Gwynneth's Dream
The CBB -> Ste Therese's House
#1: Gwynneth's Dream Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 5:04 pm

The Bunnies are back! I am not sure quite where they are going this time, but I am sure they will let me know soon enough. Suffice it to say that I am a hopeless romantic.

It was the school holidays, the day after the lovely wedding of Helena Wilson and Major William Benson. Matron Gwynneth Lloyd, Matey as she was known to most of her friends and acquaintances alike, was out for a walk on the Platz. She was enjoying the delightful weather that they were having, sunny and warm, but with a cool breeze that made it possible for one to walk as one liked without being too exhausted by the heat. Gwynneth planned to spend the summer on the Platz, as she loved living in Switzerland and had no immediate family to go and visit. She thought she might spend some time with Hilda Annersley in Italy, but she really preferred to stay on the Platz and enjoy some time off work. Many good friends lived nearby, including Joey Maynard, the closest thing that Matey had to a daughter.
Gwynneth did not get much opportunity of walking on the Platz, so she was happy to stroll along, relishing the fresh air and stupendous views. 'I wish I had more time for walking,' she thought to herself, stopping to pick a handful of beautiful wildflowers.
As she straightened, she heard the pounding of feet, and a small girl came dashing round the corner, cannoned into Matey and knocked her to the ground. Winded, Gwynneth could only gasp for breath as the girl got up and started to apologise to her. Before Matey could get her breath back, the girl had run off again, back round the corner. Gwynneth staggered to her feet, still gasping for air and feeling decidedly angry with the unknown child. She had not even been very big, yet she had pole-axed Matey and run off before Matey could rebuke her. She stumbled across to the fence and leaned against it until she had recovered, then she started off round the corner. There was no sign of the girl, though, so Matey had to let the matter slip from her mind. Instead she concentrated on the gorgeous day, and finally managed to forget the humiliation of being knocked to the ground and left stranded by a child.
Matron had a wonderful walk, then she decided it was high time she returned to the school, as despite it being the holiday, she still had some things she should do. A new consignment of bed linen had just been delivered, and all needed to be sorted and distributed to the Matrons of the various houses of the school. Furthermore, she had to go through all of her medical supplies and make a comprehensive list of supplies she would need for the forthcoming year.

Last edited by Fatima on Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:12 pm; edited 13 times in total

 

#2:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 5:06 pm

Great start - could it be a romance for Matey? Very Happy

 

#3:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 6:28 pm

*intrigued*

*wants more*

Thanks Fatima Very Happy

Liz

 

#4:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England PostPosted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 6:33 pm

Thanks, Fatima. This looks great. I wonder what Gwynneth's dream will be?

 

#5:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 7:21 pm

Thanks Fatima - wondeful beginning.

*oh to be the small girl that left Matey speechless and got away with it*

 

#6:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 7:52 pm

Thank you for the comments. The bunnies are, as usual, eager to head off in their own direction. I just hope I can keep up with them!


As she headed back in the direction of the chalet, Gwynneth's thoughts turned again to Helena Wilson. She and Gwynneth had been good friends for years. They had first met in Austria, where they had both worked in the newly opened Chalet School. When war broke out, they left Austria, but both returned to the Chalet School when it reopened in Guernsey, and had stayed with it ever since. It had become a home to them both, two women who were no longer young and who had no family ties. Except, Gwynneth reflected, Nell Wilson had never seemed to want them. She had been devoted to the school, and received the companionship she wanted from her close friends there. Gwynneth, however, had a very secret dream, one that she had cherished for as long as she could remember, even in the days when she had been just a girl. She had always wanted to have a baby. She had always imagined that she would get married and have children, and in the days when numerous mistresses and old girls from the school were being swept off of their feet by handsome doctors, Gwynneth had presumed it was only a matter of time before Dr. Right had come for her. She had been out for dinner with several of the aforementioned doctors, but they had never seemed to be exactly what she had imagined her future husband would be like.
Gwynneth had always loved her work. She had enjoyed being Matron, the woman everyone feared, yet who was always so kind to those who were ill. She still loved working with the girls, and enjoyed both caring for them and helping them to grow up into strong and independent women, much as she herself was. But always, at the back of her mind, was her secret dream, the dream that she would one day have her own child to care for and cherish. As the years passed, Matey began to think that her dream was, surely, just around the corner. She was not getting any younger, and if she did not hurry up and get married, she would never realize her heart's desire. Finally, over the last few years, Matey had been trying to persuade herself to face facts. She was definitely too old to have children and the one thing that she had always wanted more than any other was going to be out of her reach forever. She was very glad that she had not told anyone her dream, since she did not want sympathy now that it was clear that it would never come true.
Gwynneth briskly walked along the road, almost as if she was speeding away from her dreams. She habitually kept herself busy, as that left little time for dreaming, and her bustling persona was a great cover for her soft heart. She was almost back at the Chalet when she heard someone calling, a note of urgency and desperation in their voice. Coming out of her contemplations of what might have been, she saw a man with a pushchair coming towards her, calling and calling, a worried look on his face.
"Jenny! Jenny! Where are you?" he called, hurrying along as fast as the pushchair would allow him to.
Never one to ignore someone in need, Gwynneth went over to him. "Can I help you?" she asked politely.
"I've lost my granddaughter," he said briefly. "We were out for a walk and she ran off. I thought I would catch her up, or she would come back, but she hasn't and now I am getting worried about her. I don't suppose you have seen a little girl, seven years old, wearing a pink dress, have you?"
Suddenly Gwynneth remembered the child that had knocked her to the ground and then run off. She had been dressed in pink, as far as she could recall. "Yes," she said, her voice stiff now. "I did meet her about fifteen minutes ago. She was a fair way from here, though."
"How far?"
"Fifteen minutes walk," Gwynneth said a trifle impatiently. "She is very young; she should not be walking around out here by herself. There are some places near the edge of the Platz where it is very dangerous and it would be so easy for her to fall."
"Yes, I know," he snapped back. "Hence my worry about her. Thank you for your time. JENNY!!" he shouted, walking off from Gwynneth.
'Rude man,' thought Gwynneth, but she knew that she could not leave a young girl wandering about the Platz by herself. "I'll come and help you look," she offered.
"As long as you help me look, and don't lecture me," was his ungracious reply.
Without a word, Gwynneth accompanied him back along the path, until it divided into two parts. "That is the way I was going when I met her," she told him. "You go down there and I'll go this way. Maybe she has cut through somewhere."
"As you like." The man manoeuvred the pushchair along the path so recently trodden by Matey, leaving that lady to take the other path.

 

#7:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 8:03 pm

Well if he is a potential love interest he's certainly a match for her! Lovely Fatima, thank you

 

#8:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 8:47 pm

Poor Matron - it must have been so sad to see her dreams fade away

*hopes Jenny is safe*

Thanks Fatima Very Happy

Liz

 

#9:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 9:28 pm

I do hope they find Jenny - and maybe Matey's mystery man will mellow on further acquaintance

 

#10:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England PostPosted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 10:01 pm

Thanks, Fatima. I feel sorry that Matey never had the chance to have a child. I hope they are able to find Jenny.

 

#11:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 10:33 pm

Fatima wrote:


Gwynneth had presumed it was only a matter of time before Dr. Right had come for her.


Love that she assumed it would be a Dr Very Happy



This is great Fatima - I'm looking forward to a lot more

 

#12:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 6:08 am

Here's the next bit.

Matey set off along the other path, still able to hear the man's calls as she went. Before she had gone far, though, she began to hear someone else's calls. A little further along she came to the little girl in the pink dress. She was sitting on a big boulder beside the path that led higher into the mountains and she was crying. Her face was dirty and tear-stained, and she was a very sad and sorry looking little girl. At once all of Matron's usual brisk way of sorting out problems came to the fore.
"You must be Jenny," she said. "I am so glad I have found you. Your grandfather was worried to death about you."
At that, the child began sobbing more heartbrokenly than before. Matey took out her immaculately white handkerchief and wiped away the little girl's tears. "It's all right," she said soothingly. "He's not far from here. I'll take you back to him."
"I can't," the little girl cried. "I fell and my leg's hurting."
"I am a nurse," Matey said, her voice reassuring now. "Let me see your leg."
"It's my ankle," said Jenny, responding to Matron's matter of fact tones as every school girl did.
Crouching down beside the boulder, Matey gently examined the ankle. "I think you have sprained it," she said.
"What does that mean?'
"It means you twisted it as you fell," explained Matron. "I shall tie it up with my hanky and then I shall help you to stand. If you can stand, we can walk back to your grandfather together. If not, I shall go and find him and he'll come back and carry you. It's going to hurt a bit while I bandage it, so you will have to be brave."
"I am very brave," the little girl said gravely. "I have been very brave for the last month. I think I can be brave a little longer."
"Good girl." Matron deftly folded her handkerchief and bound the ankle, and then she stood up and looked down at the forlorn little figure before her. "Can you stand up if I help you?" she asked, holding out her hand.
"I'll try." Jenny took the hand that Matron held out to her and carefully stood up. She put a little weight on the injured foot, but managed to stand.
"Good girl," said Matron approvingly, and then she helped Jenny to start to walk along the road, back towards the sounds of her grandfather's shouts.
Once they had regained the main path, Gwynneth yodeled melodically, much to Jenny's surprise, and the sound attracted the attention of Jenny's grandfather. Very soon he had returned along the path and was greeting his granddaughter gladly.
"She's sprained her ankle," Matey explained, once he had put the girl down and turned to thank her for her help. "I've bandaged it, but she should rest it for a couple of days."
"I'll see that she does." He turned again to Jenny. "Will you be able to walk back to the Sorenberg?" he asked her, referring to the hotel on the Platz. "It's quite a walk from here."
"You know I am very brave," Jenny reminded him. "Of course I can."
"Good bye, then," said Gwynneth, "and be careful next time you are out walking, Jenny."
Knowing that she was not just referring to the sprained ankle, Jenny looked shamefaced, but Matey was kind and said nothing more. Something about the little girl had touched her, and she did not want to upset her any more. "Good bye," said Jenny.
Jenny's grandfather took hold of the pushchair again, and they set off slowly down the path that would lead them back to their hotel. Gwynneth turned in at the gate to the Chalet School, her thoughts turning once more to the work she should get done that afternoon.

 

#13:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 7:20 am

Lovely - thanks Fatima

What has Jenny had to be so brave about I wonder?

Liz

 

#14:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England PostPosted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 9:55 am

Thanks, Fatima. I'm glad Jenny has been found. Who is meant to be in the pushchair?

 

#15:  Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 3:37 pm

Lovely, Fatima, thanks! Very Happy

 

#16:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 3:58 pm

Chair said:

Quote:
Who is meant to be in the pushchair?


It's not time to hear about that yet! However, here is some more!

Gwynneth thought no more about Jenny; she returned to her office and began a thorough inventory, something that she had always found soothing. There was nothing quite like being organized, spending time tidying or sorting things out, for making you feel at peace with the world. Matey had always sought to teach the girls of the Chalet School this, but no matter how hard she tried, there were always those who thought that being called out of a boring Maths or Literature lesson was a punishment, not a privilege. She knew that there were some members of staff who considered her just a little obsessed with tidiness, but she knew from experience just how comforting it was to indulge in a thorough spring cleaning. Despite her efforts, it had not worked quite that way after her beloved sister had passed away, but other than that, all the difficult stages of Gwynneth's life were marked by extreme tidiness and hard work.
Hilda Annersley and Gwynneth had planned to go to Italy for a week, and they duly set off the following weekend. They had a very relaxing holiday, taking slow strolls around Lake Maggiore and sitting in the sun, drinking coffee and wine in little cafes. They reminisced and discussed more recent events and generally enjoyed a most genteel break from everyday life.
On their return to Switzerland they were almost glad to get back to work, since work was a pleasure to them both. Miss Annersley spent a long time in Matron's office, helping her draw up the dormitory lists for the new year and slotting in an unprecedented number of new girls. In between working, they found time to attend Jo Maynard's dinner parties, walk on the Platz and visit old friends who lived nearby. They also went to visit the newly returned Major and Mrs. Benson and to help them remove Helena's possessions from her former rooms in St. Mildred's to her new home. Gwynneth was thrilled for Helena's newly found happiness; she thought that William Benson was very pleasant and he obviously adored his new wife. However, she could not help but feel a little envious of her friend's happiness. Over the years, Helena had never shown any signs of wishing for married life, yet here she was, happily planning dinner menus and even darning her husband's socks. The sensible side of Matron pointed out that she herself had never shown any signs of wishing to get married either. Nobody knew how she felt, because she had not told them her innermost thoughts.
Back at the school after a morning spent shopping in Interlaken, Gwynneth was busy putting her purchases away when one of the maids appeared at her door. "Miss Annersley would like to see you," she said deferentially.
"Thank you," she said, closing the door of the cupboard and checking that her uniform was suitably immaculate. She went down to the study, where she found Miss Annersley sitting at her desk. "How can I help you?" she asked.
Hilda looked up as Gwynneth came in. "Sit down, won't you?" she said. "Gwynneth, I have just had the new music teacher here. He's come to the Platz early and wonders if he can move into the school this week. Is his room ready?"
"Yes, it is," said Gwynneth, surprised by the question. All of the rooms were ready, as she liked to be ahead in her preparations for the new year. "He'll be in the little room just down from the San, so that none of the girls will be offended by having a man near them."
"I wonder if we may have to change that," said Miss Annersley thoughtfully. "He's had some bad news, and his circumstances have changed. He won't be coming alone now, so he will need a larger room."

 

#17:  Author: Róisín, Location: Galway, Eire PostPosted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 4:16 pm

Just read right through this from the start and it is wonderful Fatima, as usual with you! Thanks so much - I'm delighted to have a sequel to Nell's romance. Very Happy

 

#18:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 4:36 pm

*hopes she knows who the teacher might be and who might be with him*

Thanks Fatima Very Happy

Liz

 

#19:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 3:14 am

Some more of the story for you.

"There is the nurse's room," said Gwynneth thoughtfully. "I know that the two nurses would like to have their own rooms, so they could be moved and he could go in there. I presume it's his wife that will be accompanying him?"
"No, she died some years ago," said Miss Annersley. "And six weeks ago his only child was killed in a car accident, along with her husband and their son. He is now the guardian of his two granddaughters. The elder one will be a junior here; I think we'll be able to squeeze her into Ib. The other is just a few months old."
"The poor man," said Gwynneth, her voice full of sympathy. "I shall sort out the nurses' room now, and then he can move in whenever he is ready. It has the little isolation room opening off of it, where the older girl can sleep. What will happen to the baby? She will need a lot of care, which he won't be able to give if he is teaching."
Miss Annersley looked worried. "I know," she admitted, "but I couldn't refuse to take them, could I? We will just have to rally round and help him. He's devastated, but determined not to let us down. He's extremely well qualified for the job and I think he'll be an asset to the school, so I don't want to turn him away. We will just have to do the best we can."
"Of course we will," Gwynneth agreed, standing up. "You know everyone will be willing to help in any way they can. I shall go and start on the rooms and you can tell him that he will be welcome as soon as he likes."
"Thank you, Gwynneth," said Miss Annersley, sounding relieved. "I felt so sorry for him, and I think that our environment will be such a help to him. He'll be so busy he won't have time to feel sorry for himself, and the children will be distracted, too."
"Absolutely," said Gwynneth, opening the door of the office. "Don't worry, Hilda, we will make sure things start to look up for him again."
She bustled out of the room, already deciding to summon the maids to help her move the nurses into two other rooms. One of them would be able to take over the room she had set aside for the music teacher, whilst the other could move into the little spare room in the staff corridor. It was just a slip of a room, but she was certain that the younger of the two nurses would be so thrilled to have her own room that she would not mind how small it was. 'And I shall call Jo and ask if she has a spare cot,' Matey continued with her plans even as she instructed the maids to carefully pack up the contents of the room and transfer them to their new locations.
Reflecting that there was nothing as good for the soul as good hard work, Gwynneth supervised the removal of the nurses' possessions, reminding the maids to be extremely careful with everything. She then had the room cleaned from top to bottom and made up the beds herself. It had often been said that no one could make beds to Matey's standards, and Gwynneth modestly acknowledged the truth of that statement. She added a pretty cover to the girl's bed, and a plainer one to that of the new music teacher, and went off to call Jo.
Joey was, of course, extremely helpful. She had a spare cot, and numerous other things that were necessary for babies, but Gwynneth persuaded her to wait until she had talked with the new music teacher to see what else he required. Jo said that she would send Anna over immediately with the cot and all the necessary linen for it, and Gwynneth thanked her profusely.
By the next morning, everything was ready, and Hilda had said that the new music teacher would be arriving shortly before lunch. They would settle in and then have lunch with those of the staff that were there. Afterwards, Jo had invited them to Freudesheim for the afternoon, so that the little girls could meet the Maynard children.

