Oooh, that was quick - I am very impressed! Can't wait to see more...
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| Her Responsibility http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=8705 |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Fri Nov 12, 2010 7:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Her Responsibility |
I was inspired by certain comments of certain people today with a new drabble - this is short, sweet and not the best writing in the world! I'm posting the first update without the usual rigorous (ha!) editing process, so please excuse it; I haven't got much time at the moment and am also very into another writing project, so I'm hoping that posting this now will inspire me to finish it at some point! Anyway, thanks to those who provided inspiration (you know who you are!) and, hopfully, enjoy! - X - For once, Len Maynard had been able to get the prefects' room to herself, and it was with great relief that she sat down at the table, unburdening the pile of books that she carried under one arm and sinking down into the chair with a heavy sigh. Outside, weak winter sun poured in through the window, casting a strange pallor over all that she surveyed, and turning her ginger locks almost coppery. With her gentle, delicate prettiness, rapidly turning into a womanly beauty, she was the image of a schoolgirl heroine, somebody that younger girls could look up to fearlessly, who was approved by adults and mischievous middles alike. That was the expectation, anyway, and it always had been. From the moment that she was born, the eldest of the family by half an hour, she had been groomed and modelled into the perfect Chalet girl, almost a creation there just for the gratification of her mother and the various teachers who dedicated their life to the school. For much of her youth she'd wanted it to be this way, wanted to be liked and approved by all. Recently, however, she'd turned her mind to rebellion. It had been hard on the Platz. She'd tried to get out of looking after the younger fry, but Joey had simply laughed and informed her that it was all already settled and she must do so; she'd tried arguing with her sisters, but they were the only allies she had and she needed them; she tried letting her work go slack, but the teachers only nagged her into working harder, so that she actually ended up worse off. Even a fierce argument with a fellow prefect, in which she had dared to disagree, had been explained away by Matey as a headache, and she ended up spending the day in bed working it all over in her mind and getting angrier. Now, just for once, she was alone, and as much as it liberated her it also scared her. To be alone was to allow her thoughts to drift over her, as she stared languidly out at the furthermost peaks which dotted the horizon, eyes unfocused. She hadn't had much energy recently, even an hour at games was tiring her out, and it was starting to tell. The black shadows under her eyes lengthened each day, and her temper grew perceptibly shorter, until just an hour ago Con had had to step in to stop her really getting up the backs of a group of Middles whom she'd merely caught talking in the corridor, but whom she'd laid into excessively. Even Miss Annersley had kept her back at the end of one lesson and asked her if she was feeling herself. She knew, however, what was wrong, and sickness spread through her as she sat at the table, contemplating. Her whole body felt icy and numb but for a writhing bundle in her stomach that was fiery hot, consuming her, filling her with guilt and dread until she hardly knew what to do. Gradually thoughts and impressions came back, memories of that night, and her hands clenched until her fingernails dug deep into her palms, even though she didn't notice it. Her breathing grew shorter, and tears swept her eyes but refused to fall. It was midnight, nearly, and the rest of the school was asleep. Feeling restless, wanting to make some token gesture against authority even if only she knew of it, she snuck out of bed and, wrapping her dressing gown around her, crept down the stairs. At the moment it was impossible to sleep, her thoughts revolving around and around, again and again, all of the people that had repressed her, not let her be herself, had indulged Con and Margot in their idiosyncrasies while vehemently denying her her own, until she wanted to shout and scream and throw and destroy everything in her reach, tell all those smug, happy faces exactly what she thought of them. Instead, she meandered down the stairs and out into the garden. It was a crisp night, clear, a full moon, with just a hint of the oppressive heat that would creep up more and more as summer drew closer. The dew-laden grass was cool under her feet – bare – and her toes curled in pleasure at the feeling. Her breath rose in mists above her, at least until she lit the cigarette and blew out smoke carelessly. In a bizarre way she had squirrelled cigarettes stolen from her parents until she had enough to take up the habit. It had taken her a few to get used to dragging on the tobacco and not choking, but now she was more experienced and could do it silently. Just keeping it a secret gave her a thrill, at least let her have something of her own that nobody else could share. She'd been leaning against the trunk of a very old, twisted tree when the rustling footsteps behind her had made her jump. But it was only the companion that she'd come to expect on occasion, and she held out another cigarette wordlessly, leaning forwards so that he could light it off of her own. Together they stood in silence for a little while until, in German, he commented on how