A Silent Stabbing by Alyssa Maxwell

Author:Alyssa Maxwell [Maxwell, Alyssa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2020-01-16T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

“I don’t see why you had to drag me along for this.” Julia stood beside the Vauxhall as Phoebe came around the nose of the vehicle and stepped up onto the pavement. The village bank had opened its doors only minutes ago, and several early morning customers filed inside. They were all men, some in workman’s clothes, others in merchants’ attire, and one in a tailored, dark wool suit. Phoebe knew him from St. Paul’s board of directors, a country squire who owned a modest estate a mile outside the village.

“I need you because I couldn’t come alone and be taken seriously,” Phoebe replied. “Your presence will lend just the right note of authority.” Indeed, especially in the new suit Julia wore, with its elongating lines and fur trim on the collar. Phoebe didn’t know when Julia had had time to be fitted for the ensemble, but she suspected her sister had decided to update her wardrobe before she made it obvious by emptying her cupboards and dressers.

Julia folded her arms and looked about to dig in her heels. “How so? You’ve told me precious little about this latest scheme of yours.”

“We’re going to see Mr. Evers and say we’re here on behalf of Grampapa.”

Julia narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “Are we?”

“In a way. Depending on what Mr. Evers says on the matter, I’ll approach Grampapa about my plan when we get home.” With no small amount of apprehension, Phoebe glanced at the plate glass window with the words BANK OF ENGLAND gleaming back at her in gold lettering. “I just hope he’ll be amenable.”

“Again, to what?” Julia pursed her lips, and Phoebe recognized a distinct possibility that her sister would refuse to cooperate.

“Need I remind you, Julia, that you didn’t tell me the first thing about your little plan in Cheltenham before we arrived at the tea shop. And then you went and lied about it with that ridiculous claim that Olive Asquith recommended the place to you.”

“That was different. I knew you’d never agree to go if you knew my purpose. You’d have got up on your high horse and told me I was wasting my money and my time. And yours, for that matter.”

Julia had a point, and besides, Phoebe needed to persuade her sister to play along today if her proposal was to work. “You know Stephen Ripley wanted to sell his family’s orchard, yes?”

“Everyone knows that by now.” Julia spoke impatiently. “Isn’t it a moot point now that he’s dead?”

Julia’s bluntness drew a grimace from Phoebe, but she quickly gathered herself. “It is not a moot point. The American still intends to purchase the land, right out from under Keenan Ripley.”

“As far as I can see, the land won’t do Mr. Ripley a bit of good if he’s spending the rest of his life in prison, or worse, joining his brother in the hereafter.”

Phoebe winced again. “Julia, please. Must you be so insensitive?”

Julia issued her patented one-shoulder shrug. “I’ve never understood what good it does to mince words.

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