Miss Potterton's Birthday Tea by Amanda Prowse Read Free Book Online Page A

gravy now, but your dad used to be built like you and now he’s got a proper belly. You want to watch that!’ She winked.
    â€˜Tina! Tina!’ Miss Potterton called from the sitting room.
    â€˜Yes?’ Tina always bobbed a little when she stood in front of Miss Potterton. Think I need to stop watching Downton. She smiled at the thought.
    â€˜I think maybe we should set a pot to steep. People will be arriving any second and I would like to offer them tea the moment they sit down, plus I’m rather thirsty myself. And don’t forget it’s the Darjeeling.’
    â€˜Certainly, and I’ll grab the door when they arrive.’ She made her way back to the kitchen.
    â€˜Right, Marl, action stations. First pot of tea of the day.’
    â€˜Is she having a nice time?’ Marley couldn’t begin to imagine how it was possible to have fun when you were ninety-four.
    â€˜I think so, love, yes. She’ll get more into the swing of it when her other guests arrive.’
    â€˜The Right Honourable Muir Tyson-Blaine!’ He snickered.
    â€˜Ssshhh!’ Tina placed her finger on her lips. ‘Don’t be rude, Marley. You are in Miss Potterton’s home and these people are her friends and it is her birthday party.’ She spoke solemnly.
    â€˜It’s must be odd having friends with titles. I can’t imagine Digsy will ever have one,’ Marley said as he fiddled with a teaspoon.
    â€˜You never know, love. I’ll just pop back through, see if they need anything.’
    Miss Potterton was in full swing. ‘Well, that was the trouble with your mother, she was afraid of her own shadow! I’d have made myself quite clear, and that frightful man wouldn’t have got a penny out of me.’ She nodded, mid conversation with Ian.
    â€˜Funny, I was thinking about her only the other day, as I do on occasion. Thinking how I would really like a cup of tea with her and a bit of a chinwag,’ he admitted.
    â€˜Oh, absolutely! I miss her dreadfully.’ Miss Potterton placed her handkerchief at the corner of her eye. ‘That’s the thing about surviving the longest; you have to say so many wretched goodbyes. And doubly unfair when she was so much younger than me.’ She sniffed. ‘Ah, Tina, what’s the time, dear?’
    Tina looked at the clock and then her phone. ‘I think my phone’s running a little bit fast. It says ten past three.’
    Miss Potterton sat forward in her chair and gripped the arms. ‘Ten past three? Are you sure? That’s utterly ridiculous. They’re all late! I can’t bear tardiness, I really can’t! Tom always used to say, “Why do people consider their time more valuable than mine? How little must people think of me to make me wait.” And I rather agree. Ten past, are you certain?’ She craned her neck and then squinted at her watch face.
    â€˜I expect parking round here is a bit of a nightmare. Maybe they’re struggling to find a space?’ Ian offered kindly. Both he and Tina were wondering who Tom was.
    â€˜Well, no, Ian, that can’t be right. Everyone is within walking distance or has a resident’s pass. I don’t understand it. I specifically said three o’clock. Didn’t I, Tina?’
    â€˜Yes. Yes, you did.’ She nodded. ‘Tell you what, how about a nice cup of tea while you’re waiting. I’m sure Dr Ian would like one – you must be gasping!’ She smiled at him.
    â€˜That would be lovely. Yes, please.’ He looked like a happy schoolboy who’d been offered seconds.
    â€˜No! Absolutely not!’ Miss Potterton banged the arm of her chair. ‘Can you imagine the embarrassment of Mr and Mrs Govington-Holmes or the Right Honourable Muir Tyson-Blaine if they arrived and we were merrily drinking tea, with festivities well and truly launched without them? How would that look? No.’ She shook her head. ‘We