pretty the mountains were in the moonlight. Staring at his features in silhouette, Len felt her heart skip a beat and she wondered, yet again, if she dare act on her impulses. The second night that she'd snuck out, she'd been found hunched over a cigarette and coughing audibly by Gaudenz, doing one final check of the property before he retired for the night. His sympathy at her apparent illness turned to amazement as he realised what she was doing, but rather than giving her away he had sat her down, under that very same tree, and questioned her. Surprising herself, she'd found herself telling him everything, how alone she felt, and how pressured, how she just wanted to be normal and allowed to be herself like everybody else. Even more surprisingly, he turned out to be a good listener. After that, she'd met him most nights that she dared to come. Tonight, they were in silence for a while, just blowing smoke up towards the moon shining down on them now and then. Len could feel her heart pounding, until it filled her hearing and she had to stare hard at the bright white light to stop herself from staring at him. It was no use, though. As he moved past her, with a farewell on his lips, he brushed her hand, and she grabbed him. Before she knew what she was doing, she was kissing him, there, under the tree, and her arms had encircled his neck and she could taste the tobacco and smell on him the wood smoke from whatever he'd worked on that day. His hands were around her waist, too, and she marvelled at how natural it felt. Her reverie was broken by the door opening and Con poking her head round it. She started to talk about something to do with Miss Ferrars, but Len wasn't really listening. All she could think, as she rested her hand on her stomach, was one phrase, over and over again. She needed to see a doctor. Soon. |
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| Author: | Abi [ Fri Nov 12, 2010 10:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Oooh, that was quick - I am very impressed! Can't wait to see more...
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| Author: | Joanne [ Sat Nov 13, 2010 3:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Interesting  Poor Len!Please continue  Thanks. |
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| Author: | RroseSelavy [ Sat Nov 13, 2010 4:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Oooh, this looks great! Looking forward to seeing what happens. Thanks
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| Author: | shazwales [ Sat Nov 13, 2010 6:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Looking forward to seeing more of this,Thanks. |
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| Author: | Finn [ Sat Nov 13, 2010 6:50 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Hope you get a chance to continue this soon, Ariel, it's looking great already
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Sat Nov 13, 2010 7:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
I don't want to get you used to daily updates, but I do have a bit more! Thankyou for the comments I'm so relieved that people are reading!- X - It took another three days for her to find the opportunity, but then on a Sunday morning Joey cornered her after church, and asked her to run a message along to Biddy about a trip they'd been planning between them for the children. Already her mother had made sure with Miss Annersley that such an absence would be allowed, but for once Len couldn't resent her mother's interfering; listening politely to what needed to be said (and the excuse that it looked like Geoff was sickening for something, so Joey needed to go straight home to be with him), she nodded her head once and turned to walk her way along the path to the Couvosier's chalet. When she arrived, her luck couldn't have been better; it was Dr Couvosier who answered, with a small smile for her and an open invitation to enter. Gathering her wits as best she could when her heart was pounding so loudly that it was the roar of the tide of guilt and her mouth was dry as parchment, she stepped into the pretty hallway and delivered the message from her mother as concisely as possible, apologising for Joey not being able to come herself. “Quite understandable,” replied Dr Couvosier – Uncle Eugen out of school hours to most of Freudesheim, though the triplets and even Stephen had started to drop the title recently – in his low, gentle voice. Heavy rings around his eyes told of a bad night at the San., as Len knew all too well from her own father, and she was loathe to add this burden to his day. All the same, she urgently needed help, and she didn't know where else to turn. With such a dilemma, she ended up stood feebly in the hallway, unconsciously rubbing one foot up and down the back of her leg, until Eugen, with a knowing twinkle in his eye, asked cheerfully, “Was there anything else?” “May I talk to you?” she murmured, blushing darkly. “I – I mean as a doctor. Privately. Um.” Searchingly, Eugen looked her over, but he was wise enough not to ask why she couldn't see her father if she was ill. Instead he ushered her into his study, overlooking the valley below, and asked if she wanted any sort of drink. Nervously, she shook her head, but he fetched her a glass of water anyway and made her sit down to sip it before he allowed her to talk. Then, seeing that she was a little more composed, he seated himself behind the desk, met her eye, and asked bluntly, “What's the problem?” “I'm pregnant,” she blurted out suddenly, a familiar wave of sickness passing over her as she said it. Somehow, all of the ways she'd planned of saying it, to all of the