They that Go Down to the Sea in Ships - complete - 5/12

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The CBB -> Ste Therese's House

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#1: They that Go Down to the Sea in Ships - complete - 5/12 Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 6:16 pm
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Sequel to The Start of Summer



He had found a brief haven from the still-scorching sun.

John Bettany rested his arms against the cool, marble balustrade of the dilapidated but shady pergola he had stumbled across during his long, meandering walk up from Candlebury Cove and smiled a little to himself over the pretentiousness of his thoughts, no wonder he could no longer bear to read anything he’d written during his teens. He surveyed the landscape with interest; below him lay the remains of a formal rose garden and he could no longer hear the sound of the sea.

The brightly-coloured caravans that had resided on Daniel’s land had gone. John frowned, remembering the old Romany woman’s words of warning, but decided to put it firmly from his mind. He had enough to worry about; he chided himself. It was the fourth of September and the end of his leave was drawing ever closer.

“Hello, I thought I’d stroll over to meet you half-way,” Daniel’s voice made him start, but he turned with a ready smile, not at all upset to be disturbed from his thoughts.

“I said I’d take Daphne out this evening, it’s the last night before she goes to Switzerland, you know – so I can’t stay long.” John said, joining Daniel on the path. Latterly he had been in the habit of stopping at Candlebury in the evenings, after a day’s sailing, though it was far from being a fixed arrangement, just a casual, friendly one that suited them both.

Last edited by Mia on Wed Dec 06, 2006 10:40 am; edited 54 times in total

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#2:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 6:25 pm
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Hooray for sequels! Thanks Mia.

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#3:  Author: gwynne, Location: Norwich Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 6:26 pm
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yay! much cheering for the sequel.

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#4:  Author: Ally, Location: John Bettany's Cabin! Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 6:32 pm
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Squeeble a sequel! And so soon! Thank you Mia a shimmery shiny twin!

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#5:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 6:49 pm
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Brilliant! Thank you Mia!
(your bunnies have been working hard today.)

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#6:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:26 pm
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Oh good!

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#7:  Author: Eilidh, Location: North Lanarkshire Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:28 pm
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Thank you Mia! Just what I needed.

*squees quietly over more John-drabble*

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#8:  Author: Tan, Location: London via Newcastle Australia Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:39 pm
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Yay!!

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#9:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:28 pm
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Hurrah there's a sequel! Very excited about this!

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#10:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:10 pm
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Thank you for starting this so quickly!

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#11:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:26 pm
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Thanks, Mia. It's great to see the sequel so soon! As well, I have heard of the title, which is very unusual for me.

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#12:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:30 pm
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Oooh hurrah! A sequel!

*dances*

Fank oo, Mia

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#13:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:39 pm
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Thank you Mia.

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#14:  Author: Caty, Location: New Zealand Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 1:42 am
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Ooh, shiny new drabble sequel. Thank you Mia.

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#15:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:01 am
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Yay a sequel! Thank you Mia!

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#16:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:58 am
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A sequel, thanks, Mia.

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#17:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:44 am
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“It’s still so hot,” John remarked, as they headed back toward the cove, unconsciously slowing his pace to match Daniel’s own. “It’s cooler on the sea, but I still burnt yesterday.” He studied his brown arms.

“Have you been doing anything except sailing?” Daniel grinned.

“Not really,” John admitted, with a smile. “I’ve been helping Maurice on the farm, but I escaped at lunchtime and went round to Hartland Point. You really should come out, you know, you’re running out of excuses.”

“Sea-sickness is my excuse.”

“It’s a millpond today. No, I won’t accept that.” John laughed.

“I’ll think about it.” Daniel conceded. “If you’re hot, you should come over and see the sunken garden. It’s my favourite place.”

“Sure.” John said, easily.

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#18:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:58 am
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Glad they're getting on so well, but please could we hear about Keeler?

Pretty please .

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#19:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:09 am
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So nice to see them getting on well.

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#20:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:27 am
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Thanks for your comments and Alison, I promise I'll get to that soon



The sunken garden was nothing like he had expected; in a private section of the grounds, it was vast and beautiful. John stared, his surprise making him forget his manners. Daniel smiled at the reaction and turned to look over the magnificent water garden, which had been kept in much finer condition than the rest of the grounds.

It was a large stretch of water, cultivated in a noticeably Victorian way, with grandiose fountains and waterfalls and a large selection of water plants and flowers, ferns and grasses. Its most striking aspect the statues in white marble, a man portrayed leaning over toward the water and a number of female statues, grappling with his arm to drag him into the water with them. Another feminine statue lay prostrate on the ground in grief amongst the irises and marsh marigolds. John saw more statues in the distance, in other poses of a similar kind.

“It’s Victorian. My grandmother designed it. She loved the Greek myths. It wasn’t a serious design, she was just sketching, they’d just had the gardens completely overhauled, you see, but my grandfather found her sketches and had it made for her. You were right about saying I should do something with the grounds so I have engaged a gardener now - several, in fact. I asked them to start here, and they’ve done an excellent job.”

“It’s beautiful. If it’s Greek mythology, that must be Hylas? Lured to his death by the nymphs of Lemnos, so his ship had to sail without him.” John moved over to look at the statues more closely.

“Yes, it is. And that’s Halcyone, lying where one just can’t help tripping over her.”

“Halcyone?” John asked deliberately, sitting down on a carved stone bench, in the shade, hoping that Daniel would tell him the story of Halcyone while he sat in this tranquil place and listened.

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#21:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:52 am
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Hmmm...interesting...

Thank you Mia.

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#22:  Author: Eilidh, Location: North Lanarkshire Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:52 am
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Indeed!

Thanks Mia.

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#23:  Author: Ally, Location: John Bettany's Cabin! Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 12:38 pm
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What a lovely languid atmosphere you have captured Mia and the gardens sounds beautiful. John and Daniel seem nicely relaxed with on another too. huzzah quite frankly

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#24:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 1:13 pm
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Thanks, Mia. It doesn't take any imagination at all to imagine the two of them finding it quite hot!

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#25:  Author: Caty, Location: New Zealand Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 1:36 pm
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I like the tie-in with the younger John who wrote (stories?) & the older one who wants to listen to tales.

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#26:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:06 pm
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Thank you Mia, I've just found this and am very glad you've started a sequel so soon!

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#27:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:38 pm
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I hope this isn't too boring..



“Halcyone was married to Ceyx, who was the King of Thessaly, they were deeply in love with one another. She was the daughter of – of Aeoylus?”

“Aeolus. He was the God of the winds,” John said.

“You know this already,” Daniel said.

“No, no, I only knew the name,” John fibbed, he did in fact know the story well. “Go on, please.”

“Anyway, she was the daughter of the God of the winds, and she knew how strong the winds could be. When Ceyx wanted to go on a voyage to consult the oracle of Apollo, she begged him not to go and said that if he must, she would travel with him.

"Ceyx refused, much as he wanted to take her with him, he refused to expose her to the dangers of the sea. He promised to return as quickly as he could and they parted, she was prostrate with grief.” Daniel indicated the statue. “And all the time she feared for the mortal peril in which he had placed himself."

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#28:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 3:53 pm
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Thanks, Mia. I didn't find the story boring - I enjoyed it.

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#29:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 4:26 pm
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Ovid's version of the story of Alcyone and Ceyx was one of my Latin A-level texts...

But thank you Mia, this is very atmospheric!

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#30:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:34 pm
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& I vaguely remember a reference to Aeolus in book 1 of the Aeneid which was one of my Latin A-level texts!

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#31:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 12:29 pm
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Love how well John and Daniel are getting on.

Thanks Mel

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#32:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 1:07 pm
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Thanks Mia!

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#33:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 9:10 pm
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Thanks, Mia.

Not boring at all, m'dear.

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#34:  Author: Caroline, Location: Manchester Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 11:38 am
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Loving this, Mia - so good to see John's story carrying on!

The whole atmosphere seems languid, but kind of expectant at the same time. I wonder what is in the offing - is it a refreshing rain shower or a night of thunder and lightening?

Caroline.

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#35:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 3:36 pm
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“As it turned out, Halcyone’s premonition came true,” Daniel faltered a little as he said the words, perhaps remembering a similar premonition made in these very grounds, barely a few weeks ago, but recovered and carried on. “Ceyx’s ship was caught in a storm and in his last dying moments, he begged the Gods that the waves would take his drowned body back to Halcyone so she could bury him.”

“And Halcyone herself continually prayed to Hera, the goddess of marriage, that her husband would be brought back to her safely, but Hera, anxious that her altars not be defiled by prayers for a dead man, sent Iris to speak to Hypnos, the God of Sleep, who sent his son, Morpheus, who was the God of Dreams, to appear to Halcyone in a dream to tell her that Ceyx was dead.”

“A real chain of command.” John observed, wriggling to move into the shade.

“Quite. So Morpheus appeared to her as her husband, but as a drowned man, and told her where the body could be found. Halcyone believed him because he had come to her in that form, as a ghost, I suppose, and she went down to the Aegean Sea and saw him in the sea. Halcyone leapt into the sea to join her husband in death, but the Gods had pity on her and changed both her and Ceyx into birds. They nest on the sea and for seven days every winter Halcyone broods over her nest and Aeolus guards the winds. They’re known as halcyon days.” Daniel finished.

“I see... Thank you. Is that Echo and Narcissus?”

“Yes, she loved him but he only loved himself.”

“All these doomed lovers,” John mused, half to himself.

“I suppose. My grandmother didn’t live to see it finished, so it’s a memorial for her. She died before I was born and I don’t remember very much about my grandfather, apart from coming here with him so he could tell me all the stories.” Daniel stood up, “Did you know it’s nearly five?”

“No – my watch needs winding. I’ll have to run to get back for dinner, we’re having it early today. So – I’ll come round tomorrow and we’ll go sailing.”

“All right,” Daniel conceded, as John disappeared with a hasty goodbye.

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#36:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 5:02 pm
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Thanks, it does seem as though John and Daniel are opening up to one another.

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#37:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 5:37 pm
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Like hearing the story.

Nice to see them closer - thanks Mel.

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#38:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 9:11 pm
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This is the last bit for a while I'm afraid

“Hi, John!” Fourteen year-old Geoff Maynard was waiting for him when he returned to the beach below the Quadrant’s cliffs.

“We only went to Bideford for my school shirts, so I could’ve come with you today, if you’d just left a few minutes later. I saw you leaving.” Geoff said, still clearly disappointed, picking up the line John threw him.

“There’s always tomorrow or the day after, you don’t go to school until next week, do you? Come on and give me a hand, we’ll be late.” John said, lowering the sails and making sure all was secure. Geoff, who had arrived two days before at the Quadrant with his mother, had been his cousin’s constant shadow ever since, fascinated by the cutter and enthusiastic about sailing. John hadn’t minded him tagging along, but did fuss rather about Correct Behaviour in Boats, in Geoff’s opinion.

“Ma’s going home tomorrow,” Geoff reminded him.

“Maybe in the evening then,” John said, good-naturedly, as they hurried up to the Quadrant.

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#39:  Author: Ally, Location: John Bettany's Cabin! Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 9:16 pm
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I love enthusiastic Geoff! He is very sweet Thank you Mia.

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#40:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 9:58 pm
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Geoff is lovely, isn't he? And he really hero-worships John.

Thanks Mel.

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#41:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 9:33 am
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Geoff is so cute!

Thanks Mia

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#42:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 1:36 pm
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I'd forgotten about the Geoff in this universe, it's nice to see him back!

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#43:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:59 pm
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Thanks, Mia. It's nice to see more of Geoff.

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#44:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:08 pm
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Thanks Mia. I do love this universe.

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#45:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 3:15 pm
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This is lovely

Thanks, Mia

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#46:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 3:22 pm
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Hmm, it's coming along but quite slowly. Ty for the comments


“Mike said I might be able to go and see over his destroyer before he goes away,” Geoff said, looking at John hopefully. Daphne had changed her mind about going out and decided to go and say goodbye to her friends in the village instead. John had been glad, he was tired and now he didn’t need to worry about sudden summer storms.

“I don’t think so,” John replied, then relented to see Geoff’s disappointed face, “We’re going at the beginning of November and you told me you haven’t got any exeats.”

“Are you going out together?” Geoff wanted to know.

“For a while, yes.” You’re deployed with my ship, you know. You’ll be under my command. We’re going to have to talk sometime. Lewis’s words came back to him and he sighed.

Geoff looked at him with curiosity, but didn’t comment. John was wizard, and now possibly his favourite cousin, but Geoff had four elder brothers and had learned when to keep his mouth shut.

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#47:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 3:31 pm
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Thanks, Mia. It's nice to see more of Geoff and John.

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#48:  Author: MaryR, Location: Cheshire Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 6:25 pm
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How long will John keep putting it off?

Thanks, Mia

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#49:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 1:11 pm
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Thanks Mia.

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#50:  Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 4:00 pm
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Quote:

John was wizard, and now possibly his favourite cousin, but Geoff had four elder brothers and had learned when to keep his mouth shut.

I read that as "John was a wizard"

Lovely bits - hopefully the loose ends will start to become clear soon

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#51:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 4:12 pm
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Does that mean we don't need to worry about sudden summer storms either?

Thanks, Mia

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#52:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 10:57 am
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“Coffee?” Maurice offered.

“Wouldn’t say no,” David looked up from the papers he had spread around the table in the Quadrant Library. His head had started to ache. “Where’s Rix?”

“Putting the kids to bed, I think. John’s around, somewhere,” Maurice handed over the mug. “Maybe we could have a game of cards or something.”

“Why not?” David grinned and pushed the paperwork firmly away from him. “It’s been a while since we last played, the four of us I mean. Shall I find Jack and you can fetch Rix?”

“All right.” Maurice left, leaving David to clear away his bank statements and amble upstairs to find John in his bedroom, clearing out the drawers of his desk.

“Coming down to play cards?” he asked, easily, leaning against the doorframe.

“I said I’d play chess with young Geoff,” John replied.

“Oh, he can join us. Come on, Jack, we haven’t played for ages and I’m going back to Armiford tomorrow.”

“All right, why not?” John got to his feet.

*

“How do I play?” Geoff was thrilled beyond words to be included with his so much older cousins. He spread out his small pile of coins on the table and watched them play a practice hand. Rix explained the rules patiently.

