Disappeared by Lynn Mason

Author:Lynn Mason
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780375890352
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2003-05-29T16:00:00+00:00

9

After tea the group drifted into a large, wood-paneled library to begin the official discussions. The room was large and drafty, its ceiling so high, it was cloaked in darkness. Only a minimal light and warmth radiated from the freshly built fire in the stone fireplace. Sydney felt small and exposed.

Outside the storm raged on. The light tapping of rain had grown to a melancholy rumble. Occasionally there was a crash of thunder, which rattled the panes of glass in the tall, arched windows. Otherwise, the room was silent, the only other sounds being the crackling of the fire and the steady tread of von Muller's shoes as he paced in front of a long, polished teakwood table.

They were waiting for Carmina, who had excused herself to freshen up. As Sydney sat in a high-backed lounger near the fire, she took the opportunity to review what little information she'd gathered on the others.

Rifat was back, having changed clothes, but he was still sulky. He slumped in a brown leather armchair, glowering repeatedly at the rest of them. Sydney noticed he'd stopped trying to ingratiate himself with her, assuming, perhaps, that she was already in league with the others. He was by far the most fretful and fidgety of the bunch.

Nigel, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying himself more than anyone. He stood leaning against a large bookcase that ran the length of the back wall, smiling smugly as he flipped through the leather-bound volumes. Sydney didn't know what to think of him, but his incessant ogling was making her uncomfortable. Rifat clearly hated him, and the others simply disregarded him—neither overtly with nor against him.

Von Muller, for one, seemed far more interested in Carmina and Konstantin. Sydney watched him pace, chomping on his pipe and staring at Konstantin out of the corner of his eye. Konstantin seemed very much aware of him, too. He looked casual as he slouched back lazily on the red camelback sofa, but beneath his dark, bushy brows, his eyes flitted continually toward von Muller.

“This is inexcusable,” Rifat grumbled. “We are wasting far too much time.”

“Enough, Asam,” Konstantin muttered. “We are growing weary of your complaints. We waited for you to put on fresh pants. Now you can wait for the lady.”

The door opened and Carmina walked into the room. The men's postures immediately lifted. Nigel quit slouching against the shelves, von Muller ceased pacing, and Konstantin rose from the sofa. Carmina appeared to take no notice, and yet Sydney thought her movements looked a little too choreographed as she sashayed to the other end of the sofa and sat down. For someone who worked as a spy, Carmina seemed to command a great deal of attention.

Von Muller clapped his hands together. “Let us now begin. As you know, our position with the Suratian monarchy is in serious jeopardy,” he said, assuming an authoritative stance on the other side of the table. “If Prince Frederique assumes the throne, our security within that country—indeed, throughout Europe—will be seriously damaged.

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