[10 out of 20] An Ignored Event (Miss Marple)

[smallhobbit]

Title: An Ignored Event
Creator: smallhobbit
Fandom: Miss Marple
Character: Jane Marple, Dolly Bantry
Medium: Fiction
Word Count: 281
Rating: G
Prompts: Pleasant, broken, glance, wedding, official, extend, information, trying, miles, ring

 

“Of course it’s the talk of the village,” Dolly Bantry said, “a broken engagement less than ten days before the wedding was due to happen.  And it’s all very trying because no-one seems to know what happened.  I don’t suppose you have any information you’d like to share…”  Dolly glanced at her friend Jane Marple.

“Me, dear, why should I know anything?” Miss Marple asked.

“Because you always do.”

Miss Marple extended her hand to reach another shortbread biscuit.  “Well, I suppose it can’t hurt.  Such a pleasant couple and they will be miles away by now.  The official reason Mrs Weatherhead is putting about is a broken engagement.  However, you cannot fail to have noticed that she has been responsible for all the arrangements and Laura hasn’t been involved at all."

“That’s true.”

“I suppose I wouldn’t have thought about it either, except that I happened to meet Laura when I was in London last week, visiting Raymond, and I noticed her ring.”

“An engagement ring.”

“No, a wedding ring.  It appeared the couple had got married a couple of months ago and had no idea Mrs Weatherhead was continuing with the arrangements down here, despite having attended their wedding.”

“How awful.”

“Well indeed.  Of course, they contacted the vicar at once to explain matters to him, and he went with them to speak to the mother.  She became quite distressed, and the doctor had to be fetched.  They would have stayed, but he thought she would find it easier to accept the facts if they were not present.  Sadly, I am not sure she will.”

“How terrible for them, all of them.”

“Yes, it is a very sorry situation.”