TO: EVELYN ELLIOTT, POPLARS, RICHMOND, LONDON SW
SENT: 18:35 / RECEIVED: 18:55
IN LONDON. WILL VISIT MORNING AFTER NEXT. IF NOT SUITABLE, SEND WORD C/O ABSHIRE. WILL BE WITH HIM TOMORROW. I’M THE CHAP WEARING DRY SOCKS, AT LAST! TOM.
Telegram from Evie to Thomas
6TH OCTOBER 1915
TO: LT. T. HARDING c/o ABSHIRE, 34 LOVELACE
GARDENS, BERMONDSEY, LONDON SE
SENT: 09:13 / RECEIVED: 09:37
TERRIFIC EXCITEMENT HERE. DESPERATE TO SEE YOU AND YOUR DRY SOCKS. UNTIL TOMORROW. E.
From Evie to Thomas
7th October, 1915
Richmond, England
Dearest Tom,
How ridiculous I am. The dust thrown up by your car tires has barely settled on the driveway, and here I am, writing to you. Old habits die hard.
I cannot think of anything to say that wasn’t said over the past few hours, other than to say, again, how absolutely wonderful it is to see you. To see you! It hardly seems possible that you were here. To wrap my arms around you and feel your bones was such a delight. But my goodness, how many bones you have. You are too skinny by far. We must put some meat on them before you even think about going back. So, what do you say to Simpson’s for lunch one day? Their roast beef is extraordinary. You can order two portions because one will clearly not be sufficient.
What a joy it is to have you back. I feel ten years old again, and were it not an unbecoming thing for a lady to do, I would turn cartwheels in the library.
E
X
P.S. I am inspired to write a column on the joy of a soldier’s return. It will give others hope, do you think?
Telegram from Evie to Thomas
8TH OCTOBER 1915
TO: LT. T. HARDING c/o ABSHIRE, 34 LOVELACE
GARDENS, BERMONDSEY, LONDON SE
SENT: 09:45 / RECEIVED: 10:10
SENT LETTER YESTERDAY. TOO RESTLESS TO AWAIT REPLY. LUNCH? 1PM. SIMPSONS? ROAST BEEF IS DIVINE. E.
Telegram from Thomas to Evie
9TH OCTOBER 1915
TO: EVELYN ELLIOTT. POPLARS, RICHMOND, SW
SENT: 11:45 / RECEIVED: 12:12
SPENT MORNING AT OFFICE WITH HOPPER, AND HOURS WITH FATHER LAST NIGHT. DESPERATE FOR A PRETTY FACE. WALK THROUGH REGENT’S PARK AND PUB AFTER? T.
Telegram from Evie to Thomas
9TH OCTOBER 1915
TO: LT. T. HARDING c/o ABSHIRE, 34 LOVELACE
GARDENS, BERMONDSEY, LONDON SE
SENT: 12:15 / RECEIVED: 12:40
MEET AT FOUNTAIN. 2PM. WILL BRING PRETTIEST FACE I CAN FIND. E.
Telegram from Evie to John Hopper
9TH OCTOBER 1915
TO: JOHN HOPPER, 23 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON EC
SENT: 12:30 / RECEIVED: 13:40
CAN’T MAKE DINNER TONIGHT. RATHER UNWELL. RAIN CHECK TO NEXT WEEK? EVELYN.
Telegram from Thomas to Evie
10TH OCTOBER 1915
TO: EVELYN ELLIOTT, POPLARS, RICHMOND, LONDON SW
SENT: 08:00 / RECEIVED: 08:25
MORNING WITH FATHER, BUT MEET AFTER? T.
Telegram from Evie to Tom
11TH OCTOBER 1915
TO: LT. T. HARDING c/o ABSHIRE, 34 LOVELACE
GARDENS, BERMONDSEY, LONDON SE
SENT: 08:15 / RECEIVED: 09:00
WHAT A WONDERFUL EVENING. SIDES ACHE FROM LAUGHING. FEET SORE FROM DANCING. YOU ARE A TONIC. E.
Telegram from Thomas to Evie
11TH OCTOBER, 1915
TO: EVELYN ELLIOTT, POPLARS, RICHMOND, LONDON SW
SENT: 18:25 / RECEIVED: 18:50
LAST AFTERNOON WITH YOU TOMORROW? BOATING OR A DRIVE. BRING BIRDER MANUAL. PICK YOU UP IN SWIFT AT TWO O’CLOCK. PROMISE TO WEAR NICE TROUSERS. ONE DAY LEFT. HOW AM I TO RETURN TO IT? T.
Telegram from Evie to Thomas
11TH OCTOBER, 1915
TO: LT. T. HARDING c/o ABSHIRE, 34 LOVELACE
GARDENS, BERMONDSEY, LONDON SE
SENT: 18:52 / RECEIVED: 19:23
LOOK FORWARD TO IT—ESPECIALLY THE TROUSERS. WILL WEAR BLUE DRESS, AND A GARDENIA IN MY HAIR. E. X
From Evie to Alice
11th October, 1915
Richmond, England
Dearest Alice,
My apologies, in advance, for the nonsense I am about to write but I am dreadfully confused and I need to tell someone.
Tom finally came home on leave last week. It was all very sudden. He was anxious to see his father, and to meet with his business associates to make sure the LDT is in safe hands during his absence. But between his meetings and hospital visits we saw each other every day. Lunch at Simpson’s, cocktails at Archer’s, walks along the Thames. It was bliss.
The thing is, Alice, for those few hours I spent with Tom each day, I felt like the old Evie. The Evie who laughs and jokes and always sees the joy in things. When we were together it felt—for just a little while—that we are not a country at war, and that Tom was just a regular Oxford scholar, not a Lieut. in the British Army. It was all so easy and wonderfully normal. A little too wonderful, perhaps. Nothing at all was said between us on matters of affection, but I cannot help feeling that so much was left unsaid.
I know you are already convinced that my heart was stolen by Tom Harding years ago while I wasn’t paying any attention, and I’m beginning to think you may be right, darling. Still, it makes no sense at all, not least because John Hopper sent a telegram this morning inviting me to have dinner with him tonight, and I’m being dreadfully indecisive about what to wear (a sure sign that I am not just going along for the food).
What if I am falling in love with him, Alice?
Please send some words of advice. You were always much better at dealing with affairs of the heart.
With much love,
Evie
X
P.S. Do not show this to a soul. In fact, burn it.
P.P.S. I am so wrapped up in myself that I forgot to ask how the nursing is going. I hope it isn’t dreadfully gruesome. x
From Alice to Evie
22nd October, 1915
Somewhere in France
Dear Evie,
I knew it! You always get cross before you admit you like a boy. But love! My friend, I never thought I’d hear you utter the word. You liked Tim Smith and Peter what’s-his-name. You liked Jonathan Sawyer. But my goodness, you might be falling in love?
And with whom would that be—Thomas Harding or John Hopper? I noticed you left that rather ambiguous in your last letter, you tease! But really, how could it ever be anyone but Tom. Of all the fellows, he’s the one. He’s charming without knowing it, intelligent without being boastful, and kind without expectation. He’s known you most of your life and the spark between you two is immediately apparent to everyone in the room.
I wonder how he kisses. You’ll have to tell all when you get to that!