The Art of Deception
or Pride and Extreme Prejudice
This week continues a spy story set in late Georgian England, the year before Trafalgar. Last week, General Dumouriez managed to corner Alice. He looking for one thing, she another. Neither succeeds in this week’s snippet.
Mr King rose and addressed them, “Signora Catalani must rest her voice, she will return after the supper break.”
As the hum of voices rose to a loud babble, Alice asked the General again, “What can you tell me about Mr Stanton?”
“You are most interested in him, are you not?”
“I have my reasons.”
“Then he can,” the general switched back to English, “Plow his own row; I think that’s the idiom.” He bowed his leave and went in search of more compliant companionship.
Alice shrugged, it had been a long shot, but worth the candle; she walked to the room where supper was laid.
On her way in, someone accosted her, “Miss Green, Alice!”
Alice turned; there was her best friend from back home in Easterly, Sally Willis; Mr Mapleton, Alice’s erstwhile fiancé, or at least fiancé want-to-be, stood next to her.
Now that you’ve read my hackery, please see the talented writers in Weekend Writing Warriors.
My apologies for creative punctuation.
Assembly’s usually had a supper break. All important for socializing. This picture, from the national trust, shows the inside of the assembly r00m (after it was restored from a movie theater). As Miss Austen would say, there are too many women. Unfortunately for Alice, her past catches up with her at this one.
Like poor Cecelia, “The Curious Profession of Dr Craven” is back from the dead.
I’ve released a sweet regency romance, Miss DeVere 
This is a fun read.
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.
R. Harrison, Creative Enterprises 
I hope she doesn’t blow her cover by asking about Mr. Stanton so openly.
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She’s about to have her cover blown in a different way – running into an old friend.
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OH, I do so love social intrigues! Nice tease!
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Thank you.
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Interesting subterfuge! I hope she finds out what she needs to.
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Thank you. She will, but not yet
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Sounds like a happy reunion for Alice. I take it her old friend is going to play an important role in the story?
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Actually, yes. Mr Mapleton too – Napoleon’s army was clothed in wool from the Leicester mills. He knows where the bodies are buried in a modern parlance.
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Uh oh, the old ‘friends from back home’ issue LOL. I love it, great complication to toss into the mix!
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Thank you.
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Uh-oh, this has serious potential for awkwardness!
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Thank you – it does and it will.
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Great dialogue! Thanks for sharing! 😀
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Thank you
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Someone just threw a fork into it! Unexpected appearances always mean something’s afoot. Loved the ‘worth a candle’ thought–adds a great deal of delightful authenticity to historical pieces.
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Thank you.
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Oh, dear. Is she in trouble now. Great intrigue.
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The monkeys have entered the room and are warming up their pitching arms. 😉
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