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Title: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 15th, 2003, 2:25am Archived for length Here's the links: http://members.lycos.co.uk/thecbb/mateysecret.htm ~ part 1 http://members.lycos.co.uk/thecbb/mateysecret2.htm ~ part 2 http://members.lycos.co.uk/thecbb/mateysecret3b.html ~ part3 |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Lisa_T on Nov 15th, 2003, 2:28am Is that a broken link, Vikki? It IS a broken link! KB, this is a LARGE and HEFTY hint to post more ASAP! That was a nasty cliff hanger....................... *buttons mouth* |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 15th, 2003, 2:34am Link fixed! (I hope!!) >:( |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 15th, 2003, 4:18am Lisa, to refer to this post of yours in the archive: Quote:
Vikki wished for more and was grumbling because that was all I'd given her. So I gave her more. *smiles sweetly* Feels that I should post that cliff-hanging bit again, in case people miss it... Matey finally finished sorting the linen and folded the last sheet according to her own strict standards, stacking the piles into the cupboard and covering them in paper to protect them from dust. Looking around, she realised that she was finished and turned to the book in which she recorded the numbers of sheets she received, to ensure that they would all be there when the school finally returned for the next new term. Putting away her pen and shutting the book, she turned to the window and looked out at the dark world outside. It was then, and for the first time, that she realised she hadn’t heard Mary come back. Although Matey couldn’t be sure exactly how much time had passed, her instincts told her that it was too long. Despite somehow knowing instinctively that she hadn’t returned, Matey still went down to the room the two sisters shared to check. Doreen was sound asleep, but the other bed was empty. Matey espied the note that had been pinned to the pyjamas and picked it up, reading it quickly and discovering that Mary had planned to go to the Dripping Rock. Her worry increasing in leaps and bounds, Matey quickly left the room, knowing that, no matter how long it had been, there had been enough time pass now for her to have gone and come back twice over. Every instinct she possessed told Matey that something had happened that might put the life of her daughter in danger. As she hurried back to her room to change into clothes more appropriate for nighttime exploration, Gwynneth was suddenly reminded of Mary’s fear of water. Her heart stopped as she pictured the girl’s terror if she was in some way trapped or… “Matey?” Hilda’s voice demanded from the doorway as that woman was pulling on one of her thickest sweaters. “What are you doing?” “Mary’s out there, at the Dripping Rock,” Gwynneth said curtly. “I’m going to find her.” She thrust the note at the English mistress and grabbed a bag, tossing bandages and a flask of spirits into it, preparing for the possibility that Mary might be injured. “Do you want me to go…?” “No!” Matey’s eyes blazed as she turned on the younger woman. “She’s my daughter and I’m going to find her!” “If you aren’t back in thirty minutes, I’ll arrange a search party,” Hilda replied, quelled by the other woman’s tone. Snatching up one of the large flashlights that were de rigeur for anyone walking at night, Matey was quickly out of the building and hurrying down the path Mary had taken more than two hours earlier, swinging her flashlight from side to side in the hope of seeing something. The world was almost silent, apart from the sound of Matey’s footsteps and the distant cry of a bird returning to its nest. The walk to the Dripping Rock was one of the most popular among all levels of the school and Matey had frequently accompanied girls on various rambles, so she had no difficulty in quickly making her way along the path to the railing and over it. The cries she had heard were closer now, and seemed to be less birdlike and more human. Matey froze for a moment to listen to them, and realised that it was a female voice crying ‘help’ and interspersed with frantic bursts of crying. “Mary!” she called desperately. “Is that you? Where are you?” “Here,” the panic-stricken voice called back. “I’m here! The path collapsed. Oh, help me, please! Please help me!” “I’m coming,” Matey cried, following the path of friable rock. “Hold on, dear. Just a few seconds – ah!” this last as she spotted the break in the path. Matey approached it gingerly, knowing that an unwary movement could send them both down the mountainside and into the lake, if Mary wasn’t already there. Lowering herself to her hands and knees, she warily moved forward, looking down to see Mary just below her, the girl’s fingers clinging to a piece of rock that was jutting out, and her white face turned up to the woman. More soon....... Maybe........................ |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Lesley on Nov 15th, 2003, 5:48am MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE please! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 15th, 2003, 6:09am *chuckles evilly* All right then, if you really want it... “It’s all right, Mary,” Matey said reassuringly as she reached down and got a firm grip on the girl’s wrists. “I’m here now, and people will be out looking for us soon.” “The… the water…” Mary stammered in terrified tones, glancing over her shoulder to where the lake spread out below her, the water looking black, with the moon reflected in it. As she did so, several rocks were loosened by her movement and rattled down the hillside. “Don’t,” Matey ordered sharply, in a tone that not even the Head had ever been able to resist. “Keep still, Mary. Look at me, not the water. I’m not going to let you fall in.” Mary was shaking, both from fear and shock, Gwynneth guessed, and she hoped that they would soon be found. However, the girl lifted her head to look up at the woman and scrabbled around with her feet in the hope of finding a foothold. Although this sent a sheet of stones splashing into the water, she finally found a stone that seemed firm and was able to clutch at Matey’s hands instead of the rock. “Hold on, darling,” Gwynneth said gently. “Help will come soon. Miss Annersley is going to call people to find us if we aren’t back by now, and they know where we were going. Just hold on and talk to me,” she added, trying to distract the girl from their predicament. “Tell me about home.” “T – t – talk?” Mary stuttered, trying to get a firmer hold. However, the movement caused the rock under her foot to move. She felt it shift and automatically tried to look down. As she did so, her hand slid out from Gwynneth’s, and the girl screamed as she felt herself begin to fall… |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Lesley on Nov 15th, 2003, 7:34am Ohhhh! Nasty, more please! :o *Awards KB First Class Honours Degree from 'Cliff-Hanger's' Academy* |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 15th, 2003, 9:27am Oh, I'm so flattered! *admires degree* You tolerate me! You really tolerate me! *sniffle* |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Trish on Nov 15th, 2003, 9:39am KB! You can't answer a cliff hanger with an even bigger cliff hanger! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 15th, 2003, 9:41am *checks my copy of the drabble-writing handbook* This says I can, on the very last page! *slightly worried by the fact that there's no back cover and the last page ends half-way through a sentence* *decides not to bother about it* |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Lesley on Nov 15th, 2003, 1:19pm on 11/15/03 at 09:39:18, Trish wrote:
Yes she can - that's why it was an honours degree - leave 'em hanging even longer! ;) |