different people, all of the possible conversations that could have been had, had escaped her completely. Once again she blushed, but this time it was the confused, scared look of someone who was still more a child dreading recrimination than anything else. Gathering herself, reminding herself that she was Head Girl of the Chalet School and considered by all to be an adult now, she looked up at him and added more calmly, “I think so, anyway. I – I could be, and, well -” “You know the signs?” he checked and, relieved at her brusque nod, nodded sagely himself. “In that case, we shall assume for now that you are. I'll need to do a proper check to confirm it, but that is no problem – in the next few days, I'll make sure the children's ward needs something from the school and ask especially for you to bring it up to the San. After that it should be easy enough to find an empty room and I can confirm it. You're a sensible girl, though, and I know you wouldn't panic needlessly, so if you're sure I'm happy to assume you are.” “I'm not that sensible,” whispered Len, tears unaccountably filling her eyes so that she was forced to scrub fiercely at them. There was no good in crying, after all, it would only make her feel worse, and Matey would be sure to spot it when she returned to the school. Now that she'd had time to think about it, the initial panic had subsided to be replaced with a bizarre sort of calm. What she was to do if she was correct she didn't know, though a plan of some sort must be thought up, and quickly. “Who was it?” asked Eugen, still looking at her intently. It was difficult to tell what he was thinking; there was nothing accusatory in his gaze, no real emotion at all. He was so calm; it was so different to what she could expect from her own father, but she shuddered to think of that and carefully set it from her mind. Something in her longed to tell Eugen the truth, however her heart contracted and almost against her will she found herself shaking her head. “I can't tell you. I'm sorry. I – he doesn't know, and I need time to think, I need to tell him first.” It wasn't entirely a lie. Gaudenz was completely unsuspecting as to the result of his escapade, or, if he wasn't, he had said nothing to her. One thing that she had resolved in the time she'd had to think was that nobody should find out it was him. What she was to do, excepting deny fiercely every single one of their acquaintances and refuse to say anything on the matter, she didn't know, and she rather suspected that such a course of action could only make a bad situation worse, but until she'd thought of something more rational this was all she had. “Like that, is it?” Eugen looked at her again, then let the subject drop. “Well, I can't force it out of you, though I'm sure that I can make a shrewd guess. You can always come and talk to me when you are ready to say, phone ahead to make sure I'm in and I'll make sure Biddy doesn't ask questions and keeps it quiet. That goes for anything you want to talk about, by the way. I am aware of how gossip can spread round here, but if I tell Biddy it's work related and I'd rather nobody knew, I can trust her not to tell anyone, so don't worry on that score.” “Thankyou for being so understanding,” whispered Len. Suddenly, she was forced to fish for her handkerchief as a fresh bout of emotion overcame her and she gave in to tears, but again she struggled into pulling herself together, dabbed at her cheeks and sniffed dolefully. “I'm sorry, I just didn't know what else to do, and I don't know what to do now, or who to tell or anything.” “We'll get you up to the San., and make sure it's definite before anything else. Then, if you are right – and do remember that you may not be – we can talk about what you need to do next. In the meantime, please do think seriously about telling the father; he has a right to know, and I know that it's hard but his support would help you so much as well.” “I'll think about it,” she promised. After that, and a few questions to make sure that she would be all right until he could see her again, Eugen bid her farewell with a promise that he would have a meeting with her by the end of the week, and watched her walk along the path, his eyes weary. He could imagine, as he knew could she, exactly what the reaction across the Platz would be, and if he dreaded it he could only guess how she felt. Meanwhile, Len started her walk back to the school, her mind preoccupied. Something Eugen had said had given her a glimmer of hope for the future, if only she could make the idea work properly; she loathed herself for the plan, but if she truly was pregnant she had greater responsibilities now. It would take some thought, and it was a gamble, but if it paid off how much better it would be for everyone. She frowned to herself, determined to think it all out properly. |
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| Author: | clair [ Sat Nov 13, 2010 7:38 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Poor Len, but glad she felt able to speak to Eugen. Looking forward to more when you get time
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| Author: | Liz K [ Sat Nov 13, 2010 7:55 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Poor Len, wonder what she's got in mind. |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Sat Nov 13, 2010 8:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Pleased Eugen is so understanding and helpful. Thank you for the update. |
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| Author: | Abi [ Sat Nov 13, 2010 8:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Hm, and I bet I know who Eugen thinks it is.... Thanks, Ariel.