 

#20:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 10:49 am

Thanks Fatima - looking forward to seeing the music teacher's arrival.

I love the personal touch Matey is giving to the preparations for him, without even knowing who he might be - she is so thorough.

Liz

 

#21:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 11:18 am

Some answers for you now!

Matron and Miss Annersley were waiting for the new music master to arrive. They were sitting in the Head's office, with a pot of coffee and a jug of Karen's famous lemon juice, and a plate of biscuits when the maid showed him in. Gwynneth and Hilda stood up and Gwynneth found herself face to face with Jenny and her grandfather.
"You!" she exclaimed, with more surprise than politeness.
"You have already met?" Hilda inquired, somewhat taken aback by Matey's rudeness.
"Yes," the new music teacher replied, his voice frosty.
Gwynneth surveyed her new colleague. He was tall and slim and rather young-looking to be a grandfather. His blond hair had no grey and his blue eyes were piercing and, at that particular moment, somewhat cold. Jenny was very like him, with her blond hair and blue eyes, and the same regular features. Gwynneth wondered what the girls would think of him; after the very eccentric Tristan Denny they were used to hair-trigger tempers, and this man looked as though he possessed one of the first order.
"This is Gwynneth Lloyd, the head matron here," Hilda said, trying to ignore the obvious animosity between the two of them. "Gwynneth, David Miller will be the head of the music department."
David Miller did not offer to shake hands with Gwynneth, so she did not extend her hand to him, either. Instead, she turned to Jenny. "Hello, Jenny, how are you? How is your ankle today?"
Jenny extended her leg. "It is feeling much better," she said. "I am glad you work here. I think you are very kind."
"Thank you. Come and sit down and have a glass of lemonade. Karen made it as a special treat for you."
Gwynneth settled Jenny in an armchair with a glass of lemonade and a biscuit. She then took her seat in another chair, and glanced over at the pushchair. Sitting there was a dainty little girl, with the same blond hair and blue eyes as her sister. The shocking thing about her, though, was the livid scar that ran from the corner of her eye, right across her cheek. Matron could not hide the shock she felt on seeing such a sad sight, and she knew that David Miller had noticed her shock, for he shot her another black look. 'Poor little soul,' she thought to herself.
Meanwhile, Hilda was doing her best to engage the music teacher in conversation. It was not an easy thing to do, for he was evidently in a very ill humour, but she persisted, and finally managed to get him onto the subject of music. He lost his glower, happy to tell her how his favourite instrument was the flute and how he had started teaching Jenny to play the piano. When the baby began to cry, David got up at once and lifted her out. He cuddled her, but she continued to cry, a whiny sort of noise, as if she was in pain and hungry and just generally miserable, all at the same time. Gwynneth longed to take the little mite and comfort her, but her grandfather was obviously practiced at doing so, for he rocked her gently and finally she fell asleep in his arms. He looked fondly down at her little blond head and sighed.
"She is so restless, poor baby," he said softly. "She always used to be such a sunny little girl, but now…" He broke off and cast a nervous glance at Jenny, but she was looking out of the window, watching Gaudenz working in the garden. "Thank you for agreeing to take us so soon, Miss Annersley," he said. "I am more grateful than I can tell you. I think the school will be the best thing for Jenny. I pray that she will start to recover once she is with girls of her own age. And I hope that once she feels less grief-stricken little Claire here will pick up, too."
"I am sure the atmosphere in the school will help them both," Miss Annersley said. "If you have finished your coffee, we will show you to your room. If there is anything else you need, please tell us and we will arrange it for you."
"Thank you," David said, standing up. "Come on, Jenny, let's go and see our new rooms."
Jenny left the window and put her glass back on the tray. "Thank you," she said politely and she slipped her hand into Gwynneth's. "It's such a lovely garden," she said, sounding wistful. "We had a lovely garden in England. We had a swing there."
"We have some swings in the junior garden," Gwynneth told her. "And just wait until you see Mrs. Maynard's garden this afternoon."
Miss Annersley led the way up the stairs and along the long passages to the room that David and his granddaughters were to occupy. "We did not know whether you would want to sleep in the same room, or whether Jenny would like her own room," said Gwynneth, going over to open the door that connected the room to the smaller isolation room. "There is another bed in here, if she would prefer her own room."
"I like to share, because I get nightmares," Jenny said simply.
"This is lovely, thank you," David said to Miss Annersley. "I didn't expect a cot and everything at such short notice. Thank you so much."
Unused to being ignored so blatantly, Gwynneth looked at David and addressed him directly. "Mrs. Maynard has offered some other things for Claire, if you need anything. She has a long family and has all sorts of things you might find useful."
Barely acknowledging her remarks, he continued to address Miss Annersley. "I asked the hotel to send over our luggage this afternoon, but we don't have much. Is there somewhere I can heat some milk for Claire, because she wakes most nights to be fed?"
"Matron?" asked the Head Mistress, feeling more and more puzzled by the hostility between Gwynneth and the new teacher.
"There is a sink in the isolation room, and a kettle, too," Matron said briskly. "Jenny, if there is anything else you want, please tell me and I shall do my best to get it for you."
"Thank you," the little girl said, with a very winning smile. "What is your name?"
"I'm Matron Lloyd," Matey told her. "Now I am going to go and see about dinner."
"Are you the cook as well as the nurse?" wondered Jenny.
"No, only the nurse," said Matron with a smile. "I shall see you in about an hour, at dinner."
"All right," said Jenny, watching as Matron bustled out.

 

#22:  Author: joelle, Location: lancashire, england PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 12:07 pm

Great thanks fatima, thats really interesting. Can`t wait to see how this goes.

 

#23:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 12:20 pm

Thanks Fatima, love having so many updates to read! Very Happy

 

#24:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 12:25 pm

poke David Miller for behaving rather irrationally

I hope the air is soon cleared between him and Matron.

Thanks Fatima

Liz

 

#25:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 12:28 pm

Thanks Fatima - I think David's being exceptionally rude. I know he's just suffered a massive tradegy but Gwyneth's only trying to be nice.

 

#26:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 12:37 pm

Thank you Fatima! This is excellent!! I'm really looking forward to more!

 

#27:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 1:03 pm

Thank you for the feedback; here's some more for you, as the Bunnies have been very busy this weekend!

"If there is nothing else, I shall also see you at dinner," said Hilda. "We'll send a maid to fetch you to the dining room, because this place is a bit of a maze until you get to know it."
Seeing that David wanted nothing more, she headed out of the room, and gave chase to Gwynneth, determined to find out what she had missed that had caused such bad feelings on the part of the usually pleasant and polite head of the domestic staff at the Chalet. She caught Gwynneth just going into the large office where she kept her supplies and carried out her duties whilst attending to the medical needs of the girls of the Chalet School.
"How do you and David Miller know each other?" she demanded, coming straight to the point. "If there is a history of bitterness between you, I need to know. It is obviously going to affect the way you work together, so you had better tell me everything now."
Matey laughed. "Are you expecting me to tell you that we were childhood sweethearts and I jilted him at the altar?" she asked facetiously. "It's nothing like as interesting as that!"
"You have obviously met him before and not happily," said Hilda, undeterred by Matey's laughter. "What happened, Gwynneth?"
"I met him while I was out for a walk, just before we went to Italy," she said, going to perch on the corner of her desk. "I had almost reached the school and he was calling for Jenny – he said she had run away from him and so I offered to help him find her. He was not very appreciative of a comment I made about it being unsafe for little girls to wander around the Platz by themselves."
"Ah, I see," said Hilda thoughtfully. "I imagine he is more than a little sensitive about the girls at the moment. Not that you could have known that," she added hastily, noticing the look she was getting from Gwynneth. "I hope he has time to think about it and decide that you were not criticizing him."
"I wish I had known about them before I met them," Gwynneth admitted. "Those poor children. My heart goes out to them."
"Mine, too," agreed Hilda. "We must do all we can for them."
"I hope they are happy here," said Gwynneth fervently. "I just can't imagine how they can deal with such a tragedy. And baby Claire, with that dreadful scar. Do you think Jack Maynard could do anything about it?"
"It's not really for us to find out about that," Hilda pointed out. "I expect he knows a plastic surgeon who could do something at some time, but that is for David Miller to find out."
"Don't worry, Hilda," said Gwynneth with a wry smile, "I won't be interfering with him and the girls."
"I am glad to hear it. I expect Jo will do enough interfering for us all." Hilda smiled at Gwynneth and said, "You just wait until they have been to Freudesheim a few times. She will sort him out. Now I am going to do some more work until dinner."
After dinner, David and his granddaughters went to visit Jo Maynard's friendly home, Freudesheim. Jo had a long family, so Jenny found no shortage of people willing to show her the best places to play in the garden. She disappeared quite happily with Claire Mabillon, the Maynard's youngest ward, and the twins, Geoff and Phil, all of whom were around her age. David spent a restful time in the salon, with Jo, who was on her best behaviour, not asking too many questions and just being a quiet presence if he should want to talk. She brought some toys for Claire to play with and a playpen for her to lie in and David found that the peaceful atmosphere in the house soon conveyed itself to both baby Claire and him. Jo had provided him with a pot of tea and a pile of newspapers, and he sat happily reading them. She had some darning to do - she had a long family and complained that they were all as hard on their socks as her husband. Rosli, the Maynard's co-adjutor, came in and brought milk for the baby, and then took her away to change her, giving her grandfather a welcome rest from his duties.
By the time they returned to the school, David was in a far better humour and Jenny had become firm friends with Claire Mabillon and Phil Maynard. She was looking forward to starting school as they had told her all about it, and David was thrilled to see that she finally had some colour in her cheeks. Little Claire fell asleep as soon as she was strapped into her pushchair and, for the first time since her parents' untimely demise, she slept through the night. Jenny, too, slept well, without being troubled by the nightmares that had been haunting her.

 

#28:  Author: Rosea, Location: Edinburgh PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 1:42 pm

Thanks Fatima, I am really enjoying this. Its good to see the Platz atmosphere is good for the girls.

 

#29:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 1:52 pm

Thank you Fatima! It's lovely to see them finding a restful place to be!

 

#30:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 3:00 pm

By the time school began, several weeks later, the music teacher had seen a big improvement in his granddaughters. The staff had returned to school and had all been thrilled with baby Claire. Pre-warned by Hilda, they had made no comment about her appearance, but she had won their hearts with her newly-returned sunny nature. Jenny, who spent most of her time at Freudesheim, seemed to be coming to terms with her losses better than anyone had expected. She did still have occasional nightmares, and sometimes a comment would upset her, as it reminded her of the dreadful accident, or the happy times before it. Oddly enough, she would often seek out Gwynneth at those times, and the pair would spend time closeted in Matey's office, talking or sitting quietly together.
Unfortunately, the more that Jenny spent time with Gwynneth, the more David seemed to be angry and sometimes almost rude to the head of the domestic staff at the school. Gwynneth grew fed up with his attitude, but had to put up with it, because she was to be the main carer for little Claire as he began to teach his classes.
The girls were interested in the new music master, and soon found that he was as good a teacher as Mr. Denny had been, and they worked well for him. He also taught some flute and piano lessons and got some groups of girls interested in learning the guitar, too. He gave singing lessons and worked with the choir, generally maintaining the high standards of music that the Chalet was renowned for.
A few weeks into the term, Mrs. Benson, the head of St. Mildred's, came over to have coffee with her counterpart at the Chalet. Miss Annersley served coffee and some cream buns Jo had sent over for the occasion, and the two old friends enjoyed a pleasant chat. Eventually Miss Annersley said, "David Miller is an excellent teacher. I heard the choir this morning and they sounded amazing. He has also got some groups learning the guitar and singing folk songs. Jo says Felicity has actually forgotten about her dreams of being a ballerina because she is enjoying learning the guitar so much."
"Do you think you could spare him for a morning each week and let him come to teach the Millies?" Mrs. Benson asked. "We could certainly use his help with the pantomime."
"I will ask him," Hilda promised. "Little Claire is coming on so well now," she went on. "It's a joy to watch her laugh."
"What about her face?" asked Helena with concern.
"We still don't like to mention it to him," Hilda answered. "He's very sensitive on the subject. That isn't surprising, I know, but Jack Maynard is eager to consult a friend of his and to see what could be done." Hilda took another biscuit and nibbled thoughtfully at it. "And there is still some tremendous hostility between him and Gwynneth. The girls adore her, but he seems to absolutely hate her. He can barely bring himself to be civil to her."
"That is odd," Helena agreed, but was spared the need to comment further by the arrival of Gwynneth herself. As usual, she had Claire with her, tucked comfortably onto her hip. "Hello, Gwynneth," Helena said, smiling. "It is good to see Claire looking so happy."
"Yes," Matron agreed. "She's a different child now." She sat in the vacant armchair and put the baby down onto the floor. "Watch," she said proudly. Claire looked around her, and then she noticed the big handbag that was beside Helena's chair. At once she put her hands to the floor, and began to crawl over to investigate it, watched by a very proud-looking Gwynneth. "Isn't she coming on?"
"Yes, she certainly is," said Hilda. "How is she doing with her solid food now?"
"She has an excellent appetite," said Gwynneth. "It has done her so much good to come here, and the same for Jenny. It's a pity it hasn't done as much for Mr. Miller."

 

#31:  Author: ali, Location: medway, kent PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 3:07 pm

Surely there must be more to this irrational dislike than just that comment. You'd think he'd be a bit more grateful to Gywneth as his grand daughters are doing so well. Lets hopegywenth finds a way to get throught to him and, hopefully, another old fashioned romance will blossom.

 

#32:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 4:24 pm

I have let the bunnies have free reign today, because I will be inundated with exams to mark later in the week and I don't want to be distracted then! So here we are, some more...

Gwynneth was thrilled with Claire. She now obviously looked to Gwynneth as the main source of comfort, as she spent almost all day with Matron. As far as Gwynneth was concerned, it was almost as good as having a baby of her own. Of what would happen if David decided to leave the school she did not think, she just concentrated on enjoying her time with the baby. Claire was left with her from the early morning, when David went off to his form, and left in her care until the school had its lunch. Each day David would take his granddaughter to St. Agnes, where they would have dinner with Jenny and then he would return her to Matron for the afternoon. The girls who needed to see Matron for any reason grew used to seeing the play pen set up in the corner of her room, and its little occupant gurgling happily to herself as she explored the latest toys sent over by Jo Maynard.
As Christmas approached, Mr. Miller worked hard on the Christmas carol concert he was planning, and the songs for the annual Christmas play, written by Jo Maynard herself. He had groomed a little orchestra to accompany the carols, and had managed to get a few of his star guitar players to accompany a simple little carol he had written himself. He was throwing himself heart and soul into the performance, eager to focus on that and not on the first Christmas his granddaughters would spend without their parents.
It was at this time that he fell foul of Matron again. She had been doing the rounds one Friday evening in early December and was very surprised to find a group of seniors out of their dormitories ten minutes after they should have been in bed. "What are you doing, girls?" she demanded.
As one of the oldest girls present, Annabelle Matthews answered, "We were at the choir practice."
"Until this time of night?"
"Sorry, Matron," Annabelle said earnestly. "We tried to tell Mr. Miller that we should be going, but he said that it was Friday night, so it would not matter if we were a few minutes late going to bed."
"Thank you, Annabelle," said Matron, inwardly seething. "Hurry up and get to bed, please. Good night, girls."
The girls chorused good night and scampered off to their dormitories as fast as they could go, thankful to have got away without a real scolding. Matron, meanwhile, headed off to the staffroom, walking as briskly as she could. She glanced round the staffroom, where many of the mistresses were relaxing, some were still marking piles of books and others were busy washing and drying the cups and saucers. Of David Miller there was no sign, so Matron headed off to the large practice room, where choir rehearsals were usually held.
In the practice room, she found David playing the piano, and, just for a moment, she forgot her anger in the beauty of the melancholy piece he was playing. He was a very talented pianist, but Matron knew that his skill on the flute exceeded his proficiency on the piano. As the piece ended, David opened his eyes and found Matron looking expectantly at him. At once all the old feelings of anger she roused in him came up to the surface and the calm brought on by the music vanished without trace.
"The seniors were late getting to bed tonight," Matron said, making a huge effort to sound concerned and not accusing. "I thought you should know that we place health…"
"Quite," he cut in. "They were at a practice, it's a Friday and it was only ten minutes."
"Please make sure they go off at the right time in future," she said, hanging onto her temper with an effort. "It is important, Mr. Miller."
"Thank you," he said dismissively, turning back to the piano and putting his music in order.
Matron took a deep breath, turned on her heel and left the room. 'If only I knew what I have done to warrant being so disliked,' she thought to herself as she returned to her own domain. 'I can't believe all this comes from one remark made in July. I've heard of holding grudges, but this is ridiculous.'
She went up to the little isolation room, which could be reached by a second connecting door from the san, and checked on Jenny. In the last few weeks, Jenny had not had any nightmares, and Gwynneth thought that she was probably well on the road to recovery. She still liked to check up on her, though, just to be sure. Furthermore, Jenny had expressed a desire to move into a dormitory for the spring term, as she felt that she was missing out on lots of fun with her friends because she shared a room with her grandfather and baby sister. Gwynneth had agreed that she could move, for there would be a spare bed in the pansy dormitory in St. Agnes house, where she could go. However, she wished to be sure that Jenny was not likely to disturb the other girls there by crying out in her sleep, so she liked to check on the little girl when she got the chance.
Jenny was, to Matron's relief, sleeping soundly. Matey covered her again with the pretty flowered counterpane and then stole a look at Claire. That young lady was sprawled out on her back, her golden curls in disarray, looking just like a baby angel. The scar on her face had lost its angry red appearance, but was still very prominent, and Matron hoped that it would not serve as a permanent reminder of the tragedy she had suffered so early in her life.
The sound of footsteps in the corridor outside the room brought Gwynneth back to reality, and she slipped out of the little room, closing the door softly behind her as David entered his room through the door from the passageway.

