The Art of Deception
or Pride and Extreme Prejudice
Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors. This week I continue another book, that will eventually come out via booktrope. It’s a spy story set in late Georgian England, the year before Trafalgar. Last week I introduced the romantic male lead. He was stuck in Washington as the Military attache. Captain Meriwether Lewis makes a brief appearance in this week’s snippet when he explains to Mr Merry and Lord Fitzpatrick (Roderick), why he is no longer welcome in the US.
The footman returned with Captain Lewis; he, Captain Lewis that is, carried a jemmy, “I believe this is yours.”
“No,” Lord Fitzpatrick replied, “never seen it before; what is it?”
“A jemmy or crowbar; are you certain you’ve never seen it?”
“I am a gentleman.”
“That is debatable; however, this jemmy is made in Sheffield, of finest English spring steel; stamped by its makers.”
“I see – where did you find it?”
“I didn’t, Mr Jefferson did – in his office.”
“Ah.”
“We can’t understand what it was doing there; you say you are certain it’s not yours.”
“Absolutely.”
Please see the other talented writers in Weekend Writing Warriors.
Needless to say Captain Lewis does not believe Roderick.
I’ve also released a sweet regency romance, Miss DeVere This is a fun read, and unlike “The curious profession of dr craven” seems to not carry a curse.
Frankenkitty is available.
What happens when teenagers get to play with Dr Frankenstien’s lab notebooks, a few odd chemicals and a great big whopping coil? Mayhem, and possibly an invitation to the Transylvanian Neuroscience Summer School.
Get Free Stuff and try out my landing page. There are three free complete short stories (including an ARC for Frankenkitty) available after you’ve gone through the hoops.
R. Harrison, Creative Enterprises 
I don’t think your hero should believe these denials. This story sure is a change from Frankenkitty!
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What would a Lord know of a ‘jemmy’? But, I suspect that nothing is that straightforward in this snippet!
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I’m thinking some less-than-polite comments are coming 😉 Curious to see what happens next.
~Marcia
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Love the Capt. Lewis appearance!
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thank you for taking a look. One of the things people forget about Lewis and Clark is that it was more than partially an intelligence operation. Lewis had been one of Jefferson’s personal assistants so it’s not too much of a stretch to have him handling this sort of thing. It’s quite common, nowadays, have a spy working diplomatic cover – either a military attache or commercial post. I’m not sure what the practice would have been in 1804-5 but having some sort of diplomatic posting would not be unreasonable. I won’t put it in a snippet, but Mr Merry and Roderick are also discussing Colonel Burr and his, ahem, unreliability.
The way the jemmy arrived in Jefferson’s office has something to do with the way Roderick is spying on him, but more on that later. Let’s just say Roderick has a few arrangements to make before he leaves for home.
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Interesting conversation, lots of hidden meaning and subtext. I like getting this different view on the “well known” history! You switch gears very smoothly.
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The US and France under the Directory (the last iteration of the revolution before Napoleon) became involved in a shooting war from 1798-1800 or so. Had the British played their cards correctly they could have had us as allies. They didn’t – which is one of the things that eventually led to the war of 1812 and another century of mistrust and low-level acrimony.
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I enjoyed your snippet, as well as the extra history lesson in the comments. 🙂
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