Valentine's Drabble: Joan Bertram
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#1: Valentine's Drabble: Joan Bertram Author: Catherine_B, Location: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 9:12 am

For those who have no idea what's going on here, please check out "An Alternative Romance" in the Drabbles Archive!

First installment:

“Aren’t the leeks tasty, darling? You’ve hardly touched them. Are you feeling quite all right?” Mrs. Bertram looked anxiously at her elder daughter. As always when Joan was back from Switzerland, her mother felt duty-bound to feed her up and encourage her to rest. However earnestly Joan tried to persuade her otherwise, Mrs. Bertram remained convinced that her daughter was dreadfully overworked during term-time.
“I’m fine, mother!” that young woman gave a slight start. “Honestly, they’re lovely - I’m just not awfully hungry.” She laid her napkin upon the table. “Please may I get down?”
Her father nodded at her benignly. “That’s a very nice dress you’re wearing this evening, my dear. Is there a special occasion?”
“Oh, father! I’m sure I mentioned my plans,” Joan returned quickly. “I’m meeting an old school friend – Mabel Cartwright. You remember her, don’t you?” The question was rather devious, for Mr. Bertram had certainly never met his daughter’s companion of that evening. Young Lady Cartwright had been a good four forms below Joan, though they had both attended the same school.
“Oh – harumm,” her father coughed, “Miss Cartwright, of course I do.”
Mrs. Bertram was casting an approving eye over her daughter’s attire, oblivious to this exchange. “Yes, you’re looking quite elegant for once. It must be nice to have the chance to dress up occasionally; I suppose you don’t get much chance during term,” she added with a hint of regret. “But this suits you almost as well as that pink you wore to Elsie’s wedding in summer.”
“Yes, well,” Mr. Bertram, whose wife had talked about their younger daughter’s wedding almost every evening since the great day six months earlier, interjected hastily, “I’m sure Joanie wants to finish getting ready. Will Miss Cartwright be calling for you by foot?”
Joan looked nervous. “I don’t think so. She drives, I believe,” she glanced down at her hands, hoping with some shame that Mabel wouldn’t stop in at the Bertrams’ terraced house. “We’re going to the theatre in Northampton.”
“My goodness! That’s a long way to go for an evening,” Mrs. Bertram looked surprised. “It can’t be less than half an hour’s drive away.”
“Quite,” her daughter fidgeted. “Mother, mayn’t I get down? I need to get my handbag ready. Oh!” Joan jumped as a car-horn tooted outside. “That must be Mabel!” she rose hastily from her seat and kissed her parents, “Don’t wait up for me, please - I may be back after ten.” Running out of the small dining room, she caught up her coat and bag and headed for the front door.

 

#2:  Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 9:16 am

*giggle* Oh, Catherine, I love where you're talking this already! What wonderful revenge on Joan Bertram!

 

#3:  Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 10:01 am

Excellent Catherine - I think she deserves Mabel! Wink

 

#4:  Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 10:38 am

Now that is going to be a superb Valentine's drabble!

Do we get it all today? *nice try!*

 

#5:  Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 10:40 am

Ooh, that would be nice! *hopeful*

 

#6:  Author: Rachael,  PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 10:47 am

Loving it already, Catherine, as I knew I would when I saw the title .....

Keep it coming Very Happy


please ............................................

 

#7:  Author: pim, Location: the place where public transport doesn't work properly! PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 12:47 pm

Ooooooooooooooooooh *opens eyes very widely, rubs hands together and sits fown eagerly to wait for more*

 

#8:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 1:18 pm

Lovely, I'd forgotten that you said you would write this at some point. Thank you.

I feel sorry for Joan after seeing that little insight into her home life. Half an hours drive, back after ten!!!

 

#9:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 1:54 pm

And having to ask to get down from the table, too!!! Horrendous!

 

#10:  Author: Catherine_B, Location: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 1:59 pm

Sensitive readers who cannot handle a little cruelty should stop reading now!

“Good evening!” Mabel Cartwright eyed her date with amusement. “And how are you, my dear? Enjoying your vacation?”
“Very much,” Joan greeted her acquaintance with some awkwardness. “It’s nice to be back in England.” Her pupils dilated in surprise as she saw Mabel’s sporting Bentley, “I say! What a beautiful car.”
Mabel gave a lazy grin. “Isn’t it?" She unlocked the passenger’s door and held it open for Joan with deliberate chivalry. “Won’t you get in?”

