18th October 1938

18th October 1938

Sarvar to 27 Queen Square, Bath

Dear Madeleine!

Many thanks for your letter. I don’t feel like writing at all, so please excuse me if it is going to be a stupid one. Your letter was laying on my writing desk for ages and I have to answer it. We are very busy choosing bridesmaids dresses. Muck and I are going to be bridesmaids a third time. There is a saying here, “Three times a bridesmaid will never make a bride”, I don’t feel frightened about it. My cousin Lucia of Bourbon-Sicile is going to be married to the Duke of Ancona, an Italian, cousin to the King. I am very excited about the wedding as the Italian Crown Prince is to be “best man”. There are a lot of Italians coming to that wedding and I can’t speak Italian except “Buona Notte”, which means “good night”. The wedding is going to be at Nymphenburg Palace again, where Deidi was too. I am looking forward to seeing Baby again at it, and Deidi too.

Deidi and her husband are coming here for the shootings in November. Muck and I have got all our winter things now. It is great fun getting things. I always prefer buying things to having them made. You can judge much better trying them on. What have you decided for your evening gown? I have got 5 evening dresses, but you see, I wear

the bridesmaids dresses for that too. I have got a wonderful blue woollen suit with a zip down the front. I’m sorry my drawing is so awful.

I haven’t been at a dance for ages. During the shooting I want to gather some nice young people and dance. However, most of the young men are soldiers now. I wish they would stop threatening with the war. Here in Hungaria things don’t look very bright. I have given up worrying by now. It’s no use.

Its high time for lunch. Fondest love

Loll