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| Author: | shazwales [ Sat Nov 13, 2010 8:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Think i have an idea,thanks Ariel. |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Sun Nov 14, 2010 4:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Abi wrote: Hm, and I bet I know who Eugen thinks it is.... You would!  And after what I said about daily updates, too *long-suffering sigh* Thankyou for the comments!- X - As promised, Eugen had found a suitable enough task to get her up to the San., missing the walk that the rest of the Prefects were taking in the opposite direction in a way that once upon a time would have made her grumble to herself about how unfair it all was, but now made her heart lighter than it had been for many weeks. At least now she would know. Having thought and thought until she was thinking in such contortuplicated circles that even the idea of circular thinking became circular, to finally know the truth would be a relief more than anything. She'd already accepted the idea of being pregnant, as repugnant as she found it, at least once it had been confirmed she could start to make definite plans for the future. Eugen had been all that could be asked of a man in his position, friendly and approachable but strictly professional at all times, doing what he had to and then telling her as gently as in him lay that she was, indeed, with child. To her surprise, she felt nothing as she heard the words. At first she'd been in a ferment of panic about the possibility, terrifying herself with thoughts of what everybody around her would say, of how wrong her life had gone. Now, realising that she was and there was nothing she could do about it, a calm descended. She nodded, thanked Eugen, listened to all that he had to say without comment, without even hearing it properly, and left the room. The first person that she met was also the last person that she wanted to see. Head down as she thought furiously she did, quite literally, walk into Reg, who beamed at his unexpected good fortune and was quick to take her arm and lead her to his office, with eager questions about her presence and dropped hints of how fortunate it was that he should meet her at this time. Barely comprehending the world around her, still, for once she let herself be led, though usually she would have made an excuse about being needed at the school and escaped as soon as possible. “Coffee?” he asked as soon as he'd got her sat in his office and told his secretary that he wasn't to be disturbed for half an hour. “I've got a posh type here that was sent from England, have a cup of that and tell me all the gossip. What's been going on at the school?” “Oh, nothing much,” replied Len listlessly. She had awoken to the fact that she desperately didn't want to be there but, having come this far, she could hardly leave so suddenly without looking most impolite, and Reg evidently had something he wished to say. Even her abruptness didn't deter him, and he started on a long story about one of the nurses. Ten minutes later, when he was still rambling, he suddenly stopped short, as if realising for the first time how bored she was. Oblivious to anything else, he blushed, paused, stammered an apology, and then, as if making his mind up, stood up from his desk and moved over to the filing cabinet. Wondering how quickly she could get out of the warm, stuffy room, Len put down her cup and made as if to stand up, but like a predator with its prey he sensed it and turned around. “Please, do you have just five more minutes?” he pleaded, eyes wide and almost childish. “There's something I really need to talk to you about, I just need to find – here!” he finished, retreating from the filing cabinet with something clutched in his hand. For a horribly long moment, Len realised what he was about to do, and her heart contracted and her throat seized up so that she couldn't breathe, her hands were suddenly clammy and her head was light. The room looked different to how it was before. The world had taken on a slightly different air, something fundamental had shifted and changed. He lowered himself to one knee in front of her. “This isn't the best proposal ever, I know, and I'm really sorry. I've been trying to do it for months, to find the courage to ask you, and I'm not the most romantic of souls. But I love you, Len, and I have for some years now. I hope that you've known that. And I hope that you know that I will always love you, no matter what happens, and that if you want to say no – well, that's fine, I understand. You have so much ahead of you, and I don't want to trap you so early. But I can't live anymore and not know if you feel the same way back, and although I told myself it wasn't fair to ask you so many times I find that I love you too much now and I simply must. Len – will you be my wife?” Looking down at the man prostrating himself before her, hopefully fumbling with a box and opening it to show the ring that it contained, there was a part of Len, a part she would always hate, that felt nothing but scorn and contempt. If only he knew what she really was he wouldn't be grovelling in front of her. And that was when her plan, in all its beauty, unfolded itself before her, and suddenly her path was as light as if the stars of heaven were shining down and blessing it. Suddenly she knew what she had to do. Summoning all of her courage, she uttered the two words. “I'm pregnant.” |
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| Author: | cal562301 [ Sun Nov 14, 2010 4:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Loving this. Please keep up the daily updates, Ariel. Can't wait to see Reg's reaction, since he's the one person who knows it can't possibly be his child. (At least I assume so, unless you're planning a twist in the tale!) |
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| Author: | Finn [ Sun Nov 14, 2010 5:10 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Badoing! I like this story. You are required to make daily updates - daily, d'you hear? 
