The CBB :: View topic - A Secret Disclosed

#1: A Secret Disclosed Author: caz, Location: Cambridge

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 3:00 pm

Madge Bettany sighed as she surveyed the pile of correspondence on her desk. It might be the summer holidays for the Chalet School, but its young headmistress was hard at work. The first term had been more successful than she could have hoped (leaving aside the Joey and Grizel’s brush with death on the Tiernjoch) and there were many parents wishing to enter their daughters for the coming term. Flicking through the envelopes, she recognised the writing of Mdlle Lepattre, her partner in the school, and decided to treat herself to reading this first. When she scanned the first few lines, however, she realised that she was probably in for a shock. She returned to the beginning, and began to read the letter slowly.

#2: Author: Nell, Location: London, England

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 3:03 pm

argh - another cliff! Caz please don't leave it there, what does Mlle Lepattre have to say, why is it a shock and whats the secret???

#3: Author: Liss, Location: Harrow, London

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 3:03 pm

Yes? And?

#4: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 3:21 pm

*echoes Squeen Liss!* Wink

#5: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 3:24 pm

Curiouser and Curiouser.

A little more, please, when you are thus disposed...

#6: Author: pim, Location: the place where public transport doesn't work properly!

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 3:47 pm

More More More More More More More More More More More Please.

Pretty please?

#7: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 4:04 pm

An interesting beginning leading to...

(was that subtle enough for you caz? If it wasn't I'll just shout MORE with the others)

#8: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 4:28 pm

A cliff of that size already? Elucidation is called for!

#9: Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!!

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 5:04 pm

Bother people and their cliffs, please write more!!!

#10: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 5:21 pm

Agrees with Ally, but wonders sadly whether it will have any effect on Caz.

Last edited by Jennie on Thu May 20, 2004 12:20 pm; edited 1 time in total

#11: Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 5:32 pm

Please post some more soon Caz!

#12: Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 5:43 pm

Interesting... Good idea for a drabble too!

#13: Author: Rachel, Location: Plotting in my lair

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 7:29 pm

It's been more than four hours since this was started - surely it's time for some more now???

#14: Author: Chloë, Location: London: when away from home planet!

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 7:38 pm

Caz please come back here now and tell us more Smile

#15: Author: Sugarplum, Location: second star to the right!

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 9:23 pm

I saw this thread and saw lots of posts .....so I read the first one ...fell off the cliff and there's no more yet!!

