Forgotten Fiancee by Lucy Gordon

Author:Lucy Gordon [Gordon, Lucy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

There was an aftermath to the incident with Alex. Haven awoke next morning to the news that young Mr. Drew had been called away from the village by urgent family affairs.

“Of course, there is another version,” Sergeant Mayhew told Justin when he made his collection. “Some say he was set upon by a dozen thugs.”

“Only a dozen?” Justin asked.

“Or more. Supposedly he beat ‘em off singlehanded.”

“I heard they threw him into the duck pond,” Justin remarked.

“No, sir, he fell into the duck pond when he collapsed after his heroic efforts.”

“A giant among men,” Justin remarked.

The policeman’s face gave nothing away. “As you say, sir. I don’t think we’ll be seeing him around here for quite a while. Good morning.”

When Miss Timmins heard the true story she locked up Imelda’s dress and prepared to stand firm against demands for its return. But her care was needless. Imelda had been discouraged from rash action by her seldom seen husband, who pointed out that this would instantly confirm the more undignified rumors about their son. Instead she took refuge in glacial dignity, which fooled nobody. Everyone knew the truth through Mrs. Dakers, who cleaned for Imelda three mornings a week.

Alex’s departure left an awkward gap in the ranks of the dramatic society. In the end the juvenile lead doubled up the comic gardener, and Lucinda’s seventeen-year-old grandson was press-ganged into playing Frank on pain of having certain peccadillos revealed to his parents.

The production was a triumphant success. The Haven Players had a reputation for miles around, and the three hundred seats were filled for both nights of its run.

Justin worked hard backstage, building scenery, prompting, relaying messages and carrying things. He was acclaimed as the most efficient assistant stage manager the Players had ever had. To crown his growing popularity he provided the funds not only for the opening night party but the closing night party, too, thus showing, as Miss Timmins observed, a sense of the fitness of things.

But the next day, trouble struck. Miss Timmins, gathering props to return them to their rightful owners, discovered that Mrs. Drew’s royal dress was missing. Everyone conducted a frantic search, but despite their attempts at secrecy it came to Imelda’s ears. Things might have gotten even nastier but for a disaffected member of Joker’s gang, who revealed that his leader was the culprit. Sarah, who was present to hear this, ran home to find Justin.

“You’ve got to come,” she said breathlessly. “Mrs. Drew’s on the warpath, and Joker’s already been in trouble with the police.”

It was late evening. The store was closed, and Nick was just about to set off for the Haystack, but he readily agreed to stay at home with the baby while the other two went. “But I want the whole scandal as soon as possible,” he called after them.

They reached the poky little house where Joker lived with his widowed mother, arriving just as the dress was discovered hidden in a plastic bag under the boy’s bed.

In vain Joker protested he’d never meant to keep his plunder.

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