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| Author: | Liz K [ Sun Nov 14, 2010 5:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
| What has Len got planned?
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| Author: | 2nd Gen Fan [ Sun Nov 14, 2010 6:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Ooh, where is this going? Can't wait to see how Reg reacts.
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| Author: | Abi [ Sun Nov 14, 2010 6:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
That was kind of a sweet proposal - much better than EBD's! But still... oh dear.... |
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| Author: | lexyjune [ Sun Nov 14, 2010 11:10 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Just found this and I'm loving it. Thanks. |
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| Author: | janetbrown23 [ Mon Nov 15, 2010 12:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Considerably better than my proposal too grins. |
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| Author: | shesings [ Mon Nov 15, 2010 6:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Just caught up with this! Love the cliff........ |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Tue Nov 16, 2010 6:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Just to say thankyou to you all for reading this - yes, it is the conclusion! I'm sure I don't need to tell you where the italicised text is taken from. I hope that you've enjoyed it, and thankyou for reading. - X - Len paced the room again, turned, let her gaze sweep Con and Margot unseeingly, and paced back up to the other side. It was the same fifteen and a half steps that she'd been walking for nearly an hour, automatically, after Margot had snapped at her for being fidgety when she had tried sitting down. The rest of the prefects had taken themselves to the Fifth form common room to get involved in an impromptu tiddlywinks tournament, and the three triplets were alone. Margot knitted furiously, Con read and looked up reproachfully at Len every so often. As for Len, she paced. And paced. And thought. During those agonising hours, she remembered everything that had gone on between them, Reg and herself, replayed it over and over again in her mind. It was only when Con asked if she was feeling ill that she realised that she kept clutching at her stomach. Already time was running out, she could tell that she was starting to grow perceptibly bigger, and as she thought of everything she started wanting to cry and cry and not stop. They would have put that down to her anxiety for Reg, though, and she couldn't stand any more reassurances on the matter, they made her feel sick. The day that she'd told him her condition, two weeks ago now, he'd stared at her aghast for a long time, then slowly stood up and, in a daze, sat down heavily behind the desk and buried his head in his hands. At least she had the grace to blush. It was when he looked up that her heart skipped a beat and she felt her hands clasp together fiercely over her stomach, as she waited to hear what he would say. In many ways, he was the easiest person to tell; he knew who the father wasn't, at least, it was one question spared to her. She could still see him thinking it, though. Why. Why wasn't it him? Who was better than he was? Who had stolen her? But she couldn't feel pity for him, she just didn't have it in her to care enough. “I'll marry you,” he said suddenly, emotionless, and Len turned to look at him so fast that the surprise clearly still showed on her face. She tried to modify her expression, and not gape like a stranded sheep, but already he was talking again and she was so dumbfounded at what he said that she almost believed she was in a dream. “I love you, nothing will change that. We'll get married and tell them all that the baby is mine. We'll do it together. And I'll raise the child and we'll never speak of this matter again.” It had been her intention to argue him round to this point of view, to appeal to his better, loving, Christian side to help her in her troubles. It had been her intention to beg him help tell her parents, the school, what had happened, to tell them that it was his. Already she was going to break her parents' hearts, at least if they thought it was Reg it wouldn't be as humiliating and degrading. All she wanted from him was a lie, though. She was going to run away, to England, she just wanted them to think the best of her that they could, she never meant to marry Reg. That was cruel on both of them. “You can't,” she replied, tonelessly. “Don't be such an idiot.” And she'd run, run away as fast as she could, heart pounding, feeling so sick that she had to stop halfway back to the school and vomit into a bush, as if her body were trying to physically expel the memory. All that she wanted was to get away from the Platz, something of her reputation left, and start again in England. She was fixated on the idea. As long as everybody thought it was Reg's baby she stood some chance, and that would be best. Never had she envisaged him still wanting to be with her, of him demanding anything back in return – he was an old friend, and it would cause him some discomfort to say it, but she would have made sure that he didn't come to much trouble. What he was asking her to give was too high a price to pay, though. After that they had reached an impasse, Len carefully avoiding him and he apparently being too busy to resort to the thousand and one tricks that he usually played to have a chance of seeing her. At least he'd been respecting her evident wish not to see him, she had thought thankfully. At least it gave her time to think. Her whole being had rebelled at the idea of marrying him, of tying herself to him forever, and she had spent the fortnight miserable and