The CBB
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/

New Beginnings and Old Stories...updated AT LAST!...14/10
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1531

Author:  Mary [ Fri Oct 27, 2006 1:30 pm ]
Post subject:  New Beginnings and Old Stories...updated AT LAST!...14/10

I've had to change the title after realising there were others with the same name and I was being confusing. Anyway, I've been writing this for ages, and so now I'll have to finish it! It's not obviously CS at this point, but all will be revealed...

***

Henrietta Leighton had always imagined that, should she ever suffer a break up in a relationship, her mother’s flair for the theatrical would finally emerge in her character. Her sister Imogen had certainly inherited the gene, upturning a cut-glass pitcher of iced water over Luke as he tried to break up with her. Even her brother Edmund had more sense of the dramatic than she, as when his girlfriend ended their relationship, he sobbed alone in his room. For a week. Henrietta had always planned a really good break up. It would include throwing drinks, maybe a slap, and a written off BMW. After this lofty ideal, her amicable split from Simon wherein both agreed that it simply was no longer working, and each returned the others personal effects found in their houses, was rather dull. Easy, and very low maintenance, but dull. Her mother would no doubt be shocked at her callous lack of feeling. Imagine, not crying when the man you love leaves you. Really Henrietta.

Lying in her bed the next morning, she contemplated staying under the covers for a week, eating nothing but chocolate, and reading tragic romances. Wuthering Heights would do. Maybe she could just waste away, causing all about her to despair and wring their hands. She may get to stay with her parents then. She glanced at the clock. At least if she did that, she would by now have a cup of tea on her bedside table. Was it worth wailing and weeping just for a cup of tea without getting out of bed? Would it not be easier to buy a teas maid? Her musings were interrupted by Tansy’s warm and hairy form leaping onto the bed as she proceeded to try and wash Henrietta’s face with her small, rough tongue. Heaving herself out of bed, Henrietta got up, vanquishing the staying-in-bed plan. It was now a take-Tansy-for-a-walk plan. Better, but still not great.

*

Leaning down, Henrietta picked up the soggy tennis ball from where Tansy had failed to ‘fetch’. She threw it again, along the weedy-line of the beach where the high tide had reached. She grinned ruefully at the sight of Tansy barrelling after the ball. Maybe it was a good thing. Maybe she should stop worrying. After all, Imogen might wail, and Edmund would pace, and no doubt her mother would clasp her shoulder and try to console her, but her father would give her one keen look, and then wink, whilst Kingsley would laugh at her, and give her tea, before shovelling his children onto their welcoming young aunt. Which is exactly what he did.

Author:  Róisín [ Fri Oct 27, 2006 2:04 pm ]
Post subject: 

Thanks for this Mary :D Is Henrietta going to end up in the School?

Author:  Lizzie [ Fri Oct 27, 2006 2:49 pm ]
Post subject: 

HURRAH! I know you have about 50,000 words of this already done, so there's no excuse for there not to be an update every day...

More, more, more!!!

L xxx

Author:  Chair [ Fri Oct 27, 2006 4:07 pm ]
Post subject: 

Thanks, Mary. This looks really great so far. I am confused which book you are talking about, though.

Author:  leahbelle [ Fri Oct 27, 2006 5:37 pm ]
Post subject: 

Thanks for this, Mary. Can;t wait to read more!

Author:  Gem [ Sat Oct 28, 2006 12:14 am ]
Post subject: 

Looking forward to reading more, Mary :D Am very impressed that you have 50,000 words written already *blinks* Although I have to say another drabble entitled the Real Chalet School is going to confuse me rather... *G*

Author:  Sugar [ Sat Oct 28, 2006 12:15 am ]
Post subject: 

I thought it was connected to the Lesley's series at first :oops:

Author:  Lizzie [ Sat Oct 28, 2006 10:01 am ]
Post subject: 

Gem wrote:
Am very impressed that you have 50,000 words written already


Um, I may have exaggerated slightly. It's possible that she has slightly less than 50,000 words done, it just feels like that to me because she writes at about 15 times the speed I do. When she was home for the summer holidays, she and I were both writing in the same room and in time it took me to write two paragraphs, she wrote about three pages. Not fair!

Author:  Mary [ Sat Oct 28, 2006 10:23 am ]
Post subject: 

Sorry about the confusion. I had totally forgotten Lesley's story when I called it The Real Chalet School. Sorry Lesley!

Lizzie was slightly exaggerating with 50000 words- it's just over 8000 at the moment, but I need to write more and fast otherwise I'm going to run out of posts quickly!

Yes- I know it's confusing at the moment. I'm afraid all will not become clear for a while. Stick with it. You will be rewarded.

As a hint of help, it's set today, not years ago or something, and the majority of characters are my own. Again all will be made clear...

Author:  Lizzie [ Sat Oct 28, 2006 2:53 pm ]
Post subject: 

Great title. More soon please Miss M x

Author:  Gem [ Sat Oct 28, 2006 3:01 pm ]
Post subject: 

*intrigued* looking forward to more Mary :wink:

Author:  Lesley [ Sat Oct 28, 2006 4:03 pm ]
Post subject: 

Many thanks Mary - was rather a shock for me last night to see it! :wink:


Looking forward to reading more.

Author:  Tara [ Sat Oct 28, 2006 6:44 pm ]
Post subject: 

Mary wrote:
Anyway, I've been writing this for ages, and so now I'll have to finish it!
Of course you must finish, Mary, it's a most intriguing start. Good plan to change the title, but we're hanging on to every word. I already love Tansy, and will be most interested to see where the story goes!

Author:  KathrynW [ Sun Oct 29, 2006 10:17 am ]
Post subject: 

Thanks Mary, this looks great!

Author:  Mary [ Sun Oct 29, 2006 6:10 pm ]
Post subject: 

Since you've all been so nice...

***

“Have you told Mum?”
Henrietta accepted the tea with a grin, quickly morphing into a grimace.
“She’ll try and make me express myself, probably with silk scarves and clay.”
“After all Henrietta, you have retreated within your hard shell, hiding your innermost thoughts and feelings from the world. Imagine yourself a newly formed butterfly, airing your wings in the sun.”
At the hideously realistic interpretation of their mother, Henrietta hurled the nearest ammunition she could find at her brother, which, it turned out, was a cushion.
“If you’re not careful you’ll slay your only niece.”
“Pia’s made of sterner stuff than that aren’t you hen?”
At her aunt’s words, Pia scrambled into Henrietta’s lap, promptly falling asleep.
The room sunk to a warm hush, as Kingsley watched his sister and daughter fondly.
“Etta?”
“Mm?”
“You need to tell her soon. The sooner it’s done then the less you’ll have to explain.”
“Unless someone else explains for me whilst I hide out in a different country. Or maybe continent.”
“Who exactly? Imo? Or maybe Ed?”
Henrietta shifted the warm sleeping weight, and grinned at Kingsley.
“I was thinking Lena could do it.”
He snorted into his tea.
“If I so much as suggested that to her, my children would suddenly find themselves in a one parent family with Lena running for the hills.”


“Why am I running for the hills?”
Lena settled next to Henrietta on the sofa, her sleeping son on her lap.
“At the suggestion of your going to Mum to tell her that Henry here has split up with Simon.”
Henrietta grinned hopefully.
“No way in hell.”
“Lena!”
“See. I told you she would be against it.”
Grimacing at her brother, Henrietta turned back to her sister-in-law.
“Really? I can’t tell her. She’ll just wail and make me stay for a month, and then I’ll be there for the flower festival and I can’t be there again. It was horrendous last year.”
“The geraniums do make for a bad time.”
Her back squarely to Kingsley, she continued.
“Please Lena. You could do it over the phone. That way you can hang up.”
“What’s stopping you from telling her over the phone?”
“I can’t act. If you tell her I’m really cut up about it then she won’t worry so much. She’ll think that I’m finally expressing my emotions and living the life that was intended. If I tell her, I’ll just sound happy that I don’t have to spend any more Saturday nights watching the snooker.”
“You’re seriously just happy?”
Henrietta was silent for a second.
“I miss his company. He’s one of my best friends. We just were never mad about each other, like the way you are about Kings. We’re better as friends.”
“You can’t tell your Mum that?”
“You can’t tell Mum anything.”
“Except that you’re going to enter an arts festival wherein you read poetry wrapped in a curtain whilst people writhe on the floor around you in black cat-suits expressing the anguish of today’s youth.”
Lena looked sternly at her husband.
“Sometimes, I think we’d be better as friends.”

Author:  KathrynW [ Sun Oct 29, 2006 6:38 pm ]
Post subject: 

Thanks Mary, a lot of that had me giggling. I can't wait to meet said mother!

Author:  kimothy [ Sun Oct 29, 2006 6:44 pm ]
Post subject: 

thanks mary, i really enjoyed that too, i cant wait for more

Author:  Chair [ Sun Oct 29, 2006 6:45 pm ]
Post subject: 

Thanks, Mary. I am really liking Lena, Kingsley and Henrietta so far.

Author:  Lizzie [ Sun Oct 29, 2006 9:27 pm ]
Post subject: 

Good stuff, keep it coming. The quicker you post, the more you'll have to write to keep up with yourself. And don't forget that I have the first 8,000 words on the hard drive here too, so if you don't carry on posting, I shall do it for you.

Mwah ha ha ha haaaaaa!!!

(love you, don't pound me)

Author:  Cath V-P [ Mon Oct 30, 2006 12:01 am ]
Post subject: 

Thank you Mary. Lena - short for Helena perhaps?

Author:  Cath V-P [ Mon Oct 30, 2006 12:01 am ]
Post subject: 

Thank you Mary. Lena - short for Helena perhaps?

Author:  Mary [ Mon Oct 30, 2006 5:44 pm ]
Post subject: 

Thanks guys. It is spurring me on a bit, although don't expect much posting except on weekends. What with presentations to formulate and reading to do I am super busy during the week.

Also Liz. Hm. You post that, and I'll start posting the stuff of yours I have here. Oh wait...WHY DID I NOT STEAL YOUR WORK!!! Gargh.

Author:  Mary [ Mon Nov 06, 2006 11:18 pm ]
Post subject: 

Imogen closed the back door quietly. Much as her dramatics matched her mother’s, Imogen Leighton had a great deal of tact. It leaned itself to her dramatic nature, causing her to often commit espionage, just so that people weren’t hurt. Whilst others would keep silent and not mention certain things, Imogen would hide people, lock doors and slip notes. Her life was somewhat akin to that of James Bond.

Opening the fridge door, she leaned against it, contemplating the relative benefits of last nights pasta bake, or the trifle from the night before that. Shunning them both, she took the milk out, and put the kettle on the stove. She turned to see her father entering the kitchen, his empty mug raised hopefully.
“You manage to not hear Mum when she’s sitting next to you, but you sense a cup of tea from across the house?”
He grinned and put the milk in the cups.
“It’s a gift. All fathers need to pass it on to their sons to be taught to their sons.”
“Kingsley certainly has learned it.”
“And hopefully he’ll teach Nicholas his tea drinking ways.”
Imogen was silent, warming the pot, and dropping tea bags in.
“Sweetheart, is everything alright?”
She made the tea, poured it, and placed his mug in front of her father.
“If I know something that someone else should know, should I tell that person, or should I let them find out themselves and not feel like I know something they don’t know, even though I do.”
“If it’s what I think it is, she already knows.”
“How come?”
“I told her.”
“How did you find out?”
“Kingsley phoned.”
“How did he know?”
“I guess she told him. Who told you?”
“Simon. I saw them together and he told me.”
“Who together? Simon and Henry?”
“You don’t know?”
“Know what?”
“Oh.”

