Title: Three Couples
Fandom: Miss Marple
Rating: G
Length: 458 words
Summary: Miss Marple sits and observes

Miss Marple emerged from the hotel lounge and walked across the rose garden to her favourite seat, where she sat down and took out her knitting.  It was a sunny day, and she was grateful for the shade that had been thoughtfully provided in the form of an awning over the bench.  A young waitress came over and asked if she would like anything to drink.  It was a little early for tea, so Miss Marple settled on a lemonade.  It was a lovely place to sit and enjoy the afternoon sun, and it was also the ideal position to watch the other hotel residents.

Miss Marple’s attention was first caught by a young couple, not quite newly-weds, but definitely not long married.  Whenever they met someone else wandering in the garden the young man would position himself between them and his wife.  Miss Marple thought at first he was being protective, but as she watched she began to wonder whether there was more to his behaviour than at first met the eye.

She continued with her knitting until, once again, her attention was drawn by a more middle-aged couple.  They were, she had discovered the previous evening, keen bridge players.  They were having a fairly animated discussion, but, although she couldn’t hear exactly what was being said, it didn’t appear to be acrimonious.  As they drew closer to her, she concentrated on the shaping of the sleeve she was knitting.  It didn’t, however, prevent her from hearing the woman say, “So long as we get them in the right position tonight, we should make a killing.”  Miss Marple hoped that this statement didn’t need to be taken literally, but nevertheless she made a mental note to keep an eye on them after dinner.

She looked at her watch and decided she had just time to complete another couple of rows before she went inside for a cup of tea.  After which she would go for her own stroll around the gardens before dressing for dinner.  As she was putting her knitting back in her bag, she was aware of an older couple approaching her.

“Really, George,” the woman was saying, “you will just have to change your position.”

“But I’ve always supported Edward.”

“Perhaps it’s time you agreed with Toby, instead.”

“I can’t see what difference it makes to you.”

“It makes little difference to me; I’m thinking of our son.”

“I still don’t understand.”

“No, you wouldn’t!”

Miss Marple watched as the couple entered the hotel and shook her head.  She was reminded of the family problems which had affected the greengrocer in St Mary Mead two summers previously.  That had not ended well.  She could only hope this argument would have a more amicable solution.