“Oh Lordy, Veronica, stop fussin’ with them cushions, they’s lookin’ fine as they are. Bessie’s not comin’ t’ see them, she’s comin’ t’ meet you!”

Ever since Mildred told Veronica of their plan, Veronica hadn't been able to sit still. 

“Yes, I know, and that’s the problem. I’ve never met another time-traveller. Are you sure you don’t mind me not coming with you? I’d be quite willing to do it. I know James worries, but he also knows it’s important work.”

Mildred put her arm around Veronica’s shoulder and pulled her into a hug. “I know he worries, that’s why I came up with the idea. I think it’s time for my grandson and his lovely wife t’ live their own lives without the stress.”

She turned and looked into Veronica’s eyes and, seeing the worry there, she smiled. And then her eyes twinkled mischievously. “But you needn’t start thinkin’ that you’re gonna be left here twiddlin’ those thumbs of yours or goin' out having noodles of fun, young lady. Bessie and me’ll still be wantin’ your help. We’ll be poppin’ in and out like yo-yos, gettin’ you t’ check things up on your googly thingamajig.”

Veronica laughed. “It’s oodles, not noodles! And I wouldn’t be doing that anyway. I’ll probably start writing that time-travellers book I keep talking about. I’d have to put it down as fiction; only you and I will know it’s not.”

“Now, that’s what I be callin’ a plan! Which one of us is gonna be the superhero?”

“Me! I’m writing it. You can be my underhero!” Veronica laughed louder when Mildred’s face showed her indignation. “Okay, we’ll be equal superheroes. Oh! … Was that the door? You go, will you?’ She dashed over to the mirror on the mantle and checked her hair as Mildred shook her head and grinned on her way to let her friend in.

Mildred ushered Bessie into the sitting room where Veronica was standing waiting, albeit nervously, to greet her. 

“Bessie, meet Veronica, my great-great-granddaughter-in-law,” Mildred said with a chuckle, before adding, “If I were t’ work it out right, I think there could be another ‘great’ in there somewhere! Veronica, this is my friend, Bessie.”

Veronica stretched out her hand and smiled. ‘Hello Bessie, it’s lovely to meet you at last. Since Mildred told me about you a few days ago, I’ve been looking forward to welcoming you into our home.” 

Veronica ignored Mildred's raised eyebrow, and little smirk, and asked Bessie to come and sit down.

"Can I get you anything to drink, a cup of tea, perhaps?”

Bessie’s eyes lit up at the mention of a drink. “I’s thinking I’d like a cup of coffee, if’n you’s have some and if’n you’s not minding, that is?” 

“No, not at all. And you, Mildred. Your usual?”

“Oh Lordy, yes, I don’t want any of that coffee rubbish. You stay and get to know Bessie, and I’ll go and make the drinks. I take it you’ll be wantin’ your tea as well?”

“No, I’ll have the same as our guest. Thanks.” Veronica grinned, watching Mildred’s look of surprise. They were both teaholics, neither really liking the flavour of coffee. 

After Mildred had left the room, Veronica turned her attention back to Bessie. “Mildred has told me a few things; I understand you’ve been time-travelling for many years now. We had a few trips into the past. Some were good, we met some lovely people, and we also met some frightful ones.”

“Yes, Mildred has told me of the assignments the Powers sent you on. I’s thinking time-travellers has their place. We’s needed to put things back into their rightful positions, else chaos could be this world's undoing, and we’s not wanting that.” Bessie scrutinised Veronica’s face and gently nodded. “I’s thinking you’s worried about Mildred?”

Mildred had told her how shrewd Bessie was, so Veronica wasn't at all surprised by her observation. She gave a wry smile. “Yes, I am. Mildred is such a soft, kind-hearted lady, almost innocent in her thoughts and ways. I don’t know why I think that, she’s been with me through some terrible times. The First World War, that was awful, the things we saw…” 

Veronica’s mind travelled back before she could stop herself. So much happened in that last assignment. The bombing of London; getting all the patients out of their beds and helping them down to the underground passage directly beneath the hospital, and so much more.

“I love her to bits, and so does all the family. I couldn’t bear anything to happen to her. I’m scared, if you want the truth.”

Bessie was quiet for a moment. “I’s thinking you’s right to a point. But, she’s stronger than any of us realise. I’ve seen that in her. You should’ve been there when she faced up to them Powers That Be! You’s wouldn’t be catching me doing it. Not on you’s nelly! They’s a scary bunch.”

“Who’s scary?” Mildred came in with a tray of tea, coffee, freshly made scones, that were still warm, and a pot of strawberry jam. There was also a small lidded-glass bowl of Cornish clotted cream on the tray, which she now put on the coffee table. “So? Who’s scary?”

“I’s thinking those ears of you’s are a mite large,” Bessie said, lightly. “I’s talking about them Powers, they’s the scariest bunch, if ever there be.”

Mildred nodded. She poured out two cups of coffee, and a cup of tea for herself. “Help yourself to a plate and grab a scone. Fresh out of the oven this mornin’ and it’s me own jam. I picked the strawberries meself.”

The first thing Bessie did was pick up her cup of coffee, lift it to her nose, sniff the dark-brown liquid, then close her eyes, and sigh. “Oh, how I’s missed this.”

They’d been sitting chatting for a while, easy in each other's company, when Veronica’s daughter, Ann, came in. 

