I have always loved Oscar Wilde's plays, especially An Ideal Husband. Mabel and Goring are such a dysfunctional couple, spending almost the entirety of the play flirting with each other mercilessly (though, Mabel's love for him is quite evident from early on as she points out to him when he does finally propose). The inspiration for this came from watching the 1990s film adaptation with Minnie Driver and Rupert Everett. The film has a scene where she confronts him about being engaged, ascertains he is not, only to be disappointed yet again when he does not take the opportunity propose to her then. The scene ends with her threatening to accept the expected proposal from Tommy Trafford the next day. In the play she comes from having been stood up by Goring that morning (the arrangement having been made in Act 2), and refuses to speak to him at first. She then goads him by referencing Tommy's proposal as, "It is one of Tommy's days for proposing." and when he indignantly protests she says that she very nearly did accept him on principle because Goring had stood her up and that, "...it would have been an excellent lesson both for him and for you if I had. It would have taught you both better manners."

Obviously, the point of Oscar Wilde is that that it is so flamboyant and ridiculous. I just thought that as Mabel does love Goring so very much, that she must have been very hurt at his standing her up. Let me know if you like it, and if Goring's reflections from the same act would interest you.

So, without further ado, I shall leave you to my first foray into the world of fanfiction. xx

Reflections: Mabel

Mabel Chiltern was furious. In fact, she was quite certain that she had never been quite so angry in the entirety of her existence. Catching sight of her reflection in her dressing-table mirror, she let out a frustrated growl - it was a jolly good thing that she had had the foresight not to call Gertrude after all, she would most decidedly have attempted to calm her down. And Mabel was in no mood for calming down. Not yet, in any case. Not only had she had to suffer the humiliation of Lord Goring breaking their appointment - and not an apology, or message, to let her know in advance had there been! - but in her misery she had somehow failed to avoid Tommy Trafford as well. Naturally, he had proposed. Again.

But that was not what was bothering her. No, she was not cross that Tommy had proposed - although his manner of proposing could still do with some improvement, Gertrude evidently had not taken her request to heart the other day... Mabel was cross with herself, and this was a rare occurrence, as she had had many opportunities over the last few months to be cross with herself and had adamantly refused to be so for the simple reason that embarrassment about her conduct with Lord Goring was expected by the rest of London society - ah! There it was. The source of her misery and heartache. A little sigh escaped her, and she allowed herself to slump back onto the edge of her bed as she fought back the tears that had suddenly made an appearance. She would not cry. A deep breath, and count to ten... Too late.

He must know. Surely he was not so oblivious? That everyone else knew she was certain. She had had to endure Gertrude's knowing smiles and raised eyebrows all season, whenever Lord Goring - Arthur - came to the house. She adored him. The mere suggestion that he might call set her stomach aflutter, and Gertrude knew it. She relished their flirtatious banter, although at times she admittedly found herself at a loss to differentiate between the sincere and the jokes. And she was loathe to end the charade, though it had reached the point where it could go no further. Either he would propose, or it would end and they would have to be common and indifferent acquaintances... A horrifying thought! Yet, this breaking of their appointment this morning had proved it to be so. She had been so upset, so utterly humiliated at his cavalier attitude to their arrangement that when Tommy had, well, found her despite her avoiding him as per Lord Goring' request, she very nearly accepted his proposal out of the sheer need in that instant for someone to want her. Only for the fact that Lady Markby had chosen that exact moment to ride by, and call out to her as she went past, she might very well have done so. As it was, she had had time to recollect her thoughts, and had managed to refuse Tommy in, almost, her usual manner.

Taking a steadying breath, and wiping away with her handkerchief the treacherous tears that had escaped down her cheeks, she stood up and began to change out of her riding clothes. James had said when she arrived back that Lord Goring and his father were in the morning room. Well, she would just have to show Lord Goring how very much she disapproved of his conduct this morning and if he had not proposed to her by the end of the day then she would just have to accept that invitation from her Aunt to accompany her to Brighton. The remembrance of this invitation caused a momentary rush of guilt as she thought of the letter lying in her writing desk, the reply shamefully overdue. Shaking her head, she took a last look in the mirror and smoothed out her dress. Yes, she looked quite stunning. Perfect.

To war.