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Title: :oRe: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Abi on Nov 15th, 2003, 1:29pm KBeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!! How can I leave campus and go home, eat my lunch/dinner when Mary is falling down a cliff??!!!!!! :o Please un-cliff-hang this quickly! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 15th, 2003, 8:18pm Whoah! Some how I managed to archive this last night without reading the last installment!! (How silly am I?) This is the first drabble we've had with an actual cliff!! (I think anyway) KB, has anyone ever told you that you sometimes take things a tad literally? ;) Now, post more please!! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 15th, 2003, 8:21pm I was waiting for someone to notice that literal point. And Vikki, I thought you archived it because of that last post, in the hope it would make me post more. Silly me!!! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 15th, 2003, 8:31pm Nope, I suddenly woke up to the fact that we had NINE threads with 7, 8 or 9 pages in, and that they needed archiving!! (and being a mod, I guess it was my responsibility!) |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 15th, 2003, 8:39pm And you inspired me, because I archived quite a few threads after you all went to bed, too. |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 15th, 2003, 8:45pm Where were you archiving? |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 15th, 2003, 8:49pm Various threads in "The Books", "The Characters" and "Anything Else". Check the Random archive if you're interested in knowing which ones. |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 15th, 2003, 8:54pm Yes, I'd noticed a few of those were getting pretty long..... |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 15th, 2003, 8:56pm Considering how much faster it makes the board to get rid of them, it's not exactly a major task... |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 15th, 2003, 9:01pm I know, that's why I thought I'd better archive the threads on here.... |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by PatW on Nov 15th, 2003, 9:05pm KB you MAY NOT leave this like this any longer!!!! Get on with the job - NOW! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 15th, 2003, 9:08pm *wonders what on earth Pat is upset about* *notices Pat is hanging on to a jutting-out rock for dear life* *wonders whether Pat will suffer the same fate as Mary.....* |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by catherine on Nov 15th, 2003, 9:09pm Wow! I'm impressed, Pat! Wonder if she'll respond! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Esmeralda on Nov 15th, 2003, 9:20pm Wails - Of all the nights Vikki could choose to start archiving she has to choose last night! Doesn't she know that it takes about ten minutes to get to each link? Why was Mary going to the dripping rock in the first place please? What happened between her going to see Matey and hanging on the cliff? And please let us know what happens next...... |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by catherine on Nov 15th, 2003, 9:25pm She went for a walk to the dripping rock but the path collapsed, leaving her hanging off a cliff and it looks like she'll be staying there for quite some time since KB is being mean! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 15th, 2003, 9:25pm I'm sorry Esmeralda! :-[ But we had so many long threads, and the board was slowing up again.... |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Esmeralda on Nov 15th, 2003, 9:44pm It's ok Vikki, it's not your fault I've only got a little computer, 16K, not sure what size the hard drive is but not very big at all. The new one is supposed to arrive the first week in December, but I'm a bit cynical about promised delivery dates. Thanks for filling me in Catharine. I hope KB doesn't leave her there much longer - there should be a law against leaving your characters with their fate in the balance for any length of time. |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 15th, 2003, 9:48pm *fingers crossed that your new 'puter arrives on schedule!* |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Carolyn P on Nov 15th, 2003, 10:58pm KB, please, please, could you see your way clear to posting the next installment or two very soon as I don't want to fall off this particular cliff because it's rather late to be faling into a lake. Thank-you ever so much. |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 16th, 2003, 12:16am Okay, okay, everybody get a grip. ;D At the last possible second before the girl slid down the rocky slope, Gwynneth managed to grab the girl’s shoulder, feeling her arm twist agonisingly as she struggled with Mary’s dead weight. However, she set her teeth against the pain and managed to grab Mary’s wrist with her free hand, halting the slide. Reaching up, Mary managed to clasp the woman’s wrist in her other hand and found another niche for her left foot. Even as the last stones splashed into the water and the echo of Mary’s scream died away, there was the sound of running footsteps, and then a group of men, armed with ropes and ice picks, arrived at the scene. Without asking questions, one of the men sank an ice pick deep into the ground and lashed one of the ropes to it while another fastened the free end around his waist. A third man lay on the ground beside Gwynneth and gripped Mary’s arms closer to her shoulders, but although they urged Mary to let go, she seemed deaf to the command, clinging to the woman’s wrist in terror and screaming again when Gwynneth loosened her grasp on Mary’s shoulder. Having no other option, the man who had wrapped the rope around his waist and began the difficult task of scaling the crumbling cliff. Being an experienced alpinist, however, he made short work of the task and was soon beside Mary. Without saying a word, knowing that she was incapable of hearing him, he waited until a second rope had been secured to another ice pick and thrown down to him, which he then tied securely around her waist. “All right,” he called, and the two remaining men at the top of the cliff began to pull the girl to safety. The security of the rope around her waist and the voice of the man speaking in her ear woke Mary out of her overwhelming fear, so that she was able to release her hold on Gwynneth’s arm and even help herself a little up the last few feet of the cliff. As soon as she was on solid ground, the men moved away from the edge and forced her to sit down, dosing her with a small flask of brandy one of the men had brought with them. Fortunately for Matey, who felt that she was unable to move her arms, let alone treat the various cuts on Mary’s arms and legs, one of the hikers was a student doctor and he treated the injuries with the bandages Matey had brought with her. Then two of the men made a chair and Mary was seated in it, despite her protests. Two of the other men walked either side of Gwynneth and gave her a hand over the railing, for which she was thankful. At the school, lights blazed from every window on the ground floor, and Matron Rider took charge of both Mary and Gwynneth as soon as they appeared. Matey was whisked away to her own room, and after learning she had no more pain than might have been expected considering the activities of the night, was dosed with her own nostrum and left in peace for it to take effect, with Frau Mieders sitting in the corner with her knitting in case Matey woke up wanting something. For Mary, however, the situation was not so simple. She had begun to cry as she was carried up the path as the reaction set in and for some time was unable to be comforted. It was only when, at Hilda’s suggestion, Doreen was brought, rosy from sleep, from her bed that her sister managed to obey Matron Rider’s directions to calm down. |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 16th, 2003, 12:19am Pheww!! Glad you didn't kill either of them off KB!!! When do we get the next bit? *asked innocently* ;) |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Lisa_T on Nov 16th, 2003, 12:22am Thank you KB! Now, M-m-...................................!!! