The Chocolate Factory by Mary-Lou Stephens

Author:Mary-Lou Stephens
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises (Australia) Pty Ltd
Published: 2023-12-13T00:00:00+00:00

The weather turned with a chill that made Dorothy glad for the warmth of the factory. Cadbury’s was at its best in winter, with the steam pipes to keep the chocolate molten ensuring her workers were comfortably toasty. It was different in the packing and wrapping department where coolness was a necessity. Autumn had come and gone but without the riot of colour she’d been used to at Bournville. Dorothy missed the turning leaves; the vibrant reds, golds and browns of the elms and oaks. Here the trees stayed the same mottled hues of green. She’d been told the wattles put on a magnificent show of yellow blossoms later in the season. It would bring some colour to her first winter in Tasmania.

Dorothy wrapped her scarf high around her face to protect her cheeks from the bitter wind as she hurried towards the cottage. The tentative bond she and Thomas shared had strengthened over the weeks since he’d been working for the Firm. When they could, they met by the river, conversing in a manner that would never arouse suspicion if overheard, but it wasn’t enough, not if Dorothy was going to be of real use. It had taken several attempts to persuade Thomas to join her at the cottage for lunch but finally she’d been successful. She’d instructed him to walk along the riverbank to the north of the factory then up to the cottage and enter through the back gate. If they arrived and left at different times, and used different paths, no one would be the wiser.

At the cottage she laid out plates, knives and napkins on the dining table. Lunch was simple fare – cold meat, cheese, fresh bread and pickles. She’d also made chocolate tarts last night, much to Sarah’s delight. A tentative knock at the back door brought her senses into sharp focus. Thomas was here. Dorothy smoothed the napkin beside his plate, the linen stiff with starch, then moved to greet him. He stood just inside the portico, his hat in his hands. His expression held a hint of nervousness.

‘Good afternoon, Thomas. I’m glad you could make it.’

‘I hope no one saw me.’ He glanced back over his shoulder.

‘I’m sure no one did.’ She understood his concern. They were in new territory with this visit to her home. Dorothy ushered him inside, took his hat and gestured for him to follow her. ‘Can I take your coat?’

‘Thank you.’

She hung his things on the hallstand near the front door. ‘I wonder if we’ll have snow,’ she said on her return. ‘Being our first winter here, I have no idea what to expect.’

‘There’s been some talk of it in the office – freezing winds from the Antarctic, much snow on Mount Wellington but very little settles in the town.’

‘That’s a shame. If we’re going to be cold we should at least be able to build snowmen.’

Thomas laughed lightly. ‘Indeed.’ He turned to the dining table. ‘This is quite the spread you’ve laid on.’

‘Nothing fancy but I do hope you like it.

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