Free Charlie Bone and the Time Twister (Children of the Red King, Book 2) by Jenny Nimmo

was young and beautiful. He would have liked to hold the moment for a long time. He had never felt as warm and safe as he did now sitting in Cook's wide shadow with the glowing room behind her, the humming of the stove, and the deep contented purring of the three cats, as they sipped a bowl of milk before the fire.
    "Who are you?" he asked Cook.
    "Me?" She smiled. "I'm the lodestone of the house I keep you all from flying off into the dark."
    "But your name?"
    “Another time."
    "Can I come back tomorrow?" asked Charlie. He wanted to know so much.
    "Better not," said Cook. "Wait a while. Certain persons will be watching you. And not just persons." She nodded at a fat form that had appeared in the shadows at the back of the room.
    Blessed waddled into the light. It was obvious that he wanted to sit in front of the stove, but the three cats gave warning growls and the old dog retreated.
    "I've seen him before," exclaimed Henry "He's very old, isn't he?"
    "He's a spy" said Cook. "So if you've seen him, he's already told someone about you. Charlie Bone, you'd better go back now Someone might have noticed your bed's empty"
    Charlie swallowed the last of his cake and said good night to his cousin. Then he followed Cook through the labyrinth of closets and passages that led to the hall. Here, Cook took a small flashlight from her pocket and gave it to Charlie.
    "It has a good light," she said. "Off you go now And I don't tell anyone about tonight. And I mean 'anyone.'"
    "My best friend already knows about Henry"
    Cook shook her head. "Can't be helped, I suppose. But the fewer people know about Henry the better."
    "OK. I promise I won't tell anyone where he is."
    Cook watched Charlie cross the hall and begin to mount the stairs. She gave him a quick wave and walked speedily back to her room.
    She was pleased to see that Henry Yewbeam had fallen into a deep untroubled sleep. Taking the empty mug out of his warm hand, she replaced it on the dresser. The three cats had finished their milk and were looking at her expectantly so she stepped onto the chair beneath the skylight and opened it once more.
    The flames ran to the chair, jumped up onto the back, and from there leaped out through the skylight.
    "Thank you, my dears," called Cook. She fastened the skylight and stepped off the chair.
    "Now for you," she said to the fat dog that had moved into his favorite place before the stove.
    "I know what you are," Cook said to Blessed, "but you've been a good boy up to now and kept my room secret even from your friend Billy Raven."
    Blessed looked at Cook and whined softly.
    "Now, listen. Don't you dare tell that friend of yours about this boy. " She pointed to Henry asleep in the big armchair.
    Blessed stared at Cook with sad brown eyes. Although she didn't speak his language, he knew her well enough to understand exactly what she was saying.
    "If you give the game away there'll be no more of Cook’s chops. No more bed by the stove, or walks in the park. You'll be out on your ear, for you're of no use to me, you lazy lump of lard. I've mothered you only out of the goodness of my heart." She wagged a finger at him. Are we clear about this?"
    Blessed grunted and heaved himself into his basket. He knew when he was well off.

CHAPTER 6
THE BLACK GLOVE
    Cook's flashlight was unusual. Although the beam wasn't very bright, it lit the way ahead in such a way that Charlie could see details that he'd never noticed before. In fact some of the things he passed were definitely different.
    For instance, there was a row of paintings along the entire length of a wall beside one of the staircases There was a pair of man-sized boots outside a door, and a pair of satin shoes outside another. On one of the landings, a tall plant grew in a blue china pot, and ivy trailed out of a large brass urn.
    "That wasn't there," muttered Charlie.
    In spite of these small changes it was easy for Charlie to find his way back. However, he had only taken a few paces down the