Item 185 - Letter from Venetia Montagu to Edwin Montagu

24 Queen Anne’s Gate, S.W.—Has received letters from him dated between 29 December and 24 January, but one has obviously been lost. Refers to his shooting expeditions and his purchases, and wonders whether he will stop at Basra. After finishing at the Charing Cross Hospital she spent three days at Alderley, where Bluey is convalescing. Last night various friends came to dinner, including Cripps, who was divine, and Sidney Herbert, who is her ‘latest passion’. Eric, with whom she lunched today, says that he and Hankey think that Montagu should go to Mesopotamia; he thinks the Government ‘pretty firm again’. There is no news of progress at Breccles, but the purchase has been completed.

TRANSCRIPT:

24 Queen Anne’s Gate, S.W.
Thursday March 7th 1918

My darling a glorious mail came in last week, two lots of letters from you ranging from Dec 29th to Jan 24th. One lot has obviously been lost. What fun you seem to be having with y[ou]r shooting, and you must be very well, never talk to me again of heart disease after those exploits. I’m thrilled at the account of your purchases I’m sure they are quite lovely. I wonder if you are coming straight home or going by Basra, I hope you are because I’m sure it would be thrilling but I’m longing for you to be back. I’ve finished Charing X thank God and have been away at Alderley for 3 days where I found Bluey convalescing but really pretty well tho’ he thinks & talks of nothing but his health. Still he was very sweet and I spent a very peaceful pleasant time there. Not much happening since I came back except that Cripps is home on leave. He, Diana W, Cardie, Sylvia, Rawle, Nellie, Duff, Diana, Birrell dined last night. Quite fairly successful. Cripps was divine, only I didnt fall in love with him you’ll be glad to hear, my latest passion is {1} is Sydney Herbert! This even tho’ is rather on the wane as I’ve not seen him for some days and his leave is up on Saturday. I have to tell you all my vagaries in the emotional line as if I didnt I’m sure someone else w[oul]d, so I’d best disarm suspicion by being quite open about it.

Eric lunched today, he’s neglected me shamefully since you’ve been gone, as also Hankey, but he was very sweet tho he told me no news except that he & Hankey thought it w[oul]d be a good thing if you went to Mesopotamia, they are both lunching on Tuesday. Eric thinks the Govt is pretty firm again.

Breccles I’ve heard nothing of, how its getting on or anything I must try & get into touch with Lutyens to find out, but the purchase is completed. Its yours.

The mail has suddenly been accelerated by several hours so off this must go.

Fondest love
Venetia

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Written in pencil.

{1} A page ends here. The last word is repeated at the beginning of the next page.