Work Text:
“Miss Jones,” said Adam in awful tones, “you must listen to me when I tell you to keep out of these affairs. One shudders to think what might have happened.”
Georgie bit into her toasted muffin and continued in blithe unconcern, both of Adam's criticism and her mouth full of bread product. “Nnd it wmph jst –”
Adam raised his eyes to the hills, or at least to the ceiling of his reconstructed house.
“Do you mind watching where you're spitting that butter?” said Simms as he glided in with some fresh tea.
Georgie swallowed the remainder of the muffin. “Sorry! Anyway, like I said, I found that nifty little secret compartment –”
“Genuine seventeenth century priest's hole, yes,” said Adam. “That part I had gathered, but why you thought Miss Francis and Mrs Chester could possibly be plotting together in such a vile – no, no – quite impossible!”
“Because after I found the priest hole” – Georgie's hand reached out for another muffin. Simms swiftly removed the plate – “I heard someone coming, so I nipped inside and I tell you, I heard them say so! They were having a row over who did what and what they were going to do about you. I had to come and warn you at once!”
“You must have been mistaken. They are both charming ladies and I am sure neither could have been capable of killing Mr Chester in such a manner. Besides, they did not give the impression of being in alliance. Quite the opposite, I would have said.”
Georgie stretched out far enough to grab another muffin and studied its hot-buttered state in happy anticipation before lifting her head to look up at Adam. “Well, they are. I can give you all the gory details if you like – which reminds me, isn't there any jam?”
Simms said, “Not for the likes of you, Miss Jones.”
She stuck out her tongue.
“Ah,” said Adam. He sat down on the nearest fin-de-siècle chair. “I see. In that case, Miss Jones, as I must own that, whatever your other faults, I have never known you to tell an untruth, you had best elaborate further – although, this time, I trust, with a little more decorum.”
Simms passed the jam, and Georgie grinned.