Madge!
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| Advent 13. Madge Bettany/Russell x 3 http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=7040 |
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| Author: | Advent Drabblers [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 9:35 am ] |
| Post subject: | Advent 13. Madge Bettany/Russell x 3 |
During Madge Russell looked at the letter in her hand with a deep frown on her face. It was neatly typed, and unsigned, and made the most startling allegations against one of her teaching staff - one of the longest serving at that. She wasn't quite sure what to make of it. She read it again in the hope that some solution would occur to her. Dear Mrs Russell (she read) I think you should know that Mr Denny was suspected of distributing, if not actually printing, counterfeit currency in the years after the Great War. If accounts are accurate it was because he was under suspicion, and not because of his health that he moved to Austria. I believe that this is where he joined your establishment, and I should warn you that it is highly likely that he continued his nefarious pursuits in that country. Whether he is still doing so I cannot say. I should point out also that Sarah Denny is not his sister. Madge thought some more and then decided to sleep on the problem. This seemed to have worked, for the following day saw her driving purposefully towards the school in her little runabout. Once there she found an empty room, and then went in search of the eccentric music master. Once they were both seated comfortably, and had run through the usual platitudes while they had some tea, Madge brought up the subject that had brought her to the school. "I had a very strange letter in the post today, Tristram," she said. "It was unsigned, and of course, usually that would consign the letter to the bin immediately. However, this suggested that you had some strange commercial dealings in the past, before you came out to Austria. In fact, that it was that that made to leave England." Plato managed to hide his suddenly wary feelings behind an experienced poker face. "I'm surprised you took any notice of an anonymous correspondent Madame," he said. "I can certainly think of nothing that would fit what you are saying. Did they give you any details?" "Apparently you were involved with counterfeiting, certainly with distribution and probably with the actual manufacture." "That is a libel!" "Are you sure? Read the letter for yourself. I would hesitate to make enquiries about this, as you have been an extremely valuable member of staff for many years." Plato took the letter and scanned it swiftly, dismayed at the accuracy. "Well?" asked Madge. "What have you to say now?" "Not only does this person cast aspersions on myself, but on my sister also." Madge felt that there was something not quite right about Plato's responses, and she began to feel that there was more to this than just clearing something up. Perhaps there was a great deal of truth. She looked steadily at him until he began to fidget and look uncomfortable. "Tristram, is all this true?" she asked at last. Plato saw that he had given himself away and nodded. "Yes. I made the plates and printed the notes. Only enough to give Sarah and myself a little extra, I assure you. We weren't 'big time' crooks." "And in Austria?" There too, I'm afraid." Madge smiled sweetly. "Well Tristram, since you've been making more than your salary all these years, I think it only fair that you share it out a little. An nice early Christmas present." "I'm afraid I don't understand, Madame." "I think you do. I want a share of your extra income. I'm sure we can come to some sort of an arrangement over the exact amount. It's the first week in Advent now, so there's plenty of time to sort things out before Christmas, isn't there?" "But that amounts to blackmail!" Madge just smiled. |
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| Author: | JB [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 12:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 13. Madge Bettany/Russell |
Excellent. Glad to see she isn't sweet Lady Russell here. |
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| Author: | Kacca [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 12:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 13. Madge Bettany/Russell |
Well done Madge!! |
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| Author: | shesings [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 1:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 13. Madge Bettany/Russell |
Madge!