“Oh, hello.” She smiled at Bessie, put her bulging school bag down and walked across the room.

Mildred stood up and took Ann’s hand. “This is me friend, Bessie, dear. Bessie, this is me granddaughter, Ann. She’s one of the brightest lights in me life. You’ll be seein’ the other one soon.”

“How do you do?” Ann said, her smile broader now.

Bessie stood and put her coffee cup on the table. “I’s thinking I’s fine.” She returned Ann's smile and reached out to take hold of her outstretched hand. 

Mildred was to talk about this meeting for years to come. When Bessie and Ann clasped hands, they both sprung apart as if they'd had an electric charge go through them. Ann’s eyes widened, and Bessie, although she also looked startled, had that all-knowing twinkle in hers. They stared at each other, neither wanting to be the first to break eye contact. 

In the end, it was Bessie. She reached out again and gently took hold of the hand Ann was massaging. This time nothing happened. “I’s thinking you’s and me’s got a lot to talk about, Ann. I’s seeing a lot of questions in those bright eyes of you’s, and rightly so.”

Ann frowned and looked down at her hand that was still clutched in Bessie’s as if it might have the answer to what had just happened. “That was the weirdest sensation I’ve ever had,” she told her. “What was it?” 

Bessie went back to the sofa, picked up her coffee cup and sat back down. "I’s thinking we’s should all sit a spell, and I’s’ll try and explain it to you’s all."

When everyone was sitting, they all turned towards Bessie and waited. Even Mildred had no idea what had happened.

“I’s thinking this isn’t the first weird feeling you’s had, is it, Ann? But it’s the first time you’s experienced it from another person.”

Both Veronica and Mildred knew Ann was highly sensitive to certain things, and that she had psychic abilities, which Ann was already explaining to Bessie. 

“There have been a few times when I’ve touched items of clothes that I’ve felt … felt and seen things. But, you’re right that it hasn’t happened when I’ve touched anyone. Why did it with you?”

Bessie nodded. “I’s thinking as much. You’s be having the gift, my dear. The reason you’s and me jumped like that is ‘cause I’s having the gift as well.”

Mildred looked at Veronica; she knew this would worry her. “Oh Lordy, Veronica, don’t you go frettin’ now. We’re already knowin’ Ann were different. What we’re needin’ t’ know now is, how different?”

Veronica agreed. “Bessie? Can you enlighten us, please? I want to know that my daughter is not going to disappear at times, like Mildred and I used to, and that she will be safe at all times.”

“No, This child will learn to control them. You’s couldn’t. Them cheeky Powers controlled you’s both.  I’s thinking I’s going to be teaching her.” Bessie looked at her empty cup, and looked up at Mildred. “I’s wondering, is there any more of this delicious coffee in that pot?” 

The sudden change of subject threw Mildred, and she stared unseeing at the pot for a moment. She shook her head, smiled and picked it up. ‘Yes, there’s enough for one more.” She turned to Veronica. “There’s enough for two cups of tea, if’n you want one?”

“Oh, good. Yes please!” 

Mildred looked at Ann. “What about you, dear?”

“Oh, nothing for me, thanks, Nanna. I’ve still got a bottle of water in my bag.” While Mildred was busy pouring the drinks, she continued talking to Bessie. “When you said you had the gift as well, does that mean I can do what you do? And if so, what is it you do?”

Mildred passed Bessie her coffee, and Veronica her tea. "I’d like to know that, too,” she said, picking up her cup and going back to sit on the sofa. 

They had to wait until Bessie had stopped breathing in the coffee aroma. “I can’t understand why we’s not having this in my time.” She took one more sniff, a sip, and then put the cup down.

“I’s thinking this will be hard for you’s to take in.” She looked at each of their faces and nodded. “I’s coming from way in the future. We’s having a legal system that is different to you’s. We’s knowing the law-breakers in the past are the problems for the future. My’s job, and you’s as well now, Mildred, is to stop the wrongs in the past to keep the future safe. We’s a bit like them police people you’s be having, but we’s going after the ones that weren’t caught, and stop them doing it.” 

The room was silent for a while as Bessie had another sip of her coffee. Then, “And I’s thinking you, young lady,” she said to Ann, “will be a great help when we bring things back for you to reveal the whereabouts of the one we’s after. We’s the same, but we’s having different gifts.”

“So what you’re saying is, Ann won’t actually be travelling back in time? She’ll be safe at home with me?” Veronica’s relief was palpable.

“I’s thinking you’s got it right, Veronica. You and Ann will have you’s jobs to do in helping us. I’s not knowing how at the moment, 'cause I’s not knowing what job Mildred and me’ll be sent to. But it will be exciting!”

***** 

Author Notes

Now the main characters are known. Mildred, Bessie, Veronica, and Ann. Chapter One will start when I'm back from holiday. Possible titles, in no particular order, but I'm still thinking about it. Other suggestions are always welcome.... Troubleshooting Time -Travellers Time -Travelling Rectifiers This - Time it's Different (in keeping with the trilogy titles mentioned in the previous prelude) Other titles might crop up, including some you might think of. Thank you so much for reading these three preludes. Your comments have been really helpful. Although I'm not sure what category this should come under, I've put it under fantasy/science fiction. (But we all know it's not fiction!)