distracted, putting on a show but inside constantly ill. Every day it felt as if the baby had grown larger, had taken more of her soul, and each day she carried it around, a dark, guilty secret inside. Time was creeping up on her, and she was starting to think about when she would have to tell her family, as loathsome as the thought was. More than once she planned running away, just leaving, taking a train and seeing where she went from there. She could go to Sybil or Josette in Australia, where they'd never find her, or Auntie Rob in Canada. Only she wasn't brave enough for that, and so she'd still been there to hear the news. There'd been a flood, Reg was caught in it. The hours of worry that ensued had turned around everything she thought and felt. She couldn't bear to go over them again, as she paced and paced the tiny cage, watched warily by her sisters, wasn't strong enough to relive the rush of emotions that had overcome her until news of his safety reached them. Suffice to say, though, that it had brought home to her in a way that nothing else could why she couldn't run away, why she had instinctively known to stay, who it was that kept her here. The call to the study came. Numbly, she walked across to Freudesheim. Every step closer to him she felt more and more as if she must surely bolt, her hands shook and she had turned to a broiling pit of nerves that made her almost stumble more than once. If only he would forgive her, if only he would still love her, she would love him too, with all her heart, forever and always, that she promised. If only it wasn't too late. Having talked to her mother, automatically, with the same things to say as always, she ran up the stairs. Pausing outside the door she smoothed down her clothes and her hair, reminded herself of all her resolves. If he didn't forgive her, she hadn't lost anything, she was no worse off than ten minutes ago, or so she repeated futilely. But she would have lost something. She would have lost Reg. Her only support and comfort, the only person in the world that she wanted, which she'd been too stupid to see until now. Taking a deep breath, she mentally berated herself, tried to compose herself to see him. As she appeared round the door he looked at her with startled eyes. “Len!” he said incredulously. She went very pink. “Reg!” she said. “Oh, you poor dear, how dreadful you look! Are you badly hurt?” “I don't think so,” he returned. “Merely wrench and strain.” Then as she came up to the bed he caught her hands. “Does this mean-” Len nodded. “I suppose so. Yes!” Reg pulled her to him and Len sank down beside the bed. His arms went round her, then he held her from him and looked at her searchingly. “I take it we're engaged. Like it, darling?” Len chuckled. “So much I can't think why I didn't know it before. It all seems absolutely natural and very nice! Yes, of course we're engaged, only it must be kept dark until term ends.” After which, she could only laugh happily, knowing that now she had him to support her and help her to deal with all of the problems that lay before them. |
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| Author: | Finn [ Tue Nov 16, 2010 7:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Hurrah! Nicely tied in, Ariel, and thoroughly enjoyable. Looking forward to the next drabble you start... |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Tue Nov 16, 2010 7:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Thanks Arial. |
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| Author: | Abi [ Tue Nov 16, 2010 8:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Nice ending, Ariel... glad to see it was so happy.
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| Author: | charli [ Tue Nov 16, 2010 10:10 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Thanks Ariel, started reading this earlier this morning, but had to drag myself away so i wasn't late for work! Just finished it It is very clever, and I have enjoyed it very much. But, does it have to finish??? |
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| Author: | 2nd Gen Fan [ Wed Nov 17, 2010 6:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Beautifully tied in, I really enjoyed this. Thanks. |
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| Author: | JS [ Thu Nov 18, 2010 5:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Gosh, I wasn't expecting that. Thanks Ariel. And thanks to Abi for flagging it up - I don't generally venture into St Mildred's. |
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| Author: | Fiona Mc [ Sat Nov 20, 2010 10:19 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Only just found this, thanks Ariel, have really enjoyed it |
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| Author: | Billie [ Tue Nov 30, 2010 6:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Read this last night and then dreamed about being pregnant! Great story Ariel, thank you. |
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| Author: | lindsabeth [ Thu Jan 06, 2011 1:06 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
I enjoyed that! Len seemed like such a real person, and I felt so sorry for her at times. Hopefully the baby won't be the spitting image of Gaudenz... |
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| Author: | whitequeen [ Mon Jan 24, 2011 8:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
oh, so this is what you've all been talking about on the other thread! Loved it - especially the way it just slid nicely into the book. I'm glad Len got a better proposal than that
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| Author: | chris84 [ Mon Jan 24, 2011 9:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Her Responsibility |
Just found this and loved it. Thank you.
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