The Spellbinder (Tom & Laura Series) by John Booth Read Free Book Online Page B

and normality as soon as possible. “I’m sure my parents and servants can protect me more that adequately.”
    “I insist,” Trelawney said in a voice that brooked no further argument. Conceding defeat, the two young people looked at each other in dismay. Trelawney summoned a servant by pulling on a bell chord and they were led further up the building to their quarters.
    Their suites occupied one side of the building, an enormous amount of space. From one set of their windows they could see the Thames in all its glory and from the other they could look down at the pond and fountain in the center of the courtyard. The servant informed them that there were exotic Koi from Japan within its waters and also golden carp from China .
    High tea was brought up to the dining room. The food was excellent and Tom felt at the end that he had never eaten so well. Both ate their fill and w exhausted by the time they had finished.
    Laura fiddled with her napkin before asking Tom the question that had been bothering her since the moment Trelawney had declared her to be a Class A.
    “Tom, do you think they will ever let us go home?”
    Tom hesitated before answering. “I doubt they will ever let you out of their sight again. They never tell the public the names of Class A’s in case foreign spies try to get at them through their families. They might have to lock me away in a dungeon so I can never tell a soul who you are.”
    Laura laughed. “It is so typical of a man to make it all about himself.”
    Tom dropped his eyes to stare at his napkin and Laura laughed again.
    “If I am a Class A then they shall have to take account of my wishes, and I do not wish that they should make you rot in a dungeon.   I shall insist you stay with me, by my side… if that is to your liking?”
    Tom blushed and hoped it couldn’t be seen in the low lighting. “I would like that very much indeed.”
    “Then it is settled. We shall stay together through the thick and thin of it.   After all, you have saved my life today.”
    “And you mine…,” Tom mumbled. They stood up and Laura took Tom’s hands and drew her close to him. He looked away from her face and she realized she would have to be direct, as these ‘New Victorian’ young men from the cities were so reticent.
    “We shall seal our new arrangement with a kiss.”
    Tom attempted to kiss her cheek, but she turned her head so their lips met. Before he could react she pulled him closer and kissed him passionately. His body stiffened for a moment before he relaxed and put his arms about her.
    Laura kept him like that for over a minute, pulling her body close against his to detect if anything else on him had stiffened. She was more than pleased with the result of her investigations.
    Tom drew away and took a large gulp of air. “We must go to bed… No I don’t mean … Oh Lord, what must you think of me?”
    Laura put a finger to his lips.
    “We shall indeed retire for the night to our separate rooms. It would not surprise me to discover that MM3 have listening tubes installed in our rooms and I have no intention of being overheard. But we shall not always retire separately, Thomas Merlin Carter. You can be sure of that.”
    Laura turned and left the room, leaving a stunned young man in her wake.
     
    Snood sat in a darkened room. He had been there for hours and was very tired. The only light came from a single electric lamp, which was positioned so its brightness was directed into his face. He could not see his interrogators. MM3 intelligence men liked to keep their faces hidden from suspects so they wouldn’t be recognized if they followed them at a later date.
    Arrested immediately after the body of Carmichael was discovered, Snood was convinced this was nothing more than a routine interrogation. They would interview everyone who had associated with a mass murderer. Especially if they suspected Carmichael might have been working for one of the British Empire ’s many