The Art of Deception
or Pride and Extreme Prejudice
This week continues a spy story set in late Georgian England, the year before Trafalgar. Alice came clean to her best friend in the last installment. She’s about to take her leave in this one.
The maid curtsied again and said in a loud voice, “Ma’am I must be about my duties.” She turned to leave and immediately ran into Mr Edward Spode; he and two militiamen had quietly been listening in the background.
“Got you,” He nodded to his two assistants, “Take her to the gaol … careful, now, French spy, you know; devilishly hard to catch this one, and be careful – she can throw a mean punch … put my friend in the hospital with it.”
“Sir, we will,” They saluted and marched Alice off between them.
Edward continued, “I need that missive.”
“It’s personal, from a good friend.”
“Well, we’ll see about that,” He snatched it from Sally and started to read.
Mr Mapleton objected, loudly, “I say; that’s not done; You do not read my fiancée’s correspondence.”
Edward ignored him; then he looked up from the letter, “That woman, who is she?”
“Alice Green, Lady Green’s daughter; there’s simply no way she could be a French spy.”
Now that you’ve read my hackery, please see the talented writers in Weekend Writing Warriors.
My apologies for creative punctuation.
Still working on a cover idea – hard even though I’m a dashed good photographer (if I say so myself). That and editing the manuscript to put more description/reaction into it. (not to mention a few thousand words).
Oops, a mistake has been made, but not by me.
This is another Gilray cartoon and it is thought the man slipping is the artist himself. The English have long had an interesting comic tradition as this Giles cartoon shows.
Frankenkitty is available.
What happens when teenagers get to play with Dr Frankenstein’s lab notebooks, a few odd chemicals and a great big whopping coil? Mayhem, and possibly an invitation to the Transylvanian Neuroscience Summer School.
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.
Oh dear, a French Spy? Surely they can prove she is not – without blowing her cover.
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Right now both Roderick (with Mr Spode) and Alice think the other a spy. Things have come to a sticky end – which sets up the next segment of the story.
Thank you for reading.
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She’s definitely landed her in something dire!
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Thank you. It’s not over yet.
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Can’t wait to see what happens next!
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Thank you.
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I have to admit, I’m confused about who’s a spy and who isn’t; it seems like everyone is! Let’s hope they got the right woman.
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Everyone is! (not quite) but both Roderick and Alice think the other is a French spy. Thank you for reading.
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This is almost a comedy of errors. Love the cartoons. Great snippet. Looking forward to reading more.
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This section is inspired by screwball comedies – except it has a darkish side. Thank you
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Well I wasn’t expecting that outcome, or at least not yet. Well done and I hope things get straightened out between them all! Quite an interesting story you have going on…
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