Unread   To Read   Read   Skipped  

One Bad Note (2012)

by Jayne Fresina
(#2 in Sydney Dovedale (Short Story))

Ellie Vyne was ten when she drew an elaborately curled ink moustache on a sleeping James Hartley’s face. Sixteen years later, she knows he still holds a grudge about the incident, particularly the humiliation of walking around for a full day with no one mentioning his strange appearance. Such a crime to a man of his sizeable vanity, is unforgivable. Even worse for her—she's a Vyne. Since her disreputable step-uncle once ran off with James’ mother, for an adulterous affair that caused the scandal of the century, Hartleys do not speak to Vynes, or even acknowledge their existence if it can be helped. And vice versa. The feud is fiercely adhered to on either side. Therefore, sixteen years ago, young Ellie with her mischievous pen and ink, upset her own family just as much as his.

But as Ellie reasons with anyone who will listen, telling her to avoid James was the very worst thing they could have said. No child of ten should be warned not to do something, because then they are most certainly obliged to do that very thing.

Besides, James has proven himself to be a pompous ass of extraordinary dimensions ever since, and if he can't forgive a little girl's prank, well, so be it…

James Hartley has watched Miss Ellie Vyne grow into a young woman who attacks life with a restless enthusiasm for mischief and never stands still long enough to be caught. According to his grandmother, Miss Vyne's exuberant spirits should have been safely exhausted in the decoration of bonnets and the sewing of petticoats, or embroidered screens.

'A young lady’s fingers,' his grandmother comments sharply whenever anyone accidentally mentions Mariella Vyne and her sins, 'could not make quite so much mischief, were they better occupied with a needle.'

James knows however, it's a mistake to give Ellie Vyne anything sharp.