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| Author: | Advent Drabblers [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 3:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 13. Madge Bettany/Russell |
After. “What do you mean?” Sybil Russell looked at her mother with exasperation, “Very simply what I said. The girls are going to attend the High School and live at home.” “Until they are thirteen or so?” “No, until they finish school and move onto University, if that is what they want.” “But Hilda has places reserved for them. Your girls were always going to the School.” “I never put their names down. I never had any intention of sending them so far away from home.” “But how can you contemplate the High School.” “Mother, we've been through this. The High School will give them one of the best educations they can hope for. The labs and sports facilities are the most up to date in the state and their results are in the top ten of the country, state and private.” “The Chalet will give them such good language skills, and the opportunity to travel and make friendships that will last for the rest their lives.” “We take them all over the world, they have family in so many countries and correspond with them. They can learn French and German at school and if they have a flair for it other languages as well, and as for friendships why should they not make just as firm friends here as there.” Madge looked at her eldest daughter. She could see from the firm set of Sybil's mouth that this was not a battle she was going to win with arguments. She spoke gently for now, this would take some planning after all and she did not want to risk loosing contact with her daughter, and more importantly her grand-daughters. “I can see you've made your mind up about this, and you never allow me to change it, even when I know best. However, if you have decided then so be it, I won't argue with you now, it's too nice a day. Let's go and see if we can find some material for the new curtains in the dining room.” Sybil watched her mother carefully, expecting to be ambushed on the topic again, but Madge held her tongue on the matter all afternoon. She did not even rise to the bait over the evening meal when Sybil and her husband were discussing school uniform. Madge laid her plans carefully. She knew that Sybil would not just let her take the girls to Europe willy nilly during the Australian school year. There needed to be a good reason. She went through the family members in her head and looked at the possibilities. A wedding would be the easiest, and Joey would be the best person to manipulate into providing what she needed. Sure enough, after a few international phone calls Sybil received an invitation to attend the wedding of her cousin Felicity Maynard in London. There was also an impassioned plea in the accompanying letter for her two girls to be bridesmaids. She discussed this with her mother, who just happened to be present when the letter arrived. “It's a long way to take them, I'm not sure I will be going. You could always leave the girls here with me and go yourself,” Madge said on reading the invite. “You are thinking of staying at home, that surprises me,?” “As you get older travel doesn't always hold the same appeal.” Madge shrugged. Sybil regarded her mother closely. This sounded unusual. She thought her mother was up to something but could not tell what. It seemed as if she wanted the girls to come and stay with her however and Sybil could sense a plot.“No, actually I think I will take them. It will be a nice treat for them before they start at the High.” Madge frowned but then smiled at Sybil, whatever you think best dear. As the time for the wedding approached Madge was seen to complain to Josette, who passed the news onto her sister Sybil that Jem was insisting she went, saying she needed a break and to see the family once again. Madge made her arrangements to attend the wedding and as far as Sybil could tell was a reluctant traveller. Once in London Madge found it easy to put the rest of her plan into operation. They were a large family and all staying in the same hotel, constantly in and out of each others rooms. Lifting the girls passports when it came to it was not difficult, and neither was taking them on a tour to see the sights. When, once out of the hotel, they were offered the opportunity to go and see Auntie Jo's house up a mountain they were thrilled and happily went along with it, having seen their grandmother on the phone to their mother. That their mother was not on the end of the phone the twins had no idea. That she was expecting them to be out for several hours and therefore did not miss them until they had already left England they also did not know. Once at Freudesheim they caught sight of the school, and by the time Sybil, who guessed exactly where they had been taken caught up with them about 36 hours after their arrival, they were wearing gentian blue dresses, talking in French and swearing they would be Chalet girls till the day they died. |
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| Author: | JB [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 4:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 13. Madge Bettany/Russell x2 |
Oh no!  And there I was thinkingh "Good for Sybil". I really hoped her daughters would have escaped.
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| Author: | Alison H [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 5:00 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 13. Madge Bettany/Russell x2 |
Quick, Sybil, get them out of there before they've been indoctrinated completely  .
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| Author: | keren [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 5:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 13. Madge Bettany/Russell x2 |
Ladies, you are brilliant I do not have the chance to comment every day, but be assured I wait for the drabbles, and enjoy every one of them. (It is a shame you only have 24 or 5) (As a little girl I was sure that there were only 25 days in December!) |
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| Author: | shesings [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 6:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 13. Madge Bettany/Russell x2 |
I am stunned, flummoxed and generally totally and absolutely dumfoonered at your diabolical imaginations - pure dead brilliant!!!!
