Time Waits for No One by M. W. Arnold
Author:M. W. Arnold [Arnold, M W]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC027200 FICTION / Romance / Historical / 20th C
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2023-12-07T00:00:00+00:00
Chapter Twenty-One
âGood morning, Jane! Mary, Penny, Betty, andâ¦â Mavis actually hopped out from behind the servery, belying her advancing years, âour Doris! My goodness, what a mouthful! How are you all?â
After being subjected to an unexpected hug, their usually cantankerous mess manager retook her place to await her next customers. Unspoken, the girls all brought their cups of tea warily to their noses and sniffed.
âSmells fine,â Penny announced, as everyone nodded.
Mary sniffed once again and, before anyone could stop her, took a tentative sip.
âA bit early for brave pills, isnât it?â Doris asked and they all watched in open-mouthed amazement as Mary supped back the rest of her tea before looking into the now empty cup. âAre you feeling well? Youâre not ill, are you?â Doris wanted to know, genuine amazement in her voice.
âNot only am I more than fine, Iâm going back for seconds,â Mary stunned her friends.
Being the first into the mess that Tuesday morning, there was only one person to ask about this strange turn of affairs. However, before this, potentially drastic measures needed to be taken. As one, the remaining girls brought their cups to their lips, matched Maryâs sips, watched each otherâs eyebrows shoot up in surprise, and then they all downed their respective cups.
âMavis,â Jane began, as she stepped behind Mary, whose cup was indeed being refilled, âwhat exactly isâ¦this?â
âTea,â she merely replied, hovering her large teapot over Janeâs empty cup.
Jane raised her cup back up to her nose before saying what was on everyoneâs mind. âNo, I mean yes, itâs tea, but itâsâ¦â
âDrinkable?â Mavis ended for her and then, instead of the usual mood she got in when someone passed a comment on her brews, she once more smiled.
Jane had to physically stop herself from taking a step back at the unexpected sight, âWell, yes, of course, but the taste!â
âItâs Sharonâs brew,â Mavis stated.
âThatâs it!â Penny announced, a little too loudly, as everyone turned to stare at her. âSorry,â she mumbled, before taking a place behind Jane for seconds.
âGo on, ask away,â Mavis said. âI can see youâre dying to.â
âAll right, I will,â Doris agreed, when no one else immediately piped up. âWhy, after all this time, are we being treated to a drinkableâ¦âbrew,â I believe is the right word?â
Mavis shook her head, yet she still had the same smile on her face. âThis morning, of all mornings, Doris, nothing you say can get to me. You see this?â She reached into the pocket at the front of her apron and took out a slightly tatty envelope. âMy sonâs coming home on leave for a whole week!â
A spontaneous cheer erupted from the group, and then they all stretched over the servery to pat whichever part of Mavis they could reach.
After the jumbled congratulations had died downâeveryone knew how unhappy the mess manager had been without her boyâJane called for quiet. âAs you can tell, weâre all very, very happy to hear this news. As soon as you know the dates, come and see me and weâll fix things up.
Download
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.
Highland Passions by Madeline Martin(441)
The Regal (A Series of Worthy Young Ladies Book 6) by Kate Archer(433)
Once Upon a Winter's Eve: A Spindle Cove Novella by Dare Tessa(408)
The Eye of the Falcon: the al-Andalus trilogy, #2 by JOAN FALLON(341)
A Dowry of Blood by S. T. Gibson(317)
The Iron Edge by Lexa Luthor(290)
Forever Your Rogue by Erin Langston(274)
French Leave by Sherri Cobb South(268)
Daisy's Prince Charming by Ruth Ann Nordin(262)
Whom Shall I Kiss... An Earl, A Marquess, or A Duke?: A Steamy Historical Regency Romance (Tricking the Scoundrels Series Book 1) by Laura A. Barnes(262)
The Count of Monte Cristo, the Three Musketeers, and the Man in the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas(261)
Daughters of the Glen 02 - Highland Guardian . txt by Melissa Mayhue(235)
The Secret Service of Tea and Treason by India Holton(228)
Knight Dreams by C.C. Wiley(197)
The MacCarrick Brothers eBox Set by Kresley Cole(196)
The Duke Wins a Bride: A Regency Marriage of Convenience Romance (Inconvenient Brides Book 1) by Nina Jarrett(188)
Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt: The epic conclusion to the Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley & Harry Whittaker(188)
Dragon's Keep by Jessica Marting(184)
Waltzing with the Wallflower Trilogy by Leah Sanders(182)