The Spellbinder (Tom & Laura Series), page 25
“I shall bear your offer in mind, your Highness.”
The coach came to a halt ending the conversation. Tom for one, could not wait to get out and onto the train.
They walked to the waiting carriage, the Prince staying behind to have words with the driver of the coach. The Stationmaster had put wooden steps up to the carriage door. Tom got into the compartment first and put out a hand for Laura. She gave him a worried look and put a finger to her mouth.
“Don’t look around,” she whispered.
While appearing to stumble on the steps she retrieved parchment and pen from her clothes and scribbled furiously. Tom placed his body to hide her actions from sight. Laura hid the bind in her skirt as she stepped into the compartment.
The Prince wandered up a few minutes later. He was about to shut the door when a thin, well dressed man appeared from between the carriages and ran up the steps. The Prince moved back in surprise.
“Hello Bruno,” Laura said in a cheerful manner. “Didn’t our last encounter teach you anything?”
“I am sorry for disturbing your Majesty,” Bruno said curtly and gave him a rigid bow. “But this young lady is a threat to the Hungarian Empire and she must die.” He reached into his jacket for his gun.
“Abracadabra!” Laura said and gestured impressively at Bruno. “What I have just done to your gun, I will do to all the men of the Hungarian Empire, forever, if you dare to come near me again. Now leave.”
Bruno stared at his gun as the barrel began to droop. “Or you could try shooting off your foot.”
Bruno looked aghast at the gun. Then the meaning of Laura’s words became clear and he looked positively distraught. Laura began another gesture and he stepped back out of the carriage.
Unfortunately the stationmaster had removed the steps and there was a sickening crunch as he fell. Laura, Tom, and the Prince stepped forward to look outside as Tom pulled the door closed.
Bruno Schubert, Hungary’s most successful assassin stumbled away from the carriage, holding his leg as if it might be broken. The train started to pull away and there was a collective sigh of relief as he disappeared from view.
“It never stops with you two, I must say.” The Prince mopped at his brow. “How did you do that without paper? I thought that was impossible.”
“We Class A’s must keep out little secrets, your Highness. I am sure you understand.”
Laura winked at Tom who winked back.
IN COMPLETE CONFIDENCE TO ERNEST TRELAWNEY
DIRECTOR OF MM3
The so called ‘sub marine boat’ the ‘USS Pride of the South’ was recovered in English waters a few days ago and towed to the Royal Dockyards at Devonport by HMS Frontier. When opened it was found to contain the bodies of two people, one firmly identified as ‘Captain’ Brenton Wayne of the United States of America, and the other, tentatively identified as a Jill Hagman also a citizen of the United States of America. Despite intensive searches of the coastline there has been no sign of the body of Dominican Snood. It must be assumed his body has been consumed by the ocean.
Regarding the disappearance of Laura Young and Thomas Carter from the whereabouts of Paddington Railway Station, London on Sunday 4th November 1860.
The coach sent to pick up Young and Carter at Paddington was found abandoned in Muswell Hill the next day. The driver’s body was found in his own home later the same day. He had been murdered.
Two bodies have been found by the side of the Thames estuary. The bodies were both decapitated and so far the heads have not been recovered. Clothing on the bodies’ match the clothing worn by Carter and Young on the night they disappeared. The ages and general descriptions of the bodies also match that of the two missing youths.
It is this agents opinion that these are the bodies of Laura Young and Thomas Carter and that the search for them should now be terminated.
Signed: James Saunders
Head of Operation MM3
Dated: Friday 9th November 1860
The End
Tom and Laura return in Scotland Hard
(Excerpt next page)
From Scotland Hard
Tom watched very carefully as four young Scots gave a demonstration of the dance he was about to do. They were lined up in two rows, women on one side, men on the other. Laura stood immediately opposite him watching the demonstration of the dance with the same grim determination he had. Neither of them wanted to look foolish in front of all these people.
The dance involved the men and women prancing into the gap between them in time to the music and then twirling each other around in a tight embrace. After two such turns the men bowed, the women curtseyed and then they swapped places with the person next to them. This left them facing a different partner.
“We have an odd number of couples in the dance, so everybody gets to dance with everybody else,” one of the dancers explained. “Well with all the members of the opposite sex. We had a couple got very confused once and men found themselves dancing with men and women with women. It led to quite a fight, let me tell you.”
Everybody laughed dutifully.
“When you find yourself dancing with your original partner again the dance comes to an end and we let the next group of couples have a go. Are you all ready then?”
A cheer of sorts went up from all the dancers in the line while a few catcalls came from those waiting their turn. The musicians started up again and Tom stumbled out into the centre only a single step behind the others.