 

#33:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 4:42 pm

Thanks Fatima. Poor Matey and poor David too. I wonder if he is keeping her at arm's length because he is scared to get close to anyone after what happened? Sad

 

#34:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 4:54 pm

I hope I have all the spellings of names right here; I have been too inspired to look them all up!
Once all the girls had left the Chalet School for their Christmas holiday, many of the staff left as well. Helena Benson had invited Gwynneth and Hilda to join her and her husband for Christmas, but they had both decided that they would prefer to spend the holiday at school and go to Jo Maynard's for Christmas day. Jo was famous for her wonderful Christmas dinners, and both Gwynneth and Hilda felt that the Bensons should enjoy their first Christmas alone together. Most of the other staff had left the school, if not the Platz. Those inseparables, Nancy Wilmot and Kathie Ferrars, had gone to stay at the Adlersnest with Biddy Courvoisier and Hilary Graves and their young families. Rosalie Dene had gone off to stay with Grizel Sheppard, and Mlle Lachenais had gone skiing in France with her compatriot, Julie Berne. David Miller and his granddaughters were planning to stay at the school, but Jo had offered them a room at Freudesheim, and Jenny had persuaded her grandfather to accept.
Gwynneth was surprised by how saddened she was to see Jenny and Claire go off for ten days holiday at Freudesheim. She was so used to having the baby with her all day long that it was a shock to glance across her office and find that she was not there. As usual, to hide her sadness, Matey threw herself into her work. She initiated a thorough cleaning of all the dormitories, uncovering all sorts of lost treasures from long-forgotten library books that had slipped behind cupboards and odd socks and hair ribbons to odd things like half eaten boxes of chocolates under beds and even a trowel on the top of one of the tall wardrobes. By the time Christmas Eve came, she had a big box full of clothes, fortunately mostly named, and other odds and ends belonging to the girls. All of the dormitories were immaculate, ready for their occupants to return after the holiday, and she felt pleasantly exhausted by her hard work.
On Christmas Eve Gwynneth and Hilda attended a service at the little Protestant chapel on the Platz, then met up with Major and Mrs. Benson for home made mince pies and mulled wine in their pretty little chalet. The Mirlhof had been decorated modestly, with a small tree and some branches of holly and paper garlands that the Major had spend the last days of term manufacturing as a surprise for his wife. A pile of gifts waited beneath the tree, and delicious smells came wafting in from the kitchen. It was evident to the guests that the Bensons were planning to have a very romantic Christmas together and they were both glad that they had decided not to intrude. They enjoyed spending a couple of hours there, though, before trudging off through the snow to the school once again.

 

#35:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 7:11 pm

Matey is now reluctant to cooperate; it is odd how she is the one who tries to go off in her own sweet way when I write about her. I'm no longer sure where this is going. Hopefully the bunnies and Matey can work something out together!

On Christmas morning they were up early again, and heading off for the Christmas service in the chapel, then they went over to Freudesheim together. Jo Maynard, just back from mass herself, welcomed them cheerfully, and helped them to hang their coats in the closet and change into their slippers. She then ushered them into her huge salon, where her family were amusing themselves very noisily. Amongst the crowd sat David, Claire on his knee, looking as happy as Gwynneth had ever seen him. She was about to go over to him and see the baby, but Jenny noticed her arrival and came over for a hug.
"Happy Christmas, Matey," she said, using the nickname that the school usually only employed out of Matron's hearing.
"Happy Christmas, Jenny," Gwynneth replied, returning the hug with interest. "How has your holiday been?"
"Wonderful," she answered contentedly. "We have had snow fights and been shopping and to church and all sorts. I even helped Anna make some mince pies."
Gwynneth smiled at Jenny's happy face. "I am so glad it's been good," she said. "And how is Claire?"
"She has been very good," Jenny said. "But we both missed you, Matey."
"I missed you, too," Gwynneth assured the child.
"Have some mulled wine," Joey interposed at that point. "Jack managed to get the day off yesterday and he has made it to some secret recipe of his own. It's really festive tasting, though, so he must have done something right!"
Gwynneth took the glass Jo was offering her and went to sit beside Hilda on a long, low settee. Jo had been right about the wine; it was warm and spicy and tasted perfect for a snowy Christmas day. She had two glasses of it before they went into the speisesaal for their lunch, and began to feel very mellow as Jo poured a crisp white wine to go with the meal. All of the Maynard children were home, along with some of their wards, and their visitors, so the meal was riotous to say the least. Gwynneth found that Jo had put her next to Margot, the youngest of the Maynard triplets, and Jenny, so she had a very pleasant meal. Margot regaled them with tales from her experiences whilst training to be a doctor in Edinburgh, and made everyone laugh with some of her stories of the hospital interns' antics. Anna had excelled herself with the meal; she had cooked a massive turkey and a huge piece of beef and there were mountains of roast potatoes, piles of vegetables and home made cranberry sauce to top it all off. Brightly coloured crackers yielded jokes and gaudy paper hats, and by the time the blazing Christmas pudding arrived many of the party were in no fit state to eat it.
Gwynneth, who had stuffed herself with roast potatoes, a weakness of hers, felt so full that she had to pass on the desert, though Jo, ever the thoughtful hostess, offered to save some for her to eat later. Accepting another glass of wine, Gwynneth and Hilda and some of the younger children were excused from the table. They returned to the salon, where Hilda sank down into an armchair in a manner that suggested Gwynneth was not the only one who was suffering from a surfeit of potatoes.
The two of them chuckled again over some of the funnier jokes from the crackers, and found that they both felt pleasantly sleepy. Gwynneth noticed Hilda's head starting to fall, and carefully took the glass from her hand before she could spill the remains of her wine. Soon Hilda's head was resting on the arm of the chair and she was snoring gently. Gwynneth found that Claire had come over to see her, so she picked up the baby and went to play with her.
Before long, all of the meal had been cleared away and Jo began to round everyone up for some singing. She had a piano in the salon, which she had had tuned before the holiday began, and she prevailed upon David to play some carols while they sang. David, who had looked more relaxed that day than anyone had seen him before, agreed, and soon they were raising the roof with all of their favourite carols. Even Hilda was awakened, and came to join the singing, not a little embarrassed by her impromptu snooze.

 

#36:  Author: Liane, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 9:19 pm

Just caught up on about fouir updates! Thank you Fatima.
Baby Claire is so sweet!

 

#37:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 9:28 pm

so many updates Fatima! You're spoiling us - not that we mind. This is absolutely fantastic, a beautiful description of Christmas at the Maynards and a lovely, caring side to Gwyneth we rarely see in the CS books.

 

#38:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 11:49 pm

Reading about that dinner has made my mouth water!

Thanks Fatima - looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Liz

 

#39:  Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 12:47 am

Excellent - lots of catch up on!

Thanks, Fatima, this is fab. Very Happy

 

#40:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 5:10 pm

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to comment. Here's some more, but Matey is getting harder and harder to keep in line!

Little Claire fell asleep, somehow undisturbed by the singing, so Gwynneth lifted her gently and took her out of the room, deciding to put her in the quiet nursery so that she could have her nap in peace. She walked up the shallow stairs, humming along with the carol the group were now singing and went into the nursery. It had seen many Maynard babies, but now was little used. Even Claire Mabillon had moved into her own room. However, as David and his family had been staying at Freudesheim, it was warm and cosy there and Gwynneth settled the baby in the cot. She stood for a moment, looking down at the little girl, realizing how much she had missed her over the past week.
Then the door of the nursery opened very quietly, and Gwynneth jumped almost out of her skin as she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"What…" she began, but David Miller effectively silenced her by holding her firmly by the shoulders and kissing her.
When he stopped, he put a gentle finger across her lips and spoke very softly. "I'm so sorry, Gwynneth. I have behaved atrociously. Please let me try to explain."
"You are right there," she retorted, "so why would I want to listen to you?"
"Because I can explain," he said, his blue eyes boring into hers.
"You can explain why you have been so rude?" she demanded. "You have been impossible to work with, you have resented everything I have done for your granddaughters, you have gone out of your way to be completely obnoxious and to add insult to injury, you have the nerve to come in here and kiss me. What makes you think that I want to hear your explanations?"
"You are right," he said sorrowfully. "I am all that, and worse."
Gwynneth looked at him again, seeing things she had not noticed before; he had threads of grey in his blond hair, there were lines of tiredness and suffering around his eyes, and his shoulders seemed stooped suddenly.
"I am sorry," he said again, wondering if he was too late in his attempt to explain himself to the feisty woman in front of him. "Please will you listen, just for a moment?"
Matron thought of the two little girls who had wriggled their way into her heart and knew that she could not refuse, for their sakes. "You had better make it quick," she told him curtly.
He drew her over to sit on the window seat, from where they could look out on the gathering dusk and the snow-covered garden. "You are very like my wife," he said, his voice low. "Not to look at, but in the way you move, the way you are always so practical and busy. That was the first thing I noticed about you, that day in the summer. My daughter was the same. She rushed around, always ready to do anything for anyone. I sometimes wonder if she was in a hurry that day, so her husband was driving too fast. I guess it is better not to know." He fell silent, looking out unseeingly at the garden.
Gwynneth realized that he was still holding her hands, so she gently squeezed his fingers. "You only have a moment to explain," she reminded him, her voice sympathetic now, not angry.
He turned to look at her, unable to stop himself from smiling. "You are too understanding for your own good," he said. "To cut a long and horrible story short, I had lost Jenny and it was if her mother and grandmother were standing there rebuking me for my carelessness. It was awful. When you found her, she really liked you, and that felt as if she was betraying me. I had been worried to death about her, but she wanted to hold your hand and walk with you. She didn't stop talking about how kind you were, and how you made her think of her mother when you bandaged her leg. I was so jealous, Gwynneth, and I just couldn't stand it." He sighed heavily. "It sounds so silly, putting it all into words. I have spent the last week thinking. Freudesheim is a very good place for thinking. I have done so much thinking that my head aches most days, but that is beside the point. I have come to realize a few things, the most important of which is how awful I have been to someone who has done nothing but shower me with kindness. I have been punishing you for something you didn't even know you had done, and for something you couldn't help. Once I had realized that, I discovered something else, something even more shocking."
Gwynneth braced herself. "I'm not sure I can stand any more shocks this evening," she said doubtfully. "And they are going to be missing you downstairs now. Maybe we should go back and let Claire sleep in peace."
Reluctantly, David nodded. "You're right," he said. "I have found that you usually are."
"I do not give in to flattery," she warned him, freeing her hands from his and standing up.
David stood up, too. "I didn't think you would," he assured her. "Gwynneth, it is Christmas day, the height of the season of goodwill. I know I don't deserve it, but could you possibly find a little goodwill in your heart for me? I promise I have found plenty for you."
Gwynneth looked up at him; he was a tall man and she was built on a diminutive scale. She was about to tell him that she had had plenty of goodwill for him and that he had thrown it all back in her face, but something in his expression stopped her from being unkind to him. Finally, she nodded. "I'll try," she said.
"Thank you," he answered, relieved beyond measure that she was letting him off the hook so easily. He looked into Claire's cot once more, and then held the door open for Matron to leave the nursery. They left the door a little ajar, so that they would be able to hear if Claire awoke, then descended the stairs together. The group in the salon was still singing carols and they were able to slip back into the room unnoticed. Gwynneth sank down onto the most comfortable settee, happy to listen to the singing and not join in. She suddenly felt very weary, tired by the revelations of David Miller as much as by the hard work she did every day. The group sang the Latin carol, Adeste Fideles, then the singing stopped. Jenny came over to sit on Gwynneth's lap, obviously tired by the excitement of the day. Gwynneth put her arms round the little girl, holding her close and watching as the blue eyes quickly closed.

 

#41:  Author: BethC, Location: Worcester, UK PostPosted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 5:19 pm

Aha - lots explained there! Thanks, Fatima.

 

#42:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 9:29 pm

Ho-hum!

Thanks for that Fatima, I wonder how this will turn out.

 

#43:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 10:28 pm

Thank you Fatima for the lovely posts!! Very Happy

 

#44:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 10:37 pm

Thanks Fatima - hope they can start again on much better terms now

Liz

 

#45:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 9:54 am

Thanks Fatima, lovely update

 

#46:  Author: Róisín, Location: Galway, Eire PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 10:04 am

Just caught up and I'm just completely sucked into this drabble. Fatima - you're the queen of romance for the ladies on the Platz ;)

 

#47:  Author: Lyanne, Location: Ipswich, England PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 12:23 pm

Well goodness me! He kissed her! In the nursery! Shocked This is lovely again, you are showing so much of Gwyneth's compassionate loving nature that is so often concealed behind her brusqueness.

 

#48:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:14 pm

Thank you for all the comments! Here we go again...

Suddenly David was beside her. "Shall I take her upstairs?" he asked softly. "She is very heavy for you to hold for a long time."
"I like to hold her," Gwynneth answered. "I have missed her."
"We have missed you, too," was David's rather disconcerting reply. "May I sit down, please?" he asked.
"If you like," she answered, gently moving Jenny's feet out of his way.
"The girls have had a lovely day," he told her. "I was so worried that Jenny would be upset today, but she has handled it beautifully."
"She is very much better," Gwynneth answered. It felt odd to be talking to him so naturally. He had always been so brusque with her before, and she realized that he was actually rather charming.
"I think we have you to thank for that," he said, holding her gaze. "She told me how you always have time to talk to her if she feels sad and how she always feels better after talking to you."
Gwynneth made no reply, she just sat and looked into his eyes the way he was looking deep into hers. Suddenly Jack Maynard's jovial voice broke across the silence that had surrounded them. "Let me carry Jenny up to the nursery," he said, and he bent and took the sleeping child from Gwynneth.
"No, stay there," David said, as she got up to follow. "I can manage." Then, surprisingly he added, "Unless you want to put her to bed, that is?"
Gwynneth fought a brief battle with her pride. "Yes, I would like to," she said, getting up. She followed Jack upstairs and once he had laid the sleeping girl on the bed, she carefully changed her into her pyjamas as she had so many girls before her. She tucked her in and leaned over to kiss her cheek, and then went to check on Claire once more.
"They both sleep so well now," David told her quietly. "Do you really think Jenny will be all right in a dormitory in St. Agnes next term?"
"Yes, I think it is the best thing for her," said Gwynneth. "She will be with her friends and they will give her no time for brooding. She can be involved in all the mischief little girls enjoy and I think the healing process will be easier for her."
"What about Claire?"
"She is very much healthier now. The mountain air has been good for her, especially this bracing cold. She eats well and sleeps well and her development is quite normal."
"And all of this is thanks to you," he said, catching hold of her arm as she left the nursery. "Gwynneth, wait."
She turned to him again. "Now what?" she asked, her words more abrupt than her tone of voice.
"The thing that shocked me the most," he said slowly, "was when I discovered that I have fallen in love with you."
"Nonsense," she said briskly. "We don't know each other. I remind you of your wife, you have already said that. It is only natural that you should be looking for some comfort after all you have been through."
She turned to the stairs, but before she could go down them, he had turned her to face him once more. "I have been fighting against that all this time. Gwynneth, I can't stop thinking about you. I haven't been able to get you out of my mind these last four or five months. No wonder I was angry, but it was all with myself. I couldn't believe that I could be so unfeeling as to fall in love so soon after the accident. I felt that I was being unfaithful to their memory, and so I tried to turn the love to hate. I was so sure I hated you, but now I know I don't. Gwynneth, you look stunned."
"What else did you expect?" she demanded, hardly able to believe all he was telling her. "This is a bit of a bolt from the blue. It is Christmas day, and I had been expecting a nice quiet day with friends. Instead I get this. I'm sorry if I haven't broken down and told you that I love you, too, but I don't. You have been truly unbearable since I met you, David, and, quite frankly, I am not impressed by your 'honesty' today."
"You are right," he said humbly. "Go back down and join your friends, Gwynneth. I will keep out of your way for the rest of the day. I don't know what I was thinking about. I don't know what came over me." He went back into the room, and closed the door.

