Item 45 - Autograph letter signed to Beaton.

Expects Beaton to have received her cable saying that everyone was at Ashcombe. Was afraid he would worry after hearing of the Blitz. His mother and aunt Jessie had gone down earlier. Kept in touch with Margaret who was alone at Pelham Place. Managed to pack her off to Ashcombe after persuading her it was the safest place. Has caught a cold after sitting in the hall of Pelham Place during the air raids. Nancy has been anxious about John, who was taken ill at school but is getting better. Will go to Swan Lake in a fortnight if the Blitz continues for "a week end of peace and rest". Meets Oggie at the weekend to discuss her future plans. The last three weeks have been depressing one way or another. Discusses the royal pictures. The Daily Express published one cut in half. She was furious and rang up about the matter at once. Met Francis J. Dawson and had a long afternoon looking at pictures. Doesn't know when the first batch of pictures will be ready. Robert Fraser wrote officially from the MOI regarding Beaton's article. He does not want it mentioned that Beaton was in India in an official capacity. The MOI also took 3 of the colour photographs. Discusses what has happened to the rest of the photographs. Has got the Daily Mail to make it 25 guineas instead of £10, and they have paid for Beaton's first three articles. Telephoned Miss Black who said "Crisis in Heaven" was a great success when it opened in Edinburgh last night. Discusses Adele Dixon's three new dresses: "so much waste when most of the audience are sitting with laddered stockings". With the prospect of more air raids the theatre times have changed: some of them now open at 5pm and some have switched to matinees. Beaton's letter from Calcutta took rather long to arrive. They are looking forward to receiving his next batch of letters. Everyone is well at Ashcombe.