London in the Rain

By Ellie Thomas

A life of set routine is the norm for Raymond Smith. Now in his mid-thirties, a fleeting wartime romance far behind him, he is an exemplary clerk at a London insurance firm where he’s perceived as dry and conventional.

But Raymond has a secret. Every month or so, he visits Charlie’s, one of the more understated bars in Soho's flowering gay scene in the 1930s. There, he seeks relief with strangers to get him through the next few weeks.

On one of these visits, he encounters suave David Carstairs, a well-travelled linguist with the Foreign Office. Rather than a brief encounter, David offers him friendship and even affection. Despite Raymond’s misgivings, the two men, with their contrasting backgrounds and experiences, start to form a bond in the spring of 1936 as Europe inexorably begins to march towards war.

Will Raymond fearfully reject this chance of happiness? Or can he unbend enough to allow David into his heart and life?

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Apr 12, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685500900

Book preview

London in the Rain

By Ellie Thomas

Published by JMS Books LLC at Smashwords

Visit jms-books.com for more information.

Copyright 2022 Ellie Thomas

ISBN 9781685500900

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Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com

Image(s) used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.

All rights reserved.

WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.

This book is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It may contain sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which might be considered offensive by some readers. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America.

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London in the Rain

By Ellie Thomas

Chapter 1

London, January 1936

Time for elevenses! Can I tempt you to a cup of tea, Mr. Smith? It’s nice and fresh since I’m starting at this end of the corridor today. And would you like a biscuit? Or why not take a currant bun or two? In my opinion, you need a bit of feeding up.

Thank you, Mrs. Murphy. Raymond grudgingly tore himself away from his report, trying to hide his annoyance at the voluble interruption. He was conscious of his pernickety reputation amongst his colleagues and aware that the door was wide open to accommodate the tea trolley, so he attempted a smile as he put down his fountain pen.

He took the cup and saucer from the motherly tea lady and tried not to wince at her disapproving tut when he chose only one plain biscuit from the proffered tin. Mrs. Murphy put her head on one side, and began persuasively, Now, that won’t get you through the morning, Mr. Smith. As my Bert always says to me…

Thankfully whatever dietary watchword Mrs. Murphy’s spouse advocated was interrupted by a cheerful shout from further down the corridor.

Did I hear the promising rattle of a tea trolley? Can we be next, Mrs. M., pretty please? Before those rotters down in the conference room pinch all the best biscuits!

At this promising summons, her homily to Raymond forgotten, Mrs. Murphy grasped the tea trolley with both hands and briskly swept from the cubicle to engage with those more enthusiastic about her offerings.

The half-written sentence on his desk jeered at him, no longer making sense to his jolted concentration. Repressing a grunt of exasperation, Raymond firmly placed a sheet of blotting paper over his work. He hesitated until he heard the echo of voices engaged in a lively conversation comparing baked goods. Then, with his teacup and biscuit, he made a dash for it.

His habit