“Have you ever?” Wellington still could not believe that Velveteen and Golden had dashed out the back door on what he would consider a wild goose chase. “Those two must be good if they think that they can catch the Cheshire Cat. And get Georg’s e back as well.”
“The idea that the cat is behind the theft did not seem to phase them at all,” said Bethleann. She then proceeded to chide herself as to why she had never thought to slip into Wonderland and seek out Georg’s e. Her level five magic ought to be sufficient to tackle anything the cat would throw at her.
“They are quite the pair,” Wellington’s voice held admiration. “I shall look forward to a more leisurely visit with them when they return.”
“With my e,” added Georg hopefully.
“Shall we back to our notes then,” Wellington headed for the tearoom.
“And more tarts.” The clean up had worked up a new appetite for Georg.
“I’ll help finish the last of the clean up and be right there,” Bethleann said. “Have you a dustpan?” she turned to Miss Jessica who was thanking Miss Lizzie for her quick work in getting a new tea tray ready. Even with two of the guests gone Miss Jessica knew that Georg would find no problem in working his way through the tarts. And she also knew that he would gladly share. He might be a mighty eater but he was also a very thoughtful bear.
“In the pantry,” replied Miss Jessica pointing to a doorway in the corner of the room.
“Perfect,” Bethleann propped the broom against the wall and headed for the pantry. Inside she found rows and rows of spices and canned goods. Numerous boxes full of fresh vegetable and fruits lined one wall. Everything smelled so wonderful. “Wow with these supplies I could do some cooking.” Bethleann ran her hand over the spices, studying the labels. Some were familiar, some new to her. She would have to ask. “And I bet they come with new to me recipes. Maybe Miss Jessica will even let me be guest chef one day.”
“Did you find it?” Miss Jessica’s voice drifted into the pantry.
“Yes, I was just looking at your plentiful and also intriguing supplies.” Bethleann truthfully had not yet looked for the dustpan but not wanting to be caught in a tiny fib, she immediately looked around and spied the pan hanging on the wall, just to the left of the door. She reached for the pan handle and turned to leave all in the same motion. In the process, her foot became entangled in something on the floor, and she felt herself tumbling forward. She tried to drop the dustpan so that she could catch herself with both hands, but she fell too fast. She had no time to think beyond catching her fall and so landed with the flat of the dustpan taking the brunt of the fall. At that, a hole opened in the floor exactly where the dustpan had landed and with her as yet unchecked forward momentum Bethleann tumbled through it. “Help,” she cried as she rolled forward into a dark tunnel.
Wellington Rabbit is a sixteen (soon to be seventeen) book series about the adventures of a gentle rabbit and his friends. Each book is ten chapters long, separated into three parts and published here Monday, Wednesday, Friday.