 

#49:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 4:43 pm

Poor David - I feel sorry for him even though he deserved all Gwynneth said.

Hope he can come up with a way to change her opinion of him.

Thanks Fatima Very Happy

Liz

 

#50:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 5:34 pm

Gwynneth stood for a moment at the top of the stairs and then started to go down. About half way down she stopped again, then she turned and ran back upstairs, assailed by visions of someone infinitely sad who needed a friend. She, who prided herself on doing the right thing, had been rude and unkind to someone in need, and she knew that she would not forgive herself if she did not try to make some kind of peace with him. She tapped lightly at the door of the nursery, then listened intently. Finally, she turned the handle and opened the door. Not quite knowing what she should expect, she was relieved to find him sitting on the window seat once again, staring out into the darkness. "I think it would be best if we could find some sort of middle ground," she said, sitting down at his side. She watched as a tear slid slowly down his cheek, and then she put her hand onto his shoulder.
He gave an inarticulate sob and the next thing she knew, he was crying bitterly in her arms. As he wept, Matron knew that a lot of his brusque manner had been a cover for his fragile self control. She guessed that he had been so busy comforting his granddaughters and caring for them that he had not had time to grieve properly himself, and that all his despair had been bottled up inside and that bottle firmly corked. Now that she had broken through his self control, he could grieve and begin to recover from the awful accident himself.
She let him weep for a while then she took her handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to him. "David, that's enough now," she said firmly. "Please get ready for bed, while I make you a cup of tea. You will make yourself ill if you carry on like this."
There were tea-making facilities in a little kitchen off the nursery, so Gwynneth had no need to go down to the kitchen and disturb Anna. She brewed tea and added a generous spoonful of sugar to David's cup, guessing he would be feeling rather shaky after his outburst. She took a tray and put the cups on it, and carried it through into the nursery. She turned on the nightlight, as it was properly dark now, and set the tray down on a table. "Here you are," she said, handing him a cup. "Drink it now, before you say anything else."
He gave her a wan smile. "Thank you, Gwynneth," he said, then, catching her eye he said no more. He sat up in bed to drink his tea, and Gwynneth sat on a chair beside the bed. She watched him sternly until he had drunk the whole cupful, and then offered him a second. "No, thank you," he answered. "I am so sorry for spoiling your day," he continued. "I have made such a mess of things lately."
"Don't worry about anything tonight," she said, showing him the excellent bedside manner that few people ever saw. "You should go to sleep now, David, and we can talk some more tomorrow."
"Will you come over and see me tomorrow?" he asked eagerly. "I'd really like you to – and I am sure the girls would love to see you," he added, playing his trump card quite shamelessly.
"I suppose I could stop by for a while," she said reflectively. "Meanwhile, I suggest you go to sleep, and I shall go back downstairs and try to enjoy what is left of the day." Her voice was not sharp as she spoke, though, and she leaned down and kissed his cheek just as she had Jenny's. "Good night, God bless," she said, leaving him looking surprised.

 

#51:  Author: Róisín, Location: Galway, Eire PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 8:34 pm

Oh goodie!

I love this story Cool

 

#52:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 11:10 pm

awww Fatima this is beautiful - Gwyneth is so lovely. I wish she could come and look after me when I feel ill!

 

#53:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 11:44 pm

How lovely - thanks Fatima

Liz

 

#54:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 5:51 pm

Downstairs, things were much quieter. The younger children had gone to bed and the older ones were playing a game of monopoly. Hilda and Jo were languidly making conversation, while Jack quite blatantly dozing in his favourite armchair. Gwynneth, her head spinning with all the revelations she had heard that afternoon, wished she could go to sleep, but she settled instead for a space on the sofa with Jo and her feet on a pouffe.
"Is everything ok?" Jo asked, passing Gwynneth a large slice of Christmas cake.
"Yes, the girls are asleep, and I think Mr. Miller will be, too."
"Good," said Jo, "because I have been worried about him."
"You don't need to worry any more," Matey reassured her. "We had a little chat and I think he's going to be all right."
"Well done, Gwynneth," said Hilda approvingly. "You got through to him, then?"
"I think you could say that," said Gwynneth. "He's been so busy being everything to Jenny and Claire that he has not grieved for his own loss."
"Should Jack go and see him?" Jo wondered.
"No, he's all right for now." Matey nibbled on the marzipan that covered the Christmas cake. "Jo, this is delectable," she said contentedly. "I was going to say I couldn't eat another thing, but now I know that I shall have to force down every last crumb of this."
"Well, you know Anna…" Jo grinned at her friends. "It's a wonder that I am not as fat as a house from all her cooking!"
Gwynneth looked at Jo, who was still slender despite Anna's delicious cooking, and laughed. "I imagine that you are too busy rushing round to put on weight," she said, "but once all your birds have flown the nest, I should say you will pile on the pounds!"
Hilda laughed and almost upset her wine glass. "Really, Gwynneth," she protested, adding some mumbled comment that sounded something like 'season of goodwill and all that'.
Jo looked complacent. "We shall see," she said. "What shall we do with Mr. Miller tomorrow?"
"I don't know yet," Matey admitted. "May I come over and visit him during the morning?"
"Of course you may," Jo agreed at once. "We have plans for a quiet day after the excesses of today. I expect Anna will rustle up a few turkey sandwiches for lunch, so you are welcome to join us, Gwynneth. You, too, Hilda."
Hilda, who was looking tired, said, "I'll let you know tomorrow. I think it is time we were heading off, Gwynneth."
Matey polished off the last mouthful of her cake with more haste than dignity, then she and Hilda took their leave of the Maynards. They donned their coats and scarves and declined Jack's offer to escort them back to the school. It was a lovely night, crisp and clear, and they had made the short journey between Freudesheim and the school so often they could almost do it with their eyes closed. The two friends linked arms, and walked slowly back, reflecting on previous Christmas days and old friends they used to enjoy spending the festive season with. When they returned to the school, they sat together for some cocoa in Hilda's private sitting room, but Gwynneth could see that her friend was tired by the day, and she did not linger. Bidding the head good night, she went off to her own room.

 

#55:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 6:05 pm

That was lovely Very Happy

Thanks Fatima

Liz

 

#56:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 10:38 pm

Beautiful

Thank you, Fatima

 

#57:  Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 5:13 pm

Awwww! Thanks Fatima. Very Happy

 

#58:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 3:56 pm

There is only a little today, but now that the exams have finished, I am hoping to let Matey take over my life again! Sitting here with the air conditioning on, and temperatures up in the 30s, it feels odd to be writing about snow and Christmas!

Gwynneth got ready for bed and lay down thankfully beneath the big fluffy plumeau, as it was a very cold night. She was comfortable and warm in bed, with a hot water bottle by her feet, and she expected to fall asleep straight away, but somehow her mind would not let her rest. She could not stop thinking about David Miller and all that he had said and done that afternoon. She could still hear him saying 'I have fallen in love with you' and could still feel his mouth on hers. It was a long time since she had been kissed in that way, and she was still shocked by the fact that it had been rude, insufferable David who had kissed her. She had never hated him, it was not in her nature, but she had disliked him and found him bad mannered. He had continually snubbed her and behaved boorishly, and even though she had done her best to help him, he had never appreciated her help. Or so she had thought.
Matey turned over, and thought instead about the two little girls, Jenny and baby Claire. They were both so sweet and she was enjoying her developing relationship with them. Jenny was a delightful girl, who had settled down well at school, was making lots of friends and making good progress with her work. Baby Claire would soon be running around all over, and she had begun to say dada and mama to anyone who came near her. She was the apple of Gwynneth's eye, and now that relations had improved with David, Matey hoped that she would grow ever closer to the two girls. But that train of thought brought her back again to David.
Matey sighed and rolled over again, closing her eyes firmly and starting to list the contents of her medicine cupboard – her equivalent of counting sheep. David, with his blue eyes that were no longer cold, his fine, even features and his blond hair, kept slipping into her list, though. He was just the type of man Matey had always considered handsome. He had now shown that he could be charming instead of objectionable, and she wondered whether she would grow to like him.

 

#59:  Author: Róisín, Location: Galway, Eire PostPosted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 4:02 pm

Beautiful, Fatima, thanks so much! I love the little details you conjure - this time the medicine cabinet version of counting sheep. Very Happy

 

#60:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 4:04 pm

Fatima wrote:

Matey sighed and rolled over again, closing her eyes firmly and starting to list the contents of her medicine cupboard – her equivalent of counting sheep.


I like that! Thanks Fatima.

 

#61:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 5:20 pm

Lovely Very Happy

Thanks Fatima

Liz

 

#62:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:24 pm

Thank you Fatima.

I read the counting sheep as counting sheets - was very confused til I went back and reread it!

 

#63:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 4:38 am

The next thing Matey knew was the ringing of the phone in her room, and she leaned right out of bed to answer it. A glance at her bedside clock showed her that she had had a most unusual lie-in, as it was already nine o'clock. 'Gracious,' Matey thought, as she picked up the receiver, 'I can't believe how lazy I have been.' "Hello?" she said.
"Hello, Gwynneth," came David's voice down the line. "Have I woken you?"
"Well, actually, yes," said Gwynneth, sounding apologetic. "I can't remember the last time I slept this late."
"I am sure it will have done you good," he told her. "How are you today?"
"Very well, thank you," she said, plumping up the pillows with one hand and leaning against them. It was still chilly, so she drew the plumeau more closely around herself. "How about you?"
"Much better than I thought," he said, and she could hear that he was smiling. "I wondered if you would like to come over and see us. We are all up and ready to be visited."
Gwynneth laughed. "I am not yet ready to visit," she told him. "You will have to give me an hour or so to get ready. How are the girls?"
"They are great, and waiting impatiently to see you," he answered. "Jenny has been going on about learning to knit, and how you promised to teach her today. Claire has had her breakfast and is now off for a short walk with Rosli, so she'll have roses in her cheeks by the time you get here. And, just in case you were wondering, I am sitting by the window, watching the front path, waiting impatiently for you."
"I wasn't wondering," she said nonchalantly. "I'll get ready, and come over in a while, then," she continued, sounding very business-like, while he chuckled at her refusal to be flustered by him. "Good bye, David."
"Good bye," he responded, and they both replaced the receiver.
Gwynneth got up and went off to the staff bathroom, where she had her customary cold bath, then she dressed in a warm jumper and skirt and went off to have breakfast. She discovered that Hilda was still asleep, so she left instructions that no one was to disturb the Head, who had been looking over-worked lately. Matey then surprised herself by hurrying with her meal, before putting on her outdoor clothes and setting off for Freudesheim, and David.
Outside, snow was falling gently, but it did not look like it would turn into a blizzard, so Gwynneth set off across the garden to Jo Maynard's house. She loved the cold weather, and never tired of the sight of the trees and chalets decorated with a sprinkling of snow. It was especially appropriate at Christmas time, when the Platz looked like a scene from a Christmas card. There was also nothing like coming into the warmth of the house after walking in the snow, sitting in front of a blazing fire, and waiting for your fingers and toes to get warm again. Matey went up the steps to the front door at Freudesheim, but before she could ring the bell, the door was flung open.
"Hello!" David greeted her as warmly as the glowing fire she had been anticipating. He practically dragged her into the hall, out of the cold and closed the door quickly, before helping her off with her coat. "Thank you for coming, Gwynneth," he said, hanging up her coat for her. He turned back to find her looking up at him, and he reached out and gently pushed a stray strand of her hair back into place. "Jo has coffee and mince pies for us. Let's go in and sit by the fire."
"How are you feeling?" she asked him.
"Somewhat embarrassed over having made such a fool of myself in so many ways yesterday," he answered, stopping with his hand on the door handle. "So I am more than glad that you actually came back today, and I promise that I shall keep any further revelations I may have to myself."
Gwynneth smiled at him. "I am glad to hear it," she said. "Now, where's that coffee and where are those two girls of yours?"

 

#64:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 7:11 am

Thanks Fatima

Hope they have a lovely morning - will Gwynneth be able to keep up her nonchalence I wonder?

Liz

 

#65:  Author: Róisín, Location: Galway, Eire PostPosted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 11:03 am

Quote:
And, just in case you were wondering, I am sitting by the window, watching the front path, waiting impatiently for you."


*sigh* So romantic! *sigh again* Very Happy

I love this drabble so much I'm starting to think the whole series should have been written from the staff's point of view.

 

#66:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 5:59 pm

Quote:
I'm starting to think the whole series should have been written from the staff's point of view


The staff had such dull lives outside of school (other than the lucky ones that met the doctor of their dreams, of course!) that it's up to us to liven it up for them!

David opened the door, and they went into the salon, where Jenny was curled up in a chair, reading a book and Claire was sitting in the big playpen, babbling incoherently to herself. Gwynneth went over to Claire and lifted her out, and was rewarded with a beaming smile. Gwynneth kissed the baby and carried her over to the settee, to sit with her on her lap. "Hello, Jenny," she said, once she was settled. "Is that a good book?"
"Hello," said Jenny, closing the book at once and coming over to the settee. She reached up and kissed Matey, then scrambled up onto the seat beside her. "It's very good," she answered. "But I was hoping that you would teach me to knit today. I have everything ready in the knitting bag you gave me."
"Good girl," said Gwynneth approvingly. "I shall have my coffee and mince pies and a little cuddle with Claire, then I shall teach you," she promised.
David sat in the chair opposite and watched the three of them with a smile on his face. He could not believe how they had taken to Gwynneth, and he wondered if they saw some of their mother's characteristics in her. Gwynneth had a lovely way with the children, he reflected. She was firm with them if she needed to be, but always so caring and gentle, and Jenny knew that she could trust her to listen if ever she wanted to talk about something important to her. Jenny curled up beside Gwynneth, and immediately Gwynneth put her arm around the little girl. Jenny rested her head on Gwynneth's shoulder and David noticed the fleeting look of contentment that passed across Gwynneth's usually reserved countenance.
"This afternoon Auntie Jo has promised we can have a snow fight," Jenny was saying. "Claire and Phil and I are going to fight against Geoff and Felix. Will you come and watch us?"
"Yes, I expect so," said Matey agreeably. "Did Claire go out for a walk this morning? She has such lovely rosy cheeks now."
"She went with Rosli, for a walk around the garden," Jenny said. "Matey, when will we go back to school?"
"Not for another ten days," Gwynneth answered patiently.
"Good," said Jenny. "I'm looking forward to moving into a dormy, and seeing all my friends again, but it is fun staying here."
"I'm glad you are having such a nice holiday," said Gwynneth. "You deserve it after all the hard work you have done in school."
Jenny reached up and kissed Gwynneth's cheek again. "I'm going to read my book again now," she announced.
"Then I shall drink my coffee," said Gwynneth with a smile.
Jenny returned to her chair, where she was soon engrossed in her book. Jo breezed in and welcomed her guest, proffering more mince pies and promising a good lunch for around one o'clock, then she breezed out again, heading for her study and her latest novel. Claire grew fed up with sitting still, and so Gwynneth put her back in the playpen, then she turned to find that David had taken Jenny's seat on the settee.
"Come and sit with me," he said. "It must be my turn now."
Gwynneth took another mince pie, still warm from the oven, and sat down next to him.
"I've been thinking," he began.
"Oh, no!" she exclaimed. "You promised that you wouldn't do that any more."
He laughed at that. "I know, and I am sorry, but I couldn't help it. Gwynneth, I was wondering if I could take you out sometimes, to see if I can persuade you to like me a little. There will be some concerts in Interlaken for the New Year, and I though you might like to come with me. The first one is on the 28th December and the Viennese orchestra will be playing. How about it?"
Gwynneth knew that she would love to hear the Viennese orchestra, but she decided that it would not be good to give in to him too easily. "I am not sure," she said. "I may be busy that evening."
He saw straight through her ploy. "I am sure you are not busy," he told her. "And I happen to know that you love Strauss, who will be featured heavily in the programme. Just say yes, Gwynneth, you know you want to."
"Well," she prevaricated, "I suppose I cannot refuse Strauss…"
"You see, that wasn't so hard," he laughed happily. "We will go to Interlaken and have dinner first, then we'll go to the concert and you will have a lovely time."
Relenting, Gwynneth smiled at him. "Thank you," she said sincerely. "It will be lovely and I am looking forward to it already." She finished her coffee and set the cup down on the little table again.
She spent the next hour helping Jenny to begin knitting, and then Jo came back, announcing that lunch was served. Anna had concocted some delicious sandwiches, and there were even dishes of vegetables and salad to go with them. Rosli took the children to the garden after lunch, and Gwynneth and David stood at the window to watch them playing in the snow. They laughed as they threw snowballs at one another and fell over their Wellington boots, and pulled each other over, too.
"I hope you have some of your liniment handy, Matey," said Jo, as Jenny fell down again.
For a moment Matey watched anxiously, then Jenny was back on her feet, her cheeks flushed, chasing after Geoff, who was responsible for her fall. "I shall have some sent over," she promised.