Author:  Cath V-P [ Mon Nov 06, 2006 11:44 pm ]
Post subject: 

Fascinating....and mysterious!

Thank you Mary.

Author:  Lizzie [ Tue Nov 07, 2006 10:31 am ]
Post subject: 

MORE!!!

please

xxxx

Author:  leahbelle [ Tue Nov 07, 2006 11:09 am ]
Post subject: 

Would also love to read more.

Thanks, Mary.

Author:  Lesley [ Tue Nov 07, 2006 6:41 pm ]
Post subject: 

Love the bit about not hearing mum but hearing the tea being made! :lol:

Thanks Mary

Author:  Mary [ Mon Nov 13, 2006 6:58 pm ]
Post subject: 

Enjoy! And thanks for all the lovely comments. M xxx

Henrietta Leighton had always imagined that, should she ever suffer a break up in a relationship, her mother’s flair for the theatrical would finally emerge in her character. Now, it seemed, even a bad break up had little drama to it. Sitting in the departure lounge of the airport she went over it again, trying to extract some level of excitement. This had greater potential action than any of Imogen or Edmund’s past break ups, yet she suspected that it still was less dramatic. Standing on Simon’s front step, she certainly had planned for it to be dramatic. Maybe she would yell at him, something really rude. She could break his favourite possessions. In short, she could have a second bash at the great break up. It hadn’t quite worked like that though.

“Henry!”
He had looked wary of her, as one might approach a dangerous animal when devoid of a large stick.
“Yes.”
Looking back on it, perhaps that was not the best thing to say, but it did. For the moment.
“Do you want to come in?”
Given the pouring rain, she certainly did, and proceeded to step over his threshold, dripping somewhat. This again wasn’t quite as she had planned it. There should have been more cashmere and less rain. And she should have been a stone lighter, and a good 3 inches taller.
Seated in an armchair, next to the wood burner, she was silent. Not that she had really been terribly chatty up until now. Absentmindedly she stroked the cat, basking in the woody warmth, and summoned up the courage to talk to Simon as he placed a cup of tea before her, and sat down, opposite.
“I thought you… well…”
This was bad enough without Simon trying to chat.
“Imogen told me everything.”
He looked intently at his cup of tea.
“You believed her?”
“Should I not?”
“You know how it is-these theatrical types.”
It was the most tempting thing in the world to look him straight in the eye and say “No. Tell me.” Simon however already resembled a startled woodland creature enough without all the fight being painfully extracted. She gave in. It wouldn’t be dramatic, but it would be over fast.

“You’re engaged?”
Simon winced, but didn’t look at her straight away. He passed his mug between his hands, and rocked his feet from their soles to their sides. Finally, he looked up.
“I’m so sorry. I never meant for it to be like this. I truly did not want to hurt you.”
Henrietta felt able to smile a little at his anguish.
“It’s ok. We’re over anyway. I just… wanted to know. Fast relationship though!”
Although Simon was nodding, he did not look her in the eye again. The absolute revelation hit her square between the eyes.
“Oh. Right. It’s not that fast at all is it?”
She put down the tea, unseeing as it unbalanced into the hearth, and stood up.
“I think I’ll go now.”

It possibly had been a little unsafe to drive back to her parents house, so completely blind a deaf to the world. Certainly arriving on the gravel drive, she felt a little shocked to realise that she remembered none of the car journey. As she stood in the drizzle looking up at the old face of the house, the front door flew open, Imogen skittering across the drive with an umbrella. Henrietta managed a watery smile at her sister before being hugged and pulled into the house. Herein was her dramatic week of wallowing, of chocolate, and of tragic romance. Except it wasn’t.

Author:  Lizzie [ Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:12 pm ]
Post subject: 

Hurrah! Well done girlie, add more soon!

Author:  Eilidh [ Tue Nov 14, 2006 3:14 pm ]
Post subject: 

Thanks Mary, this is really good. Looking forward to more.

Author:  kimothy [ Tue Nov 14, 2006 5:39 pm ]
Post subject: 

more please! :D

Author:  Mary [ Fri Nov 17, 2006 9:05 pm ]
Post subject: 

Since you asked so nicely...

“A very big Cappuccino please.”
The girl at the coffee bar grinned, and set to work.
“Bad day?”
“Bad week.”
“Good thing you’re getting away then. Where are you going?”
“Austria.”
A very large frothing Cappuccino was placed in front of Henrietta.
“Very nice. I’ve only been to Rome, and Aberdeen. On holiday?”
“Mm. I have organised a set period of not wallowing in misery and instead will see something of a childhood dream.”
Seeing that no-one else immediately needed a drink, the girl perched opposite Henrietta.
“That sounds like some film or other. Maybe you’ll meet someone out there. That is, if you’re not already…”
Henrietta felt a little thawed out my the cheerful chat, and a sip of much needed coffee, so shook her head.
“No. We split up last week and then I find out he’s been dating her for a couple of months, and we only split up then because he was ready to marry her.”
“Little weasel. Well, at least you’re now free to marry some hot Austrian doctor.”
Henrietta’s slightly puzzled expression queued her to continue. “Sorry. There were these books I had when I was little about a school in Austria, and the girls in it only ever married doctors. It made it sound like Austria was jammed full of them.”
Henrietta’s face cleared.
“Was it The Chalet School? I had some of those. Maybe that’s why I wanted to go so badly.”
“Maybe. Can I get you anything else?”
Her conversation had been a balm to Henrietta. It was only fair to help her sales records. She pointed out a large sugary pastry, and took a sip of the coffee.
“I think actually the reason I needed to go so badly was that my parents house had a power cut yesterday. It’s hard not to wallow when it’s chilly and candlelit.”
“So Austria it is.”
“Yes Austria. With no wallowing.”
The girl grinned, and pushed Henrietta’s receipt across the counter as she went off to another customer. Finishing her coffee, and wrapping the other half of the pastry in a napkin, Henrietta left a small pile of notes and change, before standing up.
“Have a good time in Austria, and remember. No wallowing.”
Henrietta waved and turned to go and catch her plane. No wallowing. Right. That she could do. Hopefully.

Author:  Lizzie [ Fri Nov 17, 2006 9:18 pm ]
Post subject: 

Mary wrote:
“Little weasel. Well, at least you’re now free to marry some hot Austrian doctor.”
Henrietta’s slightly puzzled expression queued her to continue. “Sorry. There were these books I had when I was little about a school in Austria, and the girls in it only ever married doctors. It made it sound like Austria was jammed full of them.”
Henrietta’s face cleared.
“Was it The Chalet School? I had some of those. Maybe that’s why I wanted to go so badly.”


AHA!!

The thick plottens...

Author:  kimothy [ Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:07 pm ]
Post subject: 

ooooooh the plot does indeed thicken.... more please!

Author:  leahbelle [ Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:25 pm ]
Post subject: 

Thanks for the update, Mary!

Author:  Tara [ Sat Nov 18, 2006 1:30 am ]
Post subject: 

Highly intriguing. Looking forward to more.

Author:  Josie [ Wed Nov 22, 2006 4:38 pm ]
Post subject: 

*also intrigued*

Thanks Mary.

Author:  Mary [ Sat Dec 02, 2006 6:17 pm ]
Post subject: 

I've taken too long to do this- sorry folks. Only one exam to go now though and I'm going home a week today, so I may even be able to start writing some more again. Role on Saturday! I'm going to try and post most of what I've written over this next week so that when I get home I'm forced to write more...

***

With a little unpacked, she dropped onto the window seat and looked around. Flying to another country was maybe a little drastic. After all, it was only a power cut. Having said that, it was a power cut in a large and chilly house, at the beginning of November. On top of that, getting away from her family and gallons of tea had seemed rather attractive when she had walked past the travel agents. It seemed quite dramatic to march in and demand tickets for the first flight to Austria, but hey, they work in a travel agents. Their lives needed spicing up. Maybe it would be a tale told throughout travel agent history. They could tell it to their children and co-workers and… Well, it wasn’t exactly that dramatic, but for Henrietta, it felt exciting.

At breakfast the next morning, Henrietta was one of the first to arrive. In careful English, she was addressed by her host, Herr Lecher.
“Miss Leighton. I hope you are enjoy your stay?”
“Thank you sir, yes. It is truly beautiful here.”
He smiled warmly at the praise, and enclosed her hand in an enthusiastic handshake.
“I regret that we could not give you a room for longer. I hope you understand Madam. We simply do not have the space given a large party is arriving in but a few days.”
“Not at all. It is entirely my fault for arriving without any notice. It is very kind of you to give me a room whilst I find another.”
“May I suggest you travel further up the country. I believe that there is a very comfortable hotel in the town.”
“Thank you” she said. “I will look into it. It is just so lovely to be here. I believe that wherever I stayed, I would be happy.”

***

Whilst she had a few days to find new accommodation, Henrietta felt the urgency of a need to resolve a problem. It was with this in mind that she arrived in Innsbruck early that morning to find a comfortable place to stay. Had she been richer, or perhaps less romantic, many places would have suited her, yet they seemed just not right. Either that, or they had no rooms. Stopping in her wander, she turned to see the golden roof. The cold November sun struck it, and she was mesmerised. In the street below, a couple emerged from the door, just married, with their friends showering them with confetti. Henrietta’s attention was stolen. The ache of Simon’s desertion and her own loneliness washed over her, and, to her shame, tears rolled down her face.
“ Entschuldigung, kann ich Ihnen helfen?”
Henrietta looked up with a start, suddenly aware of her surroundings.
“Oh…um. Ich, no, es tut mir leid. Ich…ich sprechen kein Deutsch und…”
“Not at all. I was asking if you were alright.”
“Thank you. I’m fine really. I just haven’t had a very good last few days and seeing something just got to me.”
With a quick glance where she had been staring, he took it all in.
“Is there anything that I can do?”
She laughed and wiped her wet cheeks.
“Only find me a hotel to stay in? No, thank you. I’ll be fine.”
He smiled sheepishly.
“I actually do know somewhere that you could stay. My family own a hotel. If you wanted, only in the least creepy stalkerish way, you could come there today. I mean…I’m going back there soon and if you wanted the company for the trip, I’m, well, going back.”
“Thank you. I’m not sure. I mean, I don’t know if I can afford it, or where it is or anything.”
He smiled again.
“Look. Here is my card for the hotel. I’m going home in about an hour. If you’d like to come, I’ll be here, at three o’clock, sharp.”
Taking the card, Henrietta managed to smile.
“Thank you. Again. I’ll think about it.”
“Good” he said as he turned to go. “I hope to see you then.”

Henrietta walked back to the hotel, slowly. It would seem a little mad to go with a man that she had only just met to his alleged hotel, which, incidentally, could be a grimy, expensive, mafia attracting whore house. Was that what she really wanted? Maybe if she got desperate it would be quite attractive. Entering the hotel, she bumped into Herr Lecher.
“Gute Nachmittag Fraulein. Have you found alternative accommodation?”
Shaken from her reverie, she unguardedly dropped the card which she still held. He bent down to pick it up, glancing at the name printed upon it before returning the card to Henrietta.
As she began to say “not really, no” he exclaimed excitedly.
“Ah Fraulein, that is an excellent choice. That family has lived here for many years and their hotel has an excellent reputation.”
Henrietta silenced her disagreements and smiled slightly.
“Really? You would recommend it?”
“Natürlich! I have know them for many years and would be proud to run such a hotel.”
Pulling herself together, she inhaled deeply, and yet smiled cautiously.
“Well then Herr Lecher, I believe this afternoon I am going to go to,” she studied the card, “Die Pension Freudesheim.”

Author:  Fatima [ Sat Dec 02, 2006 6:31 pm ]
Post subject: 

Quote:
“Die Pension Freudesheim.”

