4 The Bridlington - Stephanie Poppins

The Bridlington Hotel is the most prestigious getaway on the coast of East Riding. Owned by the cantankerous Lady Perklington-Smythe, it is never far from scandal. But reception staff Emily, James, and Joe are professionals, and committed to keeping up appearances, come what may.

This episode sees Emily, James, and Joe fight to make sense of what has just happened. A member of staff has been arrested, and they must maintain a professional front at reception, even though there is much more to the story than they first realized. Emily confides in her mother. But once again she is disappointed. Feeling unusually low, she turns to Cetin, the handsome concierge, to make her feel alive again.

Written and performed by English author Stephanie Poppins.

Transcript

The Bridlington A series set in an English hotel Written and performed by Stephanie Poppins Episode 4 Mrs Constance Delaware wrapped the fat white fingers of her left hand on the arm of her chintz Chesterfield for what was to be the last time that day.

It had been a long afternoon and she needed to rest,

But there was no time for that now.

She must prepare,

They would be coming soon.

She must prepare.

She stood up slowly and made her way to the far wall.

Above the mantle the rendered panel had been trimmed with flopped wallpaper.

Austere her mother would have called it,

But then her mother had been a flapper and flappers rejected anything that could be accused of being even remotely Victorian.

She ran her fingers along the frame of the large Turner painting.

It was reproduction,

But it did the trick.

Drew your eye to it,

Mrs Delaware thought,

But not enough to make you wonder.

Click.

The frame slid aside to reveal a large polished wall safe.

Mrs Delaware liked this room.

It was steeped in good old fashioned opulence,

Just the way it should be.

Money.

That was what made the world go round.

And that is how you got what you wanted when you wanted.

Her grandson Lewis understood that.

Common sense had missed a generation,

But it had got there in the end.

Lewis was careless,

Though.

Down to his age,

Mrs Delaware guessed,

But she'd get him out of this as long as he kept his mouth shut,

Like she told him.

Didn't Lady Perklington Smythe have the best lawyers in the county on her payroll?

That would certainly help.

A sharp rap on the door called Mrs Delaware to her senses.

She slid the painting back and floated over,

Her long cerise gown trailing behind her.

The fine clusters of ostrich feathers catching the fading light.

Good afternoon,

Officers,

And how can I help you?

Mrs Constance Delaware.

Please come in.

Two burly men dressed in black uniforms settled themselves opposite her,

Keen to establish what was what.

As you know,

Your grandson's been arrested in connection with an ongoing fraud investigation.

We're here to ask you a few questions and establish the facts.

And most grateful I am that you are,

Delaware declared through her best poker face.

We understand Lewis has been accepting money and withholding passports in return for the exploitation of Eastern European workers,

Said the larger officer of the two.

The information we received suggests this has been going on for some time.

Would you know anything about this?

Nothing whatsoever,

Lied Mrs Delaware coolly.

And I have to say I'm both shocked and disgusted at such an accusation.

My grandson has always been a most trustworthy and law-abiding lad.

From the opposite sofa,

Both officers looked unimpressed.

We have yet to locate the whereabouts of said passports,

Continued bad cop.

And we wondered if there's any way you can think of Lewis might have kept them.

Mrs Delaware got up,

Eager to dismiss the conversation before it really got started.

But the officers would not let go.

I'm sure this has come as a great shock to you,

Said the smaller one in a much softer voice.

Obviously the information you provide will reduce the problem we're facing right now.

Mrs Delaware froze.

Her lawyer was out of town and Lady Perklington Smythe would drop her like a hot coal if things got any more complicated.

Why oh why did you open the door?

It was so frustrating.

She seemed to be having more and more senior moments like these these days.

She turned away to compose herself and avoid looking at the Turner painting.

One cannot choose one's relatives,

She said slowly gazing out of the window.

Unfortunate as that may be.

Do you have children?

No answer.

My grandson is a man now and as such responsible for his own mistakes.

I have nothing more to say.

You shall be hearing from my lawyers presently regarding the interrogation of a senior citizen with no prior warning and no legal representation.

Now good day to you both.

Over at reception Joe was having a hard time believing what was coming out of James's mouth.

Lewis,

Delaware's grandson.

What's next?

James had nothing to add.

His face said it all.

I told you so was dancing in his eyes.

He'd warned Joe about Lewis at the start.

Then Emily couldn't help but add.

You had his number from the first didn't you James?

Joe flushed bright red.

Why hadn't Bianca told him what was going on?

He'd been played like a fool.

Lewis had been placed in his path when he was most desperate for help so that he'd employ him no questions asked.

And now Bianca had paid the price.

How did he not see that?

Never a dull day at the Bridlington,

James offered,

Trying to lighten the mood.

But Joe refused to see the light.

You need first aid Joe,

Emily soothed.

Come in the back office and I'll get you some plasters.

But Joe was not in the mood to be placated.

I bet that mug didn't know what hit him,

James smirked.

Emily saw red at this.

You should have left it to the police Joe.

Lewis could have you for assault.

What from behind bars?

Said James.

I don't think so.

Should we call Cunningham now?

In a minute,

Said Emily.

We're never going to hear the last of this.

What exactly did Lewis do anyway?

You've only told me half the story.

Emily hadn't forgotten the promise she'd made to her mother to give her all the inside information about the goings on at the Bridlington.

This latest news would be something of interest and it would mean she didn't have to snitch on her friends in return for keeping her job and her freedom.

She set to work on Joe,

Relieved the reception was as quiet as it was.