 

#67:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 7:36 pm

Thanks Fatima

*looking forward to the concert*

Liz

 

#68:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 1:34 pm

Jo disappeared into her study once again, leaving Gwynneth and David to sit down on the window seat together. David casually slid his arm around Gwynneth, still hardly able to believe that she had agreed to go into Interlaken for the concert with him. He was already planning other places to take her so that she would discover how wrong first impressions can be; then, maybe she would fall in love with him. He realized how lucky he was to have persuaded her to give him a second chance and he had no intention of doing anything to upset her this time.
"I can see why you love living here," he observed, gazing out at the garden, still beautiful in spite of the children's efforts to utilize every flake of snow in the manufacture of snowballs and, finally, a huge snowman. "There's nothing like snow, when it doesn't immediately turn to slush."
"It's very different from English snow," Gwynneth agreed, discovering that she rather liked the feel of his arm around her shoulders. "Switzerland is a lovely place for children to grow up. I remember my childhood in Wales, hardly ever seeing snow, and wishing for a blizzard every winter. Especially at Christmas time."
"Yes," David said, "I was just the same. I always wanted snow, so we could toboggan down the hill at the back of our house. We only did it about twice that I can remember."
"At least Jenny will have plenty of memories of snow," said Gwynneth reflectively, thinking as she spoke of all the memories that Jenny would not have, and somehow snow seemed a very inadequate compensation.
"And so will Claire," added David. "I think we will be here for years to come, so she will grow up with snowy winters."
"It is good for their health, being in this bracing cold," said Matey. "I can't get over how much better Claire looks now. She is the picture of health."
"She certainly is," he agreed. "She was in hospital for three weeks after the accident, and they were worried about her, but she pulled through, thank goodness."
"Thank goodness," she echoed fervently, and she squeezed David's hand tightly. "I am so sorry for your loss, David."
"Let's not talk about it any more," he said softly, even though he was the one who had introduced the subject. Gwynneth said nothing, but he knew from her warm hand in his that she understood how he was feeling. Outside, the snowman was completed and one of Jack's old trilby hats was put on its head and one of his pipes in its mouth. The children were thrilled with their work and came excitedly back into the house, all chattering at once. The hall was full of Wellington boots and Anna would have plenty of work to do, removing all the footprints they had made on the hall floor. They sat down with cups of cocoa and some of Anna's delicious chocolate biscuits, and planned the fun that they would have the next day, taking out the toboggans and perhaps helping Jenny practice skiing.

 

#69:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 5:08 pm

I'm so glad Jenny and Claire are settled now - and I'm definitely looking forward to this concert they'll be going to.

Thank you Fatima

 

#70:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 6:02 pm

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read this and write the comments.

All too soon, Gwynneth was putting on her outdoor clothes again, and getting ready to go back to the Chalet School. David, who had not been out all day, decided that he would walk back with her and collect some of his music so that he could practice the next day. Gwynneth had refused to visit him then, because she had some jobs she wished to see to, but he still had dinner in Interlaken and the concert to look forward to. Not wishing to irritate her, he refrained from complaining about her desire to work instead of relaxing with him. They said goodbye to Jenny and Claire and set off across the now well-trampled snow, through the gate to the school.
Once out of sight of Freudesheim, he stopped, pretending to re-tie the lace of his boot. He scooped up a handful of the soft, powdery snow and threw it at Gwynneth, hitting her on the back of the head. She spun round, to see him laughing unrepentantly, so she abandoned her dignity and made some snowballs of her own. To his surprise, her aim was excellent and the first caught him right in the face, closely followed by a second one in the stomach. Very soon they were pelting each other madly, in a way that would have astounded the youngsters they had left at Freudesheim, until they were both exhausted by the effort.
Wiping the snow from his face again, David called for a truce. "Enough!" he begged. "Gwynneth, you are too good at this and I'm sorry I started it!"
"That is what comes of living here for years," she laughed, and he thought she had never looked so lovely, with her cheeks rosy and her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Maybe next time you won't be so foolish as to set upon someone smaller than yourself!"
"I definitely won't," he agreed, holding out his hand to her. "Come on, let me get you back to school before it gets dark."
They returned to the Chalet arm in arm, and David went off to collect his music. Gwynneth put away her outdoor clothes and then disappeared into the San, where she had plenty of work to do before the girls returned to school. Accidents from winter sports and doses of flu were common in the months after Christmas, so Matey liked to make the San ready for any kind of emergency before the girls returned from their Christmas holiday. She spent some time there that evening, and went early to bed, planning a good day's work in the San the next day.

 

#71:  Author: ali, Location: medway, kent PostPosted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 6:20 pm

I wish some of her pupils could see gwyneth playing in the snow like one of them. It's a lovely picture and one I'll remember whenever I read about matey now.

 

#72:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 10:47 pm

Lovely - and fun - thanks Fatima

Liz

 

#73:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 3:25 pm

Just a little today...

The next morning saw Gwynneth and Hilda up much earlier, and having breakfast together. As they ate, they outlined their plans for the day. Hilda was going to visit Biddy O'Ryan and Hilary Graves, both former pupils and mistresses of the school, who lived nearby on the Platz. Matey was going to attend to the San, so they agreed to meet that afternoon, in Hilda's suite, for coffee and cakes. While Hilda went to get ready to go out, Matey headed off to the San again, her mind full of cleaning and tidying.
Most people would already consider the San to be immaculately tidy, but Matron managed to find plenty to do there. Bed linen and towels were piled untidily and so they needed to be arranged with greater neatness. New stock needed to be put into the large medicine cupboard, and the old stock checked to be sure it was not past its use by date. Matron decided that if she worked really hard, she would be able to have the rooms up to her standard of perfection by the time she needed to get ready to go to Interlaken with David the next afternoon.
She went at her work with vigour and felt her usual satisfaction as the room began to look pristine once again. She sorted out the linen closet first, then, finding that some things on the top shelf looked as if they were beginning to turn yellow, she got her step ladder and climbed up to get them down to send to the laundry. She found that there were old sheets, kept for the naughty middles to hem sides to middle, and some old bed jackets, so she tossed them down onto the nearest bed. Stretching as far as she could, she felt some other things up on the shelf, so she began to pull them towards her. As she discovered that her spare nurses' uniforms had got shoved right to the back, and crumpled up, the phone rang, making her jump. She had been at full stretch, and the noise of the phone caused her to overbalance and she fell with a shriek to the floor. As she fell, she managed to hit her head hard against the bed, and by the time she landed on the floor she was unconscious.

 

#74:  Author: Róisín, Location: Galway, Eire PostPosted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 3:33 pm

Oh no! Hope she's ok. Hope David comes to her rescue in a rosemantic scene Wink

 

#75:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 3:38 pm

argh! I wasn't expecting that at all Fatima!

That was a very sneaky cliff. I do hope David will come to her rescue.

 

#76:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 4:21 pm

Eeeek!!!

Please let her be okay Fatima!

 

#77:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England PostPosted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 6:47 pm

Thanks, Fatima. I have just caught up from Page One! This is such a wonderfully written romantic drabble. I really feel as if I'm a fly on the wall watching Gwyneth and David.

 

#78:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 8:10 pm

Oh wow dozens of fab updates! Thanks Fatima

*wibbles madly about Matey lying there presumably still, grey, etc Wink *

 

#79:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 11:16 pm

Oh no - poor Matey - I hope somebody finds her soon

Thanks Fatima

Liz

 

#80:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 6:06 pm

Today is the first day of Ramadan, so my time for writing has become time for cooking! I shall do my best to keep up, but please forgive me if I seem unproductive. Thank you for all the comments.

Over at Freudesheim, David hung the phone up, puzzled by the lack of response from the school's San. He had had his call put through by the maid who answered the phone, and she had been sure that Gwynneth had been in the San. The phone had rung and rung, but there had been no answer. Deciding that she had just popped out to her office, or her bedroom, or, indeed, anywhere, he thought that he would go and play the piano for a while, then call her again.
Jenny and Claire were happily occupied, Claire in her playpen and Jenny painting pictures in the play room with Geoff and Phil. David settled down at the piano and began to play, the music rippling majestically from the keys as he touched them. Even Jo, fathoms deep in her latest novel, heard the stirring music and stopped writing for a moment to listen appreciatively. She had heard Nina Rutherford playing, and before her, Margia Stevens, both now famous concert pianists, and she realized that David, too, was very talented.
For an hour David lost himself in his music, and then he was recalled to the present by Claire's cries. Rosli appeared to take the baby away and change and feed her, and David headed once again for the telephone. To his surprise there was still no answer. He let the phone ring and ring, until, puzzled, he was obliged to hang up. Thoughtfully, he went off to find Jo, who was still in her study writing frantically. He explained that he was just going over to the school, and then went off to get his coat. He could not shake a vague feeling of uneasiness, so he headed off without stopping to put on his hat or scarf. He went quickly across the garden and the trampled snow in the school grounds brought a brief smile to his face as he remembered his snow fight with Gwynneth.
He quickly reached the school, and went in through the front door. He dashed up stairs, still in his boots and outdoor clothes, and went straight to the san. He went inside, saying, "Hello, Gwynneth…" Realizing that he could not see her in the San, he looked round, noticing that the cupboard was open, so she had evidently been working there. He left the san and went off to look for Gwynneth in her office, but again, could not find her. Finally, he called one of the maids.
"Where is Matron Lloyd?" he enquired, more than a little perplexed by her apparent disappearance.
"She was working in the San, Sir," the maid said, in her careful English.
"But she was not there a moment ago," he said. "She did not say she was going out?"
"No, Sir."
"Thank you." David returned to the San, and went over to the nurses' desk, to see if she had left a note, explaining her disappearance. It was then that he noticed the small figure, lying face down on the cold floor. With a gasp, he dashed over to her.

 

#81:  Author: Róisín, Location: Galway, Eire PostPosted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 6:15 pm

*wibbles*

Will everything be okay? Shocked

 

#82:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 8:06 pm

No worries, Fatima - just don't leave us hanging for too long

 

#83:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 7:53 am

Thanks Fatima

Hope Matey is ok

Liz

 

#84:  Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 12:13 pm

Have just caught up on loads of this - but am still on a cliff!

Thanks Fatima. Hope Matey is ok.

 

#85:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 3:56 pm

Thanks for the comments, and sorry about the cliff! Here's a little more for you.

She was still unconscious, and he could see that she was hurt. She was white and when he touched her neck, feeling for her pulse, he could feel how cold she was. He was relieved to discover that her pulse was strong, so he pulled the cover from the bed and put it over her, then he went to call Freudesheim, knowing that Jack Maynard was there, enjoying a day off of work.
Jack agreed to come immediately, so David rang off and returned to Gwynneth's side. He did not like to move her, knowing that injuries can be made worse by someone moving the wounded person without knowing what they were doing. He had to content himself with crouching on the floor at her side, gently stroking her hair, acknowledging as he did so that it was more for his own comfort than for hers.
Jack Maynard appeared not five minutes after David had called him, having run all the way from his home to the school. His rapid arrival attracted the attention of the maids, and one of them accompanied him up to the San to see what the problem was. Jack glanced at Gwynneth and immediately sent the maid to phone for an ambulance. He bent over the prostrate figure, checking her vital signs and showing David a cut on her temple. "She must have hit her head on the bed as she fell from the ladder," Jack said. "She's been lying here for ages, too. We'll have to get her to the San, and give her an x-ray. She has been unconscious for far too long."
"Will she be all right?" David asked anxiously. "Why do you think she hasn't come round yet?"
"It's a serious injury," Jack replied. "We will know more about it when we get her to the San. Try not to worry, David, until we know more. Gwynneth is a real fighter and it will take more than this to pull her down for long."
"Can I go with her to the San?" asked David.
"Yes, of course," said Jack at once. "The ambulance will be here soon. Let's make her comfortable until it gets here."
The two men lifted Gwynneth onto the bed, and David was amazed by how light she was. They laid her head on the pillow, and Jack began to clean the wound on her head. It had not bled much, but the area around it looked badly bruised. He covered it with some gauze and then took Matey's blood pressure. "Her vital signs are good," he said thoughtfully. "I hope she will awaken soon."
They stood silently, looking down at the still figure on the bed, her face as white as the sheet on which she lay. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the ambulance arrived, and two men came dashing up the stairs with a stretcher. Under Jack's supervision, they put Matey on the stretcher, covered her with a blanket and carried her down to the ambulance. Jack leaped into the back with her, and David followed suit. The doors were closed and they headed to the San, sirens blaring.

 

#86:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 4:39 pm

*hopes Matey will be ok*

Thanks Fatima

Liz

 

#87:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 7:09 pm

Thanks, Fatima. I'm really glad I missed the last cliff! I hope Gwynneth will be ok.

 

#88:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 8:19 pm

Shocked Shocked Eek. *Joins those hoping Matey is OK*

 

#89:  Author: Róisín, Location: Galway, Eire PostPosted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 10:07 am

Oh Fatima! Put us out of our misery and make Gwynneth recover Shocked

 

#90:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 6:49 pm

Thank you for all your comments. It's nice to hear your thoughts on the drabble.

An hour later, Gwynneth had been settled in a private room, and Jack had supervised the arrangement of the monitors in the room so that they would know immediately if her condition changed. She had had the x-ray and it had shown that she had not fractured her skull and that the bruising was, fortunately, not too severe. The doctors were worried about her continued unconsciousness, however, and wished to keep a close eye on her for the next few days.
David, still recalling the day his family had been killed, and the way his little grandson had died following a severe head trauma, sat at Gwynneth's side, his face drawn and pale, unable to do more than pray inarticulately for her life to be spared. He clung to her hand as a drowning man would cling to a lifejacket, and could scarcely tear his eyes away from her ashen face. Jack brought coffee for him, and saw that he drank it, but he could not persuade him to return to Freudesheim to wait more comfortably for news of Gwynneth.
It was early evening when Gwynneth finally roused. David could hardly believe his eyes as he watched her eyelids flicker, then she was looking up at him, obviously feeling confused. "Gwynneth," he said shakily. "Thank God. Stay still, don't try to speak, I'll go and get a doctor."
Gwynneth closed her eyes again, and took a slow breath. She could not work out where she was and why her head was aching so badly. She could hardly think straight for the pounding in her head, and she longed to sink back into oblivion again, where she would not feel that awful, agonizing pain. She concentrated on breathing slowly until she felt someone take her hand and hold it gently. She opened her eyes again, but the light in the room dazzled her and made her feel even worse.
Then Jack Maynard was leaning over her, asking her how she was feeling. Somehow, finding that words were beyond her at that point, she managed to moan, and was rewarded by a pricking sensation in her arm, followed by nothing.
When she woke again, it was darker, and Gwynneth actually managed to open her eyes and look to see where she was. She tried moving her head, but that resulted in her being enveloped by waves of pain and nausea, so she contented herself with moving her eyes slowly and taking stock of her surroundings. She realized that she was in the San, and she knew that she had hurt herself, hence the worst headache of her entire life, but she could not remember what had happened to her. She realized that she felt thirsty, so she tried to speak, to call someone to find her a glass of water. She managed a croak, but it had the desired affect. David got up from the chair where he had been dozing and bent over her. He looked very anxious as he said, "It's all right, Gwynneth, I'm here."
"Water," she whispered.
He fetched her a glass and helped her take a sip, then he put the glass back on the bedside table and leaned over her once again. "You scared me," he told her, his voice soft. "How are you feeling? Shall I call a doctor?" The look he received from Gwynneth stopped him from his questioning. "Sorry," he apologized, "I am talking nonsense. You mustn't speak, just rest while I go and see the night nurse."
"Stay," she managed to say, feeling that she could not bear to be left alone while she was in such pain.
"I will just call the nurse, then I shall be back," he promised, and she heard him opening the door. He was as good as his word, however, for he was soon back, perching on the chair beside the bed and taking her hand once again. "She will come and see you in a moment," he explained. "You have certainly gone to some lengths to avoid going to Interlaken with me tomorrow evening, Gwynneth. You could have just said no, you know!"
Gwynneth shot him another look, which usually quelled even the cheekiest middle. It had the opposite affect on David, however, for he merely patted her hand and said, "I shall not give up on you, though. I hope you realize that I shall carry on concocting new plans to carry you off. I have had such a good time with you these last two days that I don't want it to end. So be warned.
The night nurse entered at that point, and put a thermometer under Matey's tongue. It showed that her temperature was normal, and when she took Gwynneth's pulse she found it strong and steady. "I can give you something for the pain in another hour," she said, sounding apologetic. "I know you must have the most awful headache, but it is too soon to give you something now." She turned from the patient and bustled out of the room.

