Body and Soul by L.L. Muir

Author:L.L. Muir [Muir, L.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2016-11-15T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Lord Northwick returned to the War Room as innocent as a lamb. No one mentioned this Dellie woman as they settled in various chairs that encircled the large desk. Stanley held out a seat for George, then sat beside her. His brow maintained a slight furrow and she was grateful he was too distracted to flirt with her for the time being. She was far too vulnerable at the moment, and a too-kind word might undo her again.

Stanley took charge. “To begin with, we’ve explained to Ash and Blair about your grandmother,” he said. “I believe our first move should include getting you—and supposedly, May—out of London and out of Littlefield’s reach. He has already proven capable of violence, so the more distance we can maintain between you, the better. What say you all?”

Heads nodded all around. Stanley noted each one as if he were keeping a close record of everyone’s opinion. George imagined these men had been invited to a good many war rooms in the past, for they all looked as sober as the dead, including Harcourt, which surprised even her.

“We can decide the details in a moment, but where we take George will depend entirely upon what I believe to be the second imperative, to kill off her grandmother.” To her, he said, “While an impersonation was a brilliant strategy to buy you time, Nero could have you prosecuted for theft by deception, since the house would have been his upon May’s death. And if he goes to the trouble, no doubt he would also sue you for breach of promise.”

“So, ultimately,” Harcourt said, “our objective is to keep Littlefield from believing that any crimes have been committed.”

Stanley nodded.

North leaned forward. “How do we kill off the grandmother—forgive me, George—without producing a body?”

Stanley smiled. “I have an idea…”

~ ~ ~

An hour later, George considered the study’s state of disarray. Livvy put a hand on her shoulder and rested her chin upon her fingers. “All that for a short meeting, I suppose.”

George nodded. “Just what I was thinking.”

“I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if it is the actual moving of the furniture that helps them think of their wild plans.”

“Wild? Do you think so?” George had been willing to trust the plan because she trusted the men. But if Livvy had any misgivings—

“Forgive me. I was simply poking fun at the way they behave sometimes. I wouldn’t trust my life to anyone else. But it is ultimately your decision.” Livvy straightened and turned George so they were facing one another. “Tell me, have you ever played Thimblerig?”

George shook her head.

“A Thimblerig is a clever fellow with three walnut shells and a pea. He hides the pea beneath one of the shells and moves all three around and around while the victim tries to keep track of the one with the pea. Once the movement ceases, the victim is usually confident that he knows where the pea is hidden, and willing to bet money on his guess. This is the game we’ll be playing with Nero.

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