Now I'm almost being consumed by curiosity! Thanks Mary. I hope your last exam goes well and that you will write more of this - after finishing your revision, of course!

Author:  Jennie [ Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:55 pm ]
Post subject: 

Die Pension Freudesheim? Jo has come down in the world, then.

Author:  Lizzie [ Sat Dec 02, 2006 9:11 pm ]
Post subject: 

Hurrah!

See you soon xxx

Author:  kimothy [ Sun Dec 03, 2006 1:03 pm ]
Post subject: 

more please!!

Author:  Mary [ Sun Dec 03, 2006 2:24 pm ]
Post subject: 

Clearly I don't have enough to do...

Henrietta’s host hurried towards the station. What the heck had he been thinking? Who in their right mind would accept such a ridiculously dangerous idea? He was a total stranger, proposing taking her to his alleged hotel miles away. He began to hope that she did not arrive at the station. Glancing at his watch, he toyed with the idea of leaving early, but then what if she did arrive, plus if she decided to travel anyway, it would be horribly awkward when she got to the hotel. He shook his head, trying to un-fog the confusion, causing people walking the other way to look at him with consternation. After all, he did not want to end up re-enacting that film about the road trip with all the death and concern. He began to go through the alphabet, attempting to recall the film, before realising that there were a few more important things to think about, especially as, nearing the station, he saw her, a hand on her suitcase and a rucksack slung across her back.

“Are you sure about this? I mean, I only just really heard what I suggested. I promise that I’m not going to kill…”
He stopped, hearing again his own voice. To his surprise, she did not turn and flee for her life at his blundering mention of killing her. Instead, she grinned.
“In all honesty, I wasn’t sure, but Herr Lecher, he says he knows you. Anyway, he told me that he would be proud to own such a hotel, so for the moment, I believe you.”
“I could have stolen that card from the hotel.”
“Did you?”
He grinned, realising that he had just begun to try and convince a perfect stranger that he was a murderer.
“No.”
Checking his watch, he picked up her suitcase and turned towards the station.
“Look, if it’s all wrong or too expensive or you just don’t like it, I’ll bring you back tomorrow. I promise.”
“It’s a deal then. How long will it take to get there?”
Showing the tickets he had in his pocket in the guard, they stepped onto the train.
“Only about twenty minutes on the train, but then it’s another twenty minutes or so by car. Or bus if you’ve changed your mind about my integrity.”
She smiled, sitting down opposite him.
“I think just knowing your name will be enough for the moment. I’m Henrietta.”
He shook her proffered hand, as the train moved off.
“Jolyon. Jolyon Maynard.”

Author:  Fatima [ Sun Dec 03, 2006 2:26 pm ]
Post subject: 

And who, may I ask, is Jolyon Maynard?! The plot thickens! Thanks Mary.

Author:  kimothy [ Sun Dec 03, 2006 2:45 pm ]
Post subject: 

thanks mary

Author:  wheelchairprincess [ Sun Dec 03, 2006 3:27 pm ]
Post subject: 

oooh this story just gets more and more involved and intriguing with every post!

Thank you Mary.

Author:  Lizzie [ Sun Dec 03, 2006 3:54 pm ]
Post subject: 

I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed this. More, more, more! Get to the Christmassy smoochy good stuff!!!!

xx

Author:  Mary [ Sun Dec 03, 2006 4:47 pm ]
Post subject: 

Ha ha ha ha (evil over-lord laughing)

Thanks guys- and Lizzie- you KNOW that I haven't written the smoochy Christmassy bits. So wait. Although I still am considering writing a Christmas week of posts...we shall see. M xxx

Author:  Josie [ Mon Dec 04, 2006 1:03 am ]
Post subject: 

*intrigued*

Thanks Mary.

Author:  Mary [ Tue Dec 05, 2006 12:51 am ]
Post subject: 

Sorry to those of you who like short posts. This bit is a bit of a monster, but I thought it all made sense together. Enjoy!

Upon arriving at Jensbach, the weather had turned. The sunshine had slipped behind towering white clouds, and cool wind had sprung up, whipping along leaves in it’s wake. Emerging from the station, Henrietta and Jolyon hurried along, carrying the luggage up a small street to his car. He sprung open the boot, and they put everything in, before quickly getting in. Almost as soon as the doors were closed, a storm of hail stones rained down on the roof, quickly swallowed up by heavy rain, washing down the windscreen. They sat in silence for a minute, getting breath back, listening to the chugging swipe of the windscreen wipers. Henrietta turned with a smile to Jolyon.
“So, you know all about me. What about you? What are you doing in Austria, running a hotel?”
He smiled ruefully and turned the ignition, before clicking the heating dial round.
“I don’t exactly run it. My parents own it. It’s something of a family business. Anyway, I finished university a few years ago, and whilst I’ve been planning what to do, I’ve been doing a lot more work around the old place, just to give them a break, and try to pay off my debts.”
“And what are you planning on doing?”
“That” he sighed “is not very certain. I’d like to stay and work around here, but I have no idea what I’m going to do.”
“Did you do some kind of hotel management degree?”
Laughing, he shook his head.
“No. Not at all. Architecture. Charlotte wants to properly run the hotel eventually. She’s going to do something like hotel management at university.”
For some reason, Henrietta could not quite meet his gaze as she asked “so she’s your girlfriend?”
“Sister. She’s sixteen, at school in England.”
“Oh.”


Why did she feel relieved? Wasn’t she still broken up over Simon? Maybe not. After all, she had not actually been that upset to break up with him. It was more the betrayal of his two-timing and preference of someone else. Was she being a dog in the manger about Simon? Can you be a dog in the manger about a person? What actually is a dog in the manger? Her pondering upon Aesop’s fables was broken by Jolyon carrying on, as he drew the car out onto the road.


“Yeah, and then there’s Francis. He has just finished university and is off doing something in London for a while. He was supposed to come home last weekend for Mum’s birthday but he was an understudy in some play and suddenly got drafted in to play the lead. Being Fran, he took the place by storm. I think the original lead has been thrown out.”
“He’s an actor?”
“If seeming to think that he’s Oscar Wilde means anything, maybe. He’s not an actor exactly. More of ein Pfau. Sorry, a peacock” he added as a frown crossed Henrietta’s face.
“I’m beginning to think that I should have learned some German before coming here.”
Turning the car off the main road, he smiled.
“A few words are useful, but most people are willing to have a bash at English.”
“You speak both though? Fluently?”
“Pretty much. It comes from being brought up here but having English parents and going to school in England. It means that some times there are only German words that will do!”
“Do you speak any other languages?”
“Enough French to get by, and a little Italian.”
Henrietta laughed at his modesty.
“Compared to mine, you’re probably practically fluent.”
“My French is passable, but I’m serious when I say ‘a little’ Italian. I can order food and a glass of wine, but not much more.”

Drawing up to a junction, both were silent for a moment. Jolyon leaned on the steering wheel, pointing before him.
“This is Pertisau. And we go” he said as he pulled the car out and drove up the road, “up here to Achensee. Driving past a great smoky lake he pointed up the hillside.
“You can see the lake from the hotel. It’s right up there. We just have to drive round up here to get there. We’ll be there soon.”
Henrietta was silent, taking in the new surroundings. The rain had left all of the countryside fresh and washed clean. A few minutes later, drawing up outside the hotel, the sun broke out again, reflecting rippling silver off the lake down below.
“Beautiful.”
Pushing open the front door, Jolyon went in. He grinned and put down the bags.
“Welcome home!”

*

A tap at her door awoke Henrietta from her reverie, thinking about the day before. She moved from her position in bed, to put on her dressing gown, and open the door cautiously.
“Mrs Maynard!”
“Anne, please dear.”
Observing the lady whom she had met the previous night, Henrietta opened the door further to ask “Is there anything that I can do?”
Into her waiting hand was put a cup of tea.
“I thought you might like it. I know the Europeans aren’t much of tea drinkers, but sometimes nothing will hit the spot quite like this. I’ll see you at breakfast.”
With that she smiled, and turned down the stairs, Henrietta’s ‘thank you’ not even past her lips. Closing the door, she climbed back into bed, sipping the hot cup of tea, thinking about this family. Anne was lovely, and very motherly. A little younger than her own mother, Henrietta had immediately warmed to her. She was yet to meet Anne’s husband, but she suspected that he was very like his son. Jolyon. She took another sip of tea. He was nice. But then so was Tansy and she had left her with her parents. And Tansy was a terrier. Not exactly the same as a person. Thinking of her family, she realised that she had not contacted them since arriving in Austria. Somewhat guiltily, she turned on her mobile, to find three missed calls from her parents, a message from Imogen, one from Kingsley, and another missed call from Simon. She read over the messages, grinned at both Imogen and Kingsley’s range of words used to describe Simon, and then finally called home.

*

Presiding over the kettle on the stove, Andrew Leighton’s attention was grabbed by the shrill ring of the telephone.
“Leighton speaking.”
“Hello Daddy.”
“Henrietta Leighton. Where are you child! We tried calling that Hotel Innsbruck or something and there was no answer!”
“Hi Mum.”
“Are you alright sweetheart?”
“Yes thank you. I’ve moved to a different hotel, and I thought that I should phone and let you know that I’m absolutely fine.”
“Good. Can you give us the number just in case?”
“Mm- hold on, ok it’s ------------.”
“Henrietta, we were so worried.
“It true love, she had Imogen and Kingsley text messaging you.”
“I know. I got them just now. Sorry to worry you Mum. It’s been a bit mad, but I’m fine now- really.”
“Well I suppose that’s all that really matters. When are you coming home?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe…”
“In a good few weeks. Give yourself time to rest and get back to normal again Etta. If you come back too soon, I’ll just send you straight back.”
“Thank you Daddy. Well I should go. This is grossly expensive.”
“Ok. Speak to you soon precious.”
“Be good and stay safe.”
“Ok, love you. Bye.”

She pondered phoning Simon, especially when she realised what the time was in England and considered what a late sleeper Simon was, but thought better over it. She was still angry and hurt at his actions, but she had stopped loving him. Maybe a while ago. Anyway, it does not do to dwell on what could have been. And anyway, had he proposed to her, she would have most likely said yes, and then would be stuck in a dull, relationship with no fire. And snooker. She grinned at the thought of no snooker. And no athletics championships. She smiled even more at the thought of being allowed to watch the few sports she did enjoy, without Simon either saying how much he hated it, or how easy it was, or how much it wasn’t a sport. How was snooker a sport? She had watched a match, before slipping into a catatonic stupor at the incredible dullness of it, where a player wore slippers because he was injured. Henrietta remembered pointing this out, asking how it was a sport if you could do it in slippers.

Slippers? She shook her head, confused as to how she had got there for a minute. Contemplating her own slippers she laughed, and swung herself out of bed, heading to the shower.

Author:  Fatima [ Tue Dec 05, 2006 5:10 am ]
Post subject: 

Jolyon is so nice! Thanks Mary, I'm really enjoying this.

Author:  bethany [ Tue Dec 05, 2006 12:06 pm ]
Post subject: 

I love long posts! I am enjoying this and wondering what will happen next.

Thanks!

Author:  Lizzie [ Tue Dec 05, 2006 5:37 pm ]
Post subject: 

Thank you very much, between you and LizB, you are providing me with plenty lovely fictional boys to sigh about.

See you on Saturday! Hurrah!
L xxx

Author:  Tara [ Wed Dec 06, 2006 12:34 am ]
Post subject: 

What an intriguing slant on such well-known names. But where does everyone fit in? Who are they all? Looking forward to finding out.