“Don’t think you’re staying up all night,” he said, amused when Geoff won the first game and triumphantly scooped up their coins. “Aunt Jo asked me to make sure you’re in bed by half past nine.”

“Could I go at ten? Please?” Geoff coaxed. His mother and aunt and uncle had gone into Bideford to a concert and wouldn’t be back until late.

“Beginner’s luck.” David laughed and poured brandy for the others. “You can stay up till we’ve had the chance to win that lot back from you,” he joked.

After his second brandy, John had relaxed and was enjoying the banter. David was telling an amusing story about a girl he had dated and he was holding his own at the card game, every so often passing surreptitious coins to Geoff out of his winnings.

“What about this girl of yours, Maurice?” Rix asked, as he dealt the cards. “What’s her name again?”

“Susie.” Maurice said. “I’ll bring her to meet you in the week if you want.”
“I saw her in the village last week, I think,” David said. “Blonde, isn’t she? Is it serious?”

“I think so.” Maurice said, reddening, but looking very happy.

“Really? Fantastic, I’m pleased.” Rix said, as David refreshed their glasses and proposed a toast.

“Come off it, I haven’t asked her to marry me or anything like that,” Maurice smiled.

“Yet!” David grinned. “You’re smitten, that’s fairly obvious. Oh well, I’d better start saving for a wedding present. There’ll only be you and me left soon, John.”

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#53:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 11:03 am
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I love it that Geoff's older cousins are corrupting him with cards and talk about girls!

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#54:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 12:22 pm
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I hope Susie didn't catch David's eye too much!

Thanks, Mia

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#55:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 1:05 pm
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Nice to see all the lads together - although I assume John has no plans to get married (this being pre civil partnerships).

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#56:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 5:17 pm
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Pleased young Geoff was included - brings back memories of when I was a kid and allowed to sit in on the Christmas Poker game for the first time - I was dealt four kings and won pounds!

Thanks Mia - agree that I don't think we'll be seeing John married for a while.

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#57:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 8:47 pm
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Lovely, Mia. Thanks.

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#58:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:00 pm
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“Don’t you want to get married?” Geoff asked, interested.

David shook his head with a grin, “Not quite yet, Geoff, old chap. Why limit yourself to just one woman?”

“The only girl I’ve wanted to marry got hitched to someone else,” John said, before swallowing the remnants of his drink.

“Really? You kept that quiet, who was she?” David asked, with great interest.

“No-one you know. Anyway, It’s probably for the best. I’d rather make Commander before I’m thirty-five than be married - and I'm away too much anyway."

“Time you went to bed, Geoff.” Rix said, glancing over at the clock. “You’ll be quiet and not wake the kids, won’t you?”

“All right,” Geoff got up and prepared to leave.

“Don’t forget your winnings,” Maurice reminded him, helping to collect up the cash. Geoff stuffed it into his pockets and wished everyone goodnight.

“Oh, no-one. Are we carrying on?” John said, lighting a cigarette and making it very clear that he no longer wanted to discuss the subject.

“I’m in,” Maurice said, starting to deal the cards. David refilled the glasses and they lapsed into a companionable silence.

“What time are you leaving tomorrow, Davy?” Rix asked, after he tossed his cards onto the table. He helped himself to one of his brother’s cigarettes and lit up.

“I’ll go after lunch, I think. The roads should be fairly quiet. Will I see you before you go away, Jack?”

“I’ll try and come down to Howells before we go out, and I’m in Portsmouth for a month anyway, until November, we’re having a partial refit, apparently.”

“Can I bring the boys down to see you? They’d love that.” Rix asked.

“Of course, that would be great. Let’s see your cards, David.”

“I’ll see yours,” David produced two ten-shilling notes and put them on the table.

“Here we go,” Maurice rolled his eyes, laying his own cards down. “I wondered how long it would take for you two to start. We’re not all millionaires, you know.”

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#59:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:02 pm
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I wonder who John's girl was? And now I'm really wondering about Lewis. Thanks Mia.

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#60:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:17 pm
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Ah, that's interesting .

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#61:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:26 pm
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Fatima wrote:

I wonder who John's girl was? And now I'm really wondering about Lewis.

Yes me too!!!

Hope Geoff has supplemented his pocket money nicely with his winnings

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#62:  Author: Caty, Location: New Zealand Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 3:15 pm
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I'm so glad to see this progressing. I did miss it. The masculine atmopshere is very interesting. So very different from EBD, yet so very like her world the same time.

And, like everyone else, I'm wondering who John's girl was?

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#63:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 6:05 pm
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Hmmm, so is John's girl a real person or just an invention?

Thanks Mia.

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#64:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 11:03 am
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Intriguing, looking forward to hearing more about this girl!

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#65:  Author: Alex, Location: Cambs, UK Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 1:26 pm
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We used to play Newmarket for pennies at Christmas. Penny on the horse and a penny in the kitty. My uncle, who was blind and had an amazing memory, wasn't allowed to deal as we had Braille cards and he used to read them as he dealt.

Thanks, Mia. I'm very curious about Lewis. I can't remember though - is he married?

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#66:  Author: Ally, Location: John Bettany's Cabin! Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 9:34 am
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Thank you Mia. Good for them letting Geoff play I have a sneaking suspicion about John's woman...! and was right

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#67:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 3:11 pm
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Hmm, isn't it wonderful how Mia keeps openeing all these cans of worms?

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#68:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:57 am
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John won the hand with a certain measure of satisfaction. David merely shrugged as he pushed the winnings over to his cousin.

“So now we know there’s nothing in you hanging around with Lyndhurst, don’t we?” he said, cheerfully, returning to John’s earlier disclosure, and looking over at Rix for corroboration.

“What’s that?” Rix looked blank.

“I was saying about Jack going over to Lyndhurst’s house all the time… How it could be misconstrued.” David laughed.

“Shut up, Davy, of course it couldn’t be.” Rix frowned. “You’re talking complete rubbish, as usual.”

“What are you talking about?” John asked.

“David.” Rix cut across him. “I mean it. Shut up.”

“Oh, come on – he should know...”

“It was just rumours,” Rix said. “Leave him alone.”

“What were?” John had a feeling he didn’t want to know, but he found himself unable to leave it. “What were the rumours?”

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#69:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 11:02 am
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And aren't there rumours about Lewis, too, Mia?

Please tell us about him soon.

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#70:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 11:05 am
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Oh dear...

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#71:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 11:13 am
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Oh - has John not twigged yet?

Intrigued now!

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#72:  Author: Eilidh, Location: North Lanarkshire Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 12:44 pm
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Uh oh...

Thanks Mia. More please?

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#73:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 1:59 pm
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*Pokes David for being tactless*

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#74:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 3:52 pm
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“You said it to his face, Rix,” David said, leaning back in his chair. “Don’t you remember? That time you got plastered here and shouted at everyone. Didn’t you hear, Jack?”

“No, obviously not.” John frowned, as Rix was looking upset. “It was a fraught time for everyone.”

“When we were at St Thomas’, someone said that he wasn’t interested in women – that he was homosexual. I’m not particularly proud of my behaviour that day…”

“I think it’s true,” David said. “You look shocked, Jackie.”

“No – surprised, that’s all.” John shrugged and drummed the cards in his hand against the table. “I didn’t know.”

“It was just a rumour and we’ve never discussed it.” Rix said, just as the sound of thunder made them all start. “I’m going to check on the kids.”

“I’ll close the drawing room windows,” Maurice stood up. “And then I’ll to turn in, I’ve got an early start tomorrow. Goodnight... Don't lose all your cash, David."

David reached out and took the cards from his cousin’s hand. “I just thought you should know,” he said, sounding quite serious for once. “You’d rather I told you, right?”

“I suppose so. It doesn’t really matter,” John said, thinking of how much is did change things. “You know why I’ve been going over to see him.”

“I’d forgotten.” David said. “Still, you’ll be going back soon, won’t you?”

“Three and a half weeks,” John said, rubbing his thumb over the scar inside his wrist.

---

#75:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:06 pm
    —
The plot thickens .... thanks Mia!

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#76:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:53 pm
    —
Hmmmm, curious.

Thanks Mia.

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#77:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 6:36 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia, I think. This gets curioser and curioser.

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#78:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 8:41 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia.

I heard the words of the title of this drabble mentioned yesterday, and I immediately thought of this drabble.

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#79:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 9:10 pm
    —
*joins the intrigued*

Am also wondering about John's mystery girl...

thanks Mia

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#80:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 10:14 am
    —
*hopes there's room for another on the intrigued bench*

Thanks, Mia

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#81:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 11:19 am
    —
He was dreaming that he was back on the HMS Albion and it was rough seas, he was being shaken from side to side. Taylor had the bunk above his and he talked in his sleep, it annoyed Lewis, who was a light sleeper… John sat up and realised that he was in his bedroom at the Quadrant, and it was Geoff, not a storm, that was shaking him.

“John, wake up! You said we could go for a sail. It’s sunny, look – and it’s stopped raining. Perfect sailing weather.” Geoff said, with an expert air.

“What time is it?”

“Quarter to six – please, John? We could go now and be back for breakfast, Auntie Mollie said it’ll be at nine. We could get a good two hours.”

John sat up and rubbed his eyes, but he wasn’t displeased. They could sail around the cove and it would give him the chance to think about things. “All right,” he said. “Go and get dressed and I’ll see you downstairs.”

*

Maurice was up of course, and pulling on his Wellingtons by the back door.

“Coming to help me with the milking, Geoff?” he teased.

“We’re going sailing… Are you all right?” Geoff asked curiously. Maurice had stopped smiling and was rubbing his eyes, an almost frightened expression on his face.

“Fine – just tired, that’s all.” Maurice spoke sharply and fumbled with the handle of the kitchen door. Geoff stared after him for a few moments, puzzled, but put it from his mind and made coffee for the thermos they always took with them.

*

“Maurice yelled at me,” Geoff said, as John steered away from the Quadrant cliffs.

“Maurice did? Why?” John asked, surprised. Maurice had a well-deserved reputation for possessing the sweetest temper in the family.

“Don’t know.” Geoff shrugged and nearly lost his grasp on the line he had been told to hold. He fumbled for it, and luckily kept his grip. He looked round, embarrassed, but John had his eyes firmly fixed on Candlebury Cove in the far distance.

---

#82:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 11:20 am
    —
Thanks, Mia - but now I have lots more questions rambling round my brain!

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#83:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 11:49 am
    —
Eek, more questions and no answers! Pretty please post more soon, Mia!

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#84:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 11:53 am
    —
More to wibble about! What do you have against the Bettanys, Mia?

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#85:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 12:43 pm
    —
I think she just likes to see us clinging to the edge of our seats! Please come back and put us out of our misery soon, Mia.

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#86:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 1:19 pm
    —
Please answer some of our questions soon please Mia!
I love Geoff's enthusiasm!

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#87:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 6:21 pm
    —
Hmmm, what worried Maurice so much then?

Thanks Mia.

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#88:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 11:46 pm
    —
Oh help!

Thanks Mia

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#89:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:44 pm
    —
Jake had worked for the Bettanys for nearly ten years now and he had already started the milking with his usual quiet competence by the time Maurice arrived at the sheds. He nodded in response to Maurice’s greeting, but their conversations were habitually brief and related to the herd or farm. He was observant, however, and he noticed that Maurice looked distracted.

“Something wrong?” he asked, while they waited for the last of the herd to go through.

“No – nothing.” Maurice said, abruptly. Although the thought of the taciturn Jake gossiping about him was unimaginable, he had decided that he didn’t want to tell anyone about what was happening to him - especially as it was now occurring increasingly often. Not even his family, they had enough with their concerns over his father’s recent heart murmurs without having to deal with his own suspected health problems.

*

“Aren’t we going to the Cove?” Geoff asked. “Aren’t we going to see Dan?”

“No,” John replied. “We’ll go towards the Point, then back. I’ve got things to do this afternoon and I want to see Daph and Aunt Joey before they leave.”

“I thought he was coming out with us today.”

“No,” John steered his boat sharply to port, thinking that he had never hated David - or himself - so much as he did now.

*

A tiny figure, just visible on the shore, had been waving, but his arm dropped to his side as the boat turned, and sailed away.

Last edited by Mia on Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:19 pm; edited 1 time in total

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#90:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:47 pm
    —
Eek, what's up with poor Maurice?

More mysteries .... !

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#91:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:48 pm
    —
No! What's wrong with Maurice? Mia, please come and tell us all the details we are so longing to hear about. Please.
*offers lots of chocolate and vodka as incentive*

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#92:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 5:33 pm
    —
Oh that's sad - John's reaction to Dan I mean - was he the tiny figure too?

As for Maurice - I have my suspicions!

Thanks Mia.

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#93:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 7:46 pm
    —
Poor John

And what's wrong with Maurice?

Thanks, Mia (I think)

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#94:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:03 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I am now wibbling about what is wrong with Maurice.

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#95:  Author: MaryR, Location: Cheshire Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:27 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia.

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#96:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:58 pm
    —
*joins the wibblers*

Thank you Mia.

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#97:  Author: Tan, Location: London via Newcastle Australia Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 7:34 pm
    —
Mia ... not fair! I am now getting very worried

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#98:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 11:20 pm
    —
Mia! No fair! Come and tell us what's going on!!

(Oh, and 'spose I should say thanks too )

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#99:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:44 am
    —
“You look peaky, John,” Joey Maynard said, as they ate breakfast. “If you wanted to fly out and speak a week with us, you’d be very welcome. You’ve never seen the Platz, have you?”

“No, I haven’t.” John considered the offer – an opportunity to escape - but was saved from having to make a decision by his mother’s comments that he had only a few weeks left with them.

“I haven’t seen my boy for five years, Joey,” she said, “And who knows when he’ll be home again? You wouldn’t thank me for taking your Michael away from you!”

“No, I wouldn’t,” Jo said, her dark eyes turning serious. “I hoped I could see him while we were here, but he’s too busy.”

“It’s a hectic time,” John said, inwardly wondering why Keeler hadn’t given Mike a few hours to see his mother.

“I haven’t seen him for nearly a year,” Jo was saying, “John, you’re sure he’s not going anywhere dangerous, aren’t you?”

