Ballarat, Victoria

28 August 1943

Dearest,

Only a handful of minutes? I think I can do better than that.

And I may or may not have been planning a drive along the coast for our honeymoon - get out there and see more places and be free to just be the two of us as we go. Lots of little cottages and bed & breakfasts we can explore as we travel along the road.

(I'll take my vitamins if you'll do the same, dearest, but I know that this promise is one you can deliver on after our night in the hotel.)

I have let Jean know about what you said regarding Christopher - I'm actually staying for a bit of a break before the last term really starts getting busy; she sighed and seemed to understand… I wonder if they had another falling out over their letters. That man better write, or I'll hunt him down myself and make him do it; he's about to make Phryne's saying of can't hit men with an axe come true.

Addy is our little purr machine and she is purring up a storm these days; I've given her lots of love and attention, and I think she's finally come around to the frilly pink collar - her getting used to a nice soft bed took much less time than the collar, though I'm not surprised.

Mr. Butler thanks you for the advice regarding curious little hands - he's keeping a closer watch on everything in the kitchen with Matty growing exponentially these past few months. I will admit I'm curious about kids figuring out the world for themselves, I'll have to watch Matty from afar as he explores once he's older. Clara has already been telling him he can come to me for help with science.

(And Classics, she conveniently forgets that part of my schooling.)

Stop, Matthew, you're making me blush with all this praise. (Don't stop)

Rose certainly will have a very supportive aunt and uncle in the two of us, we'll have to make sure there's room in the house for when she visits (and to give her a hidey hole should she piss off her mother too much.) Your wish of her not getting interested in the police beat is likely to not come true, dearest; she's been pestering Jack and Phryne every time she visits.

(I'm holding you to this written promise, Matthew Lawson.)

Stubbornness certainly runs in the Lawson family, that's for sure; I think Vera can get through to Mum more than I can - she's very frank with her in a way I'm not yet comfortable being. I think it's because I'm still a relative stranger compared to Vera's whole life getting to know her Mum. She'll find out just how stubborn a Harvey can be, however, at least when it comes to fixing up the house and her own health. There's a doctor in the family now (or there will be come December), she's not going to get away with not taking care of herself physically if I have anything to say about it.

I wouldn't say no to a little office space - perhaps off the parlor if there's room? The sunroom has me intrigued, I'll admit; on the rare visit to Dr. Blake's with Mum, I've seen his. It's in a poor state, but then again, most of the house is aside from the study and kitchen; he needs a better housekeeper.

Addy is a queen, she just also knows it, dearest; she's always a comfort - no matter if she's curled up behind my knees while I sleep, or if she's in the kitchen demanding to be fed (knowing full well she's already been fed by someone else.)

I'm glad the oilskin pouch is of use, much like the journals; are you in need of any replacements soon? I could see what's available on my end and send it to you if you'd like.

I asked Jean, and Mum, about this Lucien Blake and got two very different answers. Mum mostly told me about what he was like as a child - I gather he was sent away a lot? She told me of your antics together, you always do love clucking after someone don't you? You can't help but worry about someone. She did emphasize that most of the trouble the two of you got into was mainly instigated by Lucien… he sounds a lot like Phryne.

Jean's answer was the most surprising. She sputtered a bit and turned bright red before asking me why I was asking about Lucien Blake; the way she immediately relaxed when I explained your prank sparked my curiosity and… I'm ashamed to admit this, dearest, but I did pry as kindly as I could. Jean of course knew what I was doing, and artfully dodged every question I threw her way. Her stubbornness is a match for mine and I'm not sure I want to try and whittle it down to get to the bottom of her reaction… Do you have any idea of why she would react this way?

She did mention that his antics didn't cease as he grew up and that he and Dr. Blake seemed to butt heads every time he came home… I hope that persistence of his helps keep him alive in the camps. Maybe you'll see him again, Matthew, and we can of course prank him about our marriage.

(It's fun to pull the wool over pompous peoples' eyes, so I'll help you out with this one, and maybe we can rope Jean in on it too.)

Rumor or not, you still should get leave soon, this isn't fair. It's not as if a lot is happening right now anyways!

(Though, I don't know if you've heard the news yet about Mussolini getting arrested last month, it was the talk of Wardlow when we found out.)

Yours, always,

Alice