The Hatter's Wife Page 8

  “Yes, you certainly did, my darling.” Tippery reached up and took my hand. “You certainly did.”

  “Bahahahaha! I have an announcement!” Ellie, the eighth and half Duchess of Bedford, chortled from her seat at the head of the tea table.

  She was surrounded by Prince Bufo, Lucy Lop, the dormouse - whose name I never did find out - Tippery, and me.

  Squawk! “Have an announcement! Have an announcement!” Squawk!

  The Duchess glanced up at the bird in her hat, and he down to her, but much to my surprise, she didn’t whack him with her spoon. “Tippery would like to present a gift to his remarkably courageous wife, Maddie Milner, for rescuing him from Wonderland. Bahahahaha!”

  I clutched my teacup filled with lemonade, but much to my own surprise, I didn’t cringe at the sound of that . . . that word.

  Maybe I was getting soft.

  Bleh!

  Not a chance.

  “Mad Maddie, tehehehehe!” Tippery began. “I’ve been mad about you since the first day we met. You will always be the feather in my cap”—he pulled a box out from behind his back and handed it to me— “and I hope, I in yours.”

  With trembling hands, I opened the box.

  I gasped at what was inside.

  Delicately I pulled out the most exquisite hat I had ever laid eyes—or any of my other senses—on. It was in the shape of a black spade with gold embroidery and a single white feather that flared off to the side.

  “Tippery . . .”

  I was at a loss for words—which spoke volumes.

  Triumphantly I placed the hat on top of my head. “I will treasure it always.”

  And I would. For all of my days to come.

  Together, the guests of the tea party clapped and cheered.

  “Congratulations, Maaddiiee. Squid crumpets for everyone!” Prince Bufo croaked.

  Lucy Lop reached for a crumpet and knocked over the salt shaker.

  Immediately everyone tossed their forks over their right shoulders.

  “Crisis averted!” the Duchess sang out as she stabbed a crumpet with her knife. “Bahahahaha!”

  The End

  The Finale

  The Conclusion

  No, really . . . it’s over.

  About the Author

  Anna B. Madrise is a happy transplant to the state of Georgia where she resides with her husband and a menagerie of four-legged, fluffy, little monsters that includes four dogs and one rock star kitty cat. She would like to clear the air, at this time, and inform all of her readers that unlike Mad Maddie Milner, Anna is an equal-opportunity drinker of plant-leaf dregs and has never met a cup of tea that she didn’t like. (Except for that one time . . .)

  Anna is an eclectic writer of all sorts of wondrous and amazing tales that include, but are not limited to; The Tales of Dovewood Series, The Shearwater Cozy Mystery Series, and other unique, holiday-themed books such as Sprite and Jack in the Green—all of which are available on her website: www.annabmadrise.com, as well as other various locations where eBooks and paperbacks are sold.

  You can find Anna on Instagram (or IG, for the savvy):

  instagram.com/anna.b.madrise_author

  Or fly by, and chirp with her, on Twitter:

  @AnnaBMadrise

  ALSO BY ANNA B. MADRISE

  TALES OF DOVEWOOD

  The Hobgoblin Queen

  The Wrath of the King

  Black Magic Rising (Forthcoming 2017)

  Curse of the Book Mage (Forthcoming 2018)

  THE SHEARWATER MYSTERIES

  Chirp No More

  Ruffled Feathers (Forthcoming 2017)

  CLASSIC LITERATURE ADAPTATION

  The Hatter’s Wife

  STANDALONE HOLIDAY BOOKS

  Sprite

  Jack in the Green (Forthcoming 2017)