“We’re only going to join the Beira Patrol. You know, to enforce sanctions. The only thing Mike should have to worry about is how boring it will be.”

“Thank goodness,” Joey and Mollie both looked relieved. “I can tell Jack, can’t I?” Jo asked.

“I expect they’ll announce it within the next few days, so I don’t see why not. It’s the current plan, anyhow.”

“And you’re going too?”

John nodded.

“Oh that’s wonderful! You’ll keep an eye on him won’t you?”

“Of course,” he had planned to do that, as far as he could anyway.

Last edited by Mia on Sat Aug 19, 2006 12:20 am; edited 1 time in total

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#100:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:56 am
    —
But what about Maurice?!

Thanks Mia.

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#101:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 12:53 pm
    —
*echoes Alison*

Thanks, Mia

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#102:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 4:11 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I am still wondering what is happening about Maurice. I'm sorry that Joey didn't get a chance to see Michael.

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#103:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 4:51 pm
    —
Typical mum there - never stop worrying about your children - even when they are grown up. Hope John doesn't have to keep an eye on Mike for a specific reason.

Thanks Mia.

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#104:  Author: Phil, Location: London UK Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 6:47 pm
    —
Ooooh! Exciting stuff! Please may we have some more?

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#105:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 7:21 pm
    —
I hope Maurice confides in someone soon, otherwise his condition (whatever it may be) could get much worse...

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#106:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 2:05 am
    —
Thanks Mia.

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#107:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:38 am
    —
“Nick, are you expecting a client – name of Keeler?” Estelle Murray, newly-created partner of Garden & Murray, formerly Garden & Son, , leaned into Nick Garden’s office. Nick looked up from the deeds he was studying with a frown.

“I’m sure he hasn’t got an appointment. Ask Mrs Upton to show him in, will you?” Nick took his glasses off and cleared his desk, glancing at his watch. He hoped that this Keeler would not take too long, or he would be late for dinner with his family again.

He considered asking Estelle to take the case, but decided that it wasn’t fair, she was already overloaded. There was nothing else for it, they would have to take on more staff. Once he had time to interview, of course. He sighed.

“Sorry, I know I haven’t got an appointment. It’s decent of you to see me.” Keeler said, wryly, shaking hands.

“It’s no problem – have a seat.”

“Mind if I smoke?” Keeler sat down and produced an envelope full of documents.

Nick nodded, producing an ashtray from his desk drawer.

“I need someone to sort this out for me – I remember years ago a friend of mine said you handled all his family’s legal business, and as my wife lives in the area... It’s probably complicated. I don’t know. I’m in a bit of a mess,” Lewis Keeler had a very charming, self-deprecating smile. Nick took the envelope.

“Mr Keeler, do you want us to act for you?”

“Yes please. Do I need to sign anything saying so?” Keeler lit his cigarette.

“Let me get you the notice of our fees,” Nick studied him, covertly, being as conservative as most country solicitors he distrusted people who turned up without appointments.

“Of course. It’s Commander, by the way. Commander Keeler. Lewis.”

“I do apologise. Nicholas Garden. Do you want me to look at this?”

“Please." Lewis leaned back in his chair, trying to look unconcerned and not divulge his irritation at the whole affair.

---

#108:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:39 am
    —
What's going on? I don't trust him.

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#109:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:50 am
    —
Me neither!

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#110:  Author: Caty, Location: New Zealand Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 12:03 pm
    —
So many questions....Maurice, Mike, John, Keeler...

Come back soon, Mia, with more pleeeease.

ETA - more drabble that is, not more questions

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#111:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 12:18 pm
    —
No, I don't like him much, and I wonder what he did to John. Thanks Mia.

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#112:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 12:24 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I am also wondering what Lewis is up to.

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#113:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 1:52 pm
    —
Keeler seems like a right sleezebag, I hope he gets what he deserves soon.

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#114:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 4:48 pm
    —
Hmmmm, what is Keeler doing?????


Thanks Mia.

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#115:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 6:25 pm
    —
Have to admit I'm a bit concerned!

Thanks Mia

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#116:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 11:28 am
    —
“And your vision is blurring?” The optician asked, looking into Maurice’s eyes with his light.

“Yes.”

“Are you under stress at the moment? Are you getting a decent amount of sleep?”

“I haven’t been sleeping very well,” Maurice admitted, “I have to be up early for the farm.”

“Your vision hasn’t changed at all. I’ll give you some eye drops. Try and get some more sleep and come back in three weeks if there’s no change. I can’t see any damage. Have you seen a doctor?”

“No – I can do. Could – I had something the other day when I couldn’t see anything, just for a few seconds. It was just black…”

“How long did it last?”

“Just a few seconds, maybe five? I’ve been worrying about it.”

“I really can’t see any damage or degeneration to your eyes though… Take some rest, maybe even a holiday and come back in three weeks. If necessary I’ll refer you to the eye hospital in Exeter for tests.”

“Thanks,” Maurice was slightly reassured. He had been working long hours on the farm with his father indisposed, and staying out late with Susie. Maybe it was stress. He wouldn’t mention it to his family anyway, no need to make them worry also.

---

#117:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 11:31 am
    —
Oh no, now I really am worrying!

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#118:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 11:46 am
    —
Yikes. This is not sounding good at all.

Thanks Mia.

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#119:  Author: Caty, Location: New Zealand Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 12:03 pm
    —
Poor Maurice. And what's worse is he's got no one to talk to about it. You'd think he'd have a chat with his brother/cousins/uncles......

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#120:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 3:23 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I am still wibbling about Maurice.

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#121:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 6:56 pm
    —
No, not stress, that sounds far more ominous.


Thanks Mia.

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#122:  Author: Alex, Location: Cambs, UK Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:21 pm
    —
Hmmm, Maurice might want to mention his family history.

Remind me, please, who is Nick Garden?

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#123:  Author: Ally, Location: John Bettany's Cabin! Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 7:11 am
    —
Oh poor Maurice! *hugs him*

I wish he would talk to someone, perhaps his twin?

Thanks Mia

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#124:  Author: Caty, Location: New Zealand Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 11:40 am
    —

Alex wrote:

Hmmm, Maurice might want to mention his family history. Remind me, please, who is Nick Garden?

I think he's married to Primula

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#125:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 1:48 pm
    —
Maurice go to a doctor!

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#126:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 3:09 pm
    —
Nick = Primula's husband, EBD made him a solicitor I believe. Thanks for the comments which really are the only thing spurring me on to finish !



Nick Garden opened the envelope with some trepidation. In his professional experience, clients who were nervy and said they were in trouble tended to be mixed up in criminal activity. It was almost a relief when it turned out to be a number of routine letters from a solicitors’ firm in Salisbury informing Keeler that they would be sending him a petition for divorce.

“Was it unexpected?” he asked.

“Not really, I’ve been at sea for most of our marriage. We don’t have children. I just want it to be sorted out as quickly as possible.”

“Your wife will need to give grounds."

Keeler shrugged. “I don’t really care what she says. I just want it to be over and done with. My only concern is how I stop her bankrupting me.”

“It depends.” Nick was scribbling notes as they talked. “You might reduce the award if you contest what your wife says. Will you counter-petition? I suppose it will depend on what grounds your wife will use - desertion, cruelty, infidelity... Do you have any idea what it would be?”

“What do you mean?” Keeler looked worried.

Nick gave him a quick summary of the divorce laws and asked how long the Keelers had been married.

“Eight years in June.”

“What reason do you think she will give?” Nick asked.

“I don’t know – probably everything you said.”

“Everything?” Nick was rather surprised. “I don’t expect so. She’ll have to give examples in court.”

“Believe me, Mr Garden, she’ll be looking forward to her chance to tell everyone what a failure of a husband I was.” Keeler laughed, humourlessly.

“Have you moved out of the family home?”

“I’ve been staying with a pal in London, but I’m mostly based in Portsmouth at the moment. We have a house in Wiltshire, where my wife lives. I haven’t spoken to her since June or July. Christ, it’s just such a mess, isn’t it?”

Nick agreed, politely sympathetic and privately thankful that his own marriage was happy. He resolved to leave the office on time that evening after all.

Last edited by Mia on Thu Aug 24, 2006 3:57 pm; edited 1 time in total

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#127:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 3:43 pm
    —
Intrigued to know what grounds his wife's going to give!

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#128:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 4:59 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I am also wondering what his wife will have to say.

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#129:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 5:51 pm
    —
Could his wife cite unreasonable behaviour? Due to his sexuality?

Bet Keller doesn't know that Nick Gordon is related to John. - Well, sort of related.

Thanks Mia.

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#130:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 6:29 pm
    —

Lesley wrote:

Could his wife cite unreasonable behaviour? Due to his sexuality? Bet Keller doesn't know that Nick Gordon is related to John. - Well, sort of related. Thanks Mia.

Oooh you're jumping the gun...

Sadly not, I've done some rare research - divorce laws pre the 1969 Divorce Act and it wasn't an option!

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#131:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 12:40 am
    —
Maybe I'm hopeless, but now I'm feeling an insy bit sorry for him. Won't be at all suprised if I'm proved wrong though.

Pleeeeeeeeaaase finish this Mia!

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#132:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 10:16 am
    —
I'm another whose wondering what grounds Keelers wife will use.
Thanks Mia!

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#133:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 4:51 pm
    —
Maurice go to a doctor!

Nick - be careful!

Thank you, Mia.

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#134:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2006 2:49 pm
    —
Wibbling over everything now.

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#135:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2006 4:29 pm
    —
“Can I come to the party?” Geoff asked Maeve, curiously. She had tipped him splendidly for going back to school, nearly a month’s pocket money. He fingered the note in his pocket, wondering what he should buy with it.

“You may – for the first few hours, anyway,” she smiled. “Don’t tell Lucy or Annabelle though – or the triplets.”

“I’m years older than them,” Geoff pointed out, but he was pleased. “I can take people’s coats if you like.”

“Freddie couldn’t been seen to use child labour,” she laughed. “You can have champagne with us in the Orangery instead. Much more fun. Now, where is everybody?”

“Auntie Mollie an’ Uncle Dick have gone into Bideford with Rix. Maurice is with the cows and John’s upstairs, I think.”

“It’s so quiet with Daphne gone,” Maeve mused.

“I’m going to school next week.” Geoff sighed. “Daphne was mad at missing the party, but Mamma wanted to get back before term started at the Chalet School to see to Phil an’ Cecil.”

“I see. Did you say John’s upstairs?” Maeve got to her feet, awkwardly. Her stomach was on the large side now. Geoff stared in fascination.

“He’s packing, he said, then we might go out sailing. I love sailing.”

“Don’t tell me you’ll join the Navy too,” Maeve teased.

“No, I’m going to be an astronaut,” Geoff said.

“Hi Maeve,” John came in to the drawing room and kissed her. “I thought I heard your voice.”

“I’ve just come over to remind you all about the party on Friday,” Maeve walked over to the piano and studied the framed photographs that their mother had arranged on it. “David said he can make it, and so can the twins. I haven’t seen them for an age. And I’ve got a very special guest that you may remember. She’s a surprise.”

“That’s nice,” John helped himself to tea. “David’s only just left,” he observed.

“Have you ever known David to pass up a party? And Primula and Nick are coming.. who else, Con and Frank… all of you lot.. Do you want to invite anyone, by the way? Maurice is bringing Susie.”

“No, thanks. What’s the occasion, anyway?”

“Oh, Freddie’s trying to takeover somewhere. It’s to charm the stockholders really, but it won’t all be business, I’m sure.”

“Is Dan coming?” Geoff asked.

“I don’t think so, I rather think he’s in London this weekend. He’s being a hermit at the moment. John, will you tell Mummy I’ll telephone her this evening, please?”

“Of course,”

“Ta muchly. When do you go back, by the way?”

“Two weeks on Saturday, should give me enough time to recover after your extravaganza.” John returned her smile with a faint one of his own.

“I’m going to school on Monday,” Geoff said, dispiritedly.
“Well, astronauts need to work hard,” Maeve said, kissing them both goodbye.

---

#136:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2006 4:31 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I wonder who the surprise guest is.

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#137:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2006 5:17 pm
    —
Geoff's lovely in this!

Thanks Mia.

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#138:  Author: claireM, Location: rotherham Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2006 5:50 pm
    —
Really enjoying this, Thanks Mia.

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#139:  Author: Changnoi, Location: Milwaukee, USA Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 12:44 am
    —
I just read the entire Start of Summer and this and now I want more!

I want some answers here!

Also--isn't there one that you wrote about Rix and David during their medical training? What is it called?

Love! Procrastination!

Chang

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#140:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 1:05 pm
    —

Changnoi wrote:

Also--isn't there one that you wrote about Rix and David during their medical training? What is it called?

Chang, it's More and Less than Daylight

Thanks Mia, although I've till got loads of questions I'd like answers to - any chance I can bribe you?

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#141:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:42 pm
    —
The doorbell rang again, Maurice cursed as he fumbled his way to the front door of the Quadrant, that nobody ever used. He was alone in the house, even Cook and Loveday were out.

This week he had lost hope that it was was something minor, perhaps a migraine or side-effect of getting too little sleep. The first time it had happened had been three weeks ago, when his sight had blurred and disappeared for a few seconds, momentarily worrying but he had soon forgotten about it. When he thought of it later, he put it down to stress. Last week it had happened twice, the first necessitating the visit to the optician; and the telephone call to book an appointment with the doctor next week; and this was the worst yet.

This was different; it was terrifying. He wrenched the front door open finally, hoping it wasn’t anyone he was expected to know.

“Can I help you?” he asked.

There was a brief, offended silence. Susie, he thought, biting his lip.

“That’s nice,” David huffed from the doorstep. “Sorry to bother you, I must say. Had you forgotten I was coming to Maeve’s party?”

“Sorry.” Maurice stepped back into the umbrella stand, knocking it over.

“What are you doing?” David demanded, irritably. “Here, take this bloody thing, won’t you, and he bundled clothing into Maurice’s arms. “It’s my spare, for John – he’ll need to try it on, I expect. Where is everyone?”

“I – I don’t know.”

“Have you just woken up? You seem disorientated – are you all right?”

Mercifully Maurice felt his sight return. He blinked a few times, then managed to focus on his cousin, who looked concerned.

“Got a bit of a headache.”
“I’ve got some aspirin in my bag. Are you giving tonight a miss?”