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Carolyn P on Nov 16th, 2003, 12:23am Thank-you KB. I can go to bed and sleep easy. Night night everyone. |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 16th, 2003, 12:26am Night night Carolyn!! ;D |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 16th, 2003, 12:51am One more part, and then I need to write some more. *hoping to finish it today* When Mary woke the next morning, it was to find herself in a room in the San. Sunlight was streaming in through the window and for a moment she had no memory of what had taken place the night before. However, as soon as she moved, every muscle screaming in protest, the memory came flooding back and she sank against the pillow with a muffled cry. Miss Annersley, who had been sitting in an armchair at the window, looked up sharply at the sound and put down her book, crossing the room in a few swift strides. “Mary, my dear, try not to move too much. You’ll only hurt yourself.” When the girl remained silent, obviously fighting herself for control, Miss Annersley pulled a chair up beside the bed and sat in it. “Would you like something to eat, dear? It’s the middle of the morning, so it’s a little late for Fruhstück, but I’m sure Cook could find you something.” There was another moment of silence before Mary finally spoke. “How’s Matron?” Miss Annersley sighed inwardly. She knew that the news she had would upset the girl, and she had been hoping to leave it until after Mary had had something to build her strength. However it was obviously not going to be that easy. “She’s not so well, Mary. She woke early this morning, complaining of severe pain in her shoulders, and when nothing helped, we summoned Dr. Jem. He ordered her be taken to the San for observation and tests, in case she has some broken bones.” Mary stared up her. “B… broken bones?” “Yes, Mary,” Miss Annersley replied gently. “She strained herself badly trying to stop you from falling, until the climbers I called from the Kron Prinz Karl arrived. We’re hoping she won’t have broken anything, but she had a lot of pain and Dr. Jem wanted to make sure she was all right.” As she listened, Mary’s eyes filled with tears, which spilled over as she struggled into a sitting position. “I… I want to see her,” she stammered, gulping audibly. “Not today,” Miss Annersley said firmly, using a tone with which few girls, and only those with more courage than Mary, had ever attempted to argue. “Matron Rider has said that you are to stay in bed. You’re going to be very stiff and sore, you know,” she added kindly, seeing the disappointment on Mary’s face, even as she reached out for another of the large fluffy pillows and put it on the bed, gently pushing Mary back against it. “And besides, your sister is longing to see you, and Matron has only said she will allow that if you eat something now and have another nap.” And, to her despair, Mary found that that was exactly what was going to happen, whether she liked it or not. The news of Matron’s injuries had filled her with guilt, and she felt that the only way to assuage that would be to see her and apologise for her carelessness as soon as possible, but she was constantly thwarted by the women who remained in the room with her until she had eaten the light meal that had been prepared for her and drunk every drop of the coffee, into which Matron Rider had mixed something to help her sleep. |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Sarah_L on Nov 16th, 2003, 12:55am on 11/15/03 at 21:44:54, Esmeralda wrote:
You are being ironic there aren't you Esmeralda? :P |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 16th, 2003, 12:58am Please let Matey be alright KB!!!! :o |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 16th, 2003, 12:58am Quote:
One would certainly hope she is, yes. |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Lisa_T on Nov 16th, 2003, 1:01am *especially as at least KB relieved us quickly. Eugen, now.....* ;) But more KB!!! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 16th, 2003, 1:07am As soon as it's written, Lisa, I promise! (And I don't know if Matey's all right yet either!!!) |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 16th, 2003, 1:17am Arrrggghh!! And you were telling me to get writing...... :o |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 16th, 2003, 1:20am *lol* Actually, I do. I was just winding you up. ;D And I'm surprised you're all worried. If you remember, I did say I hoped that this story might be able to be integrated into the actual series... ;) |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 16th, 2003, 1:27am Okay, so we know you aren't going to knobble Matey, but what about Mary? ??? |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 16th, 2003, 1:29am :D I suppose you'll just have to wait and see, won't you? :D |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 16th, 2003, 1:31am Now that's just plain mean!! Especially when you have it written already! >:( |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 16th, 2003, 1:32am *smiles sweetly and tells Vikki that if only she writes a lot on NF, she could be this smug, too* |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 16th, 2003, 1:37am Yes, but I'm being nice, and posting as I go! In an effort not to keep people waiting too long! :P |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 16th, 2003, 1:41am *wonders exactly what Vikki considers to be 'waiting too long', as we've all been hanging out for decent-length slabs of this story for ages* |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 16th, 2003, 1:49am *reminds KB that she's writing the darned thing as fast as limited creativity allows!!* |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 16th, 2003, 2:05am *finds it cute that Vikki renamed her plot bunny 'limited creativity' in the hope of inducing more ideas from it* ;) *wonders if other names might not have had a more positive effect* |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Sugarplum on Nov 16th, 2003, 2:28am KB this is great :):) Any chance of some more soon please? *is being restrained and not begging just yet! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 16th, 2003, 2:41am Glad you're enjoying it, Sugarplum. *decides to wait for begging* |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 16th, 2003, 2:41am on 11/16/03 at 02:05:16, KB wrote:
:P :P *debates sending 'limited creativity' the plot bunny for a holiday in Melbourne* *goes looking for KB's address!!* |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 16th, 2003, 2:49am *thinks Vikki will be lucky to find it, but wishes that 'limited creativity' could send Vikki for a holiday in Melbourne instead, just in time for the CBB get-together on Sunday* |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 16th, 2003, 2:55am Well, I found your address! ;D Wish I could come over for Sunday, but a)not enough cash! b)long way to come for a day! c) have to be back at work on Wednesday!! Thanks for the invite though!! ;) Have fun and report back to us on it!! :) |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Sugarplum on Nov 16th, 2003, 3:02am Quote:
