Dessert's without charge, then? (10)
I believe the answer is:
afterwards
'dessert's without charge then?' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'dessert's without charge then?' is the wordplay.
'dessert' becomes 'afters' (I've seen this before).
'without' is an insertion indicator ('without' can be similar in meaning to 'outside').
'charge then?' becomes 'ward' (I've seen this before. I am not sure about the 'then?' bit.**).
'afters' enclosing 'ward' is 'AFTERWARDS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for afterwards that I've seen before include "Subsequently" , "Later on" .)