Joan leant back against the dark grey leather seat, her heart beating rapidly. Mabel’s telephone call two days earlier had taken her quite by surprise; she still couldn’t remember quite what she had said, other than to accept the younger woman’s invitation, though she had tried to reconstruct the conversation several times in her head. This was only the second time she had met Mabel Cartwright, and the first had been on the Gornetz Platz in quite different circumstances.
“What are you thinking?” Mabel studied her with a sidelong glance as she laid one hand on the steering wheel and put the car in gear with the other.
“Oh! I - ” Joan wasn’t at all sure she had been thinking, and if she had she wouldn’t willingly have voiced her thoughts to Mabel. “Just that it’s nice to be at home again,” she said, and kicked herself mentally for the lameness of her reply.
“I’m sure it is,” Mabel smiled to herself. “Life at the Platz must be somewhat confined, I should think?”
Her passenger seemed unable to reply to this question.
“Though Kay seems to enjoy it,” Mabel continued the conversation, seemingly unaware of Joan’s discomfort. “And I believe she’s going to Scotland for New Year with Miss Wilmot?”
“I – yes, I think she is,” the elder woman shifted uncomfortably. She wasn’t sure how much Mabel knew of her role in Kathie’s distress the previous term, nor indeed how she herself felt about that situation. She stared out of the window with a feeling almost akin to misery, before giving herself an inward shake. Mabel would not have asked her out had she known the full story, surely?

The young Lady Cartwright - of whom there was little of the lady in appearances - eyed her date appraisingly. Her taste in women was varied; mostly she preferred them feistier than this one. Still, inexperience and – was it fear? – also had its attractions. But she didn’t want Joan to be too scared. Yet.
“We’re a little early for the play,” she remarked coolly. This was not in fact strictly true, but she knew her Bentley could easily make up the time later, “There’s a place that I’d like to show you. Would you mind if we stopped?”
“N-not at all!” Joan was surprised she could still speak.

 

#11:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 2:02 pm

What is she up to?

Are you planning on posting all the story today?

 

#12:  Author: Catherine_B, Location: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 2:05 pm

Yup! Can't think of anything better to do with my Valentine's Day Exclamation

 

#13:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 2:06 pm

Don't think of it as valentines day, think of it as Rachel's birthday!

 

#14:  Author: pip_penguin, Location: Melbourne PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 2:10 pm

Oooh, thank you! This does look interesting. I loved Alternative Romance!!

 

#15:  Author: Nicci, Location: UK PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 2:11 pm

*draws up a cosy chair and settles down with Pim*

looking forward to more of this, if Alt Rom was anything to go by....

 

#16:  Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 3:14 pm

*wonders rather dubiously what is going to happen here but it eager for more*

 

#17:  Author: pim, Location: the place where public transport doesn't work properly! PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 3:33 pm

*finds herself now permanently ensconsed waiting for more*

*hands around chocolate cake to keep spirits up*

 

#18:  Author: Abi, Location: Alton, Hants PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 3:42 pm

*brings out mini cheddars for those who dont like choccie cake and suggests someone brings Tim Tams (they don't sell them in Egham Tesco Crying or Very sad )*

 

#19:  Author: Catherine_B, Location: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 3:57 pm

WARNING: Not for under 16s or those who could be shocked. (But I promise this is as graphic as it's going to get - the next & last installment will be back at the CS).

The Bentley drew up at a small outlook point, and the two women got out of the car in silence. Joan shivered, though whether due to the cold December air or to some other sensation was uncertain.
Mabel leant against the old stone wall that guarded the road, gazing out at the valley before them. She turned slightly as Joan came up beside her.
“Not quite the Alps, perhaps. But the best that Northants can offer, I think.”
Joan frowned, “It looks awfully familiar for some reason.”
Her companion gave a slight grin. “Look to the left – over there behind those boulders,” she indicated briefly. “Don’t you remember struggling along that path, not so long ago?”
“Oh!” Joan’s eyes widened in recognition, “that’s where we used to go cross-country running with school.” She did a double-take as she remembered that the land was part of the Cartwright estate. “Mabel – this -”
Mabel turned to look her straight in the face, “Yes?”

The words died on Joan’s lips as she felt the younger woman’s eyes on her. “I -”
Mabel’s gaze was direct, “That’s a very nice dress you’re wearing this evening, my dear.”
It was the second time that Joan had heard the words that evening, but she felt them much more keenly this time. “I – it -”
“And I like the pearls,” the corner of Mabel’s mouth twitched. She reached out a hand and fingered Joan’s necklace, “most alluring.”
Joan felt the pressure of Mabel’s hand on her collar bone and for a fleeting moment thought that she might faint.
“Something wrong?”
“I – yes – no -” her companion didn’t think she could bear such torment any longer, “Mabel -”

There was a low laugh, followed by a gasp of surprise and then a quiet moan as Mabel pushed Joan against the wall and bit her roughly at the base of her neck.