“No, I’ll come,” he didn’t want to, but Susie was desperate to attend one of Freddie Brentford’s glittering parties. She had read about her boyfriend’s affluent brother-in-law on the society pages many times. It would disappoint her if they didn’t attend, much as he longed to spend the evening at home in front of the fire just talking. Susie scorned the quiet life.

“You look a bit pale, old man,” David was contrite. “Take these and I’ll go and sort out some tea. Are we meeting everyone at the party?”

“No,” Maurice remembered the arrangements. “Loveday’s got the afternoon off so she can stay here with the triplets tonight. John and Geoff have gone out in the boat and the kids are with them. Mum and Dad have gone to Bideford to collect Mum’s new dress – she was having it altered, so Rix drove them. He’s coming back here tonight, but everyone else is going to stay at Brentford Hall.”

“Well, it’s big enough. Rix coming back for the kids, I presume? You know – I’ve been meaning to ask, is everything OK with him and Mary-Lou?”

“What do you mean? She’s finishing her thesis. Rix said it’s due in this week. They’re
going to Switzerland after that to see Aunt Joey, I think. I don’t think anything’s wrong.”

“Fair enough.” David had lost interest.

“Anyway, Susie’s coming over in an hour or so, and we’ll all leave at half past seven and go in two cars.”

“Right-o. I might wander down to the cove and see where the others are.” David said, cheerfully.

“David, can I talk to you tomorrow? After the party I mean. Just about – well, medical stuff…”

“Course you can. Remind me tomorrow.” David clapped him on the shoulder. “No problem at all.”

---

#142:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:51 pm
    —
Let's hope David can be some help.

---

#143:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:53 pm
    —
“Goodnight, girls,” Freddie had read them a story, heard their prayers and said goodnight to a menagerie of stuffed animals, now he kissed his daughters and bade them to go to sleep.

“What’s Mummy wearing?” Lucy asked, excitedly.

“I don’t know, darling. Time to go to sleep, now.”

“She was wearing a dressing gown when she came in to say goodnight,” Annabelle said, sleepily.

“Yes, lie down now, close your eyes. We’ll see you in the morning. OK, give me another kiss.”

They clung to him and he returned their embraces; nothing brought him as much pleasure as his two beautiful daughters, his adored wife and the baby she was carrying, so nearly due.

He thought of his own mother coming in to say goodnight, the scent of her perfume, the brief kiss on his cheek, before she had gone downstairs for a party here. He had been about Lucy’s age. He had crept onto the landing to watch the guests arrive. It had been so exciting.

“God bless,” he said, turning out the light and going to find his wife.

---

#144:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:59 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I hope that Maurice will confide in David. It was lovely to see Freddie with his daughters.

---

#145:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:04 pm
    —
I'm really wibbling about Maurice, especially after what happened to Peggy .

---

#146:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:17 pm
    —
Poor Maurice - have an awful feeling I know what's wrong with him - hope I'm wrong.

Thanks Mia.

---

#147:  Author: Sarah_L, Location: Leeds Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:23 pm
    —
What did happen to Peggy? I know she died, but I haven't read the earlier installments yet.

---

#148:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 11:19 pm
    —
Thanks Mia. Poor Maurice.

---

#149:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 8:23 am
    —
*wibbles about Maurice*

Mia wrote:

and the baby she was carrying, so nearly due.

How nearly due?

Thanks, Mia

---

#150:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 8:50 am
    —

LizB wrote:

*wibbles about Maurice* Mia wrote: and the baby she was carrying, so nearly due. How nearly due? Thanks, Mia

Two months or so ?

---

#151:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 10:16 am
    —
Gah! Thought that was an update!

Thanks though

---

#152:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 12:56 pm
    —
I hope there's nothing too seriously wrong with Maurice.
Thanks Mia.

---

#153:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 7:47 pm
    —
I'm seriously worried about Maurice, and somehow I think that Susie won't be much help in a crisis.

---

#154:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 1:56 pm
    —
Geoff was thrilled, his name had been announced to the room and he had even had champagne. He made careful mental notes to relate to the boys in his dormitory. And Freddie had given him some money to take back to school as well. There was dancing and some people were sitting or standing around in small, laughing groups. Geoff took it all in. He would describe it all in his next letter to Phil.

He heard voices behind him, slightly discordant with the gentle hum of conversation and turned around, Maurice was talking with his blonde girlfriend. Geoff studied her covertly, unsure if he liked her or not. He had sat next to her on the car journey and found her conversation very dull, but then she had only talked of herself and her clothes and her make-up.

---

#155:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 4:46 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia.

---

#156:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 5:49 pm
    —
Glad Geoff is having a lovely time. Susie sounds like she'd be a farmer's wife along the lines of Aunt Rose in Six Cousins!

Thanks, Mia

---

#157:  Author: Caty, Location: New Zealand Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:38 am
    —
Thanks Mia
I'm worried about Maurice
I'm worried about John
I'm worried about Rix & Mary-Lou (who we haven't heard a peep from in a long time) & pleasantly surprised at David for voicing my concerns!
Please come back soon with some good news.

---

#158:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:10 pm
    —
*echoes Caty*

Geoff is brilliant. Thank you Mia

---

#159:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:49 pm
    —
*G* at Geoff.

Thanks Mia.

---

#160:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 10:29 am
    —
Geoff seems very perceptive regarding Susie!

---

#161:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 4:19 pm
    —
His tooth had been hurting off and on for over a week, but John had ignored it. Now it was agonising and he couldn’t sleep. He looked at the luminous dial on his watch, it was coming up to the last hour of Middle Watch.

John turned over carefully, and tried to sleep, but the pain was too much and the motion of the ship wasn’t helping. Neither was the frigid temperature of the cabin, nor Taylor, who was muttering in his sleep, and one or two others were snoring loudly and he suddenly felt very alone. He stifled a sob, he couldn’t cry in the cabin, no matter how ill or homesick he felt, but he was still only seventeen and it was hard feeling so insignificant on the huge destroyer, in the middle of an enormous ocean and so far from home.

The hand on his shoulder made him start, which jarred his tooth and he had to smoother a cry.

“Ssh, you’ll wake them. What’s wrong?” Lewis had been sleeping in an odd assortment of clothes, just to keep warm. His breath made smoke in the cabin’s cold air. “Are you ill?”

“Toothache,” John said, sitting up.

“Why didn’t you wake me? Here, come next door before they all wake up. Bring that blanket, it’s bloody freezing.”

John sat at the mess table, as Lewis tried to light the small and extremely temperamental gas-fire, before giving up in disgust.

“You look terrible… want me to get Egerton?” Lewis named the Surgeon-Commander, widely reputed to be a terrifying and unsympathetic personage.

“I don’t know what he can do about it.” It hurt to speak.

“If it’s as bad as all that, he’ll pull it. Let’s have a look at it. Hey, you’re really shivering. I’m going to fetch someone.”

“It’s nothing. I’m just cold in here.”

“I didn’t think you’d funk the dentist, Jack.” Lewis laughed, but continued, sympathetically. “It’s better to get it seen to, surely, than just put up with it? Is it one of the back ones? If you don’t want to see the Surgeon-Commander, I could try and pull it…”

“No, I’ll see him. Won’t he be asleep?”

“There’ll be someone down there, I’m sure. You’d better get dressed.”

“Lewis…?”

“Mmm?” Keeler was tying his bootlaces.

“Have I annoyed you or something? It’s just that – well, we are still friends aren’t we?” Could I sound any more pathetic, John thought, unhappily. But it needed to be said, their trip to Tangiers they had planned hadn’t come off and with Keeler’s new sub-Lieutenant duties, their one-time friendship had lessened considerably. He had been noticeably cooler when their paths crossed during the day, but now he was entirely his old, friendly self. John was confused.

“You haven’t annoyed me. Don’t go on about it, of course we’re friends.” Lewis frowned and stood up straight. “Come on – we’d better get you to the dentist.”

---

#162:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 4:23 pm
    —
Poor John, he's so young. And Lewis was nice there. Please tell us what went wrong in their friendship, Mia!

---

#163:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 4:28 pm
    —
Poor John - obviously got the family fear of the dentist! I hope at least the toothache is soon sorted out. Not sure what's up with Keeler though

Thanks, Mia

---

#164:  Author: Changnoi, Location: Milwaukee, USA Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 4:29 pm
    —
I hadn't realized he was only seventeen. Poor kid . Makes me want to beat the crap out of Keeler.

Chang

---

#165:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 4:46 pm
    —
Poor John. Toothache can really make you feel terrible.

Thans Mia.

---

#166:  Author: Caroline, Location: Manchester Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:43 pm
    —
Poor, poor John. I can imagine how he felt when Keeler married - and Keeler himself, although obviously a swine, must be very unhappy, deep down.

Mia, I'm still loving finding out about John's life - not to mention more about Maurice, Rix, Dan, Geoff....! You've created such a real universe here.

Can we see Dan again soon, please? I really want all these damaged souls to be happy....

Caroline.

---

#167:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:09 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I hope that things won't go too badly at the dentist.

---

#168:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:50 pm
    —
I can't work out if Keeler's been staying away from John because of his promotion or because he's worried about getting too close to him . Poor John - I'd also not thought about how young he'd've been .

---

#169:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 10:20 pm
    —
Awwww poor ickle John.

*huggles John*

Thank you Mia

---

#170:  Author: Ally, Location: John Bettany's Cabin! Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:40 am
    —
*snuggles John* I hope he feels better soon!

Thank you Mia oh fine and wonderful twin

---

#171:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 7:42 pm
    —
Poor John, all of the clan seem to have a fear of the dentist don't they!

---

#172:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 9:07 am
    —
*has huge sympathy for John* Poor lad.

Thanks Mia. Fab as ever.

---

#173:  Author: Eilidh, Location: North Lanarkshire Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 2:01 pm
    —
Thanks Mia - just had a lovely catch up. Wibbling about everyone (just about) and looking forward to more.

---

#174:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:57 am
    —
Thanks for the comments.


John left his parents and after a few words with his brother-in-law, joined Geoff for a while.

“Having a good time?” he enquired with a smile.

“Rather. It’s smashing, isn’t it? Are you leaving?”

“Well, I’ll stay another half-hour. I might go back to the Quadrant, mind the kids so Rix can stay.”

“Aren’t you waiting so we can see the surprise guest?”

“I suppose so.” John had forgotten.

“Oh ‘scuse me,” Geoff darted away. John smiled and went to ask Maurice’s girlfriend, who looked very uncomfortable, if she would like to dance.

"You dance really well," she said, surprised. He smiled, knowing that she was comparing him with Maurice, who avoided dancing wherever possible.

"They made us learn at Dartmouth," he explained. "For all those officers' balls I now try and avoid."

"Do you? I hadn’t realised it would be this grand,” she confessed, as he led her around the room. “My dress…”

“You look lovely,” John said politely. She didn’t look much different to the other ladies in the room, but it was clear she was ill at ease, and Maurice wasn’t reassuring her.

She seemed pleased by his compliment. He answered her questions about the Navy as well as he could and delivered her back to his brother. On his way back to join his parents, he noticed to whom Geoff was speaking and froze.

“I didn’t hear the man say your name,” Geoff was speaking and his clear tones carried.

“The toastmaster? Oh no, I came in the back way. There’s some people here I’d rather avoid,” Daniel laughed, his handsome face lighting up.

---

#175:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 11:07 am
    —
Why should John freeze because he sees Daniel talking to Geoff - does it bring up strrong memories of himself when he was young?


Thanks Mia.

---

#176:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 11:16 am
    —
*now with even more questions than ever*

Thanks, Mia

---

#177:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 11:42 am
    —
Also got lots of questions!

---

#178:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 1:44 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I am also wondering why John froze.

---

#179:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:06 pm
    —
Mia, Mia, Mia, what are we to do with you?

You'd better answer someof these questions soon!!!

---

#180:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:39 pm
    —

Chair wrote:

I am also wondering why John froze.

I think he just didn't expect to see him - sorry, am as unclear as ever. Sorry for teenyness of update, v busy today!

“Who?” Geoff asked, but Daniel just shook his head.

“When do you go back to school, then?” he asked, changing the subject. John saw him carry out a quick scan of the room while Geoff chattered on. He wondered if it were he that Daniel wanted to avoid. He rather suspected so. It had been ill-mannered of him to invite Daniel to go out in the boat and then not turn up, and since that day, avoid him, but he felt awkward now and it was easier not to go over and make conversation. He turned and headed out into the gardens for some fresh air.

---

#181:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:55 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I wonder if John will speak to Daniel.

---

#182:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 3:06 pm
    —
John does owe Daniel an apology, doesn't he?


Thanks Mia.

---

#183:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 7:20 pm
    —
Hopefully John and Daniel will be able to have a little chat in the garden and sort some things out...

---

#184:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 10:28 pm
    —
*hoping there's nothing nasty lurking in the darkness*

Thanks, Mia

---

#185:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:51 pm
    —
Thanks Mia

*echoes Liz's thought*

---

#186:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:03 am
    —
Sorry this isn't coming along very well, all my bunnies have run away I think!


He sat on a bench and lit a cigarette, loosening his tie. The night was mild, but with an autumnal chill in the air, the end of summer. Not the best summer he’d ever had, and with the prospect of a difficult deployment ahead, but he felt better than when he had first arrived. He sighed and leaned back, closing his eyes, trying not to worry about things that were beyond his power to change.

“John? Oh, no, he’s still here.” The words floated over to him, the speaker – David – clearly hadn’t realised he was there. “He’s around somewhere – with Maurice and his girl, I think.”

“I wasn’t sure if he’d left already.” Daniel replied.

“No. Is he all right, do you know?”

“Oh, fine. Did you see the minutes of the last committee meeting? I expect it’ll raise some hackles. I rather thought Freddie would invite Jennings here this evening and I couldn’t bear to go over it all now.”
Daniel changed the subject, adroitly, obviously to a meeting they had attended.

David was interested and spoke at length about their mutual acquaintance, it was clear that neither of them thought much of him. John decided to go over and speak to them, apologise to Daniel and then go back to the Quadrant.

---

#187:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:07 am
    —
*Sends bunny treats!*

---

#188:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:14 am
    —
Nice to see more


*Entices bunnies down from the top of the wardrobe.*

Thanks Mia.