#16: Author: caz, Location: Cambridge

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 9:25 pm

Ma chere Marguerite,

I hope this letter will not alarm you. Please read it to the end. It may shock you but I pray that you will judge me with mercy. As the school is flourishing, I wished you to know these things (there is another reason as well, which I will come to). If you would prefer me not to return next term, I will understand. I merely ask that Simone and Renee may still receive their education at the Chalet School.
I am not proud of this tale. All I offer in my defence is that when you do not know if you shall live to see another day, normal rules of behaviour do not seem to apply. But I am delaying my story. It all happened during the war. My parents had died before the war began but I remained in the village in which I had grown-up, teaching at a local school which provided enough money for me to live on. I am not excessively modest, but I always knew that my chances of marriage were small, with no fortune to compensate for my lack of beauty. You are perhaps too young, cherie, to have known how young people lived during the war. There were many who married in haste, and some girls who anticipated their marriage vows. Being aware of my lack of looks, I never regarded myself in any danger from the soldiers who passed through our village on the way to the Front. Some of them were billetted with us for a while and I believe they thought of me – when they thought of me at all – as something of an older sister. I enjoyed talking with some of them: they brought a breath of fresh air into our rather stuffy village. Some of them, as I am sure you can imagine, were coarse and tended to love their wine too well. Perhaps it was only natural, given the horrors to which they were returning. The summer of 1916 was a particularly hard time. Losses had been so heavy at the Front, and it seemed as though peace would never come. At that point, another company of men appeared in the village. Among them was Jacques. He seemed to be a leader among the ordinary soldiers, and after one evening when they had all drunk rather more than usual, he came to apologise to me for some comments that had been made. I had been distressed by them but he was so kind, and insisted on paying me particular attention after that. The village was always full of gossip, and our friendship soon became noticed. Gossips began to discuss when we would be wed. Jacques always seemed uncomfortable when he was teased about this but I saw nothing unusual in this. I was uncomfortable myself. Having little experience of men, and without anyone to turn to for advice, I proved my naivete one summer’s afternoon by behaving as a woman should do only with her husband. We had no time to discuss this, as when he returned to his billet that night, it was to orders to march at dawn.
We exchanged letters while he was at the Front, although his always seemed rather stilted. When I told him that I was with child, he did not reply. I was terrified that something had happened to him, but then one day he appeared in the village, having made all the arrangements for our wedding. I was surprised at the speed of events, but delighted to be married to him. We had no honeymoon, of course.as he only had 48 hours leave. The next news I had from the Front was that he had been badly wounded and had returned to his parents. Eventually I had a letter from Jacques himself. He said that he was still very weak but would come for me as soon as he could. Meanwhile, I was to look after myself and the unborn child. But one day I had an unexpected visitor. She claimed to be Jacques’ wife, and was able to prove that he had married her over a year before I met him. She was not unkind to me; I believe she was more angry with Jacques than myself. However, the shock was too much for me and my son was stillborn. I felt as though I had lost everything that was dear to me. While I was recovering, the news spread round the village and I found myself condemned by everyone. Somehow, God helped me to bear those dark days, which I regarded as a punishment for my sin.
Some months later, Jacques appeared again. At first I did not recognise him, as he looked much older. He limped heavily and had lost an arm. He also seemed to have lost all sense of humour. He came, so he said, to apologise for my distress. His wife, Amelie, had recently died, and he had come to claim me and his child. He became very angry when I told him about my son, and refused to believe me at first. Fortunately, I had met him in the market square and the priest came to my aid and convinced Jacques that I was telling the truth. He also persuaded Jacques to go to the inn for the night. Father Sebastien counselled me on what I should do, but there was no need. Just as the curfew was being rung, three gendarmes appeared with orders to arrest Jacques for the murder of his wife. He was taken back to his home town for trial. The case took some time to come to court. When I heard he had been acquitted through lack of evidence, the Armistice was over a month old. I feared that Jacques would pursue me. In my heart, I feared very much that he had killed Amelie so he could return to claim his son – she had never been able to have children – and I did not wish to make a life with such a man. I packed what few posessions I had and left France for England, to work as a governess. Only my cousins, the Lecoutiers, knew my destination. To mark my new life, and to make it harder for Jacques to find me, I took the name Elise, which had been the name of my sister who died before I was born. You know the rest of my story, how I scraped a living as a governess until last April, when I joined you in your venture at the Tiernsee. I am very pleased that the school has been such a success. I have grown very fond of you and Josephine, but as it seems likely that we shall be working together for many years, I wish to lay everything before you. There is no need to fear that Jacques will make any more demands on me. I recently heard through Monsieur Lecoutier’s lawyers that he died not long after the trial. Because of this, I feel that I may resume my baptismal name, Therese, and finally put these events behind me.
I am sorry this letter has been so long. I meant to give you the essential facts only, but found myself unable to stop writing. Please forgive this intrusion on your time.

A bientot,
Therese Lepattre

#17: Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 9:37 pm

Oh how sad for Mlle Lepattre Crying or Very sad

Thank you caz!

#18: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 10:04 pm

Wow.

*tears up*

Very very interesting take on it, and beautifully done. Thank you.

#19: Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 10:14 pm

Thanks Caz, am all sad now Sad

#20: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 10:28 pm

That's a very sad story *grabs for tissues*
Thank you Caz. I don't know how you came up with all that back story that could all have easily happened and still fit the CS we know and love.

#21: Author: caz, Location: Cambridge

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 10:49 pm

Sarah, I'm not quite sure how I came up with it either! I was playing with a few ideas and it just came together.

