The Book of Bones by Natasha Narayan Read Free Book Online

extended it to Waldo. I could see my friend struggling with the question of what to do: shake the loathsome glove or spit on it.
    â€œPity.” The man recalled his hand with a sour smile. “I am Cecil Baker, precisely thirteen and a half minutesolder than my brother Cyril, whom you’ve already met. If you look through the window you will see him in the ballroom, playing the gracious host to our future king.”
    We all stared through the window and saw a strange sight. Another pale handsome man, with the same rubbed out and remodeled look as his brother, was standing in a group around Albert, Prince of Wales, uncomfortably close to Aunt Hilda. He was laughing, sharing a joke with our future king. As if he knew we were talking about him, Cyril Baker turned his head toward us and a look passed between the two men.
    Or seemed to.
    â€œYou need not be afraid that any of our distinguished guests will see you.” Cecil Baker strode up to the window and tapped it playfully. “This is a one-way mirror. We can see through it, but all our guests can see is a shiny mirror reflecting their pretty costumes back at them. I assure you, Cyril and I find this jolly useful, not to say amusing.”
    â€œSpying on your guests,” Waldo said. “Hardly the behavior of gentlemen.”
    Ignoring him, Cecil pulled out a chair and sat down.
    â€œIs this your new business plan?” I asked. “Are you adding kidnapping to murder and thievery?”
    â€œThat’s a vulgar way of looking at it,” Cecil Baker gave me a wintry smile. “I prefer to see it as inviting you on a luxurious and mutually profitable visit. If you do asyou’re told, that is. Going by your history, I cannot say I’m confident.”
    He looked me over, from head to toe. I felt like a slave being sized up at a flesh market. I recalled the last time I had seen this man, in that magical glade in the Himalayas. The shrunken, wizened being lapping greedily at the waters of immortality. For the time being, at least, his gamble with fate appeared to have paid off. He was much changed from the wheezing ghost we had first spotted leaving the steamship at Bombay. Now, in appearance at least, he was young and handsome.
    â€œI have a job for you,” Cecil Baker continued. “An exciting opportunity.”
    â€œBet it’s an opportunity to get ourselves killed,” Waldo said.
    â€œWe won’t go into the details tonight. You will eat, drink and sleep. Cyril and I will meet you again tomorrow. We will have a little chat and then I believe you will see sense.”
    Cecil Baker stood up. “I wish you a good night. Things always look rosier after a decent sleep.”
    â€œI won’t do a thing for you and nor will my friends,” Waldo spat. “We’re not for hire.”
    â€œWe shall see.” The man smiled, to reveal perfect white teeth. With that Cecil Baker was gone.
    We looked at each other after he vanished, not knowingwhat to say. We were all very scared, but unwilling to admit it to each other. The silence hung heavy in the air.
    Finally Waldo said, “It’s not as if we have any choice, is it?”
    â€œWe could run? Fight?” I said. “Maybe we could climb out of the windows.” But though I tried to sound brave I was despairing inside. I couldn’t see how we could escape from this castle fortress.
    â€œHe
has
us. Don’t you see it, Kit?” Waldo shook his head. “The Bakers are famous collectors, aren’t they?”
    â€œSo?”
    â€œ
We
are their latest exhibits.”

Chapter Eight
    That night we were given an elegant chamber furnished with twin beds, the sheets silk, the pillows filled with the softest feathers. Two starched cotton nightgowns were laid out. There were even hot-water bottles. Rachel curled up in an eiderdown, looking over the marble washstand, the velvet curtains, the Turkey rugs on the gleaming floorboards. It was