 

#91:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 6:53 pm

I'm glad Gwynneth is ok. David is lovely Very Happy I think he has more then redeemed himself for his earlier coldness.

Thanks Fatima

Liz

 

#92:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 7:17 pm

Glad Gwyneth's woken up.

I love that image of the nurse bustling out of the room.

 

#93:  Author: Lyanne, Location: Ipswich, England PostPosted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 8:12 pm

I love the apologetic nurse running off - I think Gwyneth's reputation precedes her!

 

#94:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 1:13 am

Just read all of this Fatima and it's luffly - well apart from Matey falling and getting concussion that is Rolling Eyes

 

#95:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 6:14 am

David looked down at the woman on the bed, and had an idea. "Just a minute," he said, and he got up and dashed off. When he returned, he had a bowl of water and a flannel with him, and he was looking very pleased with himself. He set the bowl down on the bedside cupboard and perched on the edge of the bed and gently put the cool flannel to her forehead. "I know this isn't quite as good as an injection, but I think it might help a little," he told her. "Close your eyes, my dear, and try to relax." He sat quietly with her, gently holding the cool flannel to her head and bringing her a little relief from the pain. He watched her eyes close, hoping that she would be able to sleep, or at least doze a little, and he quietly gave thanks for the fact that she had regained consciousness and seemed to be able to follow all that was going on around her, even if her mind was still clouded by the throbbing of her head.
Gwynneth did not doze, but she did find some respite from the pain because of the way David was gently sponging her head. As she lay there, she marvelled at his gentle touch, and she wondered just how long he had spent sitting beside her, waiting for her to awaken. Maybe the things he had told her over the past couple of days really were true. Maybe he had begun to care for her, and perhaps she could feel the same way about him. Gwynneth sighed, for her head was so painful that even thinking hurt. She would have liked to roll over and see if a change of position made her feel better, but she did not dare, knowing how even the slightest movement made her head feel as though it would split open. There was a whole hour to go before she could have anything to numb the pain. How could she wait so long, how could she survive another hour with her head aching so badly? A tear slid slowly from the corner of Gwynneth's eye, then another and another.
David noticed that she was crying. "It's all right," he said soothingly. "It's fine to cry, Gwynneth. I know it hurts so much." He continued to gently soothe her and to apply the cool flannel to her head. Finally she managed to draw a deep breath, and get a grip on herself once more. "Good," he said approvingly. "It's only half an hour now until the nurse comes back. You are so strong and brave, I am sure you will be all right."
Keeping herself firmly under control, Gwynneth managed to open her eyes again. "Thank you," she whispered, and she was rewarded with a smile.
David leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Close your eyes," he instructed, "and lie still. I will stay here with you."
Gwynneth felt some of his strength enter her, and she managed to relax a little. She turned her thoughts to the two little girls she had grown to love, and reflected on Claire's experiences after the accident. David had told her nothing of the little girl's suffering, but she could begin to imagine what it had been like for her. She lay quietly until she heard the door open once more, and the night nurse's cheerful voice saying, "Here we are, Matron, your injection. When you wake again it will be morning and you will be feeling much better."
"Thank you," said Gwynneth gratefully, but it was David that she was looking at, not the nurse. She felt the needle go into her arm, and after that the darkness welcomed her into its tranquility.

 

#96:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 7:40 am

Thanks Fatima - David is a true SLOC there.

Liz

 

#97:  Author: Róisín, Location: Galway, Eire PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 9:54 am

Fatima this is so beautifully written. Thanks so much, I really felt Gwynneth's pain there from the way you described it, and also *swoon* for David Very Happy

 

#98:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 10:22 am

David is fantastic! *Adds to ticklist of lovely SLOCs*

 

#99:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 11:24 am

Yes, David has turned out ok, after a rather shaky start! Thank you for all your comments.

Of the next couple of days, Matey remembered very little. She woke and slept and in the waking moments knew a lot of pain. She recalled the accident, remembered hearing the telephone ring and crashing to the floor, and she remembered her happiness at Christmas, spending time with Jenny and Claire. She also remembered how David had sat beside her and done all he could to help her get through the endless moments between one painkilling injection and the next.
By the New Year, Gwynneth found that her headache was lessening and she could sit up in bed without swooning from the pain. She still could not concentrate on a book, though, and loud noises made the pain return with a vengeance. However, the doctors pronounced themselves satisfied with her progress and promised to release her from their care just before term re-started, on the condition that she would not over-do it on her return to school. Hating inactivity, Gwynneth readily agreed that she would do her best to take it easy once she left the San, and began to look forward to getting back to school once more.
She spent a lot of time gazing out of the window, through which she could see the mountains rising majestically into the clouds, and the occasional bird flying past. She also did some serious thinking. Her thoughts were mainly centred round David, Jenny and Claire. She had so much time to think that she was able firstly to wallow in self-pity, wondering why she had never got married and had children of her own. As this was an alien emotion to the practical woman, she moved quickly on to a realistic assessment of her position – she had a job that she loved, some very dear friends and was happy, despite never having accomplished the one thing she wanted above all other. Then she allowed herself to reflect on the man who had been such a comfort to her as she lay helpless and in agony. He had been gentle and kind and had spent hours sitting with her, even though she was often asleep. He had scarcely left her side for the first couple of days and she realized that she had found his presence a comfort and she did not know how she would have got through those first dreadful days without him.
As she felt better, he had returned to Freudesheim, eager to spend some time with Jenny and reassure her that Gwynneth was going to recover so that she should not be distressed over Matey's absence. He still came to visit her every day, often twice a day, bringing her flowers and fruit, and she was always so pleased to see him. They had talked and talked, once she was able to sit up, and Gwynneth had learned a lot about him from their conversations. He had told her of his family, how his wife had died of cancer and how he had missed her so much. Then he had spoken briefly of the dreadful accident that had taken the lives of his dearly loved daughter and his little grandson, Thomas, and almost taken Claire from him as well. He had also talked a lot about the influence of music in his life, and how he had travelled widely with an orchestra in his younger days. He had taught in the Royal Academy of Music, too, after his marriage, and had found the same comfort in music that Gwynneth had found in her work during the difficult times in his life.
Suddenly, Gwynneth found the sounds of music breaking into her thoughts. She could hear the beautiful sounds of a Strauss waltz floating into the room, arriving at a perfect point in her contemplations. Blatantly disobeying the orders she had been given to stay in bed, Gwynneth swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up slowly. Encouraged by the lack of pain, Gwynneth glided over to the window and looked down. Outside, dressed in all his outdoor clothes, with his flute held to his lips, stood David. The music sounded ethereal, heard against a background of the snow and the mountains, and Gwynneth stood at the window, spellbound.
Finally, having played some beautiful music, David bowed, waved cheerfully at Gwynneth and headed for the entrance to the San.
Suddenly realizing that she should not be standing at the window wearing just her nightdress and bed jacket in January, Gwynneth turned and went slowly and carefully back to the bed. She climbed in and settled herself against the pillows, congratulating herself on her first successful excursion since her accident. It had not been especially long, but she had been on her own two feet and had managed to get back to bed without the return of the debilitating headache that had plagued her every movement for the last few days.
David came into her room a few moments later, grinning at her. He crossed to the bed and sat down, looking very pleased with himself. Gwynneth smiled back at him and said, "That was lovely. Thank you. I have never been serenaded before."
"Well, you missed the concerts and so I decided that if I could not take you to Strauss, then I should bring Strauss to you," he explained. "I am so glad you enjoyed it."
"I loved it," she said sincerely. "And I stood by the window without getting a headache," she added. "It felt wonderful to be up."
David regarded her sternly. "You were not supposed to be out of bed," he reminded her. "Imagine if you had felt faint, or fallen or something."
"But I didn't," she said sweetly. "I can't stay here much longer. It is just so boring."
"It isn't exactly meant to be an adventure holiday," he said. "You are here to get well, not to have fun. You frightened us to death with your little stunt, Gwynneth, and we don't need any more scares."
Gwynneth looked unrepentant. "I am sorry I worried you," she said. "But I am quite serious about leaving. I am sure there are people who need this room more than I do."
"I hope you plan on being here this afternoon," David said, "because I have promised Jenny that she can come and see you. She has been worried about you, so now that you are so much better she wants to come in and see for herself. Will you be up to that?"
"Oh, yes, I will," she answered happily. "I have missed her so much. Would you bring Claire as well? I really want to see them both."
"Yes," he promised, "I'll bring them both, if you will give me your word that you will not get up again without permission."
"I'll stay in bed," she assured him.

 

#100:  Author: Róisín, Location: Galway, Eire PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 11:42 am

Yay! New update! These characters are so real, especially Jenny and Claire.

Please, Fatima, may we have a wedding? Very Happy

 

#101:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 12:52 pm

Awww that was lovely - thankyou Fatima

 

#102:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 3:41 pm

Thanks, Fatima. I'm glad David isn't phased when Gwynneth gives him one of his looks. I also loved David telling Gwynneth she should stay in bed!

 

#103:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 7:41 pm

It seems as though everyone is out shopping for hats!

David was as good as his word. Once he and the children had finished their lunch, he brought them both to the San, and they spent half an hour with Gwynneth. She was gratified by the way that baby Claire's face lit up at the sight of her, and how she immediately reached out to Gwynneth, wanting to cuddle up on her lap and try to pull the dressing from her forehead. Gwynneth was saddened by the sight of Jenny, though. It was as if she had been transported back in time to the way she was when they had first met – she was pale and sad-looking, and it was easy to see that she had been badly affected by Gwynneth's accident. She stood hesitantly beside her grandfather, looking at Gwynneth with her big blue eyes, almost as if she expected Matron to drop dead in front of her.
"Don't look so anxious, Jenny," Gwynneth chided her gently. "I fell and bumped my head, that's all. Come and sit on the bed beside me, sweetheart, and give me a cuddle. I have missed you so much."
"I missed you, too," Jenny said, clambering up beside Gwynneth. "I was worried that you would die, like Mummy and Daddy and Thomas did. I really don't want anyone else to die." And as she finished speaking, she burst into tears.
David scooped Claire off of Gwynneth's lap so that she could hold Jenny close to her and comfort her. The little girl cried heartbrokenly for some time, until Gwynneth finally said, "That's enough now, Jenny. You are going to make yourself ill if you don't stop crying." She sat the little girl up and smiled down into the tear-stained little face. "That's better," she went on, as Jenny gulped and made a valiant effort to stop crying. "I am sorry I have worried you so much," she said gently. "I don't want you to worry any more, though, because I will be out of here in a day or two. Then the girls will come back to school and you can have fun with all your friends again." She kissed the little girl tenderly and held her close again. "We must get all your things moved into your dormy, too. I was hoping you would come over from Freudesheim and help me with that."
"I will," Jenny promised, sounding a little more cheerful. "Which one will I go in?"
"I thought that you might like to be in Sunflower, with Phil Maynard and Amy Smith," Gwynneth told her, knowing that Amy was one of Jenny's best friends. She had not really planned on putting Jenny with her closest friends, but seeing how distraught the little girl had become, she had decided on the spur of the moment that it would be best for her to be with the girls she liked best. "Sunflower has the prettiest curtains, I think, and I reckon you will be happy there."
"Yes," said Jenny thoughtfully. "I think I would be happy there."
"Good. When I get back to school I shall call and collect you and you can come and help me with that. Now, I need you to tell me all that you have been doing since I last saw you."
Looking brighter, Jenny sat up and began to tell Gwynneth of the things she had done with Claire Mabillon and Phil Maynard. She also told Gwynneth how baby Claire had been so naughty, throwing her breakfast on the floor and laughing as Rosli rebuked her for doing it. All too soon, David was standing up and telling Jenny how they should get back to Freudesheim before it began to get dark, as he did not want Claire out too late. With obvious reluctance, Jenny kissed Gwynneth and had a final hug, then she scrambled off of the bed and started to put on her coat and scarf. David began to dress the baby in her outdoor clothes and passed her to Matey for one more cuddle as he got his own coat on. Gwynneth watched as they crossed to the door, then Jenny turned and waved and little Claire copied her, waving back at Gwynneth, too.
"I'll be back tonight," David promised, as he closed the door.
Once they had gone, Gwynneth realized that she was exhausted and that her head was aching dully. She lay back against her pillows and closed her eyes, intending to spend some time worrying about Jenny, but instead she fell asleep almost straight away. She woke almost two hours later, when the nurse came in to give her a cup of tea and a plate of sandwiches, and found that her headache had gone again. She was thrilled when the nurse informed her that she could get up and sit in the armchair by the window for her tea, if she liked, and at once agreed that she would very much like to. The nurse helped her out of bed and into her dressing gown then Gwynneth walked slowly across to the chair and sat down. The nurse covered her legs with a blanket and put the little coffee table closer to her so that she could reach her tea without any difficulty, then she left Gwynneth to enjoy her private tea party.

 

#104:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 7:50 pm

Such lovely posts! Thank you Fatima.

I'm so glad Gwyneth could see Jenny and Claire for a while. And David is a wonderful SLOC

 

#105:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England PostPosted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 9:30 pm

Thanks, Fatima. I'm glad Gwynneth was able to reassure Jenny.

 

#106:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 5:22 am

Not an update, I'm afraid, but a rather large coincidence - Chair, I have just noticed this:

Quote:
Chair
Matey awakes!


How appropriate that you are posting here with that below your name!

 

#107:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 9:05 am

Here is the next part. And, in advance, sorry for the cliff! (I'm not really sorry!)

Gwynneth did enjoy her tea, finding it so much nicer to be sitting in a chair, looking out of the window than to be reclining in bed. She ate all the sandwiches and then sat back to savour the delicious tea that she had been given. She gazed out at the darkening sky, and enjoyed the beauty of the view while she was still able to, before it became completely dark. She also allowed herself to think about Jenny and to berate herself for being so careless as to fall from her step ladder, thus causing so much anxiety to the little girl when she was still so fragile. She could imagine the thoughts that had gone through Jenny's mind when she had heard that Gwynneth was in the San, and she was annoyed with herself for being so careless.
As she sat in the gathering darkness, the door opened and David returned. He looked interrogatively at her, obviously wondering why she was sitting in the dark. "Shall I put the lights on?" he asked her. "I didn't expect to see you sitting up. Well done, you look so much better."
Gwynneth smiled, cheered by his arrival, glad that he had stopped her from thinking about her own carelessness. "That was quick," she commented.
"Yes, I was eager to get back to see you." He removed his coat and put on the hook on the back of the door, and then he crossed to sit beside Gwynneth. "I couldn't wait to talk to you," he continued.
"Good," she said happily. "I was just starting to get bored with my own company again. I was so pleased to see the girls today. It seems like so long since I saw them last. I'm really sorry I upset Jenny that badly, David. I feel dreadful about it all."
"She has been very upset," he admitted. "But accidents do happen. Gwynneth, I have been thinking again." He looked at her uncertainly, wondering how she would react, but he need not have worried. They had grown so close to one another over the past week that he could say anything to her and she would listen. "I was wondering..." he went on hesitantly, "I thought maybe…Gwynneth?" He tumbled out of the chair onto his knees at her side. "Will you marry me?" he asked, the words coming in a rush, not in the romantic way he had been planning on his way back to the San. "I love you, and I can't bear to spend another day without you."
Startled by his words, Gwynneth just looked down at him, unsure what to say. The long awaited moment had finally arrived; the handsome, strong yet gentle man she had come to rely on was asking her to marry him. At long last she would have the life she had always dreamed of, married to someone she respected, someone she could trust and, with a shock she realized she had finally found someone she loved. Then she remembered someone else she had come to love. "What about Jenny?" she asked. "I think you should talk to her about it first."
David got up off the floor and drew the other chair closer to Gwynneth's seat then he took both of her hands in his and looked directly at her again. "I have asked her," he told her. "She thinks it is a brilliant idea and she wants me to wake her when I get back to Freudesheim so I can tell her what you said. So, what do you say?"

