Read Online Scotland Hard (Book 2 in the Tom & Laura Series) by John Booth - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: John Booth
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screams earlier,” Tom said cautiously. “I was worried that your employer might have uncovered our deception and that you were being put to your trials.”
Jane’s face clouded over. “In some ways, I wish that it had been me, sir. Mister Smith was beating the children for leaving their rooms without permission. They don’t deserve such terrible treatment, sir, as they are little more than nippers.”
“These are Lord Smee’s children?”
Jane giggled, “God bless you no, sir. They are like you and the lady. Brought here to be… Well I dare not tell you, sir, for I would certainly receive a thrashing if I did.”
“I am assuming that Laura is safe and well. She is a special young woman and important to me.”
“Oh yes, sir,” Jane spoke as if shocked by the thought. “We were told we must not hurt a hair of her head, unless it be to prevent her escape. I think she must be a Spellbinder, because all parchment and pens were removed from the house as soon as you arrived.”
Tom considered what he should ask next. Jane was his best source of information, but he didn’t want to make her suspicious with obviously pointed questions.
“Tell me about the house, Jane. It appears to be both large and grand. And take a chunk of the cheese, why don’t you?”
Jane smiled. She took the smallest piece of cheese on the plate and put it in her lap. Tom offered her one of the pieces of bread, but she declined his offer politely.
“I’m not sure I should tell you anything about the house, sir.”
Tom gave her a hurt look and she relented. “Well, I’m sure with you safely locked in and guarded that it could do no harm.”
Tom bit into a large piece of cheese and smiled encouragingly.
“This is a big house, sir. There is the main part of the house and then there is a large wing, which we are in now. The family that owned the house before Lord Smee turned out to be Papists plotting treason. Can you believe such a thing in this day and age? This had been their family home for centuries.”
“We’re they caught?” Tom asked. He knew that many of the wealthiest families in England and Scotland were Catholics, but none showed any signs of disloyalty to the crown. This was the nineteenth century after all, not the eighteenth. Catholics were hardly discriminated against since the Emancipation Act of 1829 and that had been passed over thirty years ago.
“No sir, they are believed to be hiding in France . It was a big scandal around here. Lord Smee took the house before I joined the household two years ago.”
“Describe the house to me, I’m curious how it might be laid out,” Tom enquired as if he might be asking about the weather.
Jane described the banqueting hall and the kitchens, the wing they were in and how there was a barn, hencoops and pigpens in the land beyond.
“That’s where those poor children are, sir. One of the pigpens is enclosed and Lord Smee had bars put into its windows and door. He calls it his punishment cell and any servant who is beaten must spend the night there. It’s powerful cold in winter, sir, as I know from personal experience. The wind howls through the windows and Lord Smee don’t allow us blankets.”
“They could freeze to death tonight.”
“Oh they won’t stay there tonight, sir. They’ll be brought out for the auction…” Jane put her hand over her mouth in horror and looked as though she might faint.
Tom leant over and whispered in her ear. “I will tell no one you said that. Trust me when I tell you that I will do my best to make sure no harm befalls you because of me.”
Jane turned to Tom and put her arms around him, holding him tight as she tried to stop from crying.
“I do hope you and the lady are treated well, sir. I hopes it with all my heart.”
They talked quietly about inconsequential things while Tom finished his meal. He had learned everything he had hoped to and was anxious to allay any fears his questions might have raised.
He drank
Jane’s face clouded over. “In some ways, I wish that it had been me, sir. Mister Smith was beating the children for leaving their rooms without permission. They don’t deserve such terrible treatment, sir, as they are little more than nippers.”
“These are Lord Smee’s children?”
Jane giggled, “God bless you no, sir. They are like you and the lady. Brought here to be… Well I dare not tell you, sir, for I would certainly receive a thrashing if I did.”
“I am assuming that Laura is safe and well. She is a special young woman and important to me.”
“Oh yes, sir,” Jane spoke as if shocked by the thought. “We were told we must not hurt a hair of her head, unless it be to prevent her escape. I think she must be a Spellbinder, because all parchment and pens were removed from the house as soon as you arrived.”
Tom considered what he should ask next. Jane was his best source of information, but he didn’t want to make her suspicious with obviously pointed questions.
“Tell me about the house, Jane. It appears to be both large and grand. And take a chunk of the cheese, why don’t you?”
Jane smiled. She took the smallest piece of cheese on the plate and put it in her lap. Tom offered her one of the pieces of bread, but she declined his offer politely.
“I’m not sure I should tell you anything about the house, sir.”
Tom gave her a hurt look and she relented. “Well, I’m sure with you safely locked in and guarded that it could do no harm.”
Tom bit into a large piece of cheese and smiled encouragingly.
“This is a big house, sir. There is the main part of the house and then there is a large wing, which we are in now. The family that owned the house before Lord Smee turned out to be Papists plotting treason. Can you believe such a thing in this day and age? This had been their family home for centuries.”
“We’re they caught?” Tom asked. He knew that many of the wealthiest families in England and Scotland were Catholics, but none showed any signs of disloyalty to the crown. This was the nineteenth century after all, not the eighteenth. Catholics were hardly discriminated against since the Emancipation Act of 1829 and that had been passed over thirty years ago.
“No sir, they are believed to be hiding in France . It was a big scandal around here. Lord Smee took the house before I joined the household two years ago.”
“Describe the house to me, I’m curious how it might be laid out,” Tom enquired as if he might be asking about the weather.
Jane described the banqueting hall and the kitchens, the wing they were in and how there was a barn, hencoops and pigpens in the land beyond.
“That’s where those poor children are, sir. One of the pigpens is enclosed and Lord Smee had bars put into its windows and door. He calls it his punishment cell and any servant who is beaten must spend the night there. It’s powerful cold in winter, sir, as I know from personal experience. The wind howls through the windows and Lord Smee don’t allow us blankets.”
“They could freeze to death tonight.”
“Oh they won’t stay there tonight, sir. They’ll be brought out for the auction…” Jane put her hand over her mouth in horror and looked as though she might faint.
Tom leant over and whispered in her ear. “I will tell no one you said that. Trust me when I tell you that I will do my best to make sure no harm befalls you because of me.”
Jane turned to Tom and put her arms around him, holding him tight as she tried to stop from crying.
“I do hope you and the lady are treated well, sir. I hopes it with all my heart.”
They talked quietly about inconsequential things while Tom finished his meal. He had learned everything he had hoped to and was anxious to allay any fears his questions might have raised.
He drank
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