As ever, I'm glad that people like my writing. Here's the concluding part (sorry it's another brief post):

Madge sat back and stared at the letter for a few minutes. Roused from her reverie by footsteps in the passage, she quickly slipped the pages into a drawer. When Joey entered the study, she found her sister busily engaged in making notes about the prospectus she wished the school to have.
“Madge, Maynie sent me to ask if you would like to join us for elevenses or if you’d rather have something in here.”
Madge glanced at her watch in surprise. “I hadn’t realised it was so late,” she exclaimed. “Tell Miss Maynard I’ll be along in a minute. What have you been up to this morning?”
Joey grimaced, “Tidying,” she groaned. “Ju almost had a fit at the state of my drawers this morning, just because I couldn’t find Dick’s last letter. Don’t know how long it’ll stay tidy, but at least I can find things now,” she admitted. Madge suppressed a smile, knowing her sister was by no means the tidiest of mortals, and amused at the way Juliet seemed to be slipping into an older sister role.
After elevenses with Miss Maynard and the girls, at which plans were made for a trip to Innsbruck later in the week, Madge returned to her study. She had quickly resolved what to do, and the letter she sent to her colleague was as gentle and warm as it could be. She assured Mdlle that she would be very welcome back at the chalet in the autumn, and managed to relieve all that lady’s fears about her reception. Miss Maynard was well-bred enough not to reveal her curiosity at her colleague’s change of name, accepting it because Madame did so, and it was soon forgotten that Therese Lepattre had ever been known as anything else.

THE END

#22: Author: Angel, Location: London, England

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 10:52 pm

Wow.

Absolutely fascinating ending. Looking forward to the next enterprise. Really really good writing.

#23: Author: *Aletea*, Location: Manchester

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 10:55 pm

Oh that's so good!

(But tell me, have you just explained an EBDism, or did you make up the change in names?)

#24: Author: caz, Location: Cambridge

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 10:59 pm

It is an EBDism, though I'm not 100% sure I've got the timing right.

#25: Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough.......

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 11:08 pm

Caz!
That was wonderful!!
Poor Mdlle!

#26: Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 11:20 pm

That's got to be my favourite explanation of an EBDism I've ever read. Just really lovely and perfect. Thank you Caz!

#27: Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 11:29 pm

Very good! Well written and well thought-out. Please drabble some more soon, Caz!

#28: Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England

Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 11:37 pm

wow.

What a story, thank you.

#29: Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US

Posted: Wed May 19, 2004 1:11 am

*applauds Caz' fertile imagination and requests more drabbles*

I'm pretty sure she's Elise at least through Head Girl, but who cares? (I imagine Therese would have as hard a time diverting Simone from "Cousin Elise" as Joey does trying to get her out of the "my Jo" habit.)

#30: Author: pim, Location: the place where public transport doesn't work properly!

Posted: Wed May 19, 2004 1:47 am

*applauds* That was really good Very Happy

#31: Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol

Posted: Wed May 19, 2004 12:17 pm

Thanks Caz! Lovely explanation of one of EBD's most bizzare EBDisms! Very Happy

#32: Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!!

Posted: Wed May 19, 2004 12:30 pm

Well done Caz, its great to have another mystery solved!!!

#33: Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks

Posted: Wed May 19, 2004 3:13 pm

this is excellent - loved the behind the scenes look at French life during the war

#34: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Redcar

Posted: Thu May 20, 2004 12:19 pm

I liked the fact that it eould have been WWI. You hear so much about people's lives during WWII, but not about WWI.

#35: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu May 20, 2004 12:23 pm

Lovely back-story. Caz.

#36: Author: LL, Location: Tottenham, London

Posted: Fri May 21, 2004 9:32 am

Nice one Caz!

#37: Author: claire, Location: SOUTH WALES

Posted: Sat May 22, 2004 10:12 pm

Lovely Caz - which other EBD ism you going to explain next?

#38: Author: caz, Location: Cambridge

Posted: Sun May 23, 2004 10:37 am

at the comments.

claire, did you have any particular EBDism in mind? I'm currently planning a drabble explaining why OOAOML became so annoying in the later books... Smile

#39: Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol

Posted: Sun May 23, 2004 1:24 pm

You mean she wasn't annoying to start off with! Wink

Looking forward to that one!

#40: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Tue May 25, 2004 3:03 pm

Caz, really liked this story, sorry it has taken me so long to read it.

#41: Author: Nicci, Location: UK

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2004 4:12 pm

Caz - I really don't know how you managed to come up with that story, but it was very moving and seemed realistic.

*generally very impressed with Caz's explanation of possibly the biggest EBDism ever*

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