Author:  Josie [ Wed Dec 13, 2006 12:58 am ]
Post subject: 

Lovely, thanks Mary.

Author:  Lizzie [ Sun Jan 07, 2007 9:26 pm ]
Post subject: 

More, more, more!!!

Clearly I suck all the creativity from you when you're home, but you're back in Brighton now (boooo...) so WRITE SOME MORE.

Lx

Author:  Mary [ Sun Jan 14, 2007 12:41 am ]
Post subject: 

So I didn't write much whilst I was home, and haven't written any more since I was back, but since I'm kind of getting there, I'm going to attempt to post the whole thing in the next few days...no not up to the end...because that would require not doing any work, going to church or seeing any of my friends...ah well.


“There’s croissant and jam here for you here, and we’ve got coffee, tea, and all sorts of other things on the side. If there’s anything else that you’ll be wanting, just ask.”
Henrietta grinned at the torrent of information.
“Thank you Mrs Maynard. It’s so good of you to do all of this for me.”
“Nonsense. And it’s Anne.”
“Well thank you again. Why are there so few people here? I can’t imagine that the hotel isn’t popular.”
She smiled and, glancing round to check that no one needed her help, Anne sat down opposite Henrietta, pouring herself a cup of coffee.
“In all honesty, we aren’t terribly busy at this time of year. People come at Christmas for the snow, and in the summer for the walking. We are normally busier than this though” she laughed, a glance round the room, with only a few other guests.
“It looks bad now because we had a large school party booked in for the next few weeks, but they had to not come after all. Something about food poisoning and health regulations.”
Henrietta met her eyes, concerned.
“Won’t that make a terrible loss for you?”
Anne opened her mouth to answer, as Henrietta sighed and carried on.
“No, ignore that. It’s none of my business.”
A hand over hers, Henrietta looked up, meeting Anne’s eyes again.
“My dear girl, I don’t mind in the slightest. But thankfully it doesn’t. Make a loss I mean. We weren’t full booked as it was, so it makes very little difference. These school parties never use any of the extra expenses so in a way, it’s quite nice. It’s like a holiday.”
Sipping her coffee, Henrietta looked up, confused.
“Surely with it so close to Christmas you’re getting busy again.”
Smiling at her, Anne patted her hand reassuringly.
“Don’t worry about that pet. In all honesty, our problem this year is that they are predicting heavy snow before Christmas. They’re advising people not to come out here in case of being trapped. The city hotels aren’t turning people away yet, but then they have better facilities, and of course, they’re lower. We just can’t risk taking any more bookings. If we had a full hotel and then we were all trapped in here for a few weeks, we’d possibly run out of food, have no electricity. It’s not a situation that we want to risk.”
Picking up her jug of coffee, she moved away to check on the few other guests. Henrietta sat, drumming her fingers against the mug, before draining it, and walking out onto the veranda.

Jolyon found her there an hour later, a fresh jug of coffee in his hand.
“Henrietta? Are you all right?”
She frowned slightly, turning to glance at him.
“You must be freezing without a coat. At least come inside.”
She shook her head, although gratefully receiving the coffee. Jolyon frowned, thinking.
“Is there anything I can…”
“There’s heavy snow expected in the next few weeks?”
He sat down heavily, suddenly anxious.
“You don’t think I…deliberately? Oh Henrietta I never meant for…”
She grinned, a hand on his arm, shocking him into stopping talking.
“I never thought that you pulled a ‘Seven Brides’ on me. I just wanted to know what you thought I should do.”
Jolyon was silent for a minute, thinking carefully.
“You’ll probably be OK. I mean, we might get snowed in, but I don’t think that we’ll be stuck for what, 8 months in our farm with my six brothers and your six friends. I don’t have to sing about it though do I…?”

Anne closed the doors onto the veranda, shutting out the cold air billowing in. She stopped for a second, paused with her hand on the door handle. Smiling gently, she watched as her eldest son ducked off his seat, laughing as Henrietta swiped at his head. Her smile widened as he paused, before shrugging off his jacket and draping it round Henrietta’s shoulders. He sat down again, having barely stopped talking, and certainly not realising what he had really done. She turned, moving off to see to other guests, unaware that she was still grinning.

Author:  Lizzie [ Sun Jan 14, 2007 12:48 am ]
Post subject: 

WAAAAYYY!!

x

Author:  kimothy [ Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:29 am ]
Post subject: 

ITS BACK!!!

:D :D :D

Author:  Mary [ Sun Jan 14, 2007 2:56 pm ]
Post subject: 

I said that I'd post a lot of it...it will become clear that I intended to post all this before Christmas, so it's like a post-Christmas letdown excluder. Enjoy!



“Etta?”
She looked up from a book she was engrossed in. It was just getting rather thrilling.
“Mmm?”
Jolyon perched on the arm of the settee, his coat over his arm.
“I’m just about to drive into Innsbruck to pick up Charlotte and Fran. Do you want to come?”
She glanced rather regretfully at the book, but determinedly put it down, and grinned.
“That’d be lovely. Will there be room in the car?”
He brushed off her worry like a small piece of dust.
“Yes, there’s bags of room. They’ve each only got a suitcase or two and a rucksack. Only what they can carry.”
She stood up, pushing her feet into her shoes, and walking towards the door, calling over her shoulder, “I’ll be down in a second. I’ve just got to find a coat and my bag.”
He stayed on the settee, looking after Henrietta, silent in his reverie.

Jolyon’s mobile began to ring as he drew up in the airport car park. He smiled apologetically, and flipped it open, after glancing at the caller ID.
“Hey Mum. Is everything alright?…Really?…What time will it be?…OK, well we’ll stay here anyway…Yes…I’ll phone you when we know…OK, speak to you soon…yes…OK…bye.”
He flipped it closed, a grimace spreading across his face.
“Flights are delayed over there, so they aren’t sure what time they’ll get in. I told Mum that we’d stay here until they turn up, since they could turn up any time really. Do you want to go into the airport and wait there?”


Henrietta passed Jolyon a cup of coffee, before sitting down next to him, sighing heavily.
“How long has it been?”
He looked down at his watch, before leaning back.
“Three hours.”
“Three? It doesn’t feel like that.”
Jolyon grinned.
“You enjoy my company that much?”
She hit him across the chest, curling her feet up. Taking a sip of the coffee, she grimaced, and fished his out of his hands, swapping them.
“How you can drink it black, I’ll never know.”
He sipped his, sighing with satisfaction.
“My Grandma always made it very milky, and wouldn’t give us anything else. I refused to drink any coffee at all for years, until I tried it black. Now, there is no drink finer.”
“No drink finer? You are restricted in your beverages out here, clearly.”
“Henrietta, I think you’ll find that it is a matter of opinion, and not fact.”
She hit him again and drank some more coffee.

Charlotte glanced up as the seatbelt sign lit up, and closed her book.
“Did you hear about Jon?”
Francis turned to her, pen poised over paper.
“What, like on News 24?”
Charlotte grimaced, shaking her head.
“No idiot, from Mum. She said something about a guest who Jon was pretty keen on.”
“He’d never hit on a guest. He’s too much of a gentleman.”
“Maybe not hitting on, but she thinks that he likes her.”
As the plane hit the ground, Francis put away his writing, gathering his things together.
“I just find it hard to believe. You know how he is. He barely talks to girls at all. Mum had started to think he was gay.”
“Gay? You’re one to talk!”
“What? I’m straight as a die.”
Charlotte scoffed as she put away her book.
“A really camp die.”

Francis pulled Charlotte’s suitcase off the luggage carousel for her, before lunging at his own as it sped past him. They stacked them up on a trolley, still talking.
“I’m telling you. Mum has just got far too over excited. He probably just smiled at this girl in front of Mum and she, you know, started to plan the wedding.”
Shouldering her rucksack, Charlotte grinned.
“Why is it so totally beyond the realms of possibility that he likes a girl, and, who knows, she likes him too?”
“He’s Jon. He will be single and gentlemanly forever.”
They walked out into the arrivals lounge, still talking. They stopped for a second, looking around.
“Where is he?”
Jolyon was ostensibly missing. Francis left Charlotte with the luggage and went off, looking for his brother. A few minutes later, he returned, looking surprised.
“You need to come with me.”

Jolyon sat in the uncomfortable airport chair, leaning back, and asleep. Henrietta was beside him, her feet curled up beneath her, leaning asleep on his shoulder. Jolyon’s arm was round her shoulders, holding her tightly. Francis and Charlotte sat down opposite them heavily, on the sagging plastic chairs.
“I told you” she whispered, poking her brother in the ribs.
“It means nothing” he replied, his whispers hoarser.
“He’s totally hugging a girl. A real girl Fran. This has never happened.”
“I hug girls. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“You’re practically a girl anyway. You don’t count.”
“Hey!”
Jolyon and Henrietta both woke with a start at Francis’s shout. Neither seemed to realise what the problem was, such a problem as it may have been. As Henrietta sat up, putting her feet back down, Jolyon moved his arm out of the way, standing to hug his siblings.
“Hey, welcome home. Merry Christmas.”

Author:  Jennie [ Sun Jan 14, 2007 3:09 pm ]
Post subject: 

I like this, and, hint, hint,I'd like a lot more of this.

Author:  Fatima [ Sun Jan 14, 2007 3:11 pm ]
Post subject: 

They're a lovely family and I can't wait to find out more about them!

Author:  kimothy [ Sun Jan 14, 2007 6:43 pm ]
Post subject: 

this is fabulous Mary... PLEASE PLEASE can we have some more soon!!

Author:  Fiona Mc [ Sun Jan 14, 2007 10:53 pm ]
Post subject: 

Have just caught up on this and it's great thanks

Author:  Mary [ Mon Jan 15, 2007 1:28 pm ]
Post subject: 

Thanks guys. I'm probably not going to write anymore until the weekend so you'll have to wait till then. Darn university.
M xx

Author:  Mary [ Sat Feb 17, 2007 9:02 pm ]
Post subject: 

Oh...that was over a month ago. Sorry about that. Uni has been rather hectic. It should be a little less busy now, so hopefully more story will be written. Anyway...

“So where’s Dad?”
Francis reclined on a settee, his eyes half closed, and, were it not for the hand on a cup of tea, every inch the dying poet.
“On his way” answered Anne. “He had work to do in London, and went to visit some family whilst he was there.”
“But he’s getting here soon?”
Anne smiled gently at Charlotte, passing her a cup of tea.
“Of course sweetheart. He’ll definitely be back before Christmas.”
Francis opened one eye towards his mother.
“But will he get here before we get snowed in?”
Frowning, Anne silenced him, seeing both Charlotte’s, and Henrietta’s worried looks.
“Don’t be silly Fran. We’re not going to get snowed in. And anyway,” she continued, “should we happen to, it wouldn’t be for all that long. Now go and make another pot of tea.”
You would think, Henrietta pondered, that Anne had asked Francis to slaughter his first born. His sigh could at the least be described as gusty, and never had anyone taken a longer time to get up off a settee. As he crashed around the kitchen, his mother winced, an ear for her treasured crockery.
“I don't know why you bother asking him to do it. He always makes the biggest fuss, and endangers the mugs”, muttered Charlotte.
Anne smiled at her daughter. “It's good for him. Character building.”
Charlotte caught Henrietta's eye and grinned, yet said nothing as she bent down to poke the fire.

