I have two more weeks here so will put in a request for leave at the end of our assignment and hope you might be free to meet me somewhere, for a couple of days. We could go to a hotel, if you like the idea.

I’m such a coward that I failed to say it this morning when we parted. But please believe me, Kathleen Motts, I am head over heels in love with you.

Write soon.

With all my love forever,

Vic

Dearest Vic,

Did it really happen? I feel so blessed and loved, but also miserable that you had to leave so soon.

Work continues here and there is no news from Mark, which I pray is good news. I will move heaven and earth to arrange leave so we can have a little more time together before you have to go back. Yes, yes, yes to a hotel. How risqué!

I miss you horribly already. If only this bloody war was over and we could be together.

With all my love,

Kath

Dearest Kath,

Hurray, I have leave! March 25th–27th.

Being a Suffolk gal, you probably already know the White Horse in your local town. Shall we meet there? My friend says it’s quite comfortable in an old-fashioned way. Apparently Charles Dickens stayed there and wrote about it in The Pickwick Papers, which I tried to read in school, though I have to confess most of it has been erased from my memory, as has so much of my school learning. I’ll try to get hold of a copy so we can read it together.

I do hope you will be able to make it. After that I will have to go back to London and it might take some time to get leave again.

With all my love forever,

Vic

Dearest Vic,

I have been given leave! Imagine, two whole days (and nights) together!? I cannot wait! What time shall we meet on Thursday?

Still no news from Mark. I’m trying not to worry but it’s getting very hard. Seeing you will be a great distraction.

All my love,

Kath

Dearest Vic,

We have just heard that Mark is missing in action. I am devastated, and Ma and Pa are in pieces, so I have to be at home with them and cannot come to meet you.

I’m bitterly disappointed, but I’m sure you will understand. How can I be happy for us when this terrible thing has happened? So sorry, sorry, sorry.

All my love,

Kath

Dearest Kath,

I cannot imagine what you are going through and though of course I’m disappointed not to see you, I perfectly understand that you must be with your family. Have you any news how or where he went missing?