---

#189:  Author: Ally, Location: John Bettany's Cabin! Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:14 am
    —
Yes go and talk to Dan, John!

*adds to the pile of bunny treats* Thank you Mia

yours, affectionately an excited twinnie

---

#190:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:15 am
    —
Thanks Mia.

*doesn't think they'll let him go that easily*

---

#191:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 12:37 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I hope your bunnies come back.

---

#192:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 2:24 pm
    —
Go on John!

*sends bunny treats*

Thanks, Mia

---

#193:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:24 pm
    —
*Sends lots of bunny food in Mia's direction*

---

#194:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 1:42 pm
    —
“Hello,” He joined them, self-consciously.

“Hello, we wondered where you’d gone. Smashing party, isn’t it? I saw you dancing with Susie.”

“Yes.” John couldn’t think of anything to say.

“When do you go?” Daniel asked, politely but rather distantly, John thought.

“The end of next week.”

“You might look more cheerful about it,” David remarked.

“I’m not looking forward to it.” John said, a mistake, as they both looked at each other, then at him with concern. “Well, that is, it’s going to be a bore. And open-ended operations are not very good for morale,” he hastily added, aware that he was talking rubbish, or sounding very pompous, or both.

“I wouldn’t imagine they are,” Daniel said, looking away, John glanced at him, was he laughing? His cheeks flamed. David yawned.

“I’m going to see if Maeve’s brought out her friend, yet. See you later, Lyndhurst. And you too, Jackie.”

“See you next week,” Daniel said.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been round,” John said, stuffing his hands into his pockets. There was a bitter chill in the air, which seemed to match the atmosphere. “I haven’t really had much time…”

“I’ve been in London. I left you a note with Mrs Collins. It was urgent, otherwise I would have stayed.” Daniel said, in much friendlier tones. “I should have written to the Quadrant, you must think me rude.”

“No,” John said, relaxing slightly.

“Why do they call you Jackie? Is it a nickname?”

“Not any more, they called me that when I was small. I hate it.”

“It’s not so bad.”

“I should go back – I don’t want to stay too late.”

“Me neither. I’ll give you a lift – it’s on the way after all. I suppose we should wait to see this guest of honour.” Daniel smiled.

---

#195:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 1:48 pm
    —
Yay, they're talking

Thanks, Mia

---

#196:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 1:56 pm
    —
See that wasn't so bad now was it John!

---

#197:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 2:18 pm
    —
Freddie Brentford was giving a speech. John took the flute of champagne that the waitress offered and leaned against the wall to listen. It was about his new company and how he welcomed the shareholders but John wasn’t very interested, so he allowed his attention to wander. He could see Maeve talking to a blonde girl who without being pretty, was nevertheless attractive, and on the other side of her was his sister-in-law, who was laughing with her husband’s arm around her.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” Rix whispered.

“Ssh,” Mary-Lou hissed, but she was smiling. “It was a surprise. I’ve missed you, you know. You haven’t said hello to Emmy yet.”

“Hello,” Rix held out his hand, but he couldn’t place the girl, who appeared about the same age as his wife.

“Emerence Hope,” she said, with a smile. “I was at school with Mary-Lou and Maeve.”

---

#198:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 2:43 pm
    —
A nice mini-reunion

Thanks, Mia

---

#199:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 3:02 pm
    —
“John, you remember Emerence, don’t you, she’s Margot’s best friend.” Maeve brought her guest of honour over to them.

“Of course, hello.” John had a vague recollection of the Australian girl.

“And this is my husband’s cousin, Dr Lyndhurst. Daniel, this is Emerence Hope, she was at school with me.”

“How do you do.”

“Emmy will be working with Freddie on something exciting to do with the business.” Maeve added.

“Oh, hush darling, that’s not exactly common knowledge just yet.” Freddie ruffled his wife’s elegantly arranged hair, much to her fury. “But yes, it is rather exciting. Dan, you’ll have to know, I suppose. We’ll have a chat later.”

“I can’t stay, I’m afraid, I’ve an early start tomorrow, but yes, give me a ring. I’m at Candlebury for a while longer.”

---

#200:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 3:28 pm
    —
It's so nice to see Emmy again! Thanks Mia.

---

#201:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 5:14 pm
    —
Yay, 3 updates in one day . Interesting to see Emerence turn up.

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#202:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 7:00 pm
    —
Nice to see Mary Lou again - and Emerence.



Thanks Mia.

---

#203:  Author: Ally, Location: John Bettany's Cabin! Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 7:04 am
    —
Ooh Emmy *wonders what Mia has planned for her*

Hurrah John and Dan are another teeny step closer to talking, thank you!

---

#204:  Author: Alice, Location: London, England Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 7:25 am
    —
Three updates make me want more updates...

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#205:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 12:41 pm
    —

Alice wrote:

Three updates make me want more updates...

Me too *looks pleadingly at Mia*

---

#206:  Author: Sarah_G-G, Location: Sheffield (termtime), ? any other time! Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 12:42 pm
    —
Yay! I've just caught up on about a month of this as I've had no internet access for ages and I still love all the characters. Thank you for writing!

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#207:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 5:35 pm
    —
Thanks Mia. Good to see Emerence put in an appearance.

---

#208:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 5:51 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. It's nice to see Emmy.

---

#209:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 7:27 pm
    —
Ohhh what contribution of intrigue and scandal will Emmy over to this drabble?
Can't wait to find out!

---

#210:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 2:25 pm
    —
“I thought I might go back to the Quadrant, you can have my room here.” John said to Rix and Mary-Lou. “I can baby sit the kids till you come back tomorrow.”

“Are you sure?”

“I wouldn’t offer if I wasn’t.” John smiled.

“It would be nice to stay for a while,” Mary-Lou said, as her husband put an arm around her shoulders. “If you’re sure you don’t mind. We will be back early tomorrow, I want to see the boys.”

“Thanks, Jack.” Rix looked pleased.

“Do you still want that lift?” Daniel asked. “I’m probably going in half-an-hour.”

“That’s very kind of you.”

“No problem.” Daniel smiled.

“Dan – I didn’t think you’d be here.” A man of about Maurice’s age joined them. He was biting his lip. “Can we talk?”

“Excuse me, please,” Daniel did not seem happy, the glance he gave his acquaintance was almost hostile. John left them and decided to have another flute of champagne, as he would not now have to drive. He crossed the room to talk with David, Emerence and Maeve, who was talking about the children, but he watched Daniel talking to the stranger and wondered if it was the man from the committee. He rather thought not.

---

#211:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 4:29 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I wonder whom the stranger is.

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#212:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 4:35 pm
    —
Who is the mysterious stranger?

Thanks, Mia

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#213:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 4:54 pm
    —
Daniel didn't seem too happy to see him, did he?


Thanks Mia.

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#214:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 9:15 pm
    —
*Intrigued*

Thanks Mia.

---

#215:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 11:33 pm
    —
Curiouser and curiouser!
Thank you Mia

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#216:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 1:22 pm
    —
Thanks for the comments, sorry I know this is a bit slow..


“Your parents have invited me to stay at the Quadrant, it’s very kind of them,” Emerence said, after a few minutes of general conversation with him and Maeve. “I’m going to be in England for about six weeks. I expected to have to put up in a hotel.”

“No, we wouldn’t let you do that,” John smiled, knowing that his mother would love to have Emerence stay with them and it would distract her from Daphne being in Switzerland and him in Africa. “Maeve – do you know who that is?”

“Who? Oh, I can’t remember his name – I think he’s friends with Daniel. He works for Freddie.” Maeve frowned. “I don’t know. Should I go and rescue Daniel, do you think? Gosh – do you think he’s ill?”

“I’d say drunk,” Emerence said, as they watched the young man, unsteady on his feet, grip Daniel’s arm to get his point across. “Oh dear.”

“Maybe I should show him out,” John saw that Daniel was trying to disentangle himself without causing even more than a scene.”

“Yes – go and help, will you? I think he does work for Freddie, don’t let him see, or he’ll be furious… Don’t let the shareholders see, will you?”

“No, don’t worry,” John left them and went over. “Need a hand?” he asked, calmly.

“It’s fine. We’re just going outside for some fresh air, aren’t we, Charles?” Daniel looked grim. “Come on, we can talk in the garden.” He looked at John and the two of them managed to manoeuvre Charles out of the room without anyone seeing.

“I’ll leave you to it…” John said, as Daniel thanked him, abstractedly.

“He works in Freddie’s office,” Maeve said, she had been waiting for him by the doors, which were all flung open despite the autumnal chill. She shivered and her brother hastened her inside. “Is he all right?”

“He’s being ill… I’m sure it’s fine. I’ve been to hundreds of parties where this sort of thing happens, people just have too much to drink. Cheer up. I meant to ask if Primula was coming tonight?”

“No, Robert’s got a cold and she wanted to stay with him. He’s not very strong, you know.” Maeve was distracted, as he had intended for her to be.

“I’ll have to see them before I sail. Would you like a drink?” He delivered her back to Maurice and went to collect some more champagne, checking his watch and wondering if they would be leaving in half-an-hour after all. Daniel was still outside, but he could always borrow David’s car.

---

#217:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 2:31 pm
    —

Mia wrote:

Daniel was still outside, but he could always borrow David’s car.

Careful with that champagne then, John *wibbles*

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#218:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 4:03 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I hope we will see more of Emerence.

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#219:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 5:51 pm
    —
Hmmm, yes if he's going to drive definitely be careful.

Where is John going with the Navy?

Thanks Mia.

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#220:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 11:49 am
    —
Don't let John drink and drive Mia!

Thanks for all the updates!

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#221:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 7:12 pm
    —
Thanks to those who have commented. This is getting quite difficult to continue so extra thanks for the encouragement. Lesley, John is going to Rhodesia (this is set 1967)


However, once he had made his farewells and headed outside, David’s car keys in his hand, he found Daniel waiting for him.

“I asked my driver to take Charles home, I thought it was best,” he said, apologetically, but John nodded.

“Loveday, our maid, is staying to look after the triplets, but only until midnight. I can drop you on the way,” he said.

“Thank you,” Daniel got into the car and as John, cautious at the speed that David’s car could reach, turned somewhat experimentally down the drive, he started to speak.

“I do apologise. He’s young and had far too much to drink. Thanks for helping me get him out of there before my cousin saw.”

“Fred? What would he do?”

“Oh, nothing, but it would just be awkward. And Charlie does work for him.”

“I won’t have time to say anything to your cousin, I’m off at the end of next week to look over my ship, then we sail mid-October. Besides, it’s none of my business, is it?”

“I suppose not, but I thought I owed you some kind of explanation.” John had built up his speed on the road and Daniel had to yell over the wind. “Look,” he said, clearly exasperated, “Pull over, won’t you? This is ridiculous.” And when John obliged, turning round to protest that they would be late; Daniel scowled fiercely and told him that they would not be going anywhere until they had talked properly.

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#222:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 7:39 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I hope they will arrive back safely.

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#223:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 9:34 pm
    —
Good for Daniel - maybe after the talk he should consider taking the keys from John?


Thanks Mia.

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#224:  Author: dackel, Location: The Big Wide World (aka London) Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 12:12 pm
    —
Could they please have a proper talk? Please? Not one of those men talks that go: A: "how are you?" B: "fine"!!!

Only everytime I read a new post, I end up saying to myself; "but we STILL don't know..." which most frustrating, though in a good way!

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#225:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 2:37 pm
    —
Finally! Now hope they sort it out.

Thanks Mia.

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#226:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 7:11 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I do hope they get things sorted out soon.

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#227:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 8:21 pm
    —
Thanks Mia - just caught up on all this!

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#228:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 11:38 am
    —
Here goes... *meeps a bit*

John left the engine running, feeling a touch apprehensive.

“Is he your lover?” he heard himself ask, although he hadn’t intended to be so blunt. “David and Rix said…”

He stopped when Daniel leaned over and turned the engine off, then for some moments sat very still. An owl hooted from somewhere, across Exmoor, breaking the silence.

“No,” Daniel said, sharply. “He’s a mixed-up child who doesn’t know what he wants. I’m certainly not about to take advantage of anyone.”

“No, of course not, but, you are…”

“What did your brother and David Russell say?”

John told him, “I hadn’t realised,” he added.

“Is this why you’ve been avoiding me?”

“I really should get back to the Quadrant.” John didn’t want to answer that; his own feelings were too confused to articulate. He hadn’t for a second imagined that David had been right. It’s just too confusing…

“What is?” Daniel asked, and John realised that he had spoken aloud.

“I’m sorry, I was avoiding you. It was because – do you remember when we were at the Admiralty and you said that people only try suicide because of debts or – or the end of a relationship, and I said I didn’t have any debts?”

“I remember,” Daniel said, briefly.

“And I didn’t really have a relationship, either. Not since years ago anyway, and that wasn’t anything real. It was…”

“Unrequited?”

“No, it just didn’t matter to him.”

“Will you tell this to Toby Forrest before you go back? It will help, you know.”

“I’m telling you.”

“I’m not your doctor. I can’t be.”

“I’m not telling you as my doctor.” John’s knuckles were white, he was gripping the steering wheel.

---

#229:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 11:42 am
    —
Well done John, now how will Daniel react...

Thank you Mia.

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#230:  Author: Ally, Location: John Bettany's Cabin! Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 11:46 am
    —
Well done John for being so brave! (and Mia too!) *crosses fingers about Dan's reaction*

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#231:  Author: Caroline, Location: Manchester Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 12:19 pm
    —
Well done, John - and Mia. At last - the big secret is out - to Daniel, anyway.

Mia, I do love your stories. Thank you for writing this.

Caroline.

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#232:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:05 pm
    —
Glad he's told him at last.

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#233:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 5:28 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I wonder how Daniel will react.

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#234:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 5:29 pm
    —
Finally - a big step.


Thanks Mia.

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#235:  Author: Caty, Location: New Zealand Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:00 pm
    —
Thanks Mia.

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#236:  Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:32 pm
    —
Oh John *wants to hug him* Now lets see Daniel be sensible please *nods*

I've been on this board far too long to quite trust Mia to give us a proper working out of things between the boys just yet but I can still hope...

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#237:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 10:54 pm
    —
Oh how brave of John, to take that step.