By breakfast a few days later Henrietta was the only guest at the hotel. She paused in the doorway to the hotel restaurant and grimaced at its supreme emptiness.
“A table for how many mademoiselle?”
She turned to scathingly view Jolyon who, whilst nursing a large mug of coffee, was grinning. She was about to tell him where he could put his table, when he drew her over to a nearby table, and poured her a coffee, adding the milk very pointedly.
“ Look” he began. “We had something of a Maynard family summit last night and I have been, following this weird metaphor, sent as delegate to make you an offer.”
“ Does it involve dissolving the Geneva convention?”
“ Er...no”
“ Taking over mainland Europe?”
“ Maybe eventually, but not for now.”
“ Constructing peace agreements with Lapland?”
“ I wasn't aware that either Austria, or England for that matter had any problems with Lapland, but you never do know. Now” he continued, before she could butt in again. “The offer. We were wondering if, given how empty the hotel is, and other things, if you'd like to move into the family quarters of the house?”
“What were the other reasons?”
Jolyon looked up, somewhat confused.
“You said something about the emptiness of the hotel and then you said other things, like you have multiple reasons for making me uproot.”
He grinned, sipping his coffee.
“Well, you know, the fact that you obsessively stalk my family, how much of a loner you are...”
He didn't finish, as he was forced to retire, under a shower of missiles in the form of napkins and cutlery. They found themselves on the veranda, and, taking advantage of Henrietta's momentary silence whilst she gazed at the severely frost bitten landscape, he sat down.
“ Look, you don't have to say yes. I mean, we'd really like you to stay, it's not just our being polite, but if you'd rather keep your own space and preserve the tatters of formality which only really exist between you and my mother then it's OK. Really.”
Henrietta turned to him, and smiled.
“No, I'd really like to. Help me move my stuff?”

Author:  JayB [ Sun Feb 18, 2007 12:29 am ]
Post subject: 

What a nice family. Looking forward to seeing how they're related to the Maynards and how the hotel came about.

Author:  Fiona Mc [ Sun Feb 18, 2007 2:46 am ]
Post subject: 

JayB wrote:
What a nice family. Looking forward to seeing how they're related to the Maynards and how the hotel came about.


Me too

Author:  Lizzie [ Sun Feb 18, 2007 3:16 pm ]
Post subject: 

Yay! Go you! Write more soon!

This is great, M.

Author:  Jennie [ Sun Feb 18, 2007 3:29 pm ]
Post subject: 

More soon, please.

Author:  Mary [ Sun Feb 18, 2007 5:41 pm ]
Post subject: 

I've been enjoying writing this so much that the actual link to the chalet school momentarily escaped me. Thanks for the reminder. All will be explained soon. Now back to the writing...M x

Author:  brie [ Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:01 pm ]
Post subject: 

hallelujah!!! its back :D :D :D :D

PLEASE write more SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Author:  Josie [ Sun Feb 25, 2007 1:29 am ]
Post subject: 

Glad to see this back. Thanks, Mary. :)

Author:  Elbee [ Mon Feb 26, 2007 12:32 am ]
Post subject: 

They sound a lovely family and I wish I was staying at that hotel!

I'm looking forward to seeing how this continues.

Author:  Mary [ Wed Feb 28, 2007 5:02 pm ]
Post subject: 

“Stupid fire.”
Jolyon lay on his stomach, blowing into the barely glowing embers of the fire. He stopped, and rested his chin on his hands, watching the embers die and smoke gently.
“Jolly, love, I think that it's just not going to take. Use the fire-lighters.”
He surveyed his mother incredulously.
“I've only been trying for half an hour. It has to be a good forty-five minutes before I admit defeat.”
Anne shook her head. Leaving a cup of tea next to him, she walked back into the kitchen, muttering how he was 'his father all over again.' Henrietta was leaning against the Aga as she walked in, drinking her own tea.
“I really do want to be of some help whilst I stay. You're being too kind. Can't I do some cooking or something?”
“My dear, you have paid for two weeks already. I'm not taking any more of your money, or your holiday for that matter away from you.”
“Anne! I've only known you a fortnight and you're letting me stay in your house, no, your hotel, for free. Please, I really want to be of some use.”
As Anne began to protest again, Henrietta interrupted.
“Seriously. I like to cook. Please.”

“Cake? We never get cake!”
Francis' wrist was slapped as he reached for the food.
“What?”
“Do exercise some restraint, love.”
Francis slumped in his chair, looking longingly at the cake. He shifted his mournful gaze from the forbidden cake, to the empty fireplace.
“Why is there no fire? I thought Jon was lighting it.”
Anne smiled, knowingly.
“I think that he's gone out to the barn to get some more firewood.”

Author:  Lizzie [ Wed Feb 28, 2007 5:49 pm ]
Post subject: 

Ooh, nice. Thanks M, looking forward to more xxxxx

Author:  brie [ Sat Mar 24, 2007 1:55 pm ]
Post subject: 

only just discovered this update, but imn going to be rude and DEMAND more!!

please Mary!!!!!

Author:  brie [ Sat Apr 14, 2007 10:32 am ]
Post subject: 

*Bump*

:wink:

Author:  Mary [ Sun Apr 22, 2007 7:01 pm ]
Post subject: 

Brie, thank you kindly for the bumpage. You shall be rewarded...how I'm not sure. This being the summer term, I have essays and exams and such, so it's likely that I shall spend much time on here procrastinating. Maybe. So, to the posting. I've written quite a bit more, so I think I might just post big old chunks at a time rather than being tantalising. Oh, and thanks to Lizzie for her writing. She contributed a little section. Try and guess which one!

Henrietta scratched her nose, leaving a coal smudge across it.
“There's no way I can carry this. It's far too heavy.”
Jolyon glanced up, the axe poised above his head, ready to swing it down. He grinned, and wedged the axe in the wood, before grasping the handle of the coal scuttle and heaving. His embarrassment at not being able to lift it was only marginally increased by the fact that, once wiping his own forehead, he too had coal streaked across his face. However, this increased greatly upon the realisation that he was standing on the edge of the scuttle itself. He glanced up at Henrietta, ruefully. She had laughed so much that there were tear streaks through the coal dust on her face. A little more in control, she tried to point out the dirt on his face to him, at the same time that he reached out with his shirt sleeves, and wiped her face. He paused, suddenly realising the situation, standing so close to Henrietta, his hands on her face. Jolyon moved to place his hands on her shoulders, keeping her close for a minute. Then they broke apart, and continued to move in the fire materials, changed just a little since they had left the house.

***

“Dad phoned, he's...”
“Hang on, hang on, don't talk to me.” Anne, who was sitting at the kitchen table surrounded by packets of dried fruit, looked up from annotating her cookery book and waved her biro at her daughter. “Now, Henrietta, what did we say just now? I'm halving the amount of currants, but doubling the amount of sultanas, and there's not quite enough mixed peel so I'm making up the difference with the apricots you found for me...yes, yes, OK. Sorry Charlotte, you were saying something about your father?”
“Mmmm” Charlotte sat down next to Henrietta at the table, and finished her mouthful of sultanas before continuing. “He phoned to say that his flight might be delayed.”
“Really? Did he say why?”
“Well, he said something about the circus and a unitard fitting...” she withered under her mother's gaze, and laughed sheepishly. “London's really foggy at the moment, and they're expecting it to clear later in the morning, but it might not until tomorrow morning. In which case, he said that the airline will put them up somewhere delightful for the night, and he'll be home some time after lunch.”
Anne sighed. “I suppose we should be grateful that the snow hasn't come yet, Jon checked the forecast earlier and said that it's definitely on its way.” She glanced at her daughter, who had her hand in the sultana jar again. “Dad said that he still might make it in time for dinner this evening though?”
Charlotte nodded. “He sounded fairly confident that it'll clear in time. He also said to tell you that he had managed to get hold of the thing from the place you had previously discussed, and that it was exactly right for you-know-who and that he would get it gift wrapped.” She paused, looking confused. “I think that's right. Does that make sense?”
Anne nodded.
“Well? Care to elucidate?”
“If your father wanted you to know what he was talking about, Charlotte, he would have done so. Curiosity killed the cat you know. Now, pass me the other recipe there, I have to compare the spices. Last year's wasn't quite right...”

***

Walking up the frosty path, Kingsley paused to see his daughter at the living room window. Her hand was spread out against the glass like a little starfish, the glass around it steaming up. He waved as he dug for his keys, but her entire attention was taken by the phenomena of her own hand.
“Hello!”
Lena walked down the stairs. Although smiling, she held a finger to her lips.
“Nicholas has only just gone down for the night.”
“Nice to see you Kingsley, no not at all Lena, did you have a nice day, oh well you know...”
Lena grinned and kissed him.
“Shut up and come and help with dinner.”
As she opened the kitchen door, the smell of chilli hit them. Leaning over the stove, Kingsley stirred the pot, sniffing appreciatively.
“You are a domestic goddess. Even more so than Nigella.”
“What about Martha?”
Kingsley turned round, the spoon in hand, tasting the chilli slowly. He viewed his wife, currently taking plates out of the dresser and dumping handfuls of cutlery on the table.
“Now I'm not sure. Martha Stewart reaches new levels of domesticity.”
Lena rolled her eyes.
“Get Pia will you?”
She turned back to the table as her husband gesticulated with the ladle, walking into the living room.
“Now if you had been crafting buildings from crackers, then I'd be impressed.”
Lena stopped crashing the cutlery for a minute and listened to Kingsley with Pia.
“Pia petal, come and have your dinner and...LENA!”

Henrietta was sat on a fallen tree, looking at the beautiful view. The ground was stiff with cold, and they were under good authority that the snow was on its way. She just sat, breathing in the frigid air. The metallic trilling of her mobile phone broke the serenity.
“Hello?”
“Etta? You have to come home.”
“Kings? What's wrong?”
“Lena has made a gingerbread castle! A CASTLE! If you don't get home soon you're going to miss out on the castle. It even...wow look at that...it even has stained glass windows. Lena? How did you do that?”
“I imagine with boiled sweets,” Henrietta answered, dryly.
“That's what she is saying. You have to see this. Seriously. It's amazing.”
Henrietta paused, waiting for the Kingsley to breath a little slower.
“Kings? Are you phoning me on my mobile in another country to tell me about Lena's cooking?”
Silence met her ears.
“Ah. Yes. Well no one else was properly going to appreciate it. I think I may go take pictures of it. Hen?”
“Mmm?”
“When are you coming home?”
She breathed out, slowly, thinking.
“Soon.”
“Before Christmas, soon?”
“Hopefully. Depending on how bad the snow is that's on its way.”
“Well make it soon. We miss you.”
Henrietta couldn't quite speak.
“Anyway. I've got to go. This call is costing the earth. Talk to you soon mate? Love you.”
“Love you guys too. Give my love to the kids and Lena.”
“I will. Bye Hen.”
“Bye.”
She was aware that her voice was croaky suddenly. She put her phone back in her pocket, and returned to staring at the view, a little colder suddenly. Jolyon's arm came around her, and he pulled her close.


“Oh! Perfect timing! Henrietta dear, come and meet Geoff.”
Half way through taking off her coat, Henrietta stopped, to smile in the general area of where Anne had gestured, although she gave up upon the realisation that Geoff was in fact not visible, being behind a wall. She shrugged off her heavy coat, and unravelled the many metres of scarf that her mother had knitted for her in a therapy session ('Knit Your Way To Happiness'. Viewing the length of the scarf, Emily Leighton had some serious issues.) and followed Jolyon into the kitchen. Meticulously pouring away half of his mug of tea down the sink, and refilling it with hot water, before pouring some of that away to fill up with tea again, was a man whom Henrietta could imagine had once been something of a catch. Tall, although not quite as tall as either of his sons, and broad, he gave the air of a retired rugby player, solid and active. He abandoned his tea mathematics to advance and shake Henrietta's hand, smiling warmly.
“It's nice to meet you at last, Henrietta is it?”
“Yes. Well, anything really. Except Hetty.”
“Fair enough. After all, I wouldn't want to be associated with a hurricane, although you do have to put up with a four-legged chicken and an asteroid.”
Charlotte, walking into the room, rolled her eyes.
“He's known her, what, a minute, and is already regaling her with useless information?”
Geoffrey messed up his daughter's hair as he hugged her.
“It's not useless. Anyone would want to know about 225 Henrietta.”
She shook her head.
“No Dad. Just you.”
“And anyway,” continued Henrietta. “I'd rather be named after a four-legged chicken than a giraffe who is the mascot for 'toys in their millions all under one roof'.”
Geoffrey Maynard looked at Henrietta keenly, and then smiled.
“I like you a lot young lady. You can stay as long as you like.”

