also for the chocolates, the letter and the telegram. You do spoil me dreadfully in the way of presents and in every other way too. It will be entirely your fault if my character is made even worse than it was when you married me. I had quite a rich haul of presents. A note case from Mother, some work for a screen from Father, candlesticks from Sylvia and a large bottle of bath scent from the collective children.

We had quite a good pic nic yesterday and I found some white heather, most of which I lost but I’ve just kept enough to send you a tiny piece for luck. Not that you need much for that, because in spite of what your press cuttings may say or your jaundiced mind twist them into saying, I think you are quite all right where you are and no one else thinks differently to me. So dont mind too much any chance word of criticism which comes your way.

Its glorious to day but owing to the vagaries of the tide there was no prawning, but we bathed instead and are now on our way (in an instant or two) to Mill Island.

Let me know your Saturday plans {2} and give me a full account of your evening both yesterday and to day. I hope you won!

Much much love
V

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{1} The letter was written on Venetia’s twenty-ninth birthday.

{2} Saturday was the 26th.