Oh okkkkkkkkkkkk :) begs for a little bit more soon cos its 3am gone and I'm still awake!! * is that a good thing?* It might be if KB posts more story ! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 16th, 2003, 3:06am Okay, Sugarplum, just for you. ;) “No, Mrs. Williams,” Mlle Lepattre replied to that woman’s question. “We haven’t told Mary you’re here. Doreen doesn’t know either.” The woman sitting opposite the Head of the Chalet School was a tall woman in a plain but neat dress, her hat in her hand. She nodded in acknowledgement of the other woman’s answer and a faint smile crossed her face, but she was clearly preoccupied by her own thoughts. The silence extended to a full minute before Mlle Lepattre leaned forward, attracting the attention of her visitor. “Shall I call Doreen for you? Or would you prefer to see Mary first?” “I think Mary, if you please,” the other woman responded. “Dorry is one person’s work at any time, and I do want to talk to Mary.” “Very well,” the Frenchwoman agreed, rising to her feet. “Come along then. Mary is still in the San – the accident happened only five days ago.” “What exactly did happen?” Mrs. Williams asked. “Mary was walking along a rather unstable path, quite late at night, and went too near the edge,” Mlle Lepattre replied. “The ground gave way, but she was able to hold onto a rock until help arrived.” Mrs. Williams nodded, but their arrival outside the San prevented her from needing to speak. A woman in a nurse’s uniform, who was introduced as Matron Rider, showed her into the room, leaving unobtrusively as Mary looked up, instantly recognising her visitor and holding out her arms with a cry of “Nanny!” The woman was at the bedside in a flash, gathering her former nursling in her arms. “Oh, my darling,” she crooned. “You silly, silly girl! What did you think you were doing?” “I didn’t mean to,” Mary sniffled, her eyes having filled at the woman’s tone. Any observer who had seen Mary at school would have been astonished by the change she had undergone, from a mature, thoughtful girl into a young child, clinging to the woman in whose arms she was nestled. “There, there, baby,” Nanny soothed. “I know you didn’t. I’m not angry with you.” Sitting up as the girl released her hold, Mrs. Williams smoothed Mary’s hair and fetched a facecloth from the bathroom, dampening it and coming back to sponge the girl’s flushed face. “Did… did someone call to tell you what had happened?” Mary asked, gulping down the last of her sobs. “Yes, Mlle Lepattre called this morning to tell us,” Nanny replied, pulling up a chair next to the bed and placed the facecloth on the table. “I also came to tell you that Susan is coming back tomorrow. Her sister is much better, so I thought I would stay until you were well enough to travel, and then I could help you and Dorry back to O’Connor Hall.” “Dr. Maynard says I’ll be able to get out of bed again tomorrow,” Mary told her. “I was up for a few hours this morning.” “So you haven’t done any serious damage then?” Nanny asked, her eyes full of concern. “They didn’t tell me so,” Mary replied, looking up again as the door opened, and her face fell at the sight of Matron Rider. “Oh, Matron, does Nanny have to go yet?” “I’m afraid so,” that woman replied with a sympathetic smile, her eyes studying her patient’s face. “Mrs. Williams may come and see you for a short time tomorrow morning after you’re up, but for now you have to take a nap.” Mary might have argued the point, but Nanny was already standing up, so Mary could do nothing but agree and sit forward so that Matron Rider could remove some of the pillows from behind her head, while Nanny made her way out into the hallway, where Mlle Lepattre was waiting for her. |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Sugarplum on Nov 16th, 2003, 3:10am Thank you KB!! ;D I thought there was going to be a heart to heart with Matey and Mary but that was enough for now! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 16th, 2003, 3:11am awwww! Sweet! When do we get the next bit please Miss KB HG type person? |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 16th, 2003, 3:14am Hmm, probably not for at least a few hours, but you aren't hanging off any cliffs at the moment, so you should be okay. |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 16th, 2003, 3:20am I'm grateful for the lack of cliffs, but sad that I won't get to read more till I come in from work tomorrow! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 16th, 2003, 3:36am I'm sorry, dear, but I really don't have another full scene written yet... If you're lucky, you might be able to read all the way to the end by then! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 16th, 2003, 3:42am *unsure whether this is good or bad news!!* :-/ |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 16th, 2003, 3:44am *posts another teensy part for Vikki* “Doreen is out in the garden,” the Headmistress remarked to the other woman as they went down the stairs. “Shall we go and find her?” “Thank you,” Mrs. Williams replied. “I would appreciate that.” As they reached the large front door, Mrs. Williams turned to the Frenchwoman. “I would like, if possible, to talk to the woman who saved Mary, and to thank her. Is that possible?” Mlle Lepattre looked thoughtful. “She was quickly badly hurt, you understand,” she began hesitantly, “however I shall call the San while you are with Doreen and find out whether she is able to have visitors.” “Thank you, ma’am,” the other woman answered, but the sound of running footsteps prevented her from asking anything else as Doreen appeared around the corner. “Nanny! Nanny!” she shrieked eagerly, throwing herself into that woman’s arms. “Oh, Nanny, it’s lovely to see you!” “Well, let’s have a look at you,” that woman ordered, and Mlle Lepattre smiled at Mrs. Williams’ maternal tone as she went in to phone the San. And once this one is finished, I start on my one with Miss Annersley... |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 16th, 2003, 3:52am Thank you KB!!! (really must go to bed now! Have to get up in about 5 hours!!) :( |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 16th, 2003, 3:58am Sleep well then! Dream lots of NF for us! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Lesley on Nov 16th, 2003, 9:50am Thank you KB - Does Nanny know about Matey I wonder - should be interesting if she does! More please soon! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 16th, 2003, 9:54am *decides that, as Lesley is so good at guessing games, she might like to write the rest of the story for me* ;) |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by catherine on Nov 16th, 2003, 10:16am *wishing KB would post the rest of the story as she is dying to find out what happens and also looking forward to the Hilda story* |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 16th, 2003, 10:32am Well, it's still not finished, as the PB keeps adding more scenes, but you may certainly have more, as you asked so nicely... Two hours later, Mrs. Williams was met at the entrance of the San by Dr. Jem. He ushered her inside and guided her towards the private room that had been set aside for Matey. “I would ask you to keep your visit brief,” he stated. “She is still upset.” “Yes, Doctor,” the woman agreed. “Would you prefer I didn’t see her today?” “No, I don’t think it will be a problem,” Dr. Jem replied after a moment of thought. “If you will just keep your visit short, everything should be fine.” “Thank you,” Mrs. Williams murmured, following him to a room and going inside as he held the door for her. “This is Mrs. Williams,” he told the woman in the bed. “She’s Mary and Doreen’s Nanny.” He left the two women alone and closed the door behind him. Matron Lloyd was seated in an armchair at the window. Her right arm was in a cage, the tests having found a fracture in her collarbone. She looked questioningly at her visitor and waved at a chair opposite with her left hand. “Do sit down, Mrs. Williams. How may I help you?” Silently, Mrs. Williams took the seat indicated and looked at Gwynneth until that woman began to feel uncomfortable. “Can I do something for you?” she asked sharply. “I had expected you to be older, Miss Lloyd.” Gwynneth froze, her heart suddenly pounding loudly