Betrayal by Michele Kallio Read Free Book Online Page A

the mix of stale tobacco and the dry dust smell of old books, wrinkling her nose. She felt comforted. After a few minutes, she opened her eyes. Looking around she read the titles of the books on the shelves opposite, all psychology texts, without exception. No clue to Stokes, nor to Charles Hamilton either.  The hidden Charles Hamilton would not be revealed here.  With a shock, Lydia realized how it would look if someone came in and found her behind Stokes’ desk.  Lydia pushed the chair back from the desk, then listening at the door, she cautiously opened it a crack to look out before stepping into the corridor.  Hurrying up the stairs and out into the late afternoon sunshine, she looked for Dan and the Camry. She was surprised when Dan pulled up to Hazen Hall, and she quickly climbed in.
    “How did it go?” Dan asked.  “I wasn’t expecting to see you so soon,” Dan continued, as he pulled the car out on to the roadway.
    “Oh. Sorry.  I was thinking of something else.  He was called out to a meeting with some big-wig from the government.  We hadn’t gotten much beyond the introductions when he had to leave. He seems to think my dream may contain a message from my unconscious mind.  If it does it’s a mystery to me.”
    “Well, dearest, if it’s coming from your unconscious mind it would be a mystery to your conscious mind.  So he mentioned hypnosis. When will you start that?”
    “No, we didn’t get that far.  He asked me to tell him about myself and my dream and I was doing it when he was called away.”  Gazing out the window, Lydia continued, “Wouldn’t it be great if I could learn what the dream is trying to tell me? That is, of course, if it is trying to tell me something.  I’m starving. I could really go for some good Chinese food.  At the Laughing Buddha, perhaps?” Lydia smiled, knowing it was Dan’s favorite restaurant.
    “Sure, the Laughing Buddha is always a hit with me,” Dan said, as he turned the car on to Somerset Street.  They drove to the popular restaurant in contemplative silence.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    S IX
    SEPTEMBER 5, 1529
                  As the great chapel bell at York Place tolled the three-quarter hour, Elisabeth appraised her charge. Sarah wore a new gown of forest green, with matching ribbons in her coppery curls. Elisabeth walked slowly around the five year old child, nodding her head.  
                  Sarah nervously fingered the skirt of her gown as she watched Elisabeth. She held her head at a tilt as she tried to assess Elisabeth’s thoughts.
                  Elisabeth smiled.  “Yes, you will do.”  Turning from the child, Elisabeth pulled at the gray ticking of her habit to straighten it; then she replaced the gray half-veil on her head with a clean white one. She paused momentarily before the polished tin mirror, yes, she would do too.
                  “Now, we are ready.  Here, take my hand, Sarah.  Be mindful, our lord Cardinal will be present and he shall be most displeased if you act like a monkey.”
                  At the entrance to the Great Hall Elisabeth and Sarah waited as George Cavendish announced their arrival... He knelt before the dais waiting quietly for his Master to acknowledge him. 
                  The hall bustled with movement, the Cardinal’s minstrels played their instruments, and Cavendish waited.  Kitchen servants entered the hall to set the trenchers while others refilled wine cups, and still Cavendish waited.  When every last cup had been filled, the King raised his cup in salute of his host. Thomas Wolsey followed by saluting the King.  Then the two men joined in a toast of long life to the King’s lady, Anne Boleyn.  Anne graciously bowed, raising her cup in courteous salute, her face flushed, her dark eyes sparkling.  Aglow in the attention of the room, she blushed