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Page 85
quickly at Linda and gave her a broad wink and a flashing smile. Enlightenment dawned. Peter Tattersall might be physically clumsy, but there was nothing slow about his mental processes. Surely he would have thought of sending the heavy luggage on ahead. That could only mean that Mrs. Bates had previously insisted on taking it with them, and Peter had baited her on purpose to ease Linda's task.
Peter took a quick sip from his cup. "Ugh! Tea!" he exclaimed. "Where's my coffee? I understood that Linda had introduced coffee to Gertrude."
"I suppose her niece forgot to set out the drippers. Or perhaps she thought it would look odd because there were only two," Mrs. Bates said.
"I'll get them, if you don't mind, Mrs. Bates." Linda looked at her employer, who nodded and smiled. "Would anyone else like coffee?" she asked. ''There are two drippers."
To her surprise, Rose-Anne and Donald both shook their heads. She had assumed they would prefer coffee. It was General Barthemeles who remarked, "Usually I would prefer it, but I've had half my tea, so I'll just finish that."
"Never mind, Linda. If it's only for me, I'll get it myself," Peter offered. "Your tea will get cold if you go."
Linda was not quite certain whether her position required her to fetch the coffee, but it seemed to her that to insist would make an unnecessary fuss, so she merely thanked him

 
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