The Charade – Chapter 20

By Carol Taylor

The girl was angry, angrier than she had been for a long time… Carl’s eyes had given him away she had seen the real him. Instead of being scared though she was angry it seemed like everyone she knew was keeping things from her or trying to get something from her…Why?

Lost in her thoughts she realised she was standing in front of the door where she was staying and a kind-looking man was smiling at her.

“Did you have a nice walk? The weather is lovely, isn’t it? Come in, Come in you must be hungry.” She followed the man into the dining room where there was a lovely table set with a beautiful white cloth and some very pretty flowers. “Sit down my dear …I will ring Jenny to bring in breakfast…”

Within a few minutes, a smiling girl appeared carrying a beautiful silver platter which she placed on the table the food smelled delicious and the girl realised how hungry she was.

The girl and the man ate their breakfast in comfortable silence.

Hunger appeased the girl sat there sipping her tea and wondering who this man was. He seemed so calm and nice, his smile reached his eyes and she felt warm and safe.

Clearing his throat he started to talk. “You must be wondering why you are here and you most probably are also wondering who I am… Mr James is a dear friend of mine and I know he has been protecting you and trying to keep you safe. There is no party it was just a ruse to get you here but unfortunately that ruffian Carl has followed you but do not worry my dear I will have him dealt with. It is time that you were told who you really are but I have to warn you that with that comes great danger and also a great responsibility.”

The girl was sitting open-mouthed at last she would find out who she really was but at the man’s words, she also became very scared. Her thoughts raced she felt very small and afraid, the man was looking at her with a concerned look. “Please do not be afraid. I will do everything in my power to protect you. You will stay here now, Mr James will be arriving in a few days and then we will both sit you down and answer all your questions… In the meantime maybe you would make an old man very happy if you would allow me to show you around we can do some shopping… I am sure that you are like all young people and love to shop. Now if you would like to go to your room and get changed I will have the carriage bought around for about 11 is that alright?”

The girl nodded her consent and skipped up the stairs…

She felt happier than she had for a while, at last, she would find out who she was…

Entering her room she gasped …her clothes were strewn about the floor what is …A hand went over her mouth and cloth of some sweet-smelling fragrance was clamped over her nose and mouth she started to fall.

Carl looked at the unconscious girl and smiled… It still didn’t reach his eyes…

TBC…

National Soup Month…

Yesterday I made a lovely mushroom soup …a new recipe and it needs tweaking my little taste tester Aston told me what I needed to do….lol

It pleases me though because it means that he tastes the food and knows when it needs something else so that is good for a child.

Mushroom Soup…

• 2 lbs of mushrooms…mixed I used straw, button, crimini and some small ones which I can’t remember the name.
• 1 onion sliced
• 6 sprigs of thyme tied together
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 6 cups of chicken or vegetable stock
• 4 cups of water
• 1 cup of cream
• Salt and pepper to taste

Let’s Cook!

Melt the butter and add the mushrooms and add a pinch of salt and cook until they give up their juices and reduce the heat. Cook stirring until the juice has evaporated and the mushrooms start to brown.

Pick out a few nice pieces and set to one side for the garnish.

Mix the onions into the mushrooms and cook until the onion softens about 5 minutes.

Add the thyme and garlic and pour in the stock and water simmer for 1 hour.

Remove the thyme before blending the soup, if the consistency is still too thick then add more stock/water…Return to a pan and add the cream…Taste and season with salt and black pepper…

I hope this has given you a few ideas about what to have for lunch…What is your favourite soup

Today marks a historic day for the UK …

Brexit Day is to be set in stone when the European Parliament in Brussels casts a vote ratifying the terms of Britain’s divorce deal from the EU.

The historic legislative act — the last for the 72 remaining British MEPs who will leave afterwards — will allow Brexit to officially take effect on Friday at 2300 GMT, midnight for most of continental Europe and 11:00 pm in Britain.

I don’t think that will be it but I also think it will be exciting…