Title: Ten Lonely People
Fandom: Matthew Bourne - The Midnight Bell
Rating: PG
Length: 500
Summary: Brief character studies of the five relationships

Miss Roach was very conscious of her sensible underwear, it spoke so clearly of her station in life.  She hoped Gorse wouldn’t take offence, but he’d seemed a man of the world, and when he’d suggested they take a hotel room together, he must have known what to expect.

She shouldn’t have worried.  Ernest Ralph Gorse was so confident about himself he hadn’t notice what his companion was wearing.  It also meant he missed her biting her lip when he appeared in his greying underwear, which any respectable married woman would have been ashamed to hang on her washing line.

***

George Harvey Bone watched as Netta wandered round her room, her negligee occasionally giving tantalising glimpses of lacy edged panties.  He marvelled that she could be so unaware of the effect such a display was having on him.  To distract himself he poured them both another drink.

Netta Longdon was fully aware of what she was doing and had deliberately dressed to produce just such a response.  Not that it was personal, she would have done the same whichever man she’d had in the room.  She never considered what they would be wearing; she rarely let it go that far.

***

Bob sat on the edge of Jenny’s bed and half looked at her.  She had undressed as far as her bra and knickers with as little show of emotion as he made when wiping down the bar counter.  He had thought this was what he wanted, but now he wasn’t as sure.

Jenny Maple looked at Bob, still fully dressed.  “Aren’t you gonna take yer clothes off?” she asked.

He stared at her wordlessly, then sprang up and made a bolt for the door. 

“Please yerself,” she said.  “Others’ll pay if you don’t want it, and I weren’t charging you.”

***

Ella thought she had had a lucky escape by returning Mr Eccles’ engagement ring.  The thought of being married to the man, of being expected to wash his smalls, made her stomach churn.  Better never to wed than be tied to someone like him.

Eccles accepted the return of the ring with resignation.  At least it would save him money if he didn’t marry Ella, for no doubt she would expect him to buy her new clothing, and he couldn’t very well oversee the purchasing of her unmentionables to ensure she didn’t waste his money on items he considered over-priced.

***

Albert day-dreamed of Frank getting slowly undressed in front of him.  They would be somewhere quiet, a cottage somewhere, with no-one around, no fear of being disturbed, where they could take their time.  He doubted Frank even considered the idea, and yet, on lonely days, the dream sustained him.

Frank was determined that one day Albert would undress before him.  This was why, every week, he saved a little of his wages, so that one day they would be able to take a little holiday together, and go somewhere quiet, somewhere the two of them could enjoy being alone together.