 

#20:  Author: Rachael,  PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 4:50 pm

Oh Catherine! Laughing

How is Joan going to react?!! Will she let her true feelings come to the fore or will her silly prejudices and background get the better of her now she's in her parents' home .....

Have to say - Mabel is being a wee bit rough for a first date but then Joan kind of deserves it after what she did to N&K ...
But then has she just been prejudiced because she's never had the opportunity of a relationship ...

More please, I'm intrigued ..... though can see this drabble heading to the Milk Train ...........

 

#21:  Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 4:52 pm

Oh yes, complete surprise - now how will Joanie react?????

Thanks Catherine! Smile

 

#22:  Author: pim, Location: the place where public transport doesn't work properly! PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 4:52 pm

Intrigued. Very. Oooooooooooooooooooooooh. *Thinks Joan deserves it after what she did to K&N in alternative romance and wonders if it would be disrespectful to let off a party popper over Joan getting her comeuppance?

 

#23:  Author: Catherine_B, Location: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 4:55 pm

Sorry, Rachael - this is only a day-long drabble, so quite short! (Though having said there would be just one more post, they've stretched into two... Wink)

“Post’s here!” announced Rosalie Dene, School Secretary, to the staffroom. Sitting down on a table she smiled at little Mlle de Lachenais, “Two for you, Julie; a postcard from England for you, Ruth; and something official for Rosalind,” and she began distributing the post to its addressees.
Kathie Ferrars, pouring over a messily sketched map of the British Isles by Janice Chester, looked up suddenly. She cast a surreptitious glance at Joan Bertram a few desks away, just in time to see a shadow flit across that young woman’s face, and gave an inward groan. She had known that her old college chum would be too fickle to remain interested in Joan for long, but she could still feel her colleague’s misery.
“What’s up, old thing?” Nancy Wilmot, who had just entered the staffroom, caught sight of her partner’s expression and paused for a quiet word. “Everything OK?”
“Mmm. I’m fine,” the response was soft, and the two women’s eyes met briefly. Then Nancy’s eyes widened as Kathie inclined her head almost imperceptibly in Joan’s direction.
“Do you think I should - ?” the younger woman murmured, almost inaudible in the bustle surrounding the post.
Nancy shook her fair head slightly, “Imagine if it were you…” she said quietly.
“Hmm,” Kathie assented dubiously, shooting another sideways glance at Joan Bertram. “But honestly, I could scrag Mabel sometimes!”
The elder woman said nothing, merely looking down at her diminutive colleague with a gentle light in her eyes. The cloud passed from Kathie’s face as she saw her partner’s expression,
“It’s not me, though. And I’m awfully glad!”
The two friends smiled at one another and parted ways.

 

#24:  Author: Rachael,  PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 5:00 pm

Oh fabulous!!!
*chortling*

N&K are suuucchh nice people not to gloat - I would!

RIGHT - IWANT THE LAST BIT PLEASE!
ASAP!

 

#25:  Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 5:05 pm

*Joining Rachael in a chant*

Guitar piano Trumpet
drummer megaphone popper

 

#26:  Author: pim, Location: the place where public transport doesn't work properly! PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 5:07 pm

Chanting as we speak too. This is very bad, it's completely put me off my work today! I've done nothing.

 

#27:  Author: Catherine_B, Location: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 5:26 pm

Did I mention that I don't like Valentine's Day?

Joan Bertram paced around the tiny bedroom accorded to her as a Chalet School mistress, overcome with shame, frustration and – yes - annoyance.
‘I can’t believe I’ve been so stupid!’ she berated herself. ‘What was I thinking? Of course it didn’t mean anything. It was just a bit of fun!’ And it was true, her three week fling with Mabel Cartwright had been fun, if brief. ‘But come on, Joan,’ she lectured herself inwardly, ‘the writing was on the wall. Just two postcards in six weeks of term? For goodness sake, girl, get a grip!’
She sat down suddenly at the old-fashioned writing desk, and picked up pen and paper. ‘Right! Well, you may have been a fool for the last few weeks, young woman, but it’s going to stop now!’ And she began to write.

‘Mabel, darling,’ her letter began. ‘Thanks for the postcard, my dear. Sounds like you had a fabulous time in Ireland – must have been nice to get out of the country for once,’ (Joan mentally awarded herself a point here for living on the Continent and not in provincial England). ‘Sorry I haven’t been in contact for a while, everything’s been hectically busy. Last weekend was Zermatt, and next weekend is Basle – such a rush! Lots of fun though.’ (She chewed the top of her pen for a second, wondering how to get round to the point). ‘Anyway, what I really wanted to say was that I had a lovely time at Christmas, but I think perhaps it would be better if we didn’t keep in touch. You know I love my job, it wouldn’t be fair to keep you hanging on. I’m sure you’ll find the right woman one day,’ (Joan hoped decidedly that it hadn’t happened yet). ‘Take care of yourself, sweetheart, and good luck. Joanie.’