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#238:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 11:12 am
    —
Glad he's finallly told Daniel!

Thanks Mia.

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#239:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 3:18 pm
    —
Daniel reached out and covered his hand with his, “Come back to my house,” he said, quietly.

“I can’t. I have to get back to the Quadrant. The triplets…”

“Of course.”

“They’ll be asleep – it’ll just be me. Would you come? We could – talk.”

“So we could,” Daniel grinned. “You look scared half to death, though.”

John managed a laugh. “It’s been a while since I’ve done anything like this.”

“I’d be glad to come to the Quadrant.” Daniel changed the subject. “What time is the family home tomorrow morning?”

“Mary-Lou said early… nine or so? The kids wake up at the crack of dawn though. I know Maurice is leaving the milking to Jake.”

“Well, then…” Daniel reached over to look at John’s watch. “It’s quarter to. We should go.” He moved his hand up John’s arm and drew him closer, “In a minute or two.”

*

“You scared me!” Loveday said, breathlessly and accusingly, as John opened the unlocked kitchen door. “I didn’t hear you…”

“Sorry, Loveday… How are you getting home?”

“I didn’t know you were so keen to be rid of me,” Loveday huffed, but she was already pulling on her coat. “Ben’s collecting me, he’s just gone to bring the car round. Come in before you freeze to death. Oh, I’m sorry, Dr Lyndhurst, I didn’t see you there.”

“You and Cookie aren’t here tomorrow, are you?” John asked, as Loveday searched for her handbag.

“No, lovey, Cook’s not back till Tuesday now. Will you be able to get breakfast for yourself and the little ones?”

“Oh, I’ll manage. Thanks, Loveday, see you soon.” John shut the kitchen door after her, and locked it, then put David’s car keys on the table.

“Would you like a drink?” he asked.

“I would, thank you.”

“Come to the drawing room, I think Dad’s got some whiskey somewhere. Or something, anyway.”

“You won’t be able to drive me home if you have anything,” Daniel said, with a smile. “They’ve tightened up the drink driving laws.”

“I thought you might like to stay…”

“I would. Very much.”

---

#240:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 3:24 pm
    —
*bounce* Yay!

Thanks Mia.

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#241:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 3:55 pm
    —
Ohhhhh please update soon!

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#242:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 4:04 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I'm really pleased for both of them!

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#243:  Author: ElKel, Location: Miles away Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 4:34 pm
    —
So glad it's late in the day so no-one was in the office to see me punching the air and saying "yaay"!

Sarah_K wrote:

I've been on this board far too long to quite trust Mia to give us a proper working out of things between the boys just yet but I can still hope...

Sadly, I'm inclined to agree. . . but I suppose the course of true love never did run smooth! (Yes, I know it's a hackneyed cliche - the truest ones usually are )

Still, look on the bright side - at least if things don't work out smoothly too soon it means we get loads more story, which is no bad thing

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#244:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 5:35 pm
    —
Nice little interlude there,

Thanks Mia

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#245:  Author: Caroline, Location: Manchester Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 7:26 am
    —
Wonderful, wonderful news!

Both deserve to be happy - particularly John, after all he has been through.

Thank you, Mia.

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#246:  Author: Caty, Location: New Zealand Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 11:52 am
    —
Yay . Thanks Mia. Glad they're finally 'talking'.

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#247:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 5:41 pm
    —
C'mon Mia, let it all be okay!

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#248:  Author: Ally, Location: John Bettany's Cabin! Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 8:06 pm
    —
Squeeeeeeee!

Im so glad they have finally been honest with each other, now for the talking! huzzah for twinnie

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#249:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:25 pm
    —
Oh, hurrah! *lets out sigh of relief*

Thanks Mia

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#250:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 3:01 pm
    —
I'm shocked you don't trust me! Thanks for the comments

It was the sun rising that woke John the next morning, they had left the curtain open. He blinked, then moved out from under the weight of Daniel’s arm and got out of bed, locating his clothes and dressing quietly but quickly. They had slept in a guest bedroom, the one that his Aunt Bridget had used when she had lived at the Quadrant, as the door locked and was therefore triplet-proof, unlike his own.

Daniel stirred, but he didn’t wake. John stood for a moment, looking down at him as he buttoned his shirt. Should he wake him to explain, or would it be better to slip away? It could be awkward, he suspected neither of them had expected things to happen this quickly, but… John smiled and sat down on the edge of the bed, “Good morning,” he said, quietly.

“Morning…”

“I’m just going back to my own room in case the kids come looking for me. You don’t need to get up, it’s very early…”

Daniel smiled, sleepily. “I suppose that’s sensible. I should get up, I’ve rather a lot of work to do this morning.”

“It’s not six yet.”

“Well, maybe I’ll have another hour… I can’t imagine Harry will be awake yet.”

“Stay for breakfast, anyway – thought I don’t know if I can do anything more than toast and cereal.”

The triplets were noisily dressing as he walked past their room, so he hastily dashed and washed and changed in his own before they joined him.

“Where’s Daddy?” Tom asked.

“He’ll be here after breakfast.” John replied, distractedly.

---

#251:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 3:17 pm
    —
Hooray - glad they've finally "got it together" !

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#252:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 5:53 pm
    —
Pleased they finally got together. John is going to have to be very careful though - easpecially being in the Military.



Thanks Mia

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#253:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 10:26 am
    —
Thanks, Mia. That was a really lovely scene.

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#254:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:04 am
    —
Daniel had eaten toast and cereal and left, after a murmured and hasty goodbye near the front door. The triplets ran outside to wave, and had only just come back inside when their grandfather’s car swept up the drive.

“It was a good party,” David said, over coffee, after the triplets, now over their first raptures at seeing their mother but still somewhat over-excited, ran around in the corridor outside. “How was the car?”

“Fine, I parked it around the back. You’re low on petrol.” John was washing up the breakfast dishes in the scullery, whistling softly to himself.

“I know, I’ll go to Bideford later. What did you want to ask me, Maurice? You said yesterday there was something you wanted to discuss?”

“Oh – nothing.” Maurice was pulling on Wellingtons, preparatory to heading down to the farm. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Where are Mother and Dad and Geoff?” John asked, re-appearing drying his hands.

“Coming along with Susie – Freddie was sorting it out. Aren’t you going to wait to see your girlfriend, Maurice?” David asked.

“No.” Maurice replied, tersely. “I’ll be back in an hour or so, but I’ve got too much to do.”

“What’s going on?” John saw David raise his eyebrows as Maurice left.

“Nothing that’s any of our business,” Rix began, but David interrupted.

“We think they had a row – it was all icy politeness and not looking at each other over breakfast at Brentford Hall.”

“Shut up, David. What are you doing today, Jack? We thought we’d take the kids to the village.”

“I’m going to the village to get my hair cut and then I’m going to see Prim and Nick. I’ll probably stay the night.” John fibbed; he was going to Etherleigh, but he intended to stay the night elsewhere.

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#255:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:40 am
    —
Thanks, Mia. I am still wibbling about Maurice.

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#256:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 11:24 pm
    —
Thank you Mia: I do hope things work out for them, but Maurice, hmmm.

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#257:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 7:56 am
    —
Thanks Mia. Fab as ever.

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#258:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 7:44 pm
    —
Glad there was no awkwardness between John and Daniel the next morning!

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#259:  Author: Ally, Location: John Bettany's Cabin! Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:48 am
    —
*squee* thank you Mia Im worried about Maurice too though!

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#260:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 10:41 am
    —
Thanks for the comments

“Are you sure you don’t mind? If you’re busy, I don’t have to stay.”

Daniel laughed, “How on earth can you think I mind? I just hope – well, it’s not like your home.”

“I’ll say,” John looked around the enormous hall.

“Oh, no, God, no, I didn’t mean…” Daniel looked embarrassed. “The Quadrant is a home, a proper home and this place – well, this isn’t.”

John was silent for a moment or two. “You’re talking to someone who lives in a six foot square cupboard on the sea,” he said eventually, “But I like it here. It’s got a history, I think. But I suppose you spend more time in London?”
“Yes. I prefer London.” Daniel smiled and took John’s coat and small bag. “I’m glad you’re here. How long can you stay?”

“I told them I’m at Primula’s tonight, then – I don’t know. I’ve got eight nights left.”

“Who’s Primula?”

“She’s a cousin – no, she’s David’s cousin, but she lived with us when we were kids. She lives in Etherleigh. Her husband is my solicitor.”

Daniel nodded. “Eight nights?”

“Yes. Then about a month in Portsmouth, then we sail in November.”

“Beira?”

“How did you know that? Yes. Thirteen months, I think, depending on how it goes.”

“I hear things around Westminster. I’m – I’m a member of a select committee for health. I have a few friends there. I hope it won’t be too difficult – the patrol, that is.”

“Oh, no, it’s just routine. Boring, even. We’re got a library on board, but nothing very exciting. Still, I’ve been on worse.”

“If you want to take anything from the library here, feel free.”

“Thank you… Will you write?”

“Of course.” Daniel shut the drawing room door after them. “What about that officer you were arguing with in Greenwich?” he asked, candidly. “Will you have a lot of dealings with him?”

“I hope not.” John replied, sitting down near to the fire, as directed and frowning slightly. “He’s nominally in charge, but I don’t expect he’ll interfere too much with my ship, unless anything goes wrong.”

---

#261:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 10:57 am
    —
Thanks Mia.

Pretty please may I ask a question? I know this has been asked before but I've forgotten the answer - what year (ish) is it?

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#262:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 11:10 am
    —
No probs, it's October 1967

Edited cos I am thick!

Last edited by Mia on Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:40 pm; edited 2 times in total

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#263:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 11:11 am
    —
Thank you!

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#264:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 12:16 pm
    —
Thanks Mia - glad John and Daniel are getting along so well.

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#265:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 2:28 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I hope that Lewis won't bother John too much.

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#266:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 11:26 am
    —
The library was large and surprisingly cheerful, although most of the dusty volumes looked far too elderly and valuable to survive a naval voyage. A table near to the window was covered in papers and research documents and what John recognised from his Aunt Jo as proofs, Daniel obviously worked in the library when he was in Devonshire.

“What are you working on?” John asked.

“A book – It’s about psychiatry. I’m just reviewing my editor’s comments on the final draft and it should be published in the New Year.”

“Really?” John was impressed, even though the text seemed incomprehensible at first glance. “Can I read it?”

“I’ll send you the first copy,” Daniel promised, benevolently.

“Autographed,” John smiled, but moved away slightly when there came a knock on the library door and it was thrown open.

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#267:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 1:02 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I wonder who has come into the room.

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#268:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:18 pm
    —
Not another cliff!
Lovely scenes between John and Daniel though.

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#269:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 5:24 pm
    —
Nice to see tham so free together.


Thanks Mia

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#270:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 6:06 pm
    —
Lovely, thanks Mia. *steadfastly ingoring the fact that that could be a cliff*

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#271:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:37 am
    —
“Sorry to interrupt,” Freddie Brentford said cheerfully, before taking in the presence of his brother-in-law.

“You’re not, what’s up?” Daniel asked, in a calm and composed manner.

“I’ve just brought the proposals – the Hope girl, you know.” Freddie produced them. “I can go through them with you, it’s no problem.”
“Thanks. I’ll look at them later. How are Maeve and Bella and Lucy?”

“They’re fine. Hullo, John, everything all right?” He glanced from John to Daniel, in a preoccupied way. John nodded and seeing that he really did want to talk business, wandered away to look at the shelves again.

Daniel had told him to take anything he wanted, so although he was careful with them, he had no compunction about pulling the books from their homes at will.

Reaching for a volume of Coleridge’s poetry, he knocked a small cardboard box to the floor and when he picked it up to replace it, he saw that the box was full of newspaper clippings, yellowed with age. They had spilled over the floor and he was picking them up when Freddie and Daniel joined him.

“I’m sorry, I don’t think I’ve damaged anything…” he didn’t quite like the expression on Freddie’s face, but it soon became clear that it wasn’t directed at him.

“What the hell is all this?” he demanded, almost snatching some of the papers from John.

A similar anger flashed across Daniel’s face, “It’s none of your business,” he retorted in chilling tones.

“I – Excuse me,” John thought it best to leave them to it; so clearly a private matter. He hadn’t read the newspaper clippings, but he had seen the date on one, 1942, surely so long ago that it seemed strange to argue so fiercely over whatever they contained. So it couldn’t be that.

In the garden he found the water gardens and sat down. He had never seen Daniel so angry before, and glancing across at the library window, he could see they were still arguing.

Does he know? John thought, going cold. If his brother-in-law had guessed, then they would have to end things.

---

#272:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 10:31 am
    —
“Daph? Are you busy?” Cecil, opening the curtains of her own cubicle, found Daphne lying on the bed, scribbling away on her writing pad, breaking about three rules at once.

“Yes,” Daphne replied, her concentration fully on her letter. Only when Cecil didn’t leave did she look up. “What’s the matter?”

“It’s just – Amélie said that you were up here…”

“So?” Daphne looked over in exasperation. “Look, Ces, I’m really sorry, but I have to finish this before the postman comes.”

“You shouldn’t be up here!” Cecil went red as the weeks of suppressed anger burst out of her. “If Matey catches you, then she’ll blame me, and it’s not fair! Just because you’re only taking some classes doesn’t mean you can break bounds. Besides, you’re getting ink on my coverlet!”

“Cecil, calm down, won’t you? I’m not getting ink on it, honestly.” Daphne got up and flourished the counterpane at her cousin. “See?”

“I don’t know why you can’t just go home,” Cecil flung back, before bursting into tears.

“Oh, grief, look, Cecil, I’m only here until November, it’s not worth me having a cubicle here and I can’t sit downstairs all the time, can I? And if I go back to Freudesheim, I have to find a mistress and let her know, and it’s just not worth it for forty minutes!”

“I didn’t mean Freudesheim, I meant the Quadrant!” Cecil, always slow to rouse, nevertheless had a temper, and her cousin’s behaviour had been increasingly awful since she had arrived. The worst thing was the mistresses just seemed to ignore it and regard Daphne’s exploits as amusing. Even Miss Annersley was rumoured to have invited her to see an art exhibition with her in Zurich after Daphne had been discovered plotting to truant during an English class to go! It just wasn’t fair.

