As always, these are not my characters.
I'd been thinking for a while about writing a DBM story using only letters, when I read Alli-Beth's version (great writing, by the way!). So I decided to have a go myself. It's harder than it sounds!
Nothing profound in this at all, it's just an experiment. Oh, and I've no idea how long letters took to travel between Australia and the U.K. in 1960, so I just haven't worried about that.
My dear Mattie
I've hesitated to write this letter to you. I didn't want to upset you when you can only just have arrived in London. Among all the change and difficulties of moving to a new place, I am sure you don't need to hear about my troubles.
But I have no one else to tell, and I think I will go mad if I don't tell someone. Forgive me.
Yesterday evening, without any warning, Lucien's wife came to the house. She knocked on the door and almost before I knew it, she was sitting in the kitchen, alive and well, and looking at me with great suspicion.
Her name is Mei Lin. She is beautiful, very dignified, and has had a terrible time in China. I can hardly imagine how she has survived all that has happened to her.
But, as you know, we all thought she was dead. You saw the letter confirming her death, just as I did. Even as I write this now I can hardly believe it; she is certainly alive, and still married to Lucien.
Lucien seems as shocked as I am, but we have scarcely spoken about it. He is constantly busy with a new investigation. Mei Lin and I are left in the house together, and when she looks at me I know she thinks I am in love with Lucien. She is right, of course, but that doesn't matter now. She is his wife.
If all this were not difficult enough, I have to tell you that just before Mei Lin arrived, Lucien had begun to ask me to marry him. He had offered me his mother's ring. It's sitting on my dressing table right now, just next to me as I write this. I will have to give it back, of course, but perhaps all this would have been easier to bear if he had not given it to me.
I don't know what to do, Mattie.
With much love,
Jean
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Dear Jean
How I wish I was back in Ballarat with you now! Your letter...what can I say? I am so sorry that this has happened. It seems so cruel. You so deserve to be happy, and I thought when I left that you would be, and Lucien too. I wish I could hug you and say something to comfort you, but I hardly know what to say.
I do know that Lucien loves you, and that you love him. Surely there will be a way round this problem. Does his wife really expect to live with him again as if nothing has happened in 17 years?
I'll say it again, Jean, just remember that Lucien loves you. Everyone who sees you together knows that. He's asked you to marry him! Talk to him, please, before you just give up on him.
Why has his wife come back now, and how did she find him? Surely she must have had someone to help her get to Australia?
Don't worry about upsetting me with your letter. I am upset by the news, but I'm glad you have told me, and even more glad if writing the letter helped you.
Sending you all my love,
Mattie