Pièce 180 - Letter from Venetia Montagu to Edwin Montagu

24 Queen Anne’s Gate, S.W.—(18th.) She had a dinner-party at home, and they played chemin-de-fer. There was a small air-raid.—(19th.) She dined at Cardie’s, and they gambled. Cardie is in love with Phyllis, Rawle with Miss Bagnold, and Miss Bagnold with Hugo.—(20th.) Has a cold. Diana is recovering [from measles], but had to be given morphia for earache. ‘I wish it was this time last year and we were going off to Monte Carlo.’

24 Queen Anne’s Gate, S.W.
Tuesday 18th 1917 December

My darling one the cold is something cruel there are no words bad enough to describe it. I almost long for measles so as to be able to stay in bed till its over. We had another small raid tonight starting at 7. I had a dinner consisting of Goonie, Phillis, the Baroness, Olga Hugo, Duff, Cardie Freiburg, they all turned up eventually except Olga, tho’ Hugo and the Baroness only arrived at 9.45 Its all very disorganising, they werent near us at all and the guns werent very loud which was a comfort. We had a nice round game of chemin de fer after to which Freiburg took most kindly. I’m glad to say Duff won a little, tho only a drop in his huge debt of the other fatal night. Goonie is staying here for the night as taxis are quite out of the question.

Wednesday 19th. A dense cold fog today which gets into everything and smarts and stings, I’m starting a cold to add to my troubles. I dined with Cardie tonight, having had to walk there which shows how anxious on[e] is for pleasure, found him, Phillis (I think he’s rather in love with Phillis but I fear he attaches too much importance to chastity to marry her) “Tolly” Wingfield, me, Rawle Miss Bagnald (a friend of the Baroness who I think Rawle rather loves, but I’m afraid she dotes on Hugo) Freiburg, Mrs Hall(!) a canadian called […] {1} & Mrs Wingfield. I rather liked Wingfield he seemed a cheerful good natured sort of man. Afterwards Duffy Sidney, Nancy and Hugo came in and we gambled a little, very mildly but quite fun till 2.30! The fog was appalling it took me half an hour to walk home, Hugo came with me, and we groped our way together in inky black. Today (Thursday) I’m feeling rotten, only a cold and general dreariness, partly because I’ve no fun in front of me during the whole day. I dont think I shall go out merely stop at home and go to bed about 9.

I’m so glad you are escaping all this, it really is foul.

Diana is much better tho’ she had very bad earache last night and was in agony and had to be given morphia.

This is the worst letter I’ve ever written you but please put it down to the atmospheric conditions. I wish it was this time last year and we were going off to Monte Carlo. What fun it was.

Bless you my darling I will start off in a brisker vein tomorrow.

Much love
V.

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{1} An indistinct name resembling ‘Mouhon’.