Author:  brie [ Sun Apr 22, 2007 7:46 pm ]
Post subject: 

oooo lots of shiny excitingness! Thanks Mary

*squees over getting a special reward :wink: *

Author:  francesn [ Sun Apr 22, 2007 9:08 pm ]
Post subject: 

Geoffrey Maynard as in Maynard No. 10. I presume?

Author:  brie [ Mon Apr 23, 2007 5:03 pm ]
Post subject: 

oh i didnt even see that connection :oops:

Author:  Fiona Mc [ Tue Apr 24, 2007 1:17 pm ]
Post subject: 

Neither did I. Like all the updates and good luck with the study

Author:  Lizzie [ Tue Apr 24, 2007 3:39 pm ]
Post subject: 

FINALLY!

I mean, thanks ever so, Mary, I haven't been bugging you to post this for months at ALL....

Post more, matey. Or maybe write some more?

L xxx

Author:  Mary [ Tue Apr 24, 2007 9:04 pm ]
Post subject: 

Hurrah! People reading the story! Also, more good news. Essay 1 of 3 is coming along reasonably well, so I might have time at some point soon to write some more. Hopefully.

“What” asked Geoffrey, “is the eighteenth degree of freemasonry?”
Charlotte rested her head on her hands, leaning either side of her still empty plate.
“I asked for some salt Dad, not trivial pursuits” retorted Francis.
With a genial smile, Geoffrey blithely ignored his son, and repeated his question.
“Who knows, or cares what any of the degrees of freemasonry are?” asked Charlotte from within her palms.
“Clearly, Dad for one” answered Francis leaning heavily on one hand. Turning to his father, his waved his fork speculatively in the air.
“Master Mason?”
Nodding benevolently, Geoffrey smiled at Francis.
“That would be the second degree, not the eighteenth, although for your attempt, you shall receive your dinner. Pass it up.”
Charlotte looked worryingly like pounding her own head into the Royal Dalton as she passed the plate over her own.
“Geoff love, perhaps dinner isn’t the best time to quiz the children. Or at least” Anne added, “not before they have some food.”
Pointing the dripping ladle at his wife, the geniality of his smile, if it were possible, increased.
“Like you care. The wife card is a free pass. Pass it up Annie.”
A muffled scream came from Charlotte, her fist in her mouth.
“So,” he continued. “The eighteenth degree of freemasonry.”
“Knight of the Eagle and Pelican and Sovereign Prince Rose Croix of Heredom.”
Charlotte collapsed against the back of her chair as if dead, as her father turned narrowed eyes on Jolyon, entering the room with Henrietta.
“Jolyon Maynard! How the heck did you know that?”
“Why shouldn’t I know it if you do?”
Geoffrey, still gesticulating with his ladle, frowned.
“As your father, I am older and wiser.”
“Clearly not wise enough to know that Mum will string you up when she realises that you’re dripping stew over her favourite tablecloth.”
“Geoff! I told you not to wave that about.”
Reviving from her father’s squashing, Charlotte stretched out an imploring hand for the dinner.
“Please. Daddy.”
He turned, smiling once again.
“Seven letters…”
“Dad!”
“…in the English language look the same right way up, and upside down.”
“Good for freaking them.”
He turned an evil eye on Charlotte.
“Henrietta, you too are welcome to join in.”
Charlotte, drawing in the air, began.
“H, I, Z, S, O, N…”
She stalled, nodding through the alphabet.
“And X” finished Henrietta.
“Pass it up” he called, reaching over Charlotte to Henrietta.
Clutching wildly at her own hair, Charlotte collapsed again against her chair.
“Is there no justice?”
Jolyon grinned at his sister.
“I got the eighteenth order of freemasonry and I still have no dinner. Of course there’s no justice.”
“There are 10 generally agreed knights of the round table.”
“Good”
Ignoring Jolyon’s answer, and returning her father’s benevolent smile, Charlotte turned to him, both hands raised ready to tick off names.
“Galahad, Gawaine, Mordred, Tor, Tristram, Kay, Mark…”
About to pick up where his sister had let off, Jolyon found himself the target of a bread roll missile.
“…Palomides, Lamorack and Lancelot.”
“How…?”
“Don't you remember any of your incredibly boring projects that you set?” retorted Charlotte, targeting her father with an identical missile.
“And anyway” continued Jolyon, “given that you quiz us so regularly are you surprised that occasionally, just occasionally, we get them right?”
With a shrug, Geoffrey held out a hand for his daughter’s plate.
“Four down, one to go.”
“I got the eighteenth order of freemasonry!”
“And yet I am still not finished.”
Resigning himself to a long wait, Jolyon began to break apart the bread roll that had seconds ago landed in his lap.
Francis, having grown tired of waiting, began to eat, still waving around his fork as he spoke.
“I know this comes up regularly, but we’ve never reached a suitable explanation for the fact that Dad never gets quizzed.”
“There’s little point” answered Charlotte, “as even if he didn’t know the answer, he’d think he did and would fight it out until he’d denied you your inheritance. Just let him ask Jon the question and we can all get on with dinner.”
Contemplating his last question of the night, Geoffrey rested the ladle in the pot.
“On which American bank note…”
Before he could finish, Charlotte had whipped away the pot and placed it in front of Jolyon. A cheer of triumph from Francis between his mouthful of stew, and a relieved sigh from Anne, they began to eat.

Author:  Fiona Mc [ Tue Apr 24, 2007 11:17 pm ]
Post subject: 

That was fabulous. Loved the family interaction there

Author:  Chelsea [ Wed Apr 25, 2007 12:18 am ]
Post subject: 

I think I'd have starved if I were part of that family - I didn't know any of those!

Author:  Cath V-P [ Wed Apr 25, 2007 1:04 am ]
Post subject: 

We occasionally have meals like that.....it can be scary!

Author:  brie [ Wed Apr 25, 2007 3:31 pm ]
Post subject: 

thanks mary- that was brilliant!

Author:  Josie [ Sat Apr 28, 2007 8:04 pm ]
Post subject: 

Thanks Mary. This is great. *g* at Geoff and his children!

Author:  Mary [ Mon Apr 30, 2007 5:41 pm ]
Post subject: 

1 essay down, 2 to go. Enjoy!

Revelling in the satisfying stupor that comes from a satisfying meal, Henrietta curled up in front of the wood burning stove, watching the flames through the glass door. Although to all appearances Anne was engrossed in her book, she looked up at Henrietta.
“Are you OK? Can I get you anything?”
Henrietta turned to her, shaking her head in wonder.
“You won't even let me pay now Anne. Please don't do so much!”
Anne smiled warmly.
“OK. If you want anything to read though, so help yourself.”
Henrietta settled back to fire watching, although ten minutes later, she stood up and stretched, before perusing the book shelves. Before a long glass cased shelf, she exclaimed.
“You have everyone one of these books? Aren't they something of a collectors item today?”
Anne looked to where she was pointing.
“Oh, yes. We were lucky enough to be given them years ago, and Charlotte and I both enjoy them so much that we couldn't bear to be parted from them. Had it been up to the boys I think they would have been exchanged for a new computer years ago.”
Henrietta knelt down before them.
“May I?” she asked, a hand on the case.
“Oh of course. They're there for reading, not as an ornament.”
She pulled the first one out, and carefully opened it, reading the first page. She sighed in contentment.
“My sister and I read these when we were little. I haven't seen them in years.”
Anne smiled knowingly.
“Well then you should reacquaint yourself with an old friend. Do take a stash up to bed with you when you go.”
Henrietta grinned back at her, and fished out some exciting looking ones, generally the most worn copies. An hour later, after some intensive reading in the comforting silence of the living room, she took herself off to bed with a large stack. As she went up the stairs she passed Jolyon. He eyed the books with interest, but said nothing, simply wishing her goodnight. However, upon entering the living room, he immediately sought out his mother.
“How long do you give her?”
“Before what love?” immersed in her book.
“Before she realises exactly who we are?”
Anne lowered her book and eyed her eldest son.
“I'd give it three days.”

Author:  brie [ Mon Apr 30, 2007 5:47 pm ]
Post subject: 

Wow! So they are in the real world... and they are fictional characters???

*head spinning*

Thanks Mary

Author:  Mary [ Tue May 01, 2007 4:50 pm ]
Post subject: 

All will become clear...soon. I'll leave you in suspense for just a few more days. Heh heh heh. M xx

Author:  Lizzie [ Tue May 01, 2007 7:47 pm ]
Post subject: 

You posted more! Without me nagging you! I am now redundant!

xx

Author:  Elle [ Tue May 01, 2007 8:22 pm ]
Post subject: 

I have just found this and already I want more!

Thank you!

Author:  Mary [ Fri Jun 01, 2007 5:27 pm ]
Post subject: 

Dear People,

Sorry for being so absent. I would advise you to blame mainly Sussex (puts the Sucks in Sussex...almost) university and their essay and exam expectations, and slightly my cousin, for getting married in the middle of my exams, so I had to fly to Jersey and have a lovely weekend. Not that I'm really complaining...

Anyway. Here's some more story. Thank you for being so patient. Only 2 more exams to go and then I'm free and easy for 3 months.

Mary xxx



After a satisfying Sunday lunch, the combined Leighton family relaxed in the drawing room around the fire. Nicholas slept peacefully in his grandfather's arms, whilst Pia happily played with Imogen's hair, clipping in plastic butterflies and sparkly bugs. Lena looked across at her son.
“You'd never think he could make such a noise when he's awake.”
Kingsley sat down next to her, and grinned.
“We Leighton men are quiet and contemplative, yet surprisingly vociferous. Especially in...”
“NONONONONO. I don't want to hear it.”
Nicholas stirred at the noise, and began to prove his father correct.
“Imogen! Must you?”
Imogen moved a glittery dragonfly out of her face, and grinned sweetly at her brother.
“It's your own fault for being so gross. You...OW! Oh Pia sweetheart, not like that.”
Unsuccessfully trying to pacify his grandson, Andrew passed Nicholas to Lena.
“Sorry love, he wanted his mum!”
Settling down again, Nicholas fell back to sleep. Lena's finger grasped in his hand, he resumed his peaceful sleep.
Emily viewed her grandson over the rim of her coffee cup.
“He's so much like Edmund was. You, Kingsley, were much fussier. It's a wonder that we had three more after you.”
“I was just so charming, that you didn't mind not sleeping.”
Imogen snorted.
“That'll be it.”
Kingsley pulled a face at Imogen, before turning back to his mother.
“Where is Ed? I thought he was here this weekend.”
“He is. He's rather cross with me though, so he stormed off, walking the dogs a few hours ago.”
“Mother! What did you do this time?”
“Nothing!”
Andrew woke up slightly from his post-lunch slumber.
“Emily my love, even I doubt that.”
“Andrew!”
“Ed and Mum are just as bad as each other. Between them, they could start world war three.”
Andrew laughed, although seemingly asleep.
“What?”
He opened an eye to regard his daughter.
“Imogen my dear, you're one to talk. You are the one who split up with your boyfriend because he looked a bit like an actor who cheated on his girlfriend in one film.”
Imogen threw a cushion at her father, before gathering Pia onto her lap, and beginning to plait and twist up her curly hair.
“Henry is the only sane Leighton woman.”
“And yet she still fled the country and went to run around Austria. She must have some of the mad streak.”
Emily sat up, suddenly interested.
“Have you heard from her recently?”
Kingsley adopted an expression of extreme innocence.
“Why would I have heard from her?”
“Kingsley!”
After prodding him in the stomach, Lena answered instead.
“We've heard very little. She was hoping to get home for Christmas, but we're not sure now what with the horrendous weather coming across.”
“And has she met anyone?”
“Mother!”
Lena looked shifty, and became suspiciously silent.
“Wait, she has!”
Kingsley sighed heavily.
“Mum, this is why people stop talking to you. It's just a hunch that Lena has dreamed up. I doubt that it's even true.”