“Chin up, Thomas Merlin Carter,” Laura told him as he twirled around with her. “And do try to avoid standing on the other girl’s feet. They will not have you around to heal their bruised toes later.”
Three girls later, Tom had started to get the hang of it and was beginning to enjoy himself. He was no longer having to listen to swearing as he danced on girls toes. Two girls down the line later, he found himself dancing with Camilla Burns.
“Do pick your chin up from the floor, Carter. People will think you are drooling over my breasts,” Cam said cheerfully.
Tom stared at her in astonishment.
“How? What?”
“Come to rescue you of course. We’ve chased you all the way up the British Isles.”
Then Cam was gone and Tom had to work hard to avoid standing on the next girl’s feet.
Arnold had his eyes firmly on the dance floor, watching the girl’s feet and his own. He was surprised when one of his partners dragged his head up so he was looking into her eyes.
“Camilla has to be around here somewhere,” Laura told him, her eyes twinkling with delight.
“What makes you say that?”
“Because no one else on Earth could have persuaded you to wear a skirt.”
“It’s called a kilt,” Arnold shouted after her, but Laura had already danced away.
Tom found he was twirling Laura again, much to his relief.
“Cam,” he said simply, too exhausted to get more than a word out.
“Arnold too,” Laura said as she pulled him close to her and kissed him firmly on the lips. The music stopped as the other couples bowed to each other. There was a deal of ribald laughter around Tom and Laura as they continued to kiss. Laura had to come up for air eventually and she reluctantly let Tom go.
The dancers left the floor and headed towards the food and drink while the next group of dancers organised themselves across the dance floor. Tom and Laura knew better than to rush over to their friends, while Cam and Arnold strolled equally indifferently across to the nearest bench laden with food and drinks.
“That was quite a dance, I fear I am glowing from it,” Cam said rather loudly. She stood with her back to Tom and Laura.
“But very enjoyable, I found,” Laura replied. Cam turned around at the sound of her voice.
“You were dancing with us just now?” Cam asked innocently.
“She certainly was,” Arnold cut in, “I never forget a pretty face.”
Cam gave Arnold a severe look.
“You must forgive my brother, Arnold. He rarely waits to be introduced when there is a beautiful woman present. My name is Camilla Smith, though everybody calls me Cam.”
“May I present Laura Young,” Tom responded smoothly. “My name is Tom Carter and we are currently the guests of Lord McBride.”
“Indeed you are, laddie,” Lord McBride said from behind him. “It is good to see you mingling with the other guests. I told you the dance would be well within your capabilities.”
“Only two of the girls involved are seeking medical attention,” Blane said dryly, appearing at his Laird’s side as if by magic. “I did not realise that Healers drummed up their own business.”
“Good evening, my lord,” Arnold interrupted hesitantly. “I joined your workforce today, bringing my two sisters and two young brothers with me.”
“Arnold is now the breadwinner of the family, our mother dying suddenly of a broken heart, less than a month ago,” Cam explained.
“I’m so sorry to hear that. What brought on her sad condition?” Lord McBride enquired solicitously.
“Father was killed while fighting for Her Majesty in the Crimea. Florence Nightingale herself nursed him, but to no avail,” Cam said. Laura blinked and Tom worked hard to suppress a laugh. Cam could never resist embellishing a story. “My brother Arnold had just completed his first class honours degree in engineering at Cambridge University…”
Cam did not finish her sentence as Tom dropped his tankard on hearing her spout such outrageous nonsense. The girls scattered as beer splashed everywhere.
“I’m so sorry, my hand was still trembling from the exertions of the dance,” Tom said hurriedly. He glared at Cam as he spoke.
“First class honours, you say?” Lord McBride said thoughtfully. “We have been looking for a man of your calibre. I’m surprised my staff did not bring your papers to my attention.”
“That is because we saw no such papers,” Blane said smoothly, “Which I must say, I find very strange.”
“We were recruited by Angus McKinnon,” Cam said quickly before the situation could get out of hand. “Your son said he was prone to forget to post them.”
“He never forgets to collect his wages on time,” Blane told them, “But he is remiss with his paperwork on occasion. Do forgive my overly suspicious nature.”
“Never mind all that,” Lord McBride said impatiently. “Arnold Smith you said your name was?”
Arnold nodded.
“Report to my laboratory at nine o’clock sharp, tomorrow morning. Any of the staff in the castle will tell you how to find it. Gordon has been moaning at me to find a qualified assistant. I think you’ll do just fine.”
“Thank you, my lord,” Arnold said formally and bowed. He planned to say some choice words to Cam when he got the chance, but now was not the time.
Lord McBride nodded in return and strode away from them, with Blane following a short distance behind him.
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