Dudley's Christmas Treat [HOL2014]

Dudley was a gourmet of means. A rich man, he inhabited a smart mansion in the country with just his servants for company. Mercurial and with a low thresh hold for boredom he imposed on his manservant to find ever more bizarre forms of entertainment, especially for the Christmas Holidays.

The pressure was on for his chef, too, who was expected to come up with increasingly exotic creations with which to tempt Dudley's often-jaded palate.

A local woman came in nearly every weekday to 'do' for him and kept his house in the spotless manner to which Dudley had become accustomed. Her son was in charge of the several acres of gardens and kept them neat and pristine.

It was into this environment that a local circus had been invited to perform on Christmas Day. They came along and pitched their tents near the stables, trying their very best not to look too impressed with their surroundings.


Dudley did his best not to look too impressed with the circus. Part of his manipulative charm depended on keeping his manservant on his toes by never appearing to be grateful for the proffered entertainments. This ensured that the manservant always tried his best to excel himself, keeping him in a permanent state of stress and Dudley in a permanent state of anticipation and excitement.

Dudley located the ringmaster and gave him a key to the mansion. 'Tell your people they are welcome to enter and use my facilities' he said. Of course, this invitation was eagerly accepted by the circus folk who went off to marvel at the beautiful golden halls and gaze in awe at the tall Christmas Tree proudly displayed before them.


That evening, Dudley settled himself on the patio and clapped his hands to signal that he was ready for whatever entertainment the circus had to offer him.

How he laughed at the clowns whose tom-foolery opened the proceedings and how he gasped at the fire-eaters and sword swallowers. He found himself fascinated by the juggler as he juggled his clubs, and was on the edge of his seat as the escapologist only just made it out of the water tank alive.

Mightily impressed, Dudley thought he would give these people the world if he could but satisfied himself with throwing some coins instead. And then, just as he thought there could be nothing left to beguile him, she rode out.

A tiny dancer balancing on a white horse. How delicate she was in her pink tutu, how acrobatic as she jumped and pirouetted on the back of her steed. Dudley was utterly captivated and clapped and cheered until his arms ached.

Marielle, the dancer, noticed his attentions and smiled prettily for him. She knew she looked her best tonight in her glittery costume and her blonde hair piled high, decorated with a small tiara set with tiny pink and white gems.

Finally she took her bow and was rewarded with an invitation to join Dudley. She tripped lightly up the steps to the patio and he greeted her warmly. She found herself being plied with turkey sandwiches and mulled wine. The perfect Christmas supper.

Dudley was more charming than usual and gradually, Marielle found herself falling for him. He, touchingly, began to fall for her too. Somehow, all the sophisticated women he had known in the past paled in comparison to this lively, exquisite little creature.

Tenderly he suggested going inside and Marielle, tired, excited, well-fed, slightly drunk and happy, agreed. She was so small that Dudley easily carried her up the steps to his bedroom and threw her playfully into his large and comfortable bed.

How happy they were in their passion. Dudley always enjoyed novelty and Marielle, being a small acrobat, had many new delights to offer him. When finally they slept, Dudley thought he must have died and gone to heaven.


The next morning his manservant found them entwined and even he, usually unshocked by Dudley's antics, had to rub his eyes and look again at the tangle in which he found his master.

Sleepily Dudley ordered breakfast in bed and snuggled up to Marielle. 'I love you' he told her. Sleepily, she uttered the magic words 'I love you too, Dudley' with hardly a thought for the riches she could expect to enjoy should their relationship last. She determined that it would.

After a breakfast that was eaten and thrown around Dudley's ransacked bed they trotted downstairs. Marielle had to go and tend to her horse and Dudley had stocks and shares to look after.

His manservant 'humphed' as Dudley dived in for a last, lingering kiss before making himself available for his duties. 'I'll see you for dinner' he told Marielle and winked ostentatiously at her as she left.

Dudley had a restless day and couldn't concentrate. How he sighed with relief when it finally became time to dress for dinner. He chose his clothes carefully, finding his best waistcoat for the occasion. His manservant located his best cuff-links and signet ring and, after a lot of preening and critical glances in the mirror, pronounced Dudley fit to go downstairs.


