Seward House
Badsey
Evesham
Feb 3rd 1916
My own dear Cyril
I received your letter dated Dec 25th and your wire on the same day, while I was away nursing a case for Dr Leslie. For a moment after opening the telegram I felt as though I should go mad with joy at the prospect of seeing you again. Then I read your letter in which you ask me, supposing your “promotion is fixed up all right, as I may reasonably expect, will you take the first chance that any return home may afford us to get married and face such risks and difficulties as may come? This is assuming I return in fit condition of course and involves carrying out the suggestions I made in a letter some time ago.”
You go on to say that you may be somewhat previous as you do not then foresee any immediate prospect of leave. Then your telegraph came and I am wondering and practically concluding that when you get home your wish is that I should be prepared to get married at short notice, subject to the suggestions made to you in a letter of some time ago, namely that if possible I should work after we are married so as to enable us to save as much as possible for our future home when the war is over and to put by for a rainy day.
In case my letters have not reached you I must tell you that I was rejected for the military service on account of varicose veins and left Bournebrook Hospital on Jan 17th. Since then I have taken one private case for Dr Leslie and he has promised me more work. The fee for private nursing is 2 guineas a week. I could go on with private nursing after we are married, should nothing unforeseen occur to prevent me. Now the business part of the letter is over I will answer your dear question about marrying you.
Sweetheart – I can hardly yet realise that there is a possibility of our dreams coming true within the near future. Of course, darling, I will marry you when and as soon as you like – the sooner the better, as I am just longing to feel I am yours absolutely and forever. It will be great to have each other even for a short time, if you do not get long leave. Hurry up and come home – I am longing to see you again.
Dear, your people knew of your promotion before I did, some man in your regiment wrote home and told his people that in a few days after he was writing you would have your Captaincy – so of course I was pumped on all sides when your letters came. But still I've told them they must not take anything for granted until you are gazetted.
They also jumped to the conclusion that we should probably get married, after they knew you were coming home, they opened the telegram in my absence before forwarding it on, and bombarded me with questions on my return.
I told them that it would be quite likely but that I cannot say really definitely until I see you again, or unless you wrote about it again and that it must be kept a family secret for the time being. It is just as well for them to be prepared and as I am staying in the house it was next door to impossible not to tell them, as it is necessary for me to get one or two things ready beforehand, although I know of course you and I both wish just to walk to church and have a quiet wedding.
Your mother expressed a wish to me this morning that supposing we were to get married, that we should be married in Badsey church.
Your father heard from you today from Lemnos we conclude dated Jan 17th 1916. He was awfully pleased to get such a long one. I'm hoping that there is a letter for me forwarded from the University, tomorrow.
All my love – God bless you, dear One and bring you safe home to your
Devoted Mela