“Oh, Cecil, shut up. Look, I’ll go, OK? And thanks for this, now John probably won’t get my letter before he goes away.” Daphne left the room, cool and composed despite her annoyance. Cecil sat down on her bed, shaking after the confrontation, where she was found by Matron and treated to a long lecture, before being ordered to remake her untidy bed.

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#273:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 10:48 am
    —
Oh dear all round I think!

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#274:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:33 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I hope that Daniel and John won't fall out over this. I'm sorry that Daphne and Cecil aren't getting on too well.

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#275:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:26 pm
    —
Cecil seemed a bit jealous there - could it be that Daphne is doing what she wants, whereas Cecil is doing what she thinks everyone else wants?


Love Miss A taking Daphne to an art exhibition - though impressed that Daphne had been considering cutting English!


John, Daniel and Freddie? Hmmmmm.....


Thanks Mia.

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#276:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:13 pm
    —
Cecil certainly seems jealous, but then Daphne seems to be getting a lot of special treatment.

Curious about what was in the box of papers .

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#277:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:30 pm
    —
Fascinating Mia. Thank you!

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#278:  Author: Eilidh, Location: North Lanarkshire Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 8:14 am
    —
Great Mia - I had loads to catch up on! Thank you.

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#279:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:41 pm
    —
John waited until he saw Freddie Brentford leave, screeching up the drive in his expensive car with a scowl on his face. He headed back, through the garden door and found Daniel in the drawing room.

“I’m so sorry,” he said, at once. “I thought you’d left. Where did you go?”

“I just went outside.” John replied.

“You’re freezing – sit by the fire. I do apologise, we shouldn’t have argued like that in front of you.”

“It’s fine, you’ve seen me do the same with my brothers and David.”

“Families…” Daniel smiled, with no humour.

“I’m sorry if I caused trouble between you.”

“Oh, no, it’s an old argument, don’t worry about it. Certainly not your fault.”

“Does he know about us?”

“No. He doesn’t.”

“It’s not that I don’t want people to know, but if they found out in the Admiralty…”

“It’s not something I can shout about either,” Daniel said. “Maybe this isn’t going to work and we should just… I don’t know.”

“I don’t really want to have to do that,” John said, after a pause. “What are those papers anyway?”

“Newspaper articles from when my mother died, things like that...” Daniel turned away and John only just caught his next words. “Freddie doesn’t think I should have kept them.”

“Oh?”

“Not as interesting as we’ve made them out to be, I’m afraid.” A clear dismissal, and John took the hint and changed the subject, but he remained curious.

The next day there were seven nights left.

---

#280:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:40 pm
    —
Gosh sorry to spree, seem to have written quite a bit v quickly. Hope you're not too bored of this

The Quadrant, 29 October

Dear Daph,

Thanks for your last. This is in haste, but as you know I’ll have more time in the evenings to write to you from the Commitment. It’s good to hear that you’re not having too awful a time and than you think you might stay a whole year. Will you go to that St Mildred’s place that Peg and the others were always raving about? I agree, the scenery sounds marvellous and I will have to visit one day. Please thank Aunt and Uncle for the invite and tell them I’ll see what I can do on my next long leave (whenever that is). I liked the drawings. I showed them to Daniel Lyndhurst, I hope you don’t mind, and he said it was clear they were teaching you well there and that they showed real improvement. In answer to your question, I’m afraid I don’t remember a Rosalind Yolland, but I could never keep track of all of the girls when the school was near Armiford and I was too young really to mix much with Bride and Peggy’s friends (she can’t remember me awfully well either?) but please pass on my regards if she does.

I haven’t been doing very much and I leave in two days. I’ve mainly been sailing and helping Maurice around the farm, and we drove young Geoff up to Yorkshire the day before yesterday and stayed overnight in the cottage in Garnham. The car went quite well for a change, but it was too far to make it there and back in a day –

John paused, tapping his pen against his writing pad, as he looked at that ‘we’. Daphne was as sharp as a tack, would she ask who? He went to change it to ‘I’ but that could be risky, Geoff might mention that Daniel had come with them and then Daphne would ask why he had prevaricated.

“Oh, come on,” he chided himself, aloud. Did Geoff even write to Daphne? He himself didn’t write to Steve or Charles or the younger Maynards, not often at any rate. He wrote to his Aunt Joey who he presumed passed on his news, which was rarely noteworthy in any case, and he had promised to send Geoff a card or two at school.

“What’s up?” Maurice asked. Maurice was sprawled on the rug, ostensibly reading the sports section of the Sunday newspaper.

“Nothing – just thinking aloud.” John decided to leave the letter as it was.

Cecil does sound like she’s being a bit of a brat, he wrote, loyally, It’s probably best to just ignore her, especially if you’ve made other friends. Or maybe you could talk to Aunt Jo, if they’ll let you?

I must close and get on with my packing but I’ll write from Pompey. Good luck out there and do send more drawings, they’ll brighten up my cabin.

Much love, J

“Have you got any stamps?” he asked Maurice.

“No – unless there are any in the estate office.”

“Thanks – anything wrong? You don’t look very happy.”

“Girl trouble,” Maurice managed a faint smile.

---

#281:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:49 pm
    —
No, definitely not bored! Eager to find out all the secrets, though!
Thanks Mia.

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#282:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:52 pm
    —
I'm still interested Mia - thanks for that. John is right to be worried about the Admiralty finding out - he would be dishonourably discharged. Lovely letter from him to Daphne.

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#283:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 6:25 pm
    —
I'm enjoying this too, so please keep going.

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#284:  Author: LesleyAnn, Location: Perth, Scotland Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 6:31 pm
    —
I'm really enjoying this too. I'm dying to find out more about the secrets within this family!

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#285:  Author: Septima, Location: Yorks Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 7:22 pm
    —
I'm really enjoying this Mia, its the first story I check for updates. Thankyou for keeping going with it.

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#286:  Author: ali, Location: medway, kent Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 7:40 pm
    —
I love this story so please keep spreeing.
Worried about Maurice, is it really girl problems worrrying him or is his health causing a problem?

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#287:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 7:49 pm
    —
Definitely still interested! Hope Maurice's problems aren't more serious than he's making out. Also worried about John - if the Admiralty find out about his relationship with Daniel then sadly his career will be ruined.

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#288:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 9:18 pm
    —
I'm really enjoying this, the secrets are all very intriguing!

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#289:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 10:03 pm
    —
Thanks Mia

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#290:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:35 am
    —
Thanks Mia - hope Maurice is going do somethign about his worries.

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#291:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:10 am
    —
Thanks, Mia. I'm glad that John and Daniel haven't fallen out.

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#292:  Author: Caty, Location: New Zealand Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 10:43 am
    —
Definitely not bored Mia. I love reading this drabble. Looking forward to next installment.

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#293:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 1:28 pm
    —

Alison H wrote:

Also worried about John - if the Admiralty find out about his relationship with Daniel then sadly his career will be ruined.

But on the other hand he then wouldn't be spending most of his time away on a ship unable to keep in much contact and having to put up with Keeler's company when he'd much rather be with Daniel!

Thanks, Mia

---

#294:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 3:44 pm
    —
Here's a bit more

One night left.

John had packed in the early afternoon and made arrangements for storing his boat. He had eaten lunch with the Brentfords and dinner with his parents and Maurice, and spoken to Rix and his family on the phone.

“I think I’ll turn in,” he said, stooping to kiss his mother. “Goodnight.”

“Night, darling. Shall I wake you in the morning?”

“No, thanks, I’m going to have a long lie-in while I still can… ‘Night Dad.”

Upstairs, Maurice’s door was closed and his light off, he did have to keep early hours for the farm. John hesitated for a moment, listening, but there was nothing. He passed by and went into his father’s dressing room, where the phone extension lived.

“I wish I was with you now,” he said, quietly.

“I know, so do I. I’ll see you tomorrow, though. We knew yesterday that tonight was impossible. Your parents want to see you, and you want to spend time with them.”

“I know. Will you come here tomorrow before I leave?”

“Of course. I’ll come to the house... Anyway, thirteen months isn’t that long.”

“I suppose not and I’ve had months longer than I would usually have. You will write?”

“Of course I will. Do they read your correspondence?”

John laughed, “No, not my private letters. I’ve got a secretary who deals with anything official, but he wouldn’t open anything personal.” Footsteps on the stair made him start, and he made some hasty goodbyes and hung up, not too bothered at having the conversation cut short. Daniel had sounded tired, and he would see him the next day anyway.

---

#295:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 5:46 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I'm glad they will be able to see each other the next day.

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#296:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 5:57 pm
    —
Hope all the goodbyes aren't too difficult.

Thanks, Mia

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#297:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 6:09 pm
    —
Thanks Mia.

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#298:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 7:42 pm
    —
Glad they have each other.


Thanks Mia.

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#299:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 9:02 pm
    —
I hope you allow them to have a nice farewell Mia!

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#300:  Author: Caty, Location: New Zealand Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 11:57 am
    —
Thanks Mia.

(PS it's November now)

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#301:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 12:43 pm
    —
“Is this seat free, young man?” The speaker roused John from his reverie and he hastened to move his newspaper from the seat and hastily bury himself in it, effectively stopping all conversation. His goodbyes with Daniel had been brief and unsettling; and he still had to deal with Lewis Keeler in Portsmouth.

The elderly passenger turned her attentions to the schoolgirls opposite and John was left in peace to frown over his newspaper. There was a very small piece about Rhodesia, which he studied and a great deal more about his brother-in-law’s company and financial dealings on the business pages, which reminded him of Freddie yelling at Daniel over the box of spilled newspaper clippings. He hadn’t mentioned anything about it over lunch the day before, but he had been his usual affable self, teasing his wife and daughters. Oh well, John decided to stop thinking about it.

The train pulled in at Portsmouth and he was one of the last to get off. The train had pulled in ten minutes early and he had plenty of time to walk over to the port and make his report to Keeler.

---

#302:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 12:53 pm
    —
The November chill from the sea was biting, John pulled his long coat more closely round him and lit a cigarette. The door of a nearby pub opened and two young men in naval uniforms spilled out, laughing. As they got closer to him he noticed that they were officers, midshipmen, and closer still, that one was his cousin, Mike Maynard.

“Mike,” he said, in greeting, amused to see them both salute him. “Good to see you. How’s it going?”

“Good. This is Baker. Baker, this is my cousin, John Bettany. He’s skipper of The Commitment.”

“Pleased to meet you, sir,” Baker grinned. “You’re coming with us on Beira, aren’t you?”

John nodded, then offered Baker a cigarette. “I’ll come with you to the Camaraderie, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all, sir.” Mike said, solicitously. “D’you want to see the Commander?”

John nodded, as they walked together towards the port and the large, grey battleships, just visible in the gloom of the early evening.

---

#303:  Author: Eilidh, Location: North Lanarkshire Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 2:26 pm
    —
Thanks Mia.

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#304:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:32 pm
    —
I'm wondering what will happen when Keeler meets John and Mike. I hope it's going to be ok.

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#305:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 5:50 pm
    —
Thanks Mia - hope John's concerns about meeting up with Keeler are unfounded.

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#306:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 6:16 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. It's nice that John has already met up with Mike.

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#307:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 6:55 pm
    —
Wonder if John will discover some dodgy dealings in Southern Africa when he gets to his next posting! But Freddie seems so nice ...

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#308:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:53 am
    —
Nice to see Mike there

Thanks, Mia

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#309:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:56 pm
    —
“Just in time, lads,” the Lieutenant on watch remarked, as they boarded the Camaraderie. “Good evening, sir,” he saluted John, not knowing him but recognising his rank from his uniform. John saluted back, easily.

“Evening, Lieutenant. I’m looking for the Commander.”

“Lt Cdr Bettany? He’s expecting you. He’s in his cabin. Baker, take Lt Cdr Bettany to the skipper.”

“Mike – can I have a word with you before I leave? Will you be around?”

Mike nodded, briefly. “I’ll be in the wardroom, I expect. There’s nothing wrong, is there?”

“Course not. OK, I’ll come and find you after I’ve seen Cdr Keeler. You can give me the news from Switzerland.”

*

Keeler was reading, off-duty, his feet up on his desk. He swung them down to the floor when John came in, and nodded at him, looking rather serious. Baker saluted and left. Keeler barely noticed him.

“Don’t do that,” he said, shortly, as John raised his arm in an automatic salute.

“Sorry – are you all right?” John sat down.

“Fine. I didn’t expect you till later. Everything OK?”

John nodded. “I thought I should come straight here,” He took hold of the edge of Keeler’s desk as the ship swayed slightly with the incoming tide. It was familiar, yet strange, after his months on land. “I’ve not been to my ship yet.”

“No? Well, I spoke to your first officer yesterday, everything seems to be in order.” Keeler spoke formally, but John rather thought he could detect an underlying note of concern and sat down on the edge of Keeler’s bunk.

“I’m sorry about Greenwich,” he said, in a rush. “You’re right, we do need to talk.”

---

#310:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 5:02 pm
    —
*settles down comfortably to listen to the conversation*

Thanks, Mia

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#311:  Author: Lucy, Location: Leeds Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 5:08 pm
    —
*Joins Liz and offers chocolate as we sit and listen in*

Thanks Mia - fab as always

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#312:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 5:12 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I wonder what they will talk about.

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#313:  Author: Eilidh, Location: North Lanarkshire Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 5:33 pm
    —
*gets comfortable and offers cake to go with the chocolate*

Thanks Mia

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#314:  Author: Tan, Location: London via Newcastle Australia Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 6:10 pm
    —
Settles in to listen as well. Hot chocolate anyone?

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#315:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 6:55 pm
    —
Oh good.

Thanks Mia.

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#316:  Author: Caty, Location: New Zealand Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 7:58 pm
    —
'Bout time. Thanks Mia.

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#317:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 8:02 pm
    —
And about time we heard the conversation too.

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#318:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:44 pm
    —
Yes please let us listen to the conversation!

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#319:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 10:14 pm
    —
Thanks Mia. This is intriguing.

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#320:  Author: ElKel, Location: Miles away Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 4:51 pm
    —
Well, I was feeling slightly reassured that there's a note of concern in Keeler's voice - but then it occured to me that he could just be worried on his own behalf that John's given him away to the authorities

Anyway, glad to see this back, whatever direction their conversation takes! (And yes, I am listening at the keyhole!)

