“Well,” Phil said.
“He’s rather brilliant, isn’t he?” Bev said.
“I now know from whom you get your audacity.”
But the real news was the roundup of several prominent businessmen and politicians for questioning concerning race fixing and racketeering.
“By a special task force,” Phil read. “So not Charlie Becker and his friends at City Hall.”
“Who, then?”
“The racing commission?”
“Perhaps.” Bev sighed. “Well, I suppose I must get back to packing. Father has booked passage for us at the end of the week.”
Phil nodded. She knew Bev had mixed feelings about leaving. She really did have a knack for handling a breeding farm. But it would be better for her reputation and her safety until this was all cleared up. And the farm would be here when she returned.
“You’ll be back in time for the fall season. And you’ll have all new gowns from the best houses in Europe. You’ll be the toast of the town.”
“I will be, won’t I?”
“Absolutely. And you have Bobby to manage the farm while you’re gone and Mr. Carmichael to keep him on the straight and narrow.”
“Yes, that’s one less thing to worry about.” Bev stood and started to leave, but turned back to Phil. “Oh, I almost forgot.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out two keys, which she dangled in the air. “I would take it as big favor if you would keep the Packard running while I’m gone.”
“Are you certain?”
“I wouldn’t trust anyone else with it.”
“Then I’d be delighted to.”
“Wonderful.” She dropped the keys into Phil’s hand. “Phil, I don’t know how to thank you. I was supposed to help get you settled in Manhattan, and you ended up saving my bacon.”
“I was happy to oblige, my dear friend. Now go pick out which hats you’re taking, but not too many. I have the perfect milliner on rue Guimard.”
Bev laughed, then grew serious. “I know Reggie wasn’t part of the betting scandal, and was running for his life, but why with her, why not me?”
“Because you’d be safer without him. And he did leave you everything.”
“You’re not just saying that to make me feel better?”
“Would I do that?”
Bev shrugged. “I don’t know, but you’ve always made me feel better.”
“Well, believe me.” After all, it might be the truth. “Now let’s go finish packing.”
* * *
A few days later, Phil and Lily stood across the street from the Plaza Hotel, the park at their backs and the gleaming new hotel rising nineteen stories before them.
“It’s magnificent, isn’t it?”
“Yes, madam.”
Things were looking up. She had living accommodations in a beautiful new hotel, the use of Bev’s yellow Packard …
A boy suddenly appeared at her side. “Here, miss, a gentleman asked me to deliver it to ya.”
Phil took the note. “Thank you.” She reached in her purse for a coin, but when she went to hand it to him, he was already gone. A frisson of interest ran up her spine and she turned around to see him disappearing into the trees.
“Hmm.” She opened the envelope, unfolded the single sheet.
Enjoy your new digs. See you soon, Countess. was scrawled elegantly across the page. There was no signature, but she knew whom it was from. And a frisson of something much more exciting than interest ran up her spine.
She put the note in her purse.
“A home, an automobile, and—do you still have the…”
Lily patted the side of her skirt. “Right here, madam.”
“Excellent. Though I did hate to sacrifice Mr. Locard’s treatise to the fire. I’m sure we’ll be able to find another copy. Now, come, the future awaits us, and Lady Dunbridge is happy to oblige.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SHELLEY NOBLE is the New York Times bestselling author of Lighthouse Beach, The Beach at Painter’s Cove, and Whisper Beach. A former professional dancer and choreographer for stage, television, and film, she’s a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Noble lives at the Jersey Shore and is always on the lookout for lighthouses and murder plots.
Visit her online at www.shelleynoble.com, or sign up for emali updates here.
@ShelleyNoble3
@ShelleyNobleAuthor
Thank you for buying this
Tom Doherty Associates ebook.
To receive special offers, bonus content,
and info on new releases and other great reads,
sign up for our newsletters.
Or visit us online at
us.macmillan.com/newslettersignup
For email updates on the author, click here.
CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Acknowledgments
England 1907
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
ASK ME NO QUESTIONS
Copyright © 2018 by Shelley Freydont
All rights reserved.
Cover art by Andrew Davidson
A Forge Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
www.tor-forge.com
Forge® is a registered trademark of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC.
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Names: Noble, Shelley, author.
Title: Ask me no questions / Shelley Noble.
Description: First edition.|New York: Forge, 2018.|“A Tom Doherty Associates Book.”
Identifiers: LCCN 2018034242|ISBN 9780765398710 (hardcover)|ISBN 9780765398703 (ebook)
Classification: LCC PS3614.O253 A93 20118|DDC 813/.6—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018034242
eISBN 9780765398703
Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at [email protected].
First Edition: October 2018
Ask Me No Questions Page 33