Henrietta was curled up on a window seat in the early hours of the morning. A book under her legs, and her hands wrapped round a mug of tea, she sat looking out over the frost-bitten landscape. The trees were all iced, a cold mist swirling round them. Far away below, the shards of the lake that she could see were grey and dead, unmoving. Although she was looking, she was seeing nothing. The book fell off the seat, and her bookmark slipped out. Walking quietly up the corridor, Jolyon picked it up, looking at it for a second before holding it out for Henrietta.
“Hen?”
She jumped, then took the bookmark off him.
“Thanks. I'd be gutted if I lost that.”
He sat down at the other end of the window seat.
“Family?”
She looked at the photos on the bookmark fondly.
“Mm. My niece and nephew. Pia, and Nicholas.”
“Do you miss them? All of them I mean?”
“Yes. It's not like I'm desperate to be home, but I miss them.”
He put his hand over hers.
“We love having you here. I mean, I love...it's um...”
She looked him in his eyes.
“I love being here. Part of me doesn't want to go home at all.”
He smiled warmly, and pulled himself up onto the seat entirely, keeping his feet out of the icy draughts. Henrietta passed him her cup of tea, and he warmed his hands on it.
“Come out to dinner with me before you go home?”
She nodded, and smiled, looking back out of the window.

Author:  brie [ Fri Jun 01, 2007 6:59 pm ]
Post subject: 

Thanks Mary! I do love this!

Author:  Lizzie [ Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:52 pm ]
Post subject: 

Me too! Thanks Mary, I know you've posted this largely because I was pestering you about it, but it really is very good! x

Author:  Mary [ Mon Jun 04, 2007 5:08 pm ]
Post subject: 

Hurrah for exam-apathy. It meaning that I'm posting more, in avoidance of revision. Ah well. It's just my life...hm. Anyway, enjoy. Oh and thank you to Brie and Lizzie for continual cheer leading. You rule.

“Are we not waiting for Charlotte?”
Anne laughed at Francis, passing him his lunch-time bowl of soup.
“Since when did you mind if we were all here? You should just be grateful that your father hasn't quizzed you for your minestrone.”
Francis looked injured.
“You make me sound like I don't care at all!”
“You make it sound like my quizzing is annoying. Everyone loves my quizzing!”
Anne caught Henrietta's eye and shook her head.
“I think I'd rather be having lunch with Charlotte and Aksel.”
“She's with Aksel? How come I have to be here?”
“I doubt they want you there.”
“That's not what I meant.”
Anne smiled at her son.
“Fran love, you have no one with whom to have dinner. You don't even have a girlfriend.”
“Or perhaps a boyfriend.”
“Jon!”
“What?”
“Fran isn't gay.”
Francis leaned over the table, gesturing with his soup spoon.
“It wouldn't be a problem would it Ma?”
“I...no, but, well...”
Jolyon threw his napkin at Francis.
“Stop being mean. We all know about Ruby.”
Henrietta raised her spoon.
“Um...I don't.”
Jolyon turned with glee.
“What kind of girl would you imagine would date Fran, other than a not-a-girl?”
“Jon!”
Henrietta grinned and twirled her spoon between her fingers.
“I'd say a one of a kind, maybe hippy-ish, sensible enough to stop him from going mad,” she continued with a benevolent smile to Fran, “but mad enough to put up with him.”
“HA!”
Henrietta frowned in confusion.
“What?”
Anne grinned and leaned over to Henrietta.
“You've just pretty much described Ruby. She was brought up in a commune with her sisters Opal and Garnet. She's lovely, and very much one of a kind. And she's mad, but... well, in a sensible way.”
“You make it sound like we're already married.”
“Already married? You planning on something Fran?”
“You're one to speak!”
“What do you...”
“BOYS!”
Geoffrey looked over the rim of his empty soup bowl.
“I consider myself an intelligent man, yet I don't think I understand anything that has been said in the last five minutes.”
Anne patted his arm.
“Don't worry love. It's just the boys being ridiculous.”
“Well if Fran is getting married, make sure that he waits a while. But not too long. Think how long Margot waited.”
“Dad, Auntie Margot was a nun until we were born.”
Henrietta frowned.
“Wait, Margot...Maynard? A nun?”
Geoffrey looked up at her.
“Yes? Why?”
Henrietta laughed gently.
“No reason. It just fits with...whatever. It doesn't matter.”
“She was in holy orders until she was about 40, and then left because of ill health.”
“Do you need good health to be a nun?”
Geoffrey laughed.
“No, but she was more of a missionary than a nun exactly. In the grand tradition of my family, she was advised by her doctor not to stay in the climate, so she came back here. She came to stay with us just after Jolyon was born, and she met Kurt just after that. She decided that she could serve God just as well married as she could single, so they got married and moved back to England.”
“Is that where the rest of your family is?”
Francis snorted.
“If they were all in one place there'd be no room for anyone else.”
Geoffrey laughed at his son.
“Fair point. We were restrained just having three children by my parents standards.”
“How many siblings do you have?”
“Eleven.”
Henrietta jumped up in excitement, knocking over her chair.
“I knew it!”

Author:  brie [ Tue Jun 05, 2007 3:35 pm ]
Post subject: 

Thanks Mary. They are all lovely.

*continues to cheerlead*

Author:  Miranda [ Tue Jun 05, 2007 3:45 pm ]
Post subject: 

*unashamedly jumps up and down behind brie*

That was a hilarious scene :lol: Especially Geoffrey:
Quote:
“I consider myself an intelligent man, yet I don't think I understand anything that has been said in the last five minutes.”


My poor dad gets like that sometimes....

Author:  Lizzie [ Tue Jun 05, 2007 4:58 pm ]
Post subject: 

Let's form a cheerleading squad!

That was brill, Mary, MORE MORE MORE!!!

Author:  francesn [ Tue Jun 05, 2007 11:00 pm ]
Post subject: 

Knew what?! I have a suspicion but please please confirm it!

Author:  Tassie_Ellen [ Thu Jun 07, 2007 10:36 am ]
Post subject: 

Hi Mary, just found this and it's great! I've really enjoyed reading the whole thing in one go, and can't wait for more!

thanks, Ellen

Author:  Mary [ Sun Jun 10, 2007 5:13 pm ]
Post subject: 

Oh you guys! Well, the exams are over, so I may just now have time to write some more and actually post it. Weird. I hope you're all enjoying the weather, always assuming that the weather is as nice everywhere else as it is in Brighton today. Anyway, here's some more for you. M xxx


Geoffrey frowned in confusion as Jolyon and Anne shared a meaningful look.
“What did you know?”
Henrietta grinned, a little sheepishly, before answering.
“That you're the Maynard family.”
Geoffrey looked a little more confused.
“You only found that out now?”
Anne placed a hand on his arm.
“Geoff love, I think she's talking about the Chalet school.”
“Really? How do you know about that?”
Henrietta smiled again, surprised to be the centre of attention.
“Um, the Chalet School books?”
Geoffrey turned to Anne incredulously.
“People actually read those books now? I thought it was just you and Charlotte.”
“Geoff!”
Henrietta felt that maybe she should placate the situation.
“My Mum had some of them so my sister and I both read them. I had forgotten about them though, until now.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see both Francis and Jolyon's shoulders shaking with laughter.
“Hey! What?”
Fran wiped his eyes.
“Oh Dad! You're so clueless. It's adorable.”
Jolyon interrupted, frowning.
“It may be adorable but it's also weird. You're a rare book fiend. I find it hard to believe that you hadn't realised what kind of prices they're going for.”
Geoffrey took a sip of his wine, and smiled benevolently.
“I did. I just thought they were collected, not read so much.”
Anne just laughed at Geoffrey, shaking her head.
“Oh love!

Author:  brie [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:58 am ]
Post subject: 

Thanks Mary

*wondering how they can be real*

Author:  Lizzie [ Tue Jun 12, 2007 12:28 pm ]
Post subject: 

I think that Jolyon is probably very attractive...

You're coming home in less than two weeks! Then I can hang over your shoulder and nag you to post more of this! Waay!

x

Author:  brie [ Mon Jul 09, 2007 9:48 am ]
Post subject: 

*bump*

Author:  Mary [ Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:39 pm ]
Post subject: 

Brie, your bumping efforts have not been in vain. I just kind forgot about this for a few weeks. But it's back. Just...sheesh it's a large chunk of text!
***

Edmund Leighton stood on the wind-whipped cliff top. He gritted his teeth, and considered throwing the tennis ball out into the sea for the dogs, just to see what would happen. But no. Henrietta would slaughter him, and his mother wouldn't be all that thrilled. The prospect of incurring the wrath of his mother put him entirely off that plan. Still, it would divert his attention from the boredom of his current situation. Just thinking about it again brought him to sitting on the freezing grass. At that more convenient position, Tansy launched herself on him, paying particular attention to his ears. Momentarily considering “losing” the dogs, he once again considered Henrietta's wrath. She may have been less dramatic and frankly less dangerous in stressful situations, but when in came to her Border terrier, no wrath would be spared. He could just see her standing over him, as she had the time that he had locked Tansy in the garden all Christmas eve night, just because with his sleeping on the sofa bed Tansy had been a liability with the proximity of his ears. Henrietta had picked up the first thing she found, which luckily for him was a cracker, and brandished it over his head. She may have been the youngest of the Leightons, and the smallest, but she still had something to inspire fear. It must be the genes from his mother. He pushed Tansy off his lap gently, and lay back. He was beginning to get cold, but at least he was out of the house. Jilly climbed across his legs, sitting square on his lap. Uncomfortable? Well yes, but also warmer. All his consideration of the dogs had at least kept his mind of his situation for another few minutes. Not any more.
“What am I going to do with my life Jill? What?”
Jilly sniffed his hands, before turning round to face him. He laughed.
“Well, maybe not a dog handler. Or a vet, given that I don't have the degree or whatever.”
He blinked hard as something dropped on his eyelids. Sitting up, he realised that there was snow on his coat. He shook his head, and got up, suddenly aware of how cold it was.
“Fine!” he yelled to the sea. “I'll go home.”
The dogs both looked up at him inquisitively. Laughing again, he turned to walk home, the dogs at his heels. His phone chirped suddenly. He glanced at the ID and grimaced.
“Mother?”
To his surprise, she sounded worried.
“Can you come home? I need you to find out some things for me.”
He sighed, unsure of his mother's intentions.
“Find out what?”
She began to sound tearful.
“If Henry will be able to get back at all? The weather said something about heavy snow in Austria, and that flights for the next day or so are grounded, and you know more about this and...”
Edmund interrupted, his anger forgotten.
“Mum, I'm coming home now. Don't worry all right? I'll be there soon.”
He set off at a run, the dogs bounding along at his heels.