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 6:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 13. Madge Bettany/Russell x2 |
Oh dear, I see that Madge is being forevermore ruined in re-reads too. Poor Sybil
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| Author: | Advent Drabblers [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 9:54 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 13. Madge Bettany/Russell x2 |
Before the Chalet School Madge Bettany had managed another trip to the Austrian Tirol; apart from the one she had taken with her brother and sister she had managed another trip, during the year before she opened her School. It was during the late summer, just before Joey was due back to school. Joey herself had been away with their aunts for a week but Madge had begged off of accompanying her stating, quite truthfully, that she had some business to deal with. Ever since their trip to the Tirol Madge had kept in contact with Herr Braun – the proprietor of the main hotel in Briseau. He had written to her only a few weeks earlier with some disturbing news. On reaching Briseau she went straight to the hotel to speak with Herr Braun, “Ja, it is as I told you, Fraulein, the English lady she has bought the hotel, the one near the back of the village, she plans to bring her school here next year – she has some sixty pupils already. I've heard she is a very well educated lady, she has a degree and a second one in teaching – she insists all her staff are well qualified too.” “But...but what of my idea? A small school starting up here?” “Well the other place is still available, Fraulein,” Herr Braun replied, “I can allow you to rent it for only a small fee. I'm sure there will be room for both of you.” “Room for two? Perhaps if they were in different parts of the area surrounding the Tiernsee. If they were not both planning to start at almost the exact same time and if the other school sounded like a thoroughly professional job while hers was a real amateurish effort.” Madge's walk had taken her to the rear of the village and she paused to look across at the place that was intended for this new school. It was really in a better position than the one she had earmarked – further from the lake, less likely to flood. The only reason she had not considered it was because the cost was far more. “Good morning, are you looking for me?” Madge looked round to see an Englishwoman of about forty addressing her. “Oh, yes, I wanted to introduce myself,” Madge replied, “I understand you are hoping to start a school here?” “Not hoping, my dear, doing. Place will open this time next year. Why, looking for a post?” Madge's heart suddenly gave a delighted leap, “Perhaps she could secure a post and one for Joey, solve all their problems without having to make the gamble of starting a school herself, “Well, perhaps,” she said with a smile, “I speak both German and French fluently but my main subject is English – literature and language.” “Really?” the older woman gave a smile and held out a hand, “Madeleine Lewis, Headmistress, I've been looking for an English Mistress, you might be it.” “I have a young sister, age eleven, who would need to be educated,” Madge put in. “No trouble, we can easily accommodate that,” Madeleine replied, now, what about you, where were you educated?” “Well until age twelve at a school in India,” Madge named the school, then I attended the High School at Taverton.” “Taverton High?” Madeleine looked suitably impressed, “I've heard of it, and then where?” “I'm sorry?” “What university did you attend? Where did you get your degree?” “Degree? Oh no, I'm afraid I was not able to attend university,” Madge replied, “my sister you know,” she smiled but her smile was not returned instead the older woman was shaking her head, “So you're an amateur then? Well that's a pity, my girls will be coming to a school staffed with professionals, we've no room for those who just dabble. Good day to you.” Madge had flushed a brilliant red at the remarks and was unable to think of anything to say, she watched as the older woman walked across to the chalet without even looking back. She fumbled for her cigarette case in her bag, lighting the cigarette with a rather unsteady match she was thinking furiously, 'That was it, she couldn't get a job with this school, there would be no room for another school. Everything was finished.' She stopped as the match burnt her fingers and she let in fall to the ground with an exclamation. Quickly she stamped on the match eradicating the flame. Then she stopped and looked over at the chalet, it had been very dry recently, and this building was a long way from any water... When Madge left Briseau a few days later it was with a very satisfied smile on her face. The chalet had burnt extremely well, so well that Herr Braun was going to just demolish what was left – it would be as if it never even existed. Madeleine Lewis's body had been discovered by the firemen. |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 13. Madge Bettany/Russell x 3 |
| I was expecting it to be Mlle LePattre! Oh Madge
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| Author: | Nightwing [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 13. Madge Bettany/Russell x 3 |
Thanks, A.D.s! Particularly enjoyed Madge sneaking around Sybil's back - poor Sybs!
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| Author: | Sugar [ Sun Dec 13, 2009 11:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 13. Madge Bettany/Russell x 3 |
| Madge an arsonist!
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| Author: | Abi [ Mon Dec 14, 2009 12:03 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 13. Madge Bettany/Russell x 3 |
| Love those three views of Madge - especially her kidnapping of Sybil's children!
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| Author: | Kacca [ Mon Dec 14, 2009 4:03 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 13. Madge Bettany/Russell x 3 |
Madge an arsonist and a kidnapper! Oh no, I've always been so fond of her. Thanks (I think ).
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| Author: | Cath V-P [ Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:44 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advent 13. Madge Bettany/Russell x 3 |
Goodness, that's very resourceful of her! |
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