There were two such envelopes, but they were from her father, and it seemed she’d have to go through yet another day with no news. She was about to take the pile into the kitchen when something fluttered from it to the floor. It was an air letter, and thinking it was most likely for Cordelia or Sarah, she picked it up and merely glanced at the address.

And then she looked again and read it more carefully. The letter was for her, but the writing was unfamiliar and there was no clue on the back as to who had written it. Something cold settled in the pit of her stomach, and she placed the rest of the post back on the table before carrying the air letter up to the bathroom.

Her heart was thudding as she locked the door and sank onto the stool, the thin blue paper clutched in her shaking hand. Praying silently that her fears were unfounded and that this was just from someone she’d known at Cliffe, she drew a pin from her hair and carefully slit through the gummed flap so the single page unfolded. Her gaze flew to the signature beneath the three short paragraphs and all hope died.

It took a while before she could read what he had to say, for her tears were blinding her and her hands were shaking so much, the writing was just a blur.

Dear Cissy,

As we were once very close, I felt it was important to write to you to let you know that I’m now back in the States with my family. I’m sure Freddy Pargeter has told you about the ordeals we shared over the years of imprisonment, and I hope that he’s fully recovered – as have I. To my regret, we got separated when we were picked up, half-dead, somewhere in Germany. He was air-lifted to England, and I was taken to an American facility in Holland before being flown home, so I never got to say goodbye.

I have fond memories of the short time we spent together, and hope you do too. But I’m sure you’d agree that wartime romances were brought about by youthful exuberance and the times we were living in when life had to be lived to the full because tomorrow was uncertain. Now the war is over and we’re more experienced and mature, we can both look back on those days with affection, see them for what they were and hold no regrets.

I hope you and your lovely family have come through unscathed and that you are with someone who makes you smile that glorious smile which once sent my heart racing. I wish you good health, happiness, and the very best of luck in the future.

Yours sincerely,

Randolph