in her ears. “Who are you?” she whispered. “He told me about you,” Mrs. Williams replied steadily. “When he began to write that letter, five years ago, he told me about you so that I would send that on to you if something happened to him.” “Why did nobody tell me she was still alive?” Gwynneth hissed, anger replacing fear. “Why did you lie to me?” “It wasn’t my doing,” Mrs. Williams protested. “Nor Sir Anthony’s either. It was all his mother’s doing. When she found out, she was furious. If he hadn’t been her only child, I believe she would have made her husband disinherit him, but that would only have made the scandal worse.” “I lost my child,” Gwynneth spat furiously, “and you were worried about a scandal?!” “God took my baby when she was two,” Mrs. Williams told her. “So I know something of what you went through. But I don’t know you. I do know Mary, and I know what it would have done to her prospects if the scandal of a bastard child was leaked out into the social circles in which Sir Anthony and his wife moved. Would you want your child to go through life with the stigma of being a bastard?” Gwynneth was silenced. She had, truth to tell, thought more about her own position than that of her daughter, and it would indeed have ruined both their lives if that secret had been leaked. “I was hired by the late Lady Helen O’Connor – Sir Anthony’s mother – only a few days after Mary was born,” Mrs. Williams continued. “Sir Anthony’s wife had gone through the pretence of expecting and when the baby arrived, the news was broadcast in the usual way. I was put in charge of the nursery and Lady Margaret barely ever saw the baby.” “And I never saw her,” Matron Lloyd said softly, but with a meaningful tone to her voice that brought a flush of colour to the cheeks of her visitor. “I don’t know why Sir Anthony didn’t tell her after his parents died,” Mrs. Williams admitted. “Whatever the reason, though, the secret was well kept. To the best of my knowledge, I am the only employee at O’Connor Hall that knows the truth.” “So how did you find out?” “Sir Anthony told me,” came the reply. “After his mother died – his father had passed on several years before – he began to write the letter to you, as well as one to Mary, telling both of you the truth. He completed the one to Mary and left it in the care of his lawyer, for her to receive on her eighteenth birthday…” “…which is tomorrow,” Gwynneth interrupted. |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 16th, 2003, 10:32am “Sir Anthony’s lawyer has already arranged to visit her here at the school tomorrow, and among other things, he will give Mary the letter from her father,” Mrs. Williams went on, with a nod to acknowledge that the other woman had spoken. “He will also tell her that, while her uncle and aunt are her official guardians, they have disclaimed all responsibility for her, and that you are to take that on. In addition, she will become the next Lady O’Connor.” “She’s only eighteen,” Matron exclaimed, her tones a mixture of surprise and horror. “Nevertheless, that is the age at which she comes into her inheritance,” Mrs. Williams told her. “She will also have official charge of her sister.” “All that on one day?” Gwynneth demanded, horrified. “Officially, yes,” her visitor replied. “However, unless she wishes otherwise, all of the staff at O’Connor Hall, including myself, will remain there, and she will retain the services of those men employed by her father.” “She has spoken very highly of all of you,” the patient put in, and a smile graced the rather plain features of the woman opposite. “She and Doreen are very dear to all of us,” came the reply. “And we are exceedingly grateful for what the school, and particularly you, have done for her. Matron nodded. Truth to tell, she was becoming weary with the emotion of all she had experienced recently and learned that day. The fact that Mary would learn the truth the next day was a burden so great that Gwynneth wished that Mrs. Williams had not told her of it. Perhaps seeing her weariness, the other woman rose. “I should go,” she said. “I had no intention of giving you as many details as I did, but I think it’s only right that you should be told before my husband goes to see Mary tomorrow.” “I’m glad you did,” Matey replied honestly. “I appreciate the advanced notice.” Good guess, Lesley! ;D |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Lesley on Nov 16th, 2003, 10:55am Thank you KB!!! Looking forward to more! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Esmeralda on Nov 16th, 2003, 11:09am Oh. Feeling desperately sorry for Mary at the moment - not only is she still recovering from the shock of the accident she's about to find out that every thing she always beleived about her life is untrue. |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Carolyn P on Nov 16th, 2003, 8:49pm Looking forward to the next few scenes, especialy Mary and Matey. Sorry KB, but who is going to visit Mary? You said her lawyer, but later Nanny said 'my husband'. Is Nanny married to Mary's lawyer, or did I misread something. Hope you post some more of this very soon. |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 16th, 2003, 8:52pm KB! Please post us some more as soon as possible!!!! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 16th, 2003, 9:19pm Yes, Carolyn, Nanny is married to the O'Connor's lawyer. Mr. Williams arrived at the school at promptly ten o’clock the following morning, a folder with all the necessary papers tucked under his arm. He was shown to the San and into the room in which Mary was waiting for him. In the doorway, much to the astonishment of both the maid and Matron Rider, he paused and nodded his head in an informal bow. “Your ladyship,” he greeted the girl, who was pale but calm, and who rose to acknowledge his greeting. “Mr. Williams,” she responded, and waved at a chair. “Do sit down.” “Thank you,” he murmured, and seated himself as Mary resumed her seat. A table had been set up close to his seat, and on this he placed his folder, opening it before looking up at the girl. “I apologise, Lady Mary,” he said with a smile. “Many happy returns on your 18th birthday.” “Thank you,” she smiled, although it faded rapidly. “I assume you have information about my future.” “Some,” he agreed. “Although, now that you are of age, you have the option to ignore that advice.” Mary nodded. “You may tell the staff of O’Connor Hall,” she said somewhat stiffly, “that I shall desire to retain their services, unless they wish to resign.” “I have already been requested to assure you that none do, ma’am,” he assured her. “Now, your father’s will, as you are aware, states that you shall come into your inheritance on your eighteenth birthday, meaning that O’Connor Hall and all of its estate are to come under your jurisdiction. Has your ladyship yet considered the future?” “I would like to continue here at the Chalet School for the next academic year,” Mary said after a moment’s consideration. “I would also like to have some idea of the state of those in the surrounding districts to O’Connor Hall. Please find out that information for me, Williams.” “Very good, ma’am,” he murmured, making a note on the paper he had brought with him. “I have another important point for your ladyship’s consideration. Your father’s will requests that you take on responsibility for your sister until such time as she is of age, at which point you will give her an allowance equivalent to that currently received by your Uncle William.” Mary smiled, and for the first time during the interview, spoke in her natural tones. “I’d love to,” she exclaimed, before seeming to stiffen. “Does my father make recommendations regarding the moneys paid to my Uncle?” “Nothing, ma’am,” Mr. Williams replied after carefully checking through the will. “Does it please your ladyship to make a decision on the matter?” Mary thought