 

#108:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 11:26 am

Have just caught up on several posts

Thanks Fatima this is lovely Heart

I love the way David's proposal doesn't come out as he planned - it's all the more romantic for that!

Liz

 

#109:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 1:48 pm

Awww - that's lovely Fatima

Please say *yes* Gwynneth - even if it does mean I have to buy a hat

Poor Jenny - it makes you realise what a short time it's been since the accident and how well she copes most of the time

 

#110:  Author: Róisín, Location: Galway, Eire PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 2:28 pm

Quick Fatima, post some more!

She will accept, won't she? Shocked

 

#111:  Author: Gem, Location: Saltash/Aberystwyth PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 2:37 pm

Awwww, that's so cute!

Very Happy

She WILL say yes. I'm sure she will.

She will, won't she?

 

#112:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 3:01 pm

Come on Matey... you know you want to accept! Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy

 

#113:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 3:13 pm

And now, the reward for your patience!

Gwynneth smiled serenely at him. "I say yes," she told him. "I would really like to marry you."
David gave a sigh of relief. "I can't tell you how happy I am," he said, drawing her carefully into his arms. "You are doing this for me, aren't you?" he wondered suddenly. "Not just for Jenny and Claire?"
"Yes, I am doing this for you," she reassured him. "I couldn't have got through the last week if it hadn't been for you. I don't want to keep struggling on alone any more, not now I know what it is like to have someone who cares about me. I love you, David."
David kissed her then, and Gwynneth returned the kiss in a way that left him in no doubt as to her reasons for wanting to marry him. Finally they drew apart, and he grinned at her. "Well, whoever would have thought it?" he said. "After all the months when we hated each other, and now we are going to get married."
"I didn't hate you," she said softly. "I thought you were rude and insufferable, and I pitied you, but I never hated you."
"You are a woman in a million," he told her. "I can't believe how good you were to me even though I was so dreadful. When will you marry me? Soon?"
"Very soon," she answered happily. "As soon as you like."
He looked into her glowing eyes and felt completely happy. "Gwynneth, I love you," he told her and then he kissed her again.
A long while later, they were disturbed by Matron Graves, the nurse on duty that evening. She coughed discretely as she came in and said, "Gwynneth, it is time you were back in bed. I take it you are feeling quite well after sitting up this afternoon?"
Blushing furiously, Gwynneth snapped, "Quite well, thank you, Matron."
David stood up and held out his arm, helping her to stand and walking her across the room to her bed. She got in and sat back against the pillows, her eyes bright and her cheeks still becomingly pink. Matron Graves tactfully withdrew, remarking that visiting time was almost up and that supper would be served shortly.
"I suppose I had better leave," David said regretfully. "I'll come back in the morning."
"Will you bring the girls with you?" she asked hopefully.
"Yes, I will," he promised, leaning over to kiss her once more. "Good night, Gwynneth."
"Good night," she responded.
Once he had gone, Matron Graves, an old friend, returned. "Well, Gwynneth?" she asked. Gwynneth smiled and Matron Graves knew from her friend's newly acquired radiance what had happened without having to be told. "He's been wonderful," she agreed, "and I am so happy for you."
"Thank you," said Gwynneth, unable to take the happy smile from her face.

 

#114:  Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 3:20 pm

Yay! Very Happy

Thanks Fatima!

(and I managaed to miss the cliff. Double Yay!)

Will we go hat shopping now?

 

#115:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 3:21 pm

Woweee! Thanks Fatima

*bounces and squees*

 

#116:  Author: Róisín, Location: Galway, Eire PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 3:50 pm

Yay! Gooooo Gwynneth! *claps hands*

 

#117:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 5:09 pm

*nips out to find a new hat*

How lovely - such a wonderful proposal. And I love Jenny's demand to be woken up!

Thanks Fatima

 

#118:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 6:19 pm

This is the last bit for today - I'm off now to buy my hat!

The next morning David arrived with the girls and the first thing that Jenny did was hurl herself into Matron's arms. "You said yes!" she shouted joyfully. "You are going to be my Grandma!"
Gwynneth hugged Jenny and said, "Yes, I am. I'm glad you are happy about it, Jenny."
"It's the best news," the little girl said, sounding contented. "I really love you and now I can stay with you always."
"And I really love you, and Claire," said Gwynneth with a smile. "I am happy to think that you will be my girls now."
"There's some more good news, too," said David, sitting down and smiling at her. "I just met Jack outside and he tells me that I can take you back to Freudesheim today. You can stay there for a day or two and after that he'll let you return to school. But you must promise not to over do it for the next few weeks."
Gwynneth did not think she could feel happier than she had that morning, but David's news was like the icing on the cake. "Oh, that is wonderful," she said fervently. "To stay at Jo's, with you all. How perfect."
"Perfect indeed," David agreed. "Jack said that Jo would bring the car and collect you in about an hour. Can you be ready for her?"
"I certainly can," said Gwynneth, delighted to be able to leave the San so soon.
"Auntie Jo let me help get a room ready for you," said Jenny. "We even got the fire lit for you, so you won't feel cold."
"How lovely, a fire in my bedroom," said Gwynneth. "Thank you, Jenny."
"So how about we leave you to get dressed?" David asked. "Can you manage, or shall I ask a nurse to come and help you?"
"Or I can help," Jenny offered.
"Thank you, sweetheart," said Gwynneth, dropping a kiss on the upturned face. "I think I can manage. You go for a little stroll and I shall be ready in a couple of minutes."
Once they had left, she got carefully out of bed and washed and dressed. She was gathering together the few possessions she had in her room when a gentle tap at the door heralded the return of her new family, accompanied by Jack Maynard himself.
"Yes, you look well enough," he said, looking carefully at her. "And no sudden sharp attacks of pain now?"
"None," she assured him. "I feel fine."
"Good," he said. "But I am quite serious about you taking it easy for another couple of weeks, Gwynneth," he went on sternly. "I know what you are like for over working and you just cannot do too much after a head injury like that."
"Don't worry," David put in. "I shall take full responsibility for her, Jack, and I shall make sure she does not do too much."
"They are going to get married," Jenny added excitedly. ''Matey will be my grandma!"
Jack Maynard turned to Gwynneth again and said, "Congratulations, Gwynneth. I am so pleased for you both. For you all," he amended, taking in Jenny's evident happiness.
Gwynneth, still rejoicing in the sweet sound of David saying ' I shall take full responsibility for her', smiled and submitted to Jack kissing her cheek. "So I shall have no chance of misbehaving," she informed him amiably.
"I am very glad to hear it. Now, these are painkillers. I hope you won't need them, but if you do find you get that headache back, you can take two each six hours. If that doesn't help, you must call me." Jack handed Gwynneth a small bottle, which she slipped into her handbag. "Jo said she would come and pick you up, but she won't be here for a while, so I suggest I have some tea sent in and you sit quietly until she comes," he went on. "You don't need to be standing around. Take it easy."
Obediently, Gwynneth sat down in the armchair by the window and held out her arms to take Claire. "Thank you, Jack," she said as that gentleman left the room.
David drew the chairs closer together and Jenny settled down in the seat closest to Gwynneth. They were brought tea and biscuits, and milk for the children and before they could finish, Jo had arrived. She came rushing into the room and made a bee line for Gwynneth, leaning down and kissing her warmly as she said, "Gwynneth, I am so happy! It must be true that every cloud has a silver lining. I can't think of two people who deserve happiness more than you."
They drank their tea and then it was time to go. David took Gwynneth's bag and Jo came to carry Claire. "You can't carry her all that way, she is getting such a weight," said Jo. "Come on, pet, let me take you."
Claire was happy enough to go with Jo, so Jenny slipped her hand into Matey's and they left the room together. Jo's car was outside, and Gwynneth was surprised at how cold she began to feel, walking just the short distance across the car park. She allowed Jo to settle her in the back seat of the car, with a blanket over her legs. Claire was put into her arms, and Jenny climbed in beside her, while David sat in the front beside Jo.
Jo, who was often an erratic driver, drove carefully and slowly, but by the time they reached Freudesheim, Gwynneth was feeling tired. She told herself that she should not be expecting anything else, as she had been in bed for a week and had spent quite half of that time in a drug induced sleep. Noticing how white she looked when they got out of the car, David wordlessly swung her up into his arms and carried her inside and straight up to the room Jo had prepared for her. He helped her out of her coat, removed her boots and then handed her a clean nightdress.
"Get changed and go to bed," he instructed, but his voice was very gentle. "You look all in. I'll be back in five minutes and if you aren't in bed there will be trouble!"
Gwynneth gave him a wan smile and began to obey him. As she changed, she reflected on the very pleasant prospect of having David look after her for the rest of her life. She no longer had to soldier on alone, nor use her work to distract her from her problems. Now she had a partner, someone who would shoulder some of her responsibilities for her and who would look after her when she wasn't up to looking after herself. She dropped her clothes in an uncharacteristically untidy pile on the chair and climbed into bed, and was just resting against her pillows when the door opened and David came back.
"Good," he said, satisfied to see that she was resting. "Do you need to take one of those painkillers now?" He sat down on the bed and looked carefully at her, noticing that she just looked tired, not in pain. She sat up a little and let him take her in his arms, resting her head against his shoulder. He kissed her hair and then tenderly lay her back down. "I'll stay with you until you are asleep," he assured her, knowing what she wanted before she could tell him.
Gwynneth gave a sigh and closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his hand gently caressing her face. Before she could think any further, sleep had stolen over her and he crept out, leaving her slumbering peacefully.

 

#119:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 7:02 pm

Slightly worried about Gwynneth's health but am trusting that everything will be OK and am heading for the hat shop! Thanks Fatima.

 

#120:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 7:17 pm

Awwwwww! Thank you Fatima!!!

That was really lovely!

 

#121:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 12:22 pm

How beautiful!

Thanks Fatima Very Happy

Liz

 

#122:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 1:10 pm

Thanks, Fatima. Shocked at the idea that Gwynneth has left her clothes in an untidy pile. I'm glad she's said yes to David's proposal and everyone is happy about it.

 

#123:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 3:44 pm

Once again, thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read this and comment on it. I really appreciate your remarks.

Gwynneth stayed at Freudesheim for almost a week, and ended up missing the beginning of the new term at school. She had to admit that her fall had taken more out of her than she expected, and she was glad of the chance to rest and gather her strength before going back to work again. She had plenty of visitors while she convalesced, as news of her engagement spread like wildfire round the little community that called the Platz their home, and Gwynneth was amazed by the number of people who came to wish her and David all the best for their future together. The one who surprised her the most, however, was Hilda Annersley. That lady had arrived the day after Gwynneth's release from the San, bearing a huge box of fine chocolates, and greeted the patient with a hug and a kiss. She then said, "I am so glad that your wishes have come true. I know how much you have longed for this, Gwynneth, and now you have everything you always wanted."
"How did you know?" Gwynneth had asked in surprise.
Miss Annersley had smiled then, and Gwynneth realized how empathetic the Head Mistress was. "As the girls have often observed," she answered wryly, "there is not much going on in the school that I don't know about."
And with that, Gwynneth had been forced to agree.
Once she felt better, she returned to school, and found that Matron Henschell had taken over some of her duties. Barbara Henschell was an old Chaletian and an excellent matron, so everything was running smoothly when Gwynneth returned. She was glad to be back at work, but, mindful of Jack Maynard's instructions, she really did make an effort to allow the other matrons to take over some of her duties, while she adopted a more supervisory role.
One task that she refused to pass to someone else, however, was the care of Claire. That little soul had been well cared for by the other matrons while Gwynneth had been laid up at Freudesheim, but she had been ecstatic to see Matey come back to care for her again. She was now ten months old, and could stand and walk round the furniture, so the big playpen was a definite necessity, as she could get into all sorts of mischief otherwise. She was a happy baby at last, enjoying nothing more than romping with her big sister or sitting on Gwynneth's lap and listening to her singing nursery rhymes. Gwynneth took even more pleasure than before from caring for Claire, knowing that she would soon be, to all intents and purposes, the baby's mother.
Jenny had been settled into the sunflower dormitory, and was happy there. She was sleeping well, Matron Henschell reported, having been asked to keep an especially close eye on the little girl, and had regained the colour in her cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes. She had been responsible for spreading the news of the engagement of Mr. Miller and Matron Lloyd, so by the time Gwynneth returned to school, the cat was well and truly out of the bag. However, the girls were thrilled, and had made an enormous card, wishing them both much happiness and had left it on the desk in Matey's office. When she saw it, it brought tears to Gwynneth's eyes, as so much effort and goodwill had evidently gone into the manufacture of the card, and she had not realized quite how much the girls cared for her.

 

#124:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 3:52 pm

awww that's so beatiful. Thank you, Fatima.

I'm so so pleased for them all!

 

#125:  Author: Róisín, Location: Galway, Eire PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 5:17 pm

Thanks Fatima - I haven't been able to get online since yesterday morning and there were lots of lovely excellent updates for me when I got back! Very Happy

 

#126:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 5:40 pm

Lots of updates because the bunnies never seem to run out of energy. I'm flagging, though!

Although she was happy to be back at work, Gwynneth found that she no longer had a lot of time to spend with David. He had come to Freudesheim each evening while she was convalescing there, but once she had returned to work, the supervision of the girls as they were getting ready for bed occupied her at the time he was free. He would hang around in her office, hoping that she would have a spare five minutes to spend with him, or he would take Claire and Jenny off to their room to play with them, and Gwynneth would try to find the time to join them there, but this did not happen often enough for any of their liking.
"What will we do after we are married?" she asked him one evening shortly before the start of the Easter holidays. "It is dreadful not seeing you for more than a few minutes at a time in the week. It's not much better at weekends, either."
"No, it is awful," he agreed. "And before Christmas I thought we saw a lot of each other. I felt that I could not escape from you. How could I be so wrong?"
She laughed at him. "I thought the same. I have to go now and check on the bathrooms, David. When I have finished I will go and check on Jenny, then I shall make you coffee in my office. I'll meet you there in half an hour."
Gwynneth found the bathrooms in their usual state of disarray. She collected up the bottle of bubble bath that had been forgotten, and the discarded socks that she found behind the door, and set off to see Jenny. She found that young lady sound asleep, like the rest of her dormitory, her breathing slow and even and her face peaceful. Matey could not stop herself from gently kissing the rosy cheek and pulling the covers more closely around her then she slipped silently from the room. On her way back to her office, she found a very pale looking junior heading for the bathroom, so she diverted her to the office of the matron responsible for the juniors, and then she discovered an abandoned wash bag in the corridor, clearly labelled with its owner's name. Finally she reached her own office, where she found that David had already boiled the kettle and had the coffee waiting for her.
"Oh, thank you," she said gratefully, accepting her cup. "Jenny is sleeping like a baby," she continued, once she had sat down and taken a sip of her coffee.
"Good. I really miss her," David answered. "I feel like I have no time to see her any more, either."
"I miss you," said Gwynneth, "and I can't imagine how it will ever be better for us."
"Oh, I think it will be once we are married," he said, and he looked seriously at her. "Gwynneth, I have a plan. I want your honest opinion about it." David outlined his plan, a sudden inspiration that had come to him as she had rushed off to check that the girls had all gone to bed. Gwynneth listened thoughtfully, unsure as to whether it was a good scheme or not. When he had finished telling her about it, she slowly nodded her head in agreement.
"Yes," she said.
"Are you sure?" he wondered. "Because you can say no if you want to. You don't have to go along with me, not if you think it would be better another way."
"I will go along with you," she smiled. "It's not exactly what I had been thinking of, but really none of this has been what I planned, yet it is all wonderful."
"Then we are decided?"
"We are decided."

 

#127:  Author: Róisín, Location: Galway, Eire PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 5:44 pm

What have they decided??? You forgot to tell us Fatima...

 

#128:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 8:02 pm

Thanks, Fatima for the updates. We just need to be told please what David has suggested to Gwynneth. Please?

Pretty please?

Pretty please with a cherry on top?

Pretty please with a cherry on top and pink ribbons and blue bows?

*Chair hopes Fatima will get the hint*.

 

#129:  Author: dackel as guest,  PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 9:07 pm

I've just read all of this and it is wonderful! Thanks, Fatima! this must mean that I'm a romantic at heart, too!

Now, what have they decided?

 

#130:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 10:39 pm

Lovely as always Very Happy

Thanks Fatima

Liz

 

#131:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 10:07 am

Thank you Fatima. I've just read all of this and its so lovely.

 

#132:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 10:21 am

Thanks Fatima, this is fabulous x

 

#133:  Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 12:00 pm

Thanks Fatima.

Please tell us soon what they have decided.

 

#134:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 12:43 pm

Since you all asked so nicely, I shall put you out of your misery.