Then James related everything he knew and all he assumed to boot.

Lewis is obviously the fool guy.

He takes the passports of the housekeeping staff for insurance.

Then I assume he gives them to Delaware for safekeeping.

In order to keep their jobs,

They have to pay for their keep in cash from their wages.

Joe looked like he was going to explode.

Sit still,

Said Emily,

Trying her best to patch up the cuts on his knuckles.

How do you know all this?

Joe asked James through gritted teeth.

I saw him outside her room with passports and cash,

Said James.

But how did they manage to get away with it when Cunningham's the one responsible for finding the staff?

He can't be in on this too,

Can he?

Everyone went quiet and Emily felt a spark of hope ignite deep within her.

Maybe there was a light at the end of the tunnel.

Maybe with this new news,

She could get rid of that tyrant of a manager once and for all and prove to her mother she could do the job better herself.

Yep,

Somebody's feeding us these staff,

That's for sure,

Said James.

And thus Cunningham concluded Joe.

That git put Lewis in my path is the only reason I took him in the first place.

It was the end of a long day and Emily was checking in with her mother,

Eager to reveal her gossip and give her something to chew on,

Other than what her friends were doing.

Yes,

Mother,

There's something you should be aware of,

Something that happened only yesterday.

Well,

What is it then?

Speak up.

Lewis,

The bellboy's assistant,

Was arrested for fraud.

He's been keeping the passports of the housekeepers and demanding cash from them each month.

The line was unexpectedly quiet.

And not only that,

He's the grandson of Mrs Delaware.

Still silence.

And what I want to know is,

How did he get the job unless Mr Cunningham was in on it too?

Emily waited for a response,

But a nun came.

Mother,

Are you there?

On the other end of the line,

Lady Perklington Smythe sighed heavily.

Leave well alone,

Emily.

It's not your place to go meddling in affairs that have nothing to do with you.

Emily stared at the phone in disbelief.

Then the line went dead,

And with it,

All innocence.

Her mother had been in on this all along.

She knew what was going on,

And if Emily wasn't mistaken,

She was even party to it.

Emily's stomach sank.

What hope had she of ever leading a decent life?

She couldn't confide in anyone either.

Admitting her mother knew would mean admitting to her friends she was a spy and had told her mother all the hotel secrets.

She was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

This was what Lady Perklington Smythe had intended all along.

To isolate Emily.

To prevent her forming any friendship she might make,

And leave her stranded,

Longing for the life she wished for her.

A life of luxurious lies and fake frivolity.

After all Emily had striven for,

After all she had achieved,

Her mother still had a hold over her.

How could she ever be free?

She hated herself for being so stupid as to believe she was in the driving seat.

Hadn't she learned anything?

Her mind soared back to when she was a teenager.

Night after night she dreamt of someone to whisk her away from it all.

A dark night with a defiant brow,

Scornful rhetoric,

And a sprinkling of mystery to boot.

But that was then.

She didn't dream anymore.

Life was complicated enough as it was.

There was nothing for it.

She headed straight for the Sea View Bar.

It was now nine o'clock and getting busy.

Emily sat watching the black-headed gulls from the comfort of the polished patio and its freshly lit heaters.

Escaping to warmer climes.

That was always an option.

This seat taken.

The smooth voice brought with it the setting of the sun.

Just as well,

The last thing Emily wanted was Jatin,

The concierge,

To see her tears.

I thought you were avoiding me.

With any luck,

This throwaway comment would put him off.

Ever since Emily had disguised herself on the day of her ex's wedding and avoided revealing the truth to him,

Jatin had been unusually aloof.

Well,

Maybe I just like to see you sweat.

He wasn't going away any time soon.

For God's sake.

Emily couldn't take this.

Not tonight.

The last thing she was in the mood for was parlour games.

She got up to leave,

But Jatin caught her arm and refused to let go.

He smelt of Bergamo and fine Colombian cigars,

And Emily hated herself all over again.

Let me go,

Please.

Not until you tell me what's wrong.

There's nothing wrong.

If there was nothing wrong,

You'd be with your two best buds,

Not sitting here all alone.

Jealousy at a time like this?

She hated him.

What did he know anyway?

Jatin held out his glass.

It's good.

The best.

Emily gazed at the warm oak-coloured liquid.

Then she downed it in one.

Easy,

Tiger.

If you want to help me,

You'll get me another.

Emily expected judgement.

She expected Jatin to tell her she'd had enough.

But instead he went behind the bar,

Leaned the glass against the optic,

And returned without question.

Emily looked out to the horizon.

Where the sea met the night sky,

It was calm.

The line between them was almost invisible.

Do you ever feel lonely,

Even when you're surrounded by friends?

I don't have any friends.

Jatin's voice was unexpectedly serious.

Emily took a sip and handed the glass back.

She knew her limits.

As reckless as she wanted to be,

It just wasn't her.

Jatin placed his mouth where hers had been.

This was a man who had nothing to prove.

This was a man,

Not a boy.

Emily sighed as he put his arm about her.

There was no point in holding back.

She'd wanted him from the start.

But to her surprise,

Jatin did not meet her gaze.

His eyes were fixed on the water.

I trust you,

Emily,

He said.

And I know you trust me.

I'm not sure why,

But we've got something the others don't have.

Do you feel it?

And without hesitation,

Emily replied.

Yes,

Jatin,

I feel it too.

Reviews

Darling story ! Thank you for writing more. Please continue!

Awesome - love this original and wondered if there were going to be more chapters - Thankyou - looking forward to more 😉