for a moment. “For the moment,” she said finally, “we will continue at the same amounts as heretofore. When I return to O’Connor Hall, then it is to be re-examined.” “Very good,” Williams repeated, making another note. “Is that all, Williams?” Mary asked when the man made no move to speak again. “Not quite, ma’am,” he responded, producing an envelope. “Your father asked me to give you this in the event of his passing, your ladyship. He said that it was one of the most important things you would need to know in your life.” Accepting the envelope, Mary shot the lawyer a quizzical glance. “Do you know what it says, Williams?” “Your father did confide in me regarding the matter, yes, ma’am.” Hesitating no longer, anxious at the man’s tone, Mary ripped the envelope and pulled out the letter with hands that suddenly trembled. |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Esmeralda on Nov 16th, 2003, 9:31pm Aw, come on...Mary's had time to read the letter twenty times by now - what's her reaction?? ?? ?? |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 16th, 2003, 9:35pm Gwynneth had just been helped back to bed when the door of her room flew open to show the girl Matey had last seen hanging precariously from the cliff-face. Her face was chalk-white and her eyes appeared darker than normal as a result. Holding up a hand to stop the nurse, who was prepared to eject the girl as abruptly as she had appeared, having seen the piece of paper in her hand and guessing at its contents, she spoke in the tone that every erring Chalet School girl recognised, and which never failed to illicit a response. “Sit down, Mary, and try to get a hold on yourself.” Mr. Williams, who had followed the girl into the room, pulled up a chair beside the bed and waited for Dr. Jem to dismiss the nurse and leave the room himself before following the medical staff out and closing the door behind him. Heeding nothing of this, Mary sank into the chair beside the bed. “You know about this,” she said sharply, waving the letter. “I do,” her mother responded. “And you didn’t tell me?” “Would you have believed me?” came the prompt and unanswerable reply. “What proof could I possibly have given you that would have led you to believe me?” “Why didn’t anyone ever tell me?” Mary demanded. “Mary, you’re an adult now,” Gwynneth began. “And I think you know the way in which society views children whose parents are not married. I suspect your father didn’t want to put you through that. You would have suffered as a result, my dear,” she added, warmth filling her voice. “I wouldn’t have wanted to put you through that.” “When did you find out about me?” “I first learned that you were alive at the start of this past term. Previously, I had been told that you had died at the age of two.” “And… what did you think?” Gwynneth smiled. “I wondered about you. I’d never stopped wondering about you. I used to imagine what you would have looked like, had you been alive. When I began working at the Chalet School, I used to picture which subjects you might have done well at, and whether you would have been a tidy pupil or the bane of my life.” A faint smile pulled at the corners of Mary’s mouth. “Would you,” she began slowly, in a halting voice, “have wanted me?” Her mother sighed. “My darling,” she began in heartfelt tones, “I have never stopped wanting you.” Mary stared at her for a moment before tears filled her eyes and she sobbed, throwing herself at the bed and her mother. |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Esmeralda on Nov 16th, 2003, 9:42pm :'( Oh, KB, that is lovely. *Sniffs and reaches for communal tissue. |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 16th, 2003, 9:44pm Awwwww! *sniffle, sniffle* That was lovely KB!! Please let us know what happens next! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Lisa_T on Nov 16th, 2003, 10:03pm *joining in with the sniffling* Please, KB! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Carolyn P on Nov 16th, 2003, 10:21pm That sent a shiver down my spine KB. Thank yo, do you have any more for us yet? |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Sugarplum on Nov 16th, 2003, 10:38pm oooooooooooo that was luvly! :) I'm glad Mary believed her. Hopes there will be some more soon :) (hint hint!) |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 16th, 2003, 11:00pm Only half the scene done so far, but I will work on it asap, I promise. Glad you all enjoyed it. :) |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Lesley on Nov 16th, 2003, 11:11pm Beautiful KB - brought happy tear to my eye! Next bit please! ;D |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Jennie on Nov 17th, 2003, 12:29pm Oh dear, I'm still blinking back the tears from this scene, it was really touching. I'll refill the tissue box soon............. There, refilled! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Kathryn on Nov 17th, 2003, 10:01pm Where's the next bit? |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Lisa_T on Nov 17th, 2003, 10:12pm Yes KB, where is the next bit? |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 17th, 2003, 10:53pm Voila! “So now you understand the situation,” Gwynneth Lloyd said anxiously to Mlle Lepattre and Mrs Russell, who sat opposite her in the Head’s study. “I await your joint decision on my future at the Chalet School.” It was three weeks since the accident. The cage had finally been removed from Matey’s arm and she was slowly regaining the use of it again. Mary had returned with Doreen to O’Connor Hall as soon as she was well enough to travel, to set things up in the way that she preferred them, and to make the necessary arrangements for her future and that of her sister. She had had an unpleasant interview with her Uncle, the result of which had been the cutting off of his allowance, and although Mary’s Aunt had made herself as unpleasant as she knew how about the reduction in their finances, Lady O’Connor had stood firm and had them both removed from the property. Mr. Williams, who had conducted a sly investigation into Mr. and Mrs. O’Connor’s financial situation, had heartily approved the move. It turned out that a fortunate financial move several years earlier had given Mary’s relatives a solid financial basis, and the money they had received from the O’Connor estate had been frittered away in unsavoury pastimes that did no credit to them. The atmosphere in the Head’s study was tense. Mary had returned to visit her mother, and the decision had been reached that the Head and the School’s founder must be made aware of the situation. Gwynneth and her daughter had written an explanatory letter to both women and had made a time to discussion it with them. “You say,” Madge began slowly, “that only yourselves, Miss Annersley and Miss Wilson know about this?” “As far as we know, yes,” Gwynneth agreed. Mary, who was sitting in a chair beside her mother, reached out and took her hand. Mlle Lepattre nodded, her face wearing a worried expression. “We don’t want to lose you, you understand,” she said to Matey, “but we must also consider the reputation of the school.” “I understand that,” Gwynneth began, but she was interrupted. “Well, I don’t,” Mary protested, indignation mounting in her voice and ignoring the warning glance Matey shot at her. “We just told you that no one apart from us knows, so why can’t you just keep it a secret?” “All right, Mary,” her mother said quickly. “That’s enough!” The girl subsided immediately, and Madge and the Head of the school exchanged frankly amused glances. After a few seconds, Mlle Lepattre nodded. “Actually, Mary,” Madge said, “you’re right. We could keep it a secret. The question then becomes whether you and your mother can keep it a secret.” “We’ve already discussed that,” Gwynneth replied. “Mary has suggested I spend holidays at O’Connor Hall with her, but we won’t change anything to reveal the connection. Hilda and Nell have already promised not to tell anyone. And nobody else knows.” “Then we have no reason for asking you to leave us,” Mlle Lepattre said in her soft voice. “As long as nothing is said outside of those of us who have been entrusted with this secret, we will look forward to having you both back with us next term.” One final scene to go... |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Sugarplum on Nov 17th, 2003, 11:06pm ;D ;D I hope no one does spill the beans! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 17th, 2003, 11:13pm *refuses to admit the possibility that they will* Have you ever read any mention of it in the series? So obviously they didn't! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Lisa_T on Nov 17th, 2003, 11:28pm So are you gonna give us the last scene tonight? And then you can get on with your Hilda idea! ;) I've really enjoyed this KB- really interesting seeing a different side to Matey. |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Carolyn P on Nov 17th, 2003, 11:41pm Is it worth staying online in the hope that KB will return and post the last of this or should I go to bed with the hope that it will be there to enjoy in the morning/afternoon/evening or whenever it is I manage to get on tomorrow? |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 17th, 2003, 11:51pm No promises about posting tonight British time, although it will be up by the end of the day my local time. |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Kathryn on Nov 17th, 2003, 11:52pm Well she had all weekend to write so something should be appearing soon. And 'cos it's a warmish day here she will probably be doing little so she'll have time today. Though it would be better to have a good sleep rather than staying up late and KB not posting anything. KB, hurry up for everyone's sake!! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Esmeralda on Nov 17th, 2003, 11:59pm This is so good, KB, I am really impressed with the mature way in which Mary has handled her new situation. I am really looking forward to the final scene, assuming you haven't already posted it while I've been waiting for the server connection to be re-set. |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 18th, 2003, 2:28am Awww! Bless! I'm so glad it seems likely to end happily!! Are you planning a sequel after you've finished this, and Hilda's story? Perhaps one where Mary has kids, and we can see 'Grandma Matey'!!! ;) ;) (oops, sorry! Did that plot bunny come from my direction? ;D) |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Lisa_T on Nov 18th, 2003, 2:35am *points out that since Vikki has so many PBs hopping around she might like to utilise them herself rather than setting them on innocent people!* |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 18th, 2003, 3:05am *pretends not to have heard what Lisa just said* ;) :P |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Lesley on Nov 18th, 2003, 4:54am Thank you KB - looking forward to final scene! ;D |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 18th, 2003, 5:08am *screams and faints at the sight of another plot bunny* *regains consciousness just long enough to post this:* The small car pulled up at the gates of the large house and the four women inside stared at the massive building in front of them. “For goodness’ sake,” exclaimed Nell, characteristically the first to find her voice. “It’s a regular mansion!” “Well, they are a wealthy family,” Hilda retorted as she put the car into gear and drove up the long driveway to the house. “After all, remember Mary asked us to bring our best clothes for that dinner with some of the local dignitaries who might be interested in sending their daughters to the Chalet School? That gave me a hint that it must be a pretty impressive place.” “It will certainly make a good impression on those parents who are coming to talk about their daughters attending the school,” Matron said crisply from the front passenger seat. “Mais certainment,” Therese agreed as the car pulled up. “But we are early,” she continued. “Would it not be better to wait for a little time before we announce ourselves?” “Only ten minutes,” Nell replied, after glancing at her watch. “That should be all right.” They ventured up the few stairs and Therese pressed the doorbell, which chimed deeply and musically through the house. A moment later, the door was opened by a man in a butler’s uniform. “May I help you?” “Mlle Lepattre and her party,” that woman said. “Here to see M… Lady O’Connor.” “Oh, yes.” A faint smile graced the man’s features. “Come in, please. I’ll tell her ladyship that you’re here.” “That sounds so strange, considering she’s still a pupil of ours,” Hilda whispered to the others as they followed him down the hallway. “Wait here, please,” the butler directed. However, he left the door ajar so that the women could hear the exchange the followed. There was a muffled sound of giggling, and then a gasp before Mary spoke. “What is it, Paul?” “Mlle Lepattre and her party are here, ma’am.” There was a gasp of horror. “Oh, peaches and pumpkins, they’re early! Dorry, darling, go and tell them I’ll be there soon. Thank you, Paul. Will you bring their bags in from the car and take them to their rooms?” “Yes, ma’am,” he agreed. Doreen shot out of the room into the hallway, still giggling. Her hair was messy and her clothes were twisted. There was a slight tear in her stockings and her shoes were scuffed. She looked, in fact, just like every other Junior at the Chalet School. “Hello,” she said cheerfully, beaming at them. “Mary’s just coming. She had to tidy up.” “Yes, we heard,” Hila smiled. “What were you doing, Doreen?” “Playing hide’n’seek,” the mite chirped. “Mary was hiding under the table and when Paul came in, she had to come out and so,” she finished smugly, “I found her!” The four women chuckled at the picture this conjured up. A moment later, Mary, looking almost provokingly tidy, came out of the room to greet them. “Mlle Lepattre, Miss Annersley, Miss Wilson, Mother,” she greeted each with a kiss and then embraced Matron, who returned it warmly. “How lovely to see you. I’m so glad you could come. Dorry, why don’t you run up to Nanny for a little while?” The younger girl seemed about the protest, but Mary hushed her with a look that sent her running up the large staircase. She then turned back to her visitors and waved them into the nearby sitting room. “We have rooms prepared for each of you, and Paul will take your things there. Would you prefer to settle in first, or have some tea right away?” “I think perhaps we would like to wash,” Mlle Lepattre suggested, glancing around at her colleagues, who nodded in agreement. “Of course.” Mary led the way up the grand staircase to the upper level of the house and down a short passageway to a series of doors. The middle room was a bathroom, while the other dors led to bedrooms. A moment later, Paul appeared with their bags and the mistresses claimed their own belongings. “Feel free to go wherever you like in the house,” Mary told them. “There’s a bell in each room that will call Paul, and another if you want something from the kitchen. You also each have a telephone. Dorry and I have rooms in the hallway to the left as you come up the stairs. If you’ll excuse me,” she smiled, “I have a game of hide-and-seek to finish.” She disappeared down the hallway, her voice briefly audible, calling for her sister, and the women smiled before going into their rooms to unpack and change out of their travelling clothes. |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 18th, 2003, 5:08am A short time later, they came downstairs to the hallway where they were met by Paul, who told them that tea would be served in the conservatory. That room, to which he led them, was at the back of the house and looked out over