6th June, 1910- Little Windenburg Village HallAs was usual for their productions, Clem took on the u

6th June, 1910- Little Windenburg Village Hall

As was usual for their productions, Clem took on the unofficial role of director.

‘Eli, when you enter this scene and say ‘Fair love, you faint with wandering in the woods’, I think you ought to be carrying Daisy.’

Eli and Daisy both went scarlet. He scooped Daisy awkwardly into his arms, staring over her head. ‘Fair love, you faint from-‘

‘For heaven’s sake, Eli, she’s your lady love, not a sack of potatoes!’

‘Clem’, said Honour, with a note of warning in her voice.

‘Well, they’re being ridiculous! How difficult is it to pretend to be in love?’

Eli deposited Daisy gently on the floor. ‘I have to go and feed the cows.’ Without another word, he turned and walked out of the hall. Daisy buried her face in her hands and fled the room.

Clem stood dumbfounded for a moment, looking back and forth between the doors they had left through. Then realisation dawned. ‘Oh. Oh, dear.’

‘I’ll go after him’, said Honour. ‘You talk to Daisy.’

Clem found Daisy in the side room, huddled on a bench.

‘Dizzy, are you and Eli- Is he your…uh…’

Daisy didn’t lift her face from her hands, but shook her head violently.

‘Oh.’ Clem struggled for words. ‘Do you…want him to be?’

‘It doesn’t m-matter!’ sobbed Daisy. ‘He doesn’t want me. H-he hardly looksat me anymore.’ She broke off into a fresh wave of tears.

‘Well, if that’s true, he’s a blockhead, and I’ll- I’ll clobber him’, said Clem. ‘No, better yet, I’ll challenge him to a duel. I’m sure Lady Elaine will lend me her swordsticks, if I tell her I’m defending your honour.’

Daisy let out a small, reluctant snort. ‘It doesn’t need defending. N-nothing’s happened. I’ve waited and waited- And even if it did-‘

Clem thought about their mother’s excited hopes for Daisy’s marital prospects. She pictured her face if she could hear this conversation, and her heart sank. ‘Oh, Dizzy. What a rotten mess.’