MORNING TEA

Lady Devonshire was not to be dissuaded, ‘I hear he will be worth a fortune when he inherits.’

‘Mama, don’t be so vulgar,’ Bethany admonished.

Lady Worthington leaned forward and patted Bethany’s knee. ‘There are worse things than to marry for money, such as being a spinster with none.’

Bethany sat in brooding silence. She would be damned if she married the boorish Stapleton, fortune or not.

Across the lawn, she watched Thomas digging the flowerbed. Her mind wandered back to that warm evening two nights ago.

‘Are you feeling alright, dear. You look a little flustered,’ her mother remarked.

Written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).

To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

142 responses to “MORNING TEA”

James McEwan

30/03/2018

Fantastic. A combination of Pride and Prejudice and Lady Chatterly’s Lover. Oh how the privileged lust in the rough.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  30/03/2018
  
  Ha, thanks James 🙂
  
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Susan

31/03/2018

Isn’t Bethany a naughty girl. Good one.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  31/03/2018
  
  I suspect she has a few other secrets from her mother too!
  
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Brenda’s Thoughts

31/03/2018

Very nice story, like the classics! I hope Bethany can find a way to be happy with Thomas, and not be forced to marry Stapleton. There is more to life than money. =) I want to know the rest of the story.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  31/03/2018
  
  Thanks Brenda, perhaps Thomas has a little money tucked away that would be plenty for them to live on! 🙂
  
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Sascha Darlington

31/03/2018

You go, D.H……I mean Iain! 😉 A little Lady Chatterley’s Lover going on here. Very different from you, and I loved it.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  31/03/2018
  
  Thank you Sascha, nice to have a bit of romance and longing now and then 🙂
  
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Vivian Zems

31/03/2018

The heart wants what it wants. …Thomas, it is!

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  31/03/2018
  
  The heart should rule the head sometimes at least 🙂
  
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  1. Vivian Zems
    
    02/04/2018
    
    😊
    
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Dahlia

01/04/2018

Made me want to read a Victorian novel 😀 Nice one Iain!

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  01/04/2018
  
  Thank you Dahlia
  
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Fatima Fakier

01/04/2018

I hope she follows her heart in this one and disappoints everyone. The Victorian feel to the story goes so well with the pic. Wonderfully told.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  01/04/2018
  
  Thank you Fatima 🙂
  
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Sarah Ann

01/04/2018

Bethany is going to have to develop more of a poker face. I’d love to see how she fares against her mother’s determination. Also, why is Lady Devonshire so anti poor spinsters? There’a a lot to be said for not having anyone else living in your space.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  01/04/2018
  
  Lady Devonshire is probably thinking more about her own social standing than her daughter’s welfare! Thanks Sarah Ann.
  
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  1. Sarah Ann
    
    01/04/2018
    
    Yep, that comes across too. She will be devastated when Bethany eventually runs off with the gardener – he won’t ever have a name, or one that Lady Devonshire utters.
    
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Dawn M. Miller

01/04/2018

Lovely story. I felt the heat.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  01/04/2018
  
  Thank you Dawn
  
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magarisa

01/04/2018

What’s to stop Bethany from marrying for money and keeping Thomas on the side? 😉
Great dialogue, especially the last line.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  01/04/2018
  
  Thank you, I think she may have thoughts in that direction too 🙂
  
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Woman walking Max

03/04/2018

Great story – you capture the tone and the mood of the young lady perfectly. Gardeners are so well situated for posh young ladies’ admiration, especially on hot days when they are required to take their shirts off !

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  03/04/2018
  
  Haha, that was the image in my head anyway! 🙂
  
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cravetocarve

13/04/2018

You said so much without saying much.. good one.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  13/04/2018
  
  Thank you
  
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edwardky2

28/01/2021

Reblogged this on Ed;s Site..

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  28/01/2021
  
  Thanks for the reblog 🙂
  
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