A chill November wind ruffled the fallen leaves, spinning them into eddies and flurries between the parked cars. In the barren branches of surrounding trees a lone rook cawed mournfully as the sombre, black-clad congregation exited the crematorium, turning coat collars up against the cold, adjusting scarves and pulling on gloves.
The two old men walked together again for the first time in decades.
“It was good of you to come, George, The family appreciates it.”
“It was the least I could do, David. I haven’t seen Robin in half a century, but I always thought he was harshly treated at school. We used to write afterwards, you know. He had a tough life in Australia and worked hard, but he was always proud of your success. He was jealous of what might have been for himself, though. You achieved everything he couldn’t because of the scandal.”
“I never knew that. Frankly, I’m surprised he even wanted to be brought back here.”
“Well, here’s something else you didn’t know. He never lost his love for England nor for, what was her name, Sarah? He wrote often that he had betrayed her, but I think in the circumstances there was nothing he could do. He felt he had betrayed both her and his country. Such is life.”
“Yes. Bit of a bugger, that, such were the mores of the time. You have to ask what might have been. Do keep in touch, George.”
The old men shook hands, patted each other on the shoulder and departed to their respective vehicles.
Behind them a lone woman, elegant yet suddenly drawn and who had sat unrecognised and unacknowledged during the service, trod carefully down the steps of the crematorium. Her son opened the car door for her.
OZ
Boadicea's Chariot 
Oh my goodness, I love this OZ.
Very nice, OZ. Did she look like Kristin Scott-Thomas? I thought of her immediately.
Val – Thank you. Pseu’s 2,000 word limit and Bearsy’s entry did concentrate the mind somewhat.
Jan – Whatever your own imagination shows you. 🙂
OZ
Well that’s that, then. 🙂
Sorry Jan, it wasn’t meant to be a glib remark. Personally, and with all due respect to the lady herself given Sarah’s circumstances, I was thinking more Felicity Kendall. 🙂
OZ
I’m quite intrigued by this saga, OZ, and this is rather cleverly written to fit in with this month’s theme.
Oh drat! I’ve been sussed. 😦 Just keep following the saga Araminta and suspend belief. Think Larry Hagman returning to reprise the JR role, not to mention the return of Bobby Ewing.
OZ
I’m just jealous, OZ, I’m not sure how I can adapt my Brave Monty Mouse Saga in the same way.
But I’m working on it!
Let’s hear it for the Poison Dwarf, OZ; I used to rather fancy her. 😉
I await with anticipation. Monty has been missed. Go for it!
OZ
Mornin’, Bearsy. I understand the reference about Juicy Lucy, but Ethel (who didn’t watch television back in the ’80s) has rather taken the ‘ump and you therefore need to go and hide. Meanwhile I shall speak to Araminta about this to find some way of calming her down. I need her for CW hexes, pomes and most things creative.
OZ
Quite a series you’ve got going here, OZ. This funeral scene reminded me of the meeting in the graveyard in Ian McEwan’s Amsterdam novel; shadowy figures everywhere.
Good stuff, keep up the melodrama.
Also good to see so many Dallas fans in the one place. I liked the perfectly scripted name of JR’s secretary: Sly. And the theme tune-
Did di- did di- did -di di di di did. Di di dit a di.
Excellent story, OZ. Good ending. 🙂