Gwynneth and David both put their names down for escort duty at the end of term, and so as the big coaches that carried the girls at the beginning and end of term pulled out through the school gates, they found themselves seated on one heading for the railway station in Interlaken and from there by train to England. Jenny was very excited about the long journey ahead of her, and had claimed a window seat so that she could look out at the view. Claire was not so keen on the coach ride, as she wanted to get up and walk around, which was not possible and she could not understand why her grandfather held on to her so tightly.
They marshalled their charges onto the train at Interlaken, then settled down for the long journey via Berne to Paris, and then on to catch the ferry to Dover. Jenny spent the first part of the journey bouncing excitedly in her seat, watching the fascinating scenery from the window, exclaiming at all the new sights she saw. Claire played happily with her new dolly, bought especially to keep her occupied during the long train ride. David and Gwynneth periodically went along the train to check up on the girls, but spent much of their time indulging in pleasant conversation with Nancy Wilmot and Kathie Ferrars, also on escort duty.
The next day, when the train finally reached London, they checked off the girls on a long list as they were collected by their families, then bade farewell to Nancy and Kathie. After that, they boarded the train for Carlisle and the north. By this time, both Jenny and Claire were getting fed up with travelling, and it took a lot of coaxing to keep them from complaining and moaning all the way from London to their final destination, just north of Carlisle.
It was late at night when the train finally pulled into the little station in Gretna Green.

 

#135:  Author: Róisín, Location: Galway, Eire PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 12:45 pm

Oh! An elopement? This is great, thanks Fatima!

 

#136:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 12:49 pm

Yay!!! Mexican Wave

 

#137:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 12:53 pm

*g* Thank you!

 

#138:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 12:56 pm

Yay! How lovely! Very Happy

Although I am a little put out that I may have bought a new hat for nothing! Laughing

Thanks Fatima

Liz

 

#139:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 1:42 pm

Here's the next part for you. Sorry about the hat, Liz!

David had phoned ahead to book a hotel room, and when they came out of the station he gave the address to a waiting taxi and they took the short drive to their hotel. Gretna Manor turned out to be a large, white painted building, with lights blazing forth into the darkness, welcoming the weary travellers. The taxi driver helped David take the suitcases into the hotel, while Gwynneth carried in the sleeping Claire. Jenny, blinking in the unaccustomed light, stumbled in beside Gwynneth, no longer interested in new places and new views, only wanting to get to bed.
They were shown up a wide flight of stairs to a room on the first floor. It was a huge room, with a cot in one corner, into which Gwynneth popped Claire without disturbing her. A huge four poster bed reposed at one end of the room, dwarfing the rest of the furniture. There was also a large oak wardrobe and dressing table, and, at the other end of the room a comfortable looking settee and armchair. In all, Gwynneth decided, it was a lovely room, just right for people feeling as exhausted as they did at that time. The night porter put down the suitcases and showed them the enormous en suite bathroom, accepted the tip that David offered him and withdrew.
David had ordered a light supper for them and milk for Jenny, so Gwynneth got the tired child ready for bed and she clambered into the centre of the four poster bed. "I feel like a princess," she told them, a little more awake now that she had had her face washed.
They laughed at her comment. "You are certainly beautiful enough to be a princess," her doting grandfather assured her. "Ah, here comes your milk," he added, as there was a knock at the door.
A young waitress brought in a trolley and deftly set the little coffee table. Jenny drank her milk in bed, then lay sleepily back against the veritable mountain of pillows. Gwynneth went across to sink onto the sofa beside David and to sip gratefully at a cup of tea. They ate delicious omelettes, with crisp lettuce and tomatoes, and finally Gwynneth knew that she could remain awake no longer.
She disappeared into the bathroom, while David cleared the supper plates to one side and began to make up a bed for himself on the settee. When Gwynneth returned, he went off to change, and she returned the pillows and covers to the enormous four poster bed. She then climbed in on one side of Jenny and relaxed happily in the luxurious bed. It was so comfortable that she could imagine never wanting to get up again, and she quite understood how Jenny found herself feeling like a princess when she got into the bed.
David returned a while later, coming over to the bed to kiss first Jenny then Gwynneth. "Good night," he said softly. He went over to the settee, noticed that his pillows had been removed and rounded accusingly on Gwynneth. "Where's my bed gone?" he demanded.
She chuckled. "With Jenny here, I think I am adequately chaperoned," she told him. "The bed is so comfortable I can't let you sleep on the settee, however soft it is."
"You do look rather like a princess, relaxing like that," he informed her with a smile. "Thank you," he went on, going to the opposite side of the bed and getting in. "You are very considerate."
"No, I am being selfish," she answered. "I rather like the idea of looking across the pillows at you."
"If you can see me over the vast piles of them!" he retorted. He leaned over Jenny and kissed her again, then lay down contentedly. "This really is the lap of luxury," he said sleepily. "This is a perfect beginning to our life together."

 

#140:  Author: Róisín, Location: Galway, Eire PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 2:20 pm

*sigh*
This is wonderful, Fatima, do go on... Very Happy

 

#141:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:30 pm

Fatima wrote:
Here's the next part for you. Sorry about the hat, Liz!

I'm sure I can find another opportunity to use it. And after a post like that you are completely forgiven Very Happy

Liz

 

#142:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:51 pm

The next morning Gwynneth woke early, as was her habit. She could hear Claire babbling to herself in the cot, so she swung her legs over the side of the bed and went off to see her. Claire smiled when she saw Gwynneth and held out her arms to be lifted out of the cot. "Mama," she said contentedly, cuddling into Gwynneth's arms.
Gwynneth kissed her warmly and took her off to the bathroom to change and wash her then she made up a bottle of milk and sank into the comfortable armchair to give the baby her bottle. Before Claire had finished drinking, Jenny had woken up and, blond curls tousled and rubbing the sleep from her eyes, had come over to perch on the arm of the chair and help hold the bottle for her sister. Claire drank every drop of the milk then wriggled in Gwynneth's arms, eager to set off and explore the new room. Gwynneth put her on the floor and turned to Jenny. That young lady let herself slide off the arm of the chair and onto Gwynneth's now empty lap, wanting a cuddle of her own.
"When can we have breakfast?" Jenny asked.
"I think we had better wait until Grandpa wakes up," said Gwynneth. "Then we can all go down to the dining room together. Why don't you get dressed?"
Jenny sat up a little. "Can I wear my new dress now?" she asked.
"I think you can change into it after breakfast," said Gwynneth. "It would be such a shame to get it dirty, and you will want to look lovely for the wedding, won't you?"
Jenny smiled up at Gwynneth. "Yes," she agreed. "I can't believe you and Grandpa are getting married today. It is going to be such fun. I haven't been to a wedding before."
"Yes, it will be lovely," said Gwynneth, feeling so happy that she wondered if she would burst. At last it was her wedding day, and by the time night fell she would be a married woman. "Come on, let's get dressed."
Jenny got up and together she and Gwynneth unpacked the largest suitcase. They found a dress for Jenny to slip on, and she went into the bathroom to wash and clean her teeth while Gwynneth found herself some clothes. By the time they were both dressed, David was waking up, and soon they were going down to the splendid dining room. They had a table by the window, and a high chair for Claire was already set up. Outside they could see the lovely gardens, with a pond and a fountain and masses of daffodils and crocuses in the flower beds. The pale sun was shining and although it did not look very warm, it promised to be a fine day.
After breakfast they bundled the children up in their coats and took them for a walk in the garden, where they admired the huge goldfish swimming in the pond and the fascinating statues that were hidden in odd nooks and crannies round the grounds. Jenny particularly liked the ornate birdbath, with the tiny stone birds carved around the bottom of the pedestal.
When they heard a nearby church clock sound ten, they decided that they should go in and get ready to go to the registry office. In the foyer they met up with David's brother-in-law, Robert Thompson, who had travelled up to Scotland to be a witness at the marriage ceremony. He was a jovial man, somewhat older than David, and initially Gwynneth was worried about his reaction to another woman taking his sister's place. She need not have been concerned, however, as he was obviously thrilled to see David so happy, and he welcomed her into the family with open arms.
By the time they were dressed – David in a charcoal grey suit and Gwynneth in a gorgeous pale blue silk dress and matching coat – the second witness had arrived. Joan was Gwynneth's niece, the daughter of Gwynneth's sister Lillian, and she had been thrilled when Gwynneth had phoned her and asked her to come to Gretna Green for the wedding. She had immediately taken the day off work and had happily travelled up overnight on the sleeper train.
Jenny and Claire both had new dressed for the occasion, too. They had been shopping in Interlaken one weekend and had found the dresses in an exclusive little boutique and when Jenny had fallen in love with hers, David had happily bought it for her and a matching one for Claire. They were red velvet, simply but exquisitely cut and suited the two little girls very well.
As the registry office was nearby, they planned to walk there, especially since it was a fine day. The ceremony was to take place at eleven thirty, and they arrived exactly on time. They went in to an imposing room, and stood before the registrar. The service was very short, which was just as well considering the children, and by midday Gwynneth Lloyd had become Gwynneth Miller. Robert produced a camera and proceeded to take some photos of the happy couple, after which the little wedding party went off to the hotel for their dinner.
Robert ordered champagne and Joan unveiled the miniature wedding cake she had contrived to transport safely to Gretna. They dined on roast beef and all the trimmings, followed by apple pie and custard, which was made from the lightest pastry Gwynneth had ever tasted. They talked and laughed like old friends, for both Robert and Joan were very sociable people and took a liking to one another straight away. Claire fell asleep during the meal and had to be taken up to her cot, where one of the chambermaids promised to keep an eye on her. The wedding party then moved into the lounge, where they drank coffee and ate slices of the wedding cake. Joan and Robert both left towards mid afternoon, so David fetched another bottle of champagne, and they went off to their room to continue their celebrations.

 

#143:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:38 pm

Thanks, Fatima. It sounds like they had a perfect wedding. I hope the rest of the staff won't mind that they weren't there to witness it.

 

#144:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:11 pm

And now, the last bit.

They spent the entire holiday in Scotland, moving further north after two more days in the fabulous Gretna Manor Hotel. They went to stay in a very remote village, in a quaint old inn, from where they could walk a lot and enjoy the glorious Scottish scenery. The children bloomed, enjoying the peace of the honeymoon and feeling secure with their guardians. They bonded as a family, and by the time they were due to head for Edinburgh to catch the train south, it felt as though the four of them had always been together. They met up with the Chalet school contingent in London and collected together all the girls they had left there three weeks earlier. Nancy Wilmot and Kathie Ferrars appeared and they could scarcely contain their excitement on seeing Gwynneth. They did manage to control themselves until they were all settled in their carriage, however, then Nancy pounced upon Matron.
"Well?" she demanded. "You look like the cat that got the canary, Gwynneth. What have you been up to?"
Gwynneth smiled complacently, and was spared the need to answer by Jenny. "They got married!" she announced. "It was smashing!"
"You didn't?" Kathie exclaimed. "Without us? Gwynneth, how could you?"
"Blame David," Gwynneth said, reaching for her husband's hand. "It was all his idea."
"You are going to be in big trouble with everyone," Nancy warned. "They are not going to be impressed that you eloped!"
David laughed. "It is too late for them to get worked up about it," he said reasonably. "I am sure they will be able to keep their hats for some other special occasion."
"I hope you will be very happy together," said Kathie warmly, sentiments that Nancy echoed. They then sat and looked at the photos that Robert had taken for them until Claire woke up and had to be attended to.
The journey back to Switzerland seemed much shorter than the trip to England, and soon the motor coaches were pulling up outside the school again. The girls piled out and congregated in the hall, where Miss Annersley greeted them. The usual beginning of term bustle got underway, but Matron found that David had been quite right saying that things would be different once they were married. Each evening they could sit together in their room, reading, talking, drinking tea or just being quietly companionable. They could sit up late without fear of offending anyone's sensibilities, they could go off for romantic strolls in the moonlight without tongues wagging and yet they could also join the other members of staff in the staffroom, and so keep up with their interests. They were still busy, but they were happy with their work and glad that they could still find time to enjoy their marriage.
The staff and pupils soon got over the shock of hearing that they had missed their beloved Matron's wedding, and Jo Maynard planned a surprise party for the newly-weds in order to get over her own disappointment at missing the wedding. She invited all of Matron's best friends from the Platz and as many of the staff of the school that could be spared, and they all foregathered at Freudesheim. Gwynneth and David had been told that Jo was giving one of her famed dinner parties, and had been asked to turn up for seven thirty. They duly completed their duties, got Claire to sleep and handed her over to the care of one of the nurses and changed their clothes ready to go to Jo's house.
The evenings were drawing out and it was a lovely walk across the school grounds to the neighbouring house. They strolled over, arm in arm, and went up to the front door to ring the doorbell. Jo greeted them warmly, drawing them inside and taking their coats from them. She then opened the door to the Salon and they saw that the room was full of their friends.
"Jo, how could you?" Gwynneth demanded.
"Gwynneth, how could you?" Jo countered with a huge grin. "I am only making it up to everyone on your behalf. We were upset to miss your special day, so we thought we would have a big party and wish you all the best tonight."
David smiled at her. "Thank you, Jo," he said warmly. "It is very kind of you. We would have liked you all to be at our wedding," he continued, addressing all the assembled people, "but in the end we decided that it would be much more romantic to run away together. It's very good of you all to turn up tonight, though, in view of the fact that we did rather cut you out of our special day. Thank you."
The guests applauded David's speech. Glasses of champagne appeared and soon everyone was drinking toasts to the happy couple and wishing them well for the future. It seemed that everyone was thrilled for them, and that although they were disappointed to have missed the wedding, they understood why David and Gwynneth had chosen to get married in secret. It was, predictably, left to Jo to have the final word. "Let's face it," she said frankly, "the most important thing is that you are both happy, and that your gorgeous girls are happy. As long as that is the case, we, your friends, are happy too."
And Gwynneth and David, standing together in the middle of the room, surrounded by their friends, could do nothing but agree.

 

#145:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:22 pm

Oh Fatima... that was just gorgeous! Thank you

*Happy feeling inside* Very Happy

 

#146:  Author: Septima, Location: Yorks PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 9:10 pm

Aww that was lovely Fatima, I love a warm fuzzy ending. Thanks.

 

#147:  Author: dackel, Location: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 9:19 pm

Awww, how lovely - and fancy Matey of all people running off to get married in Gretna Green!

That was lovely, thanks Fatima, I'm sitting here with huge and very silly smile all over my face!

 

#148:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 10:17 pm

Ohhh that was simply beatiful!

Thank you Fatima

 

#149:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 11:26 pm

Absolutely wonderful!

Thanks Fatima Very Happy

Liz

 

#150:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 2:39 am

Thank you for the flowers!

Curtseys...

Dashes off to hatch a plot for marrying off Miss Annersley...

 

#151:  Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 7:57 am

Thanks Fatima! That was lovely.

Will need to go and find your Nell drabble now and read it through...

 

#152:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 7:59 am

Thanks Fatima.

 

#153:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 10:41 am

Lovely. Thank you Fatima.

 

#154:  Author: Róisín, Location: Galway, Eire PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 10:45 am


Brilliant Fatima! That was a fantastic end to a super drabble! Can't wait to see more from you Very Happy

 

#155:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 12:07 pm

Thanks, Fatima. What a wonderful and beautiful ending. I'm glad David and Gwynneth got more time to themselves and Jo arranged the party for them.

 

#156:  Author: Rosea, Location: Edinburgh PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 3:41 pm

Thank you Fatima, this has been such a lovely story. So warm with great characters.

Can't wait to read about Hilda's romance...

 

#157:  Author: ali, Location: medway, kent PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 6:45 pm

Married, working women, it's about time! Loving your drabbles - I think we need to make a list of characters for you to match make.

I propose Miss Nalder - a much forgotten character who deserves a bit of romance while she's at Millies. (At least I think thats where she is at the end of the series.)

 

#158:  Author: Fatima, Location: The Middle East PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 6:55 pm

ali wrote:
I think we need to make a list of characters for you to match make.


Oh, yes please! I shall have a think about Miss Nalder.

 

#159:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 7:44 pm

Awwwww!!!
That was just so lovely Fatima! Thank you!

 

#160:  Author: Guest,  PostPosted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 10:43 pm

that was lovely - left a beautiful warm romantic feeling inside.

 

#161:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 12:18 am

Thankyou Fatima - that was just lovely

now feeling all warm and fluffy

 

#162:  Author: Kat, Location: Swansea PostPosted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 1:13 pm

Awwww!!

Thank you Fatima!! Very Happy

 

The CBB -> Ste Therese's House


output generated using printer-friendly topic mod, All times are GMT

Page 1 of 1

Powered by phpBB 2.0.6 © 2001,2002 phpBB Group