Love Letters

3 Kingston Mews,
Alderley,
LN24 3ZL

Wednesday 19th June 2002

Dear Ronald,
What a wonderful surprise yesterday when I received a letter from the Perfect Rose Agency with your personal details. I read them with some eagerness and was pleased to find that we share so many interests. That you share my love of country walks was especially pleasing as I have found it so difficult to continue my walking activities. Even before I lost my husband I had been unable to do as much as I would have liked, as my Ron, yes isn't that amazing you share the same name, anyway, Ron had given up wanting to go for long walks and had become quite sedentary in later years.

The ballroom dancing that you mention was another pleasure I have been unable to indulge in and I hope you won't find me forward if I suggest that when we meet it is at the old Palais on the Western Road. They have recently begun tea dances like the old days and they seem to be proving very popular.

I have managed to do quite a bit of watercolour painting in recent years and, though I say so myself, I do think I'm becoming rather good at it. My teacher, a well-known local artist, has allowed me, to sign quite a few of my latest efforts and he is such a stickler for only allowing us to sign our very best work.

Anyway, I mustn't ramble on. I can't wait to hear from you; you sound such an interesting man. Could I dare to suggest that we might meet at the Palais on Tuesday next at 6 o'clock? I'll be wearing my best green frock and my new dancing pumps. Please write and let me know if this is agreeable.

Yours sincerely,
Jane Hardacre (Mrs)

27 Gloucester Road,
Alderley,
LN12 7BY

Friday 21st June 2002

Dear Jane,
Many thanks for your letter which arrived this morning at the same time as a letter, from The Perfect Rose, bringing me information about you. I happened to open them in the right order, that is the Perfect Rose one first and then your lovely letter so that all you said in your letter made such perfect sense.

I shall have to dig out the walking boots as I have not been able to indulge in the old passions of late, what with work and what have you, but I certainly would look forward to taking to the high roads once again with a companion by my side.

Well, quite an artist Jane, and professionally taught. I'm not sure my little daubs would be quite up to your standards as I am completely self-taught but I'm sure I should enjoy your teaching me how to hold a brush properly.

What a good idea to meet at the old Palais. What a pleasure it would be to whirl a lovely lady like yourself around the floor. I would be delighted to meet you there at the time you say. I shall wear my very best for you and will have a red carnation in my buttonhole for identification purposes and a corsage in one hand suitable for a lady in her best green frock.

Yours sincerely,
Ronald English

27 Gloucester Road,
Alderley,
LN12 7BY

Wednesday 26th June 2002

My dearest Eth or should I call you Jane,
I was so amazed when this lovely woman met me outside the Palais last night and even more when that beautiful creature turned out to be you. What can I say? How can apologise for the way I must have hurt you when I walked out on you three years ago. I had to Eth. There was nothing to our lives together then. We had changed so much from when we first married. We no longer walked or went dancing, since you said you were embarrassed by the weight you had put on and felt uncomfortable.

Look at you now, so slim and smart and self-assured. You are everything I ever hoped you would be. That you could forgive me was more than I could have dreamed and I want to assure you of how different our life will be together now. No wonder I didn't recognise your name. I had forgotten that you used to be Ethel Jane Hardacre before we married.

When you come back to live with me we'll do all the things we used to do', walking, dancing and of course since you've become a painter; well perhaps I could get lessons from this What's his name.
Would you like to go and see the vicar here and arrange for us to renew our vows? It would be a sign of a new beginning between us.

Darling I can't wait until we meet again. In fact, I called round at your flat this afternoon but you weren't in and I rang your number five times but your answerphone seems to be on the blink. Do call me soon. I am in agonies waiting to hear from you.

Your loving and contrite husband,

Ron.

3 Kingston Mews,
Alderley,
LN24 3ZL

Saturday 29th June 2002

Re: Client 23254 Ronald English

Dear Mr Rose,

I write in confirmation of our recent telephone conversation with regard to Mr English whom you now know is my estranged husband. You will agree it was something of a shock when I turned up outside the Palais this Tuesday and spotted my husband waiting for me. He was well turned out, I must admit, but he had not changed much from when I last saw him three years ago. He went off to work one morning and I did not see him again until this Tuesday.

I could not believe my eyes when I saw him standing there, large as life and just as ugly, with flowers in his hand. Fortunately, he did not see me and I was able to make a hasty retreat and regroup, as it were. It did not take me long to put two and two together and make up
my mind what to do about it. As I said on the phone, I went through with the meeting and was all amazement and joy when we met a little later. He was surprisingly pleased to see me, and of course, quick thinking. He was all apologies. What a mistake he had made, walking out on me. How miserable he was when he realised what a fool he had been. He had, of course, tried to contact me but I had moved, leaving no forwarding address.

He begged me to forgive him and to try to make a fresh start. I agreed, of course, he could always be charming when he wished and that night he excelled himself. We wined and dined and danced and then he offered to take me to my flat, no doubt hoping to renew our nuptial acquaintances but I told him that I wasn't yet ready. It was too soon and I needed time to think. He agreed of course, sure of his own persuasive skills.

I think it might be the fact that I have lost four stone since he left and have found a job which pays well and gives me security in my own right. I now look more like the woman he first married and not like the drudge he turned me into.

Well he doesn't get a second chance. I enclose a copy of the letter he sent me yesterday. As we agreed on the phone, it is best that you have a copy in case there is any complaint later about your part in this. Ron can be very vindictive when thwarted.

I am about to do to Ron what he did to me. I shall disappear from his life and ruin his hopes and happiness. The address he wrote to is not my own. It was rented by a friend of mine who has now gone to Sierra Leone. I was looking after it until new tenants took over so he won't find me there.

Thank you so much for the alternative contact that you gave me over the phone. We met last night and Richard was so sweet. He is twice the man Ron could ever be and that is at first meeting. I have such hopes for the future.

Yours most sincerely,

Ethel Jane Hardacre (Ms )