the property’s extensive gardens. “Well,” Hilda exclaimed as she sank onto a well-cushioned sofa, “this is definitely more than I imagined!” “Mary,” Nell said cautiously, “is going to need careful guidance to ensure that she values her surroundings.” “I believe she already does,” Gwynneth said as she began to pour the tea into the delicate china cups. “If you ask me, it’s going to be more a case of her realising that, in spite of her situation, she can’t help everyone who might ask for it.” “Has she thought about the future?” Therese asked as she offered around a plate of small cakes. “She has a few ideas,” came the cautious reply. “Of course, she has another year at the Chalet School, but I imagine, from what she’s said, that she will spend a year at home here to get used to her situation and then begin looking around her.” “She will be an attractive proposition,” Hilda suggested, and the other three women looked at her askance. “I mean it,” she said defensively. “She’s young, wealthy, has no parents to look after her. I’m just glad we can keep her away from that for the next year.” “I gather she has some ideas on that herself,” the girl’s mother said with a small smile. “Oh, I’m not telling you anymore. That’s her business. But from the little she has told me, I don’t think we need to worry about her.” The entrance of Mary herself, accompanied by her sister, halted the conversation, although more than one of the women was dying of curiosity and determined to get hold of Matey at some point during the evening and find out exactly what she had meant. Their efforts, however, were to no avail, and they would remain in ignorance until the announcement, at the same time the following year, of the engagement of Lady Mary O’Connor to Dr. Patrick Reilly, formerly of the Sanatorium at the Tiernsee, and now working at the large Children’s Hospital in Dublin. *faints again* |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Kathryn on Nov 18th, 2003, 6:25am Marrying a doctor!? Surely she could have fallen for someone else! I can't remember that doctor being anywhere in the story, though am prepared to be firmly corrected by the HG. But good to see more posts!! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 18th, 2003, 9:52am Come on, the daughter of one of the major members of staff doesn't get her own doctor?! *g* And no, that doctor never appeared by name, but by mentioning the fact that he was at the San, I wondered if anyone might have picked the time when Mary might have first met her future husband... |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Esmeralda on Nov 18th, 2003, 10:57am While she was at school? 8oo A very satisfactory conclusion KB, and despite what you said earlier, you didn't have to kill either of them to achieve it. *Applauds loudly |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Lisa_T on Nov 18th, 2003, 11:24am *waves smelling salts under KB's nose. Can't have her wasting time being unconscious!* *joins in with the applause* Thank you KB. That was lovely! ;D A lovely ending ;) Next drabble please! *g* |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 18th, 2003, 11:27am I'm glad you enjoyed it, Lisa, and I'm afraid you'll have to wait until at least the weekend for my next story, as I really need to focus on my thesis for a few days... :( |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by PatW on Nov 18th, 2003, 11:36am Slacking, KB? 8oo :P *Ducks for cover* |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Carolyn P on Nov 18th, 2003, 2:01pm Beautiful. Looking forward to weekend. What/who willthe next story be about? |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Jennie on Nov 18th, 2003, 4:01pm Great, KB. So you really are going to make us wait for the next drabble? |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Rosalie on Nov 18th, 2003, 4:10pm Awww, that was really lovely. It's nice when all the characters come out alive! Though I do like the other ones too!! :) |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 18th, 2003, 5:46pm Thank you KB, that was wonderful! Looking forward to the next one, when you get to it!! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Lesley on Nov 18th, 2003, 7:31pm Excellent KB - really enjoyed that! The characters of Mary and Matey really shone! Please hurry up with next drabble - dying to read that one! ;) |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 18th, 2003, 8:05pm on 11/18/03 at 11:36:07, PatW wrote:
Actually, trying to quash my feelings of guilt at having spent so long on this that I've done next to nothing on my thesis for too long. :-/ However I promise that something will be up about it on or soon after the weekend. I'm glad everyone liked this one so much! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Lisa_T on Nov 18th, 2003, 8:15pm *protests* But this is only Tuesday! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 18th, 2003, 8:17pm *checks calendar* Actually, it's Wednesday. ;) |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by PatW on Nov 18th, 2003, 8:46pm No KB, it's Tuesday evening! Here, anyway! Get on with your thesis, then, very quickly, so you can post soem more here! Priorities HG! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Esmeralda on Nov 18th, 2003, 9:15pm Very much looking forward to the weekend - and seeing what you are going to do with Hilda8oo |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 18th, 2003, 9:22pm on 11/18/03 at 20:46:16, PatW wrote:
*takes Pat aside and reminds her that, us being half a day ahead, my weekend comes quicker than yours...* ;) |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Kathryn on Nov 18th, 2003, 10:06pm What makes you think you'll get a lot done on the weekend? Haven't you forgotten something that is happening on Sunday? ;D |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 18th, 2003, 10:28pm How could I possibly forget?! *g* But I will get some done on Saturday, so that's something... ;) |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Kathryn on Nov 18th, 2003, 10:31pm We want to read it first before it is posted. Or leave a cliff-hanger for the board and give us the next installment ;D |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 18th, 2003, 10:37pm *reminds Kathryn that's already had the advantage of reading both TOG and Peace, and will get to see the plans for DFTCS on Sunday* But, if you really want to see it, all right then... |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Rachael P on Nov 19th, 2003, 12:54pm Quote:
Well, I see you nipped that idea in the bud! You've been busy! What a lovely story and I liked the hide and seek game very much! "provokingly tidy"!! Had to laugh at Mary marrying a doc! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by PatW on Nov 19th, 2003, 1:00pm So does Monday! Swings and roundabouts!! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 19th, 2003, 4:59pm Well, I like Mondays!!! :o :o |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 19th, 2003, 8:41pm You don't work on Mondays, do you, Vikki? |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Vikki on Nov 19th, 2003, 9:27pm No I don't!! ;D ;D Mondays and Tuesdays are usually my weekends!! ;) |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Kathryn on Nov 19th, 2003, 9:37pm on 11/18/03 at 22:37:59, KB wrote:
Oh...had forgotten about that one. |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 19th, 2003, 9:42pm Well, if you don't want to see it... *shrug* |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by Kathryn on Nov 19th, 2003, 9:51pm Just 'cos I'd forgotten about it, doesn't mean I don't want to see it! |
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Title: Re: Matey's Secret #4 Post by KB on Nov 19th, 2003, 9:55pm *makes a note to have it out ready* |
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