Monday
Chiswick
Angel,
As soon as I pick up a pen to write to you, coma appears on the sky line! Just now I can feel my heart beating quicker at the mental vision I have of you. Precious, I love you. But first let me answer your letter.
Yes, I got a letter on Friday, thank you. I think you would realise that, even though I don’t think I said so. Just because I tell you to spend a couple of quid, you get as near the mark as possible, don’t you? 39/11, eh? Could have made it 39/11 and three-quarters could you? No nice handy bargains at 7/6 for you, of course! Must go spending every penny of it! Of course it’s alright, love. I said in my letter not to spoil it for the sake of 5/- or so. So long as it is what you want, I’m quite satisfied, but I’ll keep you to your bargain and kiss you in it one of these days. Not ’arf I won’t! It’s funny you should have bought a skull cap because I was going to get a green leather one for your birthday. You just spoke in time, young woman!
By the way, I also intend kissing you in your roll-on – and out of it. In the latter case, just above the navel, then slightly below it and then to the right and to the left of the lower target! This is one of the occasions when I wish I could draw. I’d be able to send you a diagram of my intentions. I don’t mind the “enemy” knowing my plan of campaign because I have a fifth columnist in the camp. Her name is Mary, and only me knows why! I resent the suggestion that I’m at the hungry stage. I passed that stage a long time ago and am now on the verge of complete and utter starvation. Of course *I* haven’t been to any wild all night parties over Xmas! And on top of that foul suggestion, she of the sagging maternity muscles has the cheek to tell me not to develop a corporation! Young woman, you need taking in hand, and I’m the lad to do it. If only I had my teeth I’d bite the lobe of your ear right off when I come home. Sweetheart, is it really only two months since I last nibbled your ear? It seems years.
When you said you wanted to push me into a chair and kneel and look at me I went funny all over because it recalled so exactly the atmosphere of our very nicest nights when all the unspoken preliminaries were so delightfully drawn out and you and I, enveloped in each other, lived apart in a little universe of our own for a little time. There are times now when you just come to me and envelop me so completely that nothing else in this world matters a bit. That is just how it is at this very moment. You know, darling, there are times when I think you really must love me a little bit.
Sweetheart, thank you for today’s letter. It was lovely. I should have loved to see you squirming on the pouffe. I had a very vivid picture of you. The line from your hips right to your bottom and Mary, going all wobbly and becoming so beautifully moist with her own emotion, and so sensitive too, that John, without guidance at all, would have found his own gentle way to the most secret and sacred and tender parts. Angel mine, if only my picture was flesh and blood right now!
I’m glad you like my plan for our first day. Dearest, we’ll do just that and perhaps we might even read those early letters you have! Eh? I love your own mental picture of yourself in the role of a virtuous wife following me all unsuspecting-like to the bedroom when I go for a sleep. Yes, I said sleep! I’ll bet I have hardly got into the house before you are insisting that I must be tired! Don’t forget to have a permanent stock of pennies on hand, will you? We’ll need them for the fire, you know!
I know what you mean about the never-failing thrill of coming home. I feel the same, too. And that, of course, is the greatest compliment we can pay each other for home to us means each other. For all that, my pet, no aspersions on the old days. We were very glad of doorways, and Town Hall corridors and walls. They meant a lot to us and even now, when I walk along The Mall at night before turning in to bed, I have a mental picture of you with your very willing back planted against one of the Admiralty walls! If I could have conjured you all the way from Crosby on one or two nights you would have been delighted to have put your back against one of those walls, I know. For a few nights I had to stop walking round The Mall and the park because the sight of the couples on the benches set my mind running on very disturbing thoughts and I did so want you to be here. If you can manage to get up here in spring I’d like to sit for an hour or so on one of those seats with you and see if my hand has lost its cunning. One night, weeks ago, you walked beneath the trees that line The Mall and I could feel from the periodic pressure of your ungloved hand in mine – you have such lovely hands, pet – that you were too sweet con to say a word. And I walked back to my narrow bunk, undressed silently and got into bed with a self-satisfied smirk on my face. The lads must have thought I had been out on the tiles!
Stella, my own, I must to the post and then to bed. I love you very very dearly and have missed you more this time than ever, I think. Leave can’t come a moment too quickly for me but there is still no news. Even at the very worst it can only be about a month off. We will have to stop these letters. They are upsetting us both but I love talking to you like this as I can’t talk to you in the flesh.
Precious, it’s time to say bye for today. See you tomorrow! Or rather, I’ll talk to you then. All my love, sweetheart. Take care of yourself and get really well and strong again.
Ever your own,
Arthur X
P.S. I misled you about the calendar. It arrived in plenty of time but I just couldn’t recall it when I was writing the letter! Sorry, love.
Take care of the solubles. Don’t let them freeze in this weather. And start collecting pennies, love. You’ll need them. I’m seriously thinking of moving the gas stove into the bedroom so that we can lie in bed while the dinner cooks! What say?
Jan 041943