No idea what you will all think of this. For Daalny, again.

Dear Mrs Crawley,

It is my sad duty to inform you that your fiancé, Major Richard Clarkson, died in action at the Somme. He was a highly regarded soldier among his men. He fought bravely for his country, and in doing was taken from us. He will be greatly missed.

My condolences for your loss.

Colonel R Johnston

…...

Matthew handed the telegram back to his mother, his face aghast. She took it back, not looking at his face, and stored in quickly inside the pocket of her navy blue jacket.

"Mother," he murmured after a while, "I don't understand."

She did not reply.

"I thought he was there in a medical capacity?" he asked, "I didn't know he was going into action."

"Nor did I," she told him.

There was a heavy silence.

"Your fiancé?" he asked, unable to shift the surprise from his voice.

"Yes," she answered calmly. She was silent a little while longer, "We decided not to tell anyone, it happened quite quickly. He wanted to know for certain that I was sure. But I was," she told him quietly, "I was always sure. I loved him. I loved him very much."

Matthew was quiet for a moment.

"I'm sorry, Mother," he told her quietly, reaching out to take her hand, "I don't know what to say."

She took his hand in return.

"My darling boy, there's nothing you can say," she told him in reply, forcing herself into a little sad smile, "But thank you for trying."

"Do you want me to go?" he asked, "If you want time alone I can make up some reason to go to the big house."

"No, don't go," she told him, "I don't think I want to be alone. I don't want to waste the time you have on leave. I wasted too much of the time I had with Richard-..." and with that she dissolved into tears.

"Mother," Matthew murmured, drawing her softly into his arms, holding her gently, "Oh, Mother."

"I wish you'd told me," he murmured when her tears had subsided a little, "I wish I could have known while you were happy."

"Oh God, Matthew, I wish I'd told you too. I should have told the world. I was so proud of him, I loved him so much. I wish it had been me."

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