Letter from Jerome Device to Rosalind Clutterbuck, dated 17 September 1942... Well warded and sealed, in reply to her earlier letter:
Imperious Lady of the Golden Hair,
I’m certain Thecla would love to hear from you almost as much as I always do. I suspect my congratulations will not be delivered for several days if they’ve just moved into a home of their own. Or that was my experience, as you hopefully recall.
Name the day and the hour and we shall cause such mischief as to make the gods sigh. The gods in this case being Priscilla Chattox-Kyteler, from whose wrath I expect you to shield me, should it be necessary.
I’m almost certain you’ve got it wrong there somehow, but damned if I know where. Honestly, my eyes started to glaze whenever any of them started family history lectures. Which is quite impressive given the way Lord Trevelyan tends to project his voice.
As regards why Thecla and Tristan are not better acquainted: Pippa. I’d explain, but I prefer not to speak too ill of the dead. I’m not deigning to answer your scurrilous accusations about Madoc. Not that it matters, by the time I was interesting I was trying to interest you. Which was quite the undertaking, though I do not regret it for a minute.