Dinner was to be served in the banqueting hall, still resplendent in its Christmas finery. Nothing was too good for Marielle, and Dudley impatiently awaited her appearance. Slowly, the first hour ticked by and still no sign of her. Dudley asked for his favourite beer and it was served by his manservant, who looked rather put out.

Hesitantly, he asked if the master was going to eat at all tonight. 'Just another half hour' said Dudley quietly, trying not to show his anxiety and disappointment. He thought of going to the circus tents to look for her, but he'd never had to chase a woman in his life and he didn't want to start now. Instead he sat there with his jaw set stubbornly and continued to wait.

Finally, as midnight approached, he called for his starter which he picked at with no enthusiasm. His manservant cleared away the remains, throwing them into the garden for the foxes so as not to offend the chef.

Next he served a beautiful, medium rare steak to Dudley and stood back in anticipation of his master's grateful response. Dudley took a mouthful with no real enthusiasm, but the taste was exquisite. So tender, so fresh. Such a change from the left-over turkey. He tucked in and barely stopped himself from licking the plate.

Wiping his chin on his napkin he looked at his manservant 'That was marvellous' he said 'Utterly marvellous. Such a pity Miss Marielle missed it'

The manservant looked aghast and let his jaw drop 'But, but sir' he stammered 'That was Miss Marielle. You said you wanted to see her for dinner'.

a reply to: berenike

(With Jaw wide open I write this reply......)
That ending was Not even expected!!!
Very Good Tale!!!
Very Flavourful ending I might Add! LOL!!

GReat Job!!! S+F For You!! Syx.

a reply to: SyxPak

Thank you very much.

I threw in a few things to try and put the reader off the scent, so to speak. Christmas was a red herring rather than the theme of the story.

Hope you have a good one

Sweet Christ! 0_O

Left turn~ BAM.

Amazing! S&F.

I bet Dudley's last name is Dursley. This is what happens when Dudley Dursley is all grown up. HA!

a reply to: XxNightAngelusxX


Thank you.

I had to look up Dudley Dursley - I obviously didn't pay close enough attention to the Harry Potter films

Seasons Greetings to you

originally posted by: berenike
a reply to: XxNightAngelusxX


Thank you.

I had to look up Dudley Dursley - I obviously didn't pay close enough attention to the Harry Potter films

Seasons Greetings to you

Yeah, its Harry Potter's overfed cousin.

Likewise friend.

a reply to: berenike

Hi! I enjoyed your story! I knew there would be something odd about Marielle; it occurred to me she might be a zombie. Or an alien, or even a reindeer. : )

But I never considered dinner! Poor ole Dudley though. Guy's got it rough!

S&F. Good to see you!
liw

a reply to: ladyinwaiting

Hi - good to see you, too. And thank you.

If only I'd got that idea for reindeer zombies a bit sooner, I might have had another story to enter

Twas the night before Christmas, and oh me oh my
Reindeer parts were falling right down from the sky
Plummeting down through the hail and the fog
What a great time to be a big hungry dog

Luxurious writing! In my reading of it, I mistook the lovely circus girl for his favorite dog. The manservant was shocked by discovering them in bed and (I am assuming the main character's delusion) took the order.
Fun! Lyrical writing for sure, I was dusting invisible fluff off my jacket with my nose held high.

a reply to: berenike

lol! I've got a feeling that in the event of a zombie reindeer, and with a great twist at the end, Dudley might have been the one being served up for dinner!

You know, just as an aside, I liked it better when we had a judges panel, rather than the star/flag count thing.

a reply to: ladyinwaiting

I was thinking Rudolph's nose would have looked great lighting up the top of the Christmas Tree

a reply to: frayedknot

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed the story. It was tricky getting Marielle served up for dinner without giving any hints, but, oh gawd - what must your reaction have been when you thought she was a dog

And, synchronicity if you like that sort of thing - I'd just vacuumed my desk before I came in here and read your post. So we're both spic and span for New Year

It wasn't until the end that I thought she was the dog. I just couldn't figure out the manservant's dismay, unless the main character had lost his mind and was playing out a fantasy. Such strangers, yet devotedly loving..must be something mad hatter.

Merry Christmas and a Happy (tidy) New Year to you too!
a reply to: berenike