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#321:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 2:23 pm
    —
Elkel, listening at keyholes is bad for your ears. Just swan in and sit down on the bunk, like the rest of us.

Thanks, Mia.

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#322:  Author: ElKel, Location: Miles away Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 5:31 pm
    —

Jennie wrote:

Elkel, listening at keyholes is bad for your ears. Just swan in and sit down on the bunk, like the rest of us.

*Swans in, nose in the air, trying to look ladylike. Fails to see a tapestry-covered footstool in her path and goes sprawling. Ends up sitting on backside looking like a stranded codfish. Ladylike effect thoroughly ruined.*

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#323:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 3:29 pm
    —
Thanks Mia

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#324:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 9:38 pm
    —
*g* *offers some rum around the cabin and moves the footstool safely out of the way* Thanks for the comments!

“Lewis?” he asked, when Keeler didn’t respond for several long minutes.

“I think I need another drink,” he said, getting to his feet, and John realised he must have already had quite a lot. A glass of brandy was pushed in front of him and John picked it up with a murmured thank you, although he didn’t want it.

“You’re welcome.”

Another moment’s awkward silence, then Keeler spoke.

“I wrote to you,” he said.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t read any of them.”

“Stop saying you’re bloody sorry. We were friends, Jack, we were good friends. What happened?” Keeler got up, to pace around the small cabin, restless as ever. “I wish you’d have come to me rather than try to do yourself in, you know. You could have died. You were lucky.”

John stood up. “I need to get back to my ship, Lewis. I have to speak to McLaughlin.”

“Sit down,” Keeler said, losing patience. “Was it because we argued? That was months ago.”

When John didn’t answer, he swore softly. “I knew this wouldn’t work.”

“It was your idea we go out together – Walsh told me you suggested it.”

“Because I was worried about you! I thought they wouldn’t let you come back. Lawton wanted you out.”

John frowned. “You asked for us to go out together because you thought they wouldn’t let me come back to the Service?”

“Yes, you idiot. I put all this in my letters.” Keeler still sounded exasperated, but warmer, friendlier, how he had always been… John dropped his gaze and swallowed the brandy, suddenly hopeful. Perhaps they could be friends again.

Perhaps Lewis had forgiven him.

Last edited by Mia on Thu Nov 23, 2006 1:02 pm; edited 1 time in total

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#325:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 9:43 pm
    —
Forgiven him? Curiouser and curiouser.

Thanks Mia.

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#326:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 9:44 pm
    —
Isn't it just! More please!

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#327:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:15 pm
    —
Forgiven him for what?!! Tell us soon ... please ?

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#328:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:33 pm
    —
Keep talking, you two!

Forgiven him for what?

Thanks Mia.

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#329:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:35 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I wonder what the forgiveness is for.

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#330:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 9:30 am
    —
Is it all just a misunderstanding then?

Thanks, Mia

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#331:  Author: Alice, Location: London, England Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 12:42 pm
    —
This is all very good and I hope they do make it up - but what about John and Daniel???!!!

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#332:  Author: dackel, Location: The Big Wide World (aka London) Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 5:21 pm
    —
I'm ending up with more questions than answers in every post...not that that's necessarily a bad thing, but...

Can -sorry - MAY we have another flashback to how John and Keeler got together in the first place, please? And how they separated? And why John thinks Keeler didn't care?

And what's wrong with Maurice? And if Daphne gets to go to Art School? And...?

Please?

Thanks, Mia, it's great as usual!

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#333:  Author: Phil, Location: London UK Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:40 pm
    —
Thanks Mia

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#334:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 9:24 pm
    —
Not another twist!

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#335:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 10:56 am
    —
Yes, I'm with Dackel on the questions front!

Thanks Mia.

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#336:  Author: Alex, Location: Cambs, UK Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 12:36 pm
    —
I wonder....

Thanks, Mia.

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#337:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 3:27 pm
    —
Joins the queue behind Dackel. So many questions, so few answers.

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#338:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 9:57 pm
    —

dackel wrote:

Can -sorry - MAY we have another flashback to how John and Keeler got together in the first place, please? And how they separated?

Did I say that? Thanks for the comments, please note this has a bit of language in it


Keeler refilled their glasses. “Stay for a bit longer, won’t you? We should catch up. How are the family?”

“They’re fine, thank you,” He steeled himself to ask. “How is Yvonne?”

Keeler smiled, humourlessly, at the mention of his wife. “I couldn’t care less.”

“What?”

“She’s divorcing me. I would have thought the solicitor would have told you – chap you told me about, name of Garden? I thought you were related to him, or something. Anyway, I went to see him recently. The bitch”, Keeler slammed his empty glass down on the edge of his desk, “Is divorcing me.”

“But – Lewis – why?” John frowned. “I’m sorry to hear that,” he added.

Keeler laughed. “Come off it, Jack, you couldn’t stand her. Maybe I should have listened to you. As for the grounds, how do cruelty and adultery sound?”

“What will they say – in court, I mean?”

Lewis shrugged and lit his cigarette, scowling. “You know how she and I fought. I suppose you could argue that was cruel of me. She gave as good as she got, though.”

John stood up and placed his empty glass next to Keeler’s on the desk. Keeler was unpredictable, especially in this sort of mood. He would go and think over this revelation in private.

“I should go,” he said. “I – I’ll come and see you tomorrow, would that be best? I know Yvonne and I don’t – didn’t like each other much, but I am sorry about this.”

Keeler got to his feet and nodded, holding out his hand, but when John’s closed on his, he pulled the younger man forward until their faces were inches apart.

---

#339:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 10:19 pm
    —
John, please remember Daniel - he's so much nicer than Keeler!

*Wondering if Mrs Keeler knows about her ex's relationship with John and if she's going to bring that up in court.*

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#340:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 10:46 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I hope that John will let Keeler down gently if Keeler is trying to kiss John.

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#341:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 11:11 pm
    —
“I told her I didn’t want to be married to her when I could be with you,” he said, urgently.

“What?” John stared at him, in shock. “What the hell do you mean?”

“You know what I mean.”

“But I haven’t – we never… Lewis, what have you done? What have you told her?” John stared at Keeler, in shock.

“I left her for you,” Keeler said. “But I hadn’t realised – it’ll be in the newspapers and we’ll have to leave the Service. I’m sorry.”

“No you’re not.” John said, sharply, thinking of his family. “When?”

“Are you asking when can we leave?”

“No, when is this supposed to be in the bloody papers?”

“In a few months’ time.” Keeler’s hand moved down from his shoulder to his elbow. “You’re trembling.”

“I can’t believe you did this…” John knew he lacked conviction, underneath the anxiety he felt, his heart was beating faster.

Keeler smiled.

“I haven’t done anything,” he said, triumphantly. “But now I know you want me to.”

Last edited by Mia on Sun Nov 26, 2006 6:30 pm; edited 1 time in total

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#342:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 11:13 pm
    —
That was NORTY! *Glares at Keeler*

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#343:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 11:16 pm
    —
Nasty piece of work!

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#344:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 1:42 am
    —
What! That's horribly manipulative at the very least....

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#345:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 10:31 am
    —
Well, there's nothing like forcing the issue! What a horrible man .

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#346:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 12:53 pm
    —
Thanks, Mia. I'm sorry that Keeler is being so horrible.

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#347:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 1:37 pm
    —


Not quite the right image - I'm sitting here with jaw dropped that he could have done that!

Thanks, Mia

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#348:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 4:13 pm
    —
I think - hope! - that Keeler is in for a nasty shock. John's found someone far better hasn't he?

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#349:  Author: Lydia, Location: Sevenoaks, Kent Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 5:33 pm
    —
But what about Daniel????

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#350:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 3:52 pm
    —
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!

Mia - what have you done?!

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#351:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 5:43 pm
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I know, I'm so mean! Thanks for the comments


John closed the door behind him. He had never slammed a door in his life, now he would have liked to take it from its hinges. Instead, he swore softly and kicked the stairwell, a futile exercise as it was made of metal.

Forgetting about Mike waiting in the officers’ wardroom, he left the Camaraderie and made his way back to his own ship and the sanctuary of his cabin.

It was just as he had left it, well not quite, he owned, as he noticed that the blood had been cleaned from the floor. He paced the small space restlessly, wondering what Lewis would now do. The worst thing, he considered, was how much he had wanted Lewis to be speaking the truth. If Lewis had meant it, just what would he have done? He knew the answer to that, and he buried his head in his hands.

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#352:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 5:45 pm
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*follows John from Lewis's cabin and goes to give him a hug*

Poor boy

Thanks, Mia

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#353:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 6:09 pm
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John he's not worth it - you've got Daniel now.


Thanks Mia.

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#354:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 9:41 pm
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*Hugs John*
Thanks Mia!

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#355:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 9:55 pm
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Thanks, Mia. Isn't Keeler a real sh*t?

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#356:  Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:07 pm
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Oh poor John!

You can't pick who you fall for and Lewis is a right *censored* and I hope someone pushes him overboard very soon!

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#357:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:22 pm
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I'm hoping either Freddie, Daniel or Nick has some info on the Keelers that'll "encourage" Mrs Keeler to keep quiet!

Thanks Mia .

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#358:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 4:15 pm
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“Sir? Welcome back.” Lieutenant Groves said, as John passed him on deck.

“Evening. Thank you. I’ll be back in half an hour.” John said, flipping over the brass tag on the system they used for senior officers’ shore leave. The night he had cut at his wrists, he had turned the tag so that people would think he was ashore.

“Yes, sir.” Groves said, easily, which reassured John slightly, he had worried about who knew he had tried to end his life and Adam Groves, if he knew, was the type who would have said something awkwardly, meaning well. He managed a brief smile and escaped.

It wasn’t particularly late, but the waterfront was quiet. There was a pub not too far away, nearer than the one in which Mike and his friend had been drinking. The main thing was that it had a telephone that was enclosed in a small, private booth and which didn’t go through the Naval exchange.

He fed sixpences into the slot and dialled the number he had learned by heart; listening to the ringing, hoping that Daniel would be there.

“I was just thinking about you.” Daniel sounded pleased. “Where are you phoning from? Give me the number and I’ll give you a ring back.”

“It’s a pub – I can’t ‘phone privately from my ship,” John read the number aloud. “I’ve got a few minutes left.”

“How are things?” In his London study, Daniel frowned and pulled the receiver closer to him, he thought he knew why John was phoning. “Was it difficult to go back to your cabin?”

“No, I was fine.” The pips went, and he hung up.

“Everything else all right?” Daniel asked when they were reconnected. He sounded concerned.

“Yes.” John said, shaking off his melancholy thoughts. “It’s good to hear your voice.”

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#359:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 4:18 pm
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I hope they can have a good chat, without someone coming wanting to ring for a taxi!

Thanks, Mia

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#360:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 6:52 pm
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Poor John, having to keep his relationship a secret.


Thanks Mia.

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#361:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 8:05 pm
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Thanks, Mia. I'm feeling so annoyed with Keeler! I'm glad that John had a chance to speak to Daniel.

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#362:  Author: Mia, Location: London Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:15 pm
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It was another four days before he had the chance to speak to Mike, who had gone with some of his company on a training exercise. After the first night had passed, he had settled back into his usual routine and things were better. McLaughlin, his first officer, and he had always got on well and most of his crew both liked and respected him.

“Everything all right?” Commander Lawton asked, when he arrived with the engineer, and when John replied in the affirmative, he seemed satisfied and made noises to the effect that the whole matter would now be forgotten by John’s superiors.

John had been talking to the engineer when Mike walked past in a group of officers, none of them outranked John, and so he beckoned Mike over.

“Sorry about the other night, I had to leave urgently. How are things?”

“All right,” Mike muttered, with a scowl.

“Good… Anything wrong?”

“No. I’ve got to go, we’re busy. We’re going out soon.”

“Not for another week,” John said, with a rueful glance at the hull. “Are you getting on all right with Commander Keeler?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Mike asked, surprised. “He’s been really good to me. He said I could have a promising future if I put the work in.”

“Good.” John was relieved.

“I have to go,” Mike seemed anxious to rejoin his friends.

“Let me know how you’re getting on,” John said.

“If you don’t mind, I’d rather not,” Mike said, not meeting his eye. “I’d prefer to stand on my own two feet.”

“No problem.” John replied, knowing that at Mike’s age, he would have felt the same.

“I should go to my Divisional Officer, anyway, shouldn’t I?” Mike continued.

“Whatever you want,” John said, politely.

“I’ll see you around.” Mike shrugged.

“Mike – has Keeler said something to you about me?”

“No, why?”

“Because I only asked you to let me know how you were getting on and you flung it back in my face.”

“I waited ages in the wardroom, you said you wanted to speak to me and then you never bothered to show up… And someone said that you missed all the orientation training. Commander Keeler covered up for you.” Again Mike wouldn’t look him in the face.

“I’m not going into the reasons for this with you…” John composed himself. “I said I was sorry about not meeting you, but I’d had bad news.”

“Danvers said you were in the pub. Look, I’ve really got to go. It doesn’t matter. See you.” Mike dashed off after his friends.

The engineer, though out of earshot, was looking at him, so John had to go over and listen to the details of the repairs, although nothing would have pleased him more at that moment to see his ship lying at the bottom of the sea.





This is the end of this part! Thanks for reading

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#363:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:25 pm
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Mike give your cousin some slack would you?


Thanks Mia.

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#364:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:37 pm
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Thanks Mia.

Looking forward to part 2 already !

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#365:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:39 pm
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Oh dear, poor Mike, and poor John!

Thanks, Mia

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#366:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 6:17 pm
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Thanks, Mia. I am sorry that Mike is not happy with John. I hope that they can sort things out.

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#367:  Author: LesleyAnn, Location: Perth, Scotland Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:16 pm
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Thanks Mia. I've really enjoyed this drabble and looking forward to part 2.

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#368:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:35 pm
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I'm another that's looking forward to part two!

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#369:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 2:44 am
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I think Mike's right to stand on his own two feet, though.

Thanks Mia, I'm also looking forward to part 2!

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#370:  Author: Josie, Location: London Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 11:25 pm
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Thanks, Mia. See you have the art of the cliffhanger ending down to a tee

Thanks for this - has been fab. Looking forward to the next bit.

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