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dimity_blueTitle: Epithet for the Dead
Author: Dimity Blue
Rating: all
Genre: gen, epilogue, backgound het
Characters: Jane Marple, Elizabeth Temple
Word Count: 408 words
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Summary: Miss Marple thinks about Elizabeth Temple
Note: From the episode Nemesis. Based on the TV series with Joan Hickson, not on the book.
Major spoilers for the episode and book.
Read under the cut or on AO3.
Epithet for the Dead
by Dimity Blue
Jane Marple hasn't been surprised since her seventeenth birthday when she realised the vicar was having improper relations with the doctor's wife. Of course, that wasn't Reverend Clement, who is a kind and honourable gentleman though a little unworldly, but Reverend Ferguson. It had created quite the scandal when it all came out, and a lot of ill-feeling too, as he'd been quite forthright about the need for chastity and virtue. It had, however, taught Jane the invaluable lesson that one should never believe what people say, especially about themselves.
No, she hasn't really been surprised since until now. Perhaps disappointed would be a better word. Yes, disappointed in - of all people - Elizabeth Temple. One doesn't like to speak ill of the dead but Jane truly hadn't expected the level of cruelty of which Miss Temple showed herself capable.
Cruel isn't a word one would associate with a woman like Miss Temple but Jane really can't see it any other way.
When that poor girl Verity Hunt was murdered, Miss Temple had realised the truth in that her murderer was Clothilde Bradbury-Scott, and she remained silent, even when that silence had allowed the blame to fall upon Michael Rafiel. Jane can quite see how Miss Temple persuaded herself to stay quiet. Michael Rafiel had, by all accounts, been an unsatisfactory young man. Miss Temple might even have felt that it somehow "served him right", as young people say, for daring to want to marry Verity. Yes, Jane can understand how Miss Temple thought her silence was acceptable in that respect.
The cruelty Jane means was towards Mrs. Brent. An intelligent woman like Miss Temple must have realised - since Clothilde Bradbury-Scott could not have strangled and disfigured Verity - the dead body was the other missing girl, Norah Brent, and Miss Temple left Mrs. Brent to worry for seven long years. There's a particular pain involved in the unknown. While Mrs. Brent wouldn't have known peace for those seven years, she would have known, and knowing the truth is easier than watching and waiting, starting at every knock at the door, and wondering if today is the day someone will finally come to tell one one's child is dead.
Now, when Jane Marple thinks of Elizabeth Temple, she doesn't think of her as a charming woman or a skilled headmistress, she thinks of her as cruel and uncaring, and, wherever she is, Jane hopes that Elizabeth Temple knows it.
The end
18th July 2021
Hope you liked it.
Author: Dimity Blue
Rating: all
Genre: gen, epilogue, backgound het
Characters: Jane Marple, Elizabeth Temple
Word Count: 408 words
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Summary: Miss Marple thinks about Elizabeth Temple
Note: From the episode Nemesis. Based on the TV series with Joan Hickson, not on the book.
Major spoilers for the episode and book.
Read under the cut or on AO3.
Epithet for the Dead
by Dimity Blue
Jane Marple hasn't been surprised since her seventeenth birthday when she realised the vicar was having improper relations with the doctor's wife. Of course, that wasn't Reverend Clement, who is a kind and honourable gentleman though a little unworldly, but Reverend Ferguson. It had created quite the scandal when it all came out, and a lot of ill-feeling too, as he'd been quite forthright about the need for chastity and virtue. It had, however, taught Jane the invaluable lesson that one should never believe what people say, especially about themselves.
No, she hasn't really been surprised since until now. Perhaps disappointed would be a better word. Yes, disappointed in - of all people - Elizabeth Temple. One doesn't like to speak ill of the dead but Jane truly hadn't expected the level of cruelty of which Miss Temple showed herself capable.
Cruel isn't a word one would associate with a woman like Miss Temple but Jane really can't see it any other way.
When that poor girl Verity Hunt was murdered, Miss Temple had realised the truth in that her murderer was Clothilde Bradbury-Scott, and she remained silent, even when that silence had allowed the blame to fall upon Michael Rafiel. Jane can quite see how Miss Temple persuaded herself to stay quiet. Michael Rafiel had, by all accounts, been an unsatisfactory young man. Miss Temple might even have felt that it somehow "served him right", as young people say, for daring to want to marry Verity. Yes, Jane can understand how Miss Temple thought her silence was acceptable in that respect.
The cruelty Jane means was towards Mrs. Brent. An intelligent woman like Miss Temple must have realised - since Clothilde Bradbury-Scott could not have strangled and disfigured Verity - the dead body was the other missing girl, Norah Brent, and Miss Temple left Mrs. Brent to worry for seven long years. There's a particular pain involved in the unknown. While Mrs. Brent wouldn't have known peace for those seven years, she would have known, and knowing the truth is easier than watching and waiting, starting at every knock at the door, and wondering if today is the day someone will finally come to tell one one's child is dead.
Now, when Jane Marple thinks of Elizabeth Temple, she doesn't think of her as a charming woman or a skilled headmistress, she thinks of her as cruel and uncaring, and, wherever she is, Jane hopes that Elizabeth Temple knows it.
The end
18th July 2021
Hope you liked it.