The young woman flexed her right hand after writing this hasty screed. Then, with a slight frown, she picked up her pen once more, and applied herself to addressing and dating the letter. Looking uncertainly at the paper for a second, she gave herself a sudden shake, and decided that a tiny white lie wouldn’t hurt anyone. ‘The Chalet School, Gornetz Platz’, she titled it. ‘13th February…’

Joan Bertram folded the letter, inserted it into a matching envelope, and sealed it. Staring at it on her desk, she felt a sudden surge of triumph, swiftly followed by a unfamiliar wave of nausea. Running from the room, she only just made it to the bathroom in time.

Nobody except Kathie Ferrars would ever suspect the real reason for her bilious attacks.

 

#28:  Author: pim, Location: the place where public transport doesn't work properly! PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 5:31 pm

Catherine, can I just say this drabble has been a very bad influence on me this afternoon... BUT I LOVE IT! I wasn't particularly fondof Joan Bertram in the books anyway. And who cares that I haven't done anything today, there's still tomorrow.

 

#29:  Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 5:38 pm

OK this is me being unusually dense - what is the real reason for Joan's bilious attacks?

Oh and like Joan's revenge, Catherine - more please!

 

#30:  Author: Catherine_B, Location: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 5:41 pm

Lesley wrote:
OK this is me being unusually dense - what is the real reason for Joan's bilious attacks?


LOL! You mean you've never experienced lovesickness literally, Lesley? Oh well, just trust me on this one, it's not a nice experience ROFL Oh, and sorry - but that's it (for today anyway). I've given you a nice, complete drabble all in one day - surely you can't want more? Rolling Eyes

 

#31:  Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 5:45 pm

Well I did say I was being dense - all I could come up with was the one thing that Mabel could not have caused Joan to become! Shocked

Thank you for the drabble.

 

#32:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 6:26 pm

Thank you Catherine. I'm glad that Joan had the guts to write that, and date it as she did. I know she a bit of a nasty piece of work in Alt.rom but somehow that first scene but it all into perspective and made me rather sorry for her. I still do, she deserved pulling up a little, but , well, poor thing.

 

#33:  Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 7:42 pm

Wonderful stuff! I'm so glad Mabel was agressive about things, and I can't help giggling when I think about Joan's change of heart.

One thing, though - wouldn't Nancy and Kathie have left the CS by this time?

 

#34:  Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 11:24 pm

Thanks Catherine, nice to be able to read the beginning and end of a drabble in one go - I suppose Joan Bertram did deserve some unhappiness for what she put N & K through, but I've got to admit to feeling a little sorry for her, especially after that glimpse into her home life.

 

#35:  Author: Rachael,  PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 11:28 pm

ROFLMAO! ROFL ROFL ROFL

Absolutely superb!!
What a classic piece of entertainment ...

I LOOOOVVEED YOUR LAST LINE!!

*chuckle ... grimace ... chortle*

*rather happy for Joan that's she's taking the initiative and making herself feeling better ... not that Mabel's going to be the least bit taken in ...! Wink *

Marvellous writing Catherine!
Thank you!!

 

#36:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 11:33 pm

No Mabel won't be taken in, but she will feel some respect for Joan.

 

#37:  Author: catherine, Location: York PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 11:51 pm

Wonderful, as ever, Catherine!

 

#38:  Author: PatMac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 12:40 am

Most enjoyable and, even though Mabel is fickle, I shouldn't think she's used to getting letters like that!

 

#39:  Author: pip_penguin, Location: Melbourne PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 8:06 am

Oh, that was fabulous. Thank you, Catherine!

 

#40:  Author: Vikki, Location: Possibly in hell! It's certainly hot enough....... PostPosted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 10:13 pm

Thank you Catherine!! That was wonderful! (can't help feeling a teensy bit sorry for Joan though! Even though she was such a cow to Kathie and Nancy in Alt Rom!!!)

 

#41:  Author: Nicci, Location: UK PostPosted: Sun Feb 29, 2004 7:01 pm

Catherine, I know I mentioned several *hundred* times how much I loved Alt Rom, and I have to tell you how thrilled I was to see this. I did start reading it on Valentines day but was busy for the rest of the day, and I've ashamedly only just caught up. Pleased to see Joan get some of her come uppance after being so evil to N&K, but was impressed with her letter!

 

#42:  Author: Xanthe, Location: London/Cambridge PostPosted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 1:05 am

Catherine I've only just read this & I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed it Very Happy

 

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