***

Henrietta was sitting on the edge of the veranda. Her thick coat was pulled tightly around her, and her long scarf smothered her entire throat. She laughed as Jolyon sat down next to her, handing her a steaming mug of coffee.
“All I ever seem to do is have hot drinks and read books!”
He laughed too, taking a sip of his own coffee.
“Don't forget the movies. Oh, and the landscape-watching. And a few walks.”
“Yes. Active!”
They sat silent, not needing to talk for a few minutes. Henrietta suddenly turned to Jolyon.
“Hey, you never actually finished telling me about how you guys are related to the original chalet school people.”
Jolyon groaned.
“Fine you chalet obsessive. Dad is the youngest son of Jo and Jack Maynard.”
Henrietta turned incredulously to him, only just realising since the night before.
“Wait, it was all true? Everything? The huge families and the high proportion of adventures? Really?”
Grimacing, he turned to her.
“This is going to get quite confusing. Are you sure you care?”
Regarding her reaction, he carried on.
“OK. The school was real. Most of the family was also real. Elinor M. Brent-Dyer was a friend of Grandma's sister Madge, and she was the one who suggested her opening a school in Austria. In return for her help, Aunty Madge suggested that she use it for a story she was writing.”
“So she carried on with her own ideas?”
“Some of them, but a lot of them were true. She based most of the stories on Aunty Madge's letters.”
Henrietta snorted.
“Your Aunty Madge must write incredibly long letters.”
He gave her a look.
“As I said before, she only based it on a certain true stories. Not absolutely everything is the gospel truth.”
“Which bits are true?”
Jolyon turned to her incredulously.
“Etta! She wrote like sixty books! Do you want some kind of check list?”
“Yes, yes I do.”
Anne walked out onto the veranda, wrapped up warmly.
“I'm not interrupting am I?”
Jolyon grinned at his mother.
“It's your call. Henrietta is asking for a detailed list of the true facts about the chalet school.”
Anne laughed, and promptly sat down.
“Charlotte's the one to ask about that. The last Christmas that Aunty Madge was alive when we were all together, you remember Jolly, that one when she had flu? Madge and Jo spent an afternoon telling her which bits really did happen.”
Henrietta frowned.
“Jon says that it's not all true,” she said, disappointedly.
Anne smiled sympathetically.
“The best bits are true love. Pretty much all of the family, and all the best stories. They really did run from the Nazis. Jack was missing and presumed dead for a few months. Most of pupils were made up, but a lot of their stories happened. Just to different people.”
“They really ran from the Nazis?”
Anne smiled at Henrietta's excitement.
“Absolutely, although I suspect that Hitler had a little less interest in a bunch of school girls and their Peace League than was made out, though I believe they did form a league of sorts.”
Henrietta smiled, drawing her knees up to her chin, and gazing out over the surrounding landscape contentedly. Anne shivered theatrically next to her, drained her coffee, and stood up.
“I don't know how you two are standing it, but I am freezing. Don't get too cold will you?” she warned as she turned back to the house, closing the doors firmly behind her. She stood watching them for a moment, thrilled to see her son so happy. Lost in her own thoughts, she didn't see Charlotte until she appeared at her elbow, and whispered in her ear.
“He's totally smitten.”
“Charlotte!” she exclaimed. “You scared me you wretched child. When did you get in?”
Charlotte grinned and put an arm round her mother.
“Just now. Aksel's here too. I hope that's OK?”
Anne smiled, forgetting her shock.
“Of course it is. He's welcome any time. Where is he?”
“Oh, Fran caught him. Asked him to go and help with some project he is embarking on in his room.”
Anne looked at her inquisitively, but Charlotte replied before she could ask.
“I have no idea what he's doing. Carry on with your don't ask, don't tell policy.”

Outside, Henrietta turned to Jolyon with an evil grin.
“So. Jolly eh?”
“Rats. I hoped you hadn't noticed.”
“I think it's sweet.”
“I think you're a psycho.”
“Takes one to know one.”
“I know you are, but what am I?”
Henrietta was laughing so much by this point in the conversation, that a swift push from Jolyon sent her to the frozen grass below. She shrieked with laughter, only made worse by Jolyon's pelting her with pine cones.

Anne and Charlotte were silent, listening to Henrietta and Jolyon's laughter.
“I'm telling you, he's smitten. Absolutely smitten.”

Author:  Fatima [ Tue Aug 07, 2007 7:13 am ]
Post subject: 

It's nice to see more of this! Thanks Mary.

Author:  brie [ Tue Aug 07, 2007 11:45 am ]
Post subject: 

Thanks Mary this is great! Your characters are all so.. nice :)

Author:  Lizzie [ Tue Aug 07, 2007 7:30 pm ]
Post subject: 

I like to think that you base your characters on your extremely lovely and witty relatives...

Author:  Fiona Mc [ Sat Aug 11, 2007 1:03 am ]
Post subject: 

Thanks for this, am enjoying it

Author:  Mary [ Sun Oct 14, 2007 6:10 pm ]
Post subject: 

So, it turns out that being at home for three months doesn't help me at all with my remembering to post-skills. Sorry about that. Hopefully now that I'm back at university (third year turns out to be busy- who knew?) I will actually get some posting done. The rest of part 1 is actually written, so it should happen, but from then on it's a question of writing the rest of the saga that this has become. Oh dear. Anyway, enjoy! I thought about doing a quick summary of what has happened so you don't have to go back and read, but frankly, nothing has happened. Lots of witty banter, lots of tea, and lots of mountains. Oh, and now, lots of cute Norweigan boys. M x

Aksel sat on the edge of Francis's bed, watching him with great confusion.
“I really don't understand, Fran. You're trying to make this girl fall in love with you by making a large sculpture?”
Francis turned incredulously.
“Of course. It represents love.”
“Using plywood and chicken wire?”
“You have no vision.”
“Yes, but I do have a girlfriend.”
Francis didn't seem to notice.
“Now,” he said, holding together two pieces of wood. “Hold these for a second?”
Aksel sighed, standing up, holding the bits together.
“Don't you think that perhaps making a sculpture that won't fit out your door is a bad plan, especially given that Ruby isn't coming here?”
Francis grimaced.
“Ah.”
He dropped the wood he had been holding, and kicked it into the corner.
“Good point. OK. So what would you do? Symphony? Epic poem?”
Aksel sat back down on the bed, lying down with a hand over his eyes.
“Is it possible for you to just tell her how you feel?”
Francis started pulling books off his shelves, leafing through them.
“Like a monologue? Maybe with music in the background...”
He trailed off, sitting down in front of his computer.
Aksel stood up, heading towards the door. He leaned against the frame, his exit imminent.
“What about just talking to her. No orchestra, no doves, no fireworks...Fran! I said no fireworks. Get off that website.”
Francis waved a hand in Aksel's direction as he gave up and closed the door.


“Mr Maynard? Could I talk to you?”
Geoffrey looked up from his newspaper with a start to see Aksel standing in front of him.
“You're not marrying her!”
Aksel's eyes widened and he was momentarily speechless.
“Um, that wasn't my problem.”
“Oh. Well sit down then.”
Already confused, Aksel lowered himself onto the sofa slowly, and sat in silence while Geoffrey organised the paper that he had scattered about his armchair.
“What can I do for you?”
“I was wondering if there was any chance that you would take on a few guests for us over Christmas. You see, my cousin was going to come and stay, but because so many of the hotels in town have closed, ours is very full with people moving out of the others and into...well we're full now but Kalle has nowhere to go. Is there any chance he could come here?”
Anne, who had come in halfway through, sat down opposite him.
“I can't see why not love. Is it just him?”
Aksel smiled at the somewhat less scary vision of Anne.
“No, that's just it. He has his daughter, and maybe his wife if she can get away in time. I know it's a huge imposition, especially since Nessa is only two, and we'll certainly pay you more given that...”
Anne put a hand over his.
“Don't be silly. Henrietta's not paying, so neither will you. Any of your family are welcome here love, given that you're practically family anyway.”
“They're not getting married.”
Anne frowned at Geoffrey's retreating back and smiled back at Aksel.
“Of course they can stay. Just let me know where and when, and we'll sort it out.”
Aksel collapsed back into the chair in relief.
“Oh, you don't know how grateful I am. We should have sorted it out weeks ago, given that they couldn't have stayed with us, even if we hadn't been full.”
“Why is that?”
“Kalle's mother, my aunt Erma, is Mum's sister. They've never really forgiven him at all for leaving Mum all those years ago, especially when she was so ill. You'd think it would make no difference now after all this time, but...you know, these things run deep.”
Anne smiled warmly, and stood up to leave.
“Well they are very welcome here. Let me know when you know when they are coming and everything else.”
Aksel smiled back at her, getting up politely.
“I will. I'll make sure that it's very soon.”
With that, Anne left the room, and Aksel ran off, intent on telling Charlotte his good news.

Author:  brie [ Sun Oct 14, 2007 6:18 pm ]
Post subject: 

Thanks

I'm confused but thanks.

Author:  Lizzie [ Sun Oct 14, 2007 6:23 pm ]
Post subject: 

Woop! Finally! xxx

Author:  Rosalin [ Sun Oct 14, 2007 10:49 pm ]
Post subject: 

I've just read all the way through this, and I'm definitely intrigued.

Thanks Mary.

Author:  Fiona Mc [ Mon Oct 15, 2007 11:50 am ]
Post subject: 

Thanks. Am glad to see anothe update and you have me curious

Author:  Mary [ Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:06 pm ]
Post subject: 

Thanks guys. Right, posting.

“Etta? Etta?”
Jolyon burst out of the study and called up the stairs, before rushing into the salon. Henrietta was curled up on the sofa in front of the fire, very much asleep. He knelt down in front of her, a hand on hers.
“Etta? You need to wake up. Etta? Come on!”
She woke up slowly, stretching.
“What?” she groaned, sitting up properly.
“I've got your brother on the phone.”
At this, she woke up fully.
“Kingsley? Why is he phoning now?”
He shook his head, sitting down next to her on the sofa.
“No, Edmund is it? He said something about the snow coming and your going home for Christmas.”
“Oh man, OK. Can I...?”
He passed her the phone and got up, leaving her alone again, returning to the study. Sitting back at the desk, he turned his attention to the computer, to the websites that he had only just been looking at. The map of Austria did indeed have extensive pictures of snow clouds covering it. Extreme weather warnings were flashing at the top of the page, advising immediate or no travel whatsoever. He sighed, and opened the second window on the computer desktop, revealing flights to London from Innsbruck. Whilst he continued to look up different possibilities, Henrietta walked in, finishing her conversation.
“I'll do what I can Ed, but it's going to be hard...no I'll be fine. Don't let Mum worry...no...OK. I'll talk to you soon...you too. Bye.”
She handed the phone back to Jolyon, and perched on the edge of the desk.
“We are going to get snowed in?”
He leaned back in his chair and sighed.
“Maybe. Maybe not. The snow is supposed to be very heavy this year though, so if you can, you should go now.”
“Are there any flights left?”
“Hopefully a few. I'll get it sorted out for you. Don't worry.”
Henrietta stopped for a moment, and smiled at him, before leaving the room.

Author:  brie [ Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:28 pm ]
Post subject: 

Thanks Mary. I don't really want her too leave though...

Author:  Shander [ Thu Oct 18, 2007 8:38 pm ]
Post subject: 

I don't want her to go either.
I've just discovered this Mary, and it's wonderful!
I hope to see more soon.

Author:  Lizzie [ Sat Oct 20, 2007 8:50 pm ]
Post subject: 

More please xxx

Author:  Miss Di [ Thu Nov 01, 2007 4:02 am ]
Post subject: 

Mary this is brilliant. More please!

All times are UTC [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/