Free Ten for Dying (John the Lord Chamberlain Mysteries) by Mary Reed, Eric Mayer

conceal a grin as he yanked at the latch. Out of inspiration, he could only look on in impotent horror.
    As the door swung open there was a heart-stopping shriek that went on and on, echoing around the chamber behind.
    The doorway was entirely blocked by Anastasia, who was entirely naked. Arms outspread, hands clutching the opposite sides of the door frame, she made no effort to cover herself but simply screamed and screamed with an effort that made her whole body quiver.
    Blotches and his companion backed away in confusion, muttering apologies, faces as scarlet as a couple of abashed schoolboys.
    Felix stepped forward, pushed the door shut, and as the screaming subsided turned a thunderous look on the two youths. “Well?”
    Blotches licked his lips and swallowed. “Thank you for your cooperation, sir. I believe we’ve seen everything now.”

Chapter Thirteen
    Felix shook his fist at Anastasia.
    “No!” She shoved the fist away. “No more micatio!”
    He shook his fist again anyway, shouted “Three!” and opened his hand extending two fingers, just in case Anastasia relented and reciprocated.
    She didn’t. Instead she got up from the dining room table and stared out into the long twilight shadows creeping across the garden. “I can’t bear to play that stupid game again. Besides, unless you’re gambling on it, where’s the interest?”
    “There’s the strategy. I noticed you kept showing one finger so I showed two and guessed the total would be three. I suppose you thought I was bound to guess you’d stop showing just the one eventually and—”
    “I couldn’t be bothered to lift more than one finger, Felix.” She shook her hand. “My wrist is sore from micatio!”
    Felix helped himself to some figs from a platter on the table. “Well, have some more to eat then. It isn’t dark enough yet.”
    “I’m not hungry. After spending all that time in the bath, with that hideous thing…I may never feel like eating again.”
    “It’s only a corpse, Anastasia. I’m still sorry you had to display yourself to those—”
    She turned, her hands balled into fists. “Oh, Felix! I saved your life and you’re fretting over me exposing myself to a couple of youngsters?”
    Felix ran a hand through his beard. “Well…”
    The grim line of her mouth suddenly softened into a smile. “It is rather touching, my big bear.” Immediately her face fell again. “But you can’t imagine what it was like half expecting to feel a cold, wet hand on my naked back.”
    After Felix had shown the flustered urban watchmen out, she had been waiting for him in bed, trembling. They had made love until Felix was worn out. Then they had made plans.
    Felix had to dispose of the body, but it would have to wait until darkness, when there was less chance of being observed. Once they decided what to do they had to bide their time. They walked in the garden, Felix ate and tried to encourage Anastasia to do the same. They played micatio. They also listened for a knock on the house door, announcing the authorities had arrived to conduct a more thorough search.
    “I often wish I had never come to this city,” Felix said.
    Anastasia gave a small lady-like snort of disapproval. “How often have you told me you were thrilled to escape that farm in Germania?”
    “True enough. As soon as I could walk, my father had me patrolling the fields.”
    “As soon as you could walk?”
    “Well, I may have been a little older. He had me protecting our borders from wolves. I was armed with a sharpened stick.”
    “What was your father thinking? What could a child with a sharp stick do against a wolf?”
    Felix smiled, remembering. “Oh, there weren’t any wolves. Our farm was part of a settlement around a Roman fort. Most of what we grew we sold to the army. My father wished he had led a more exciting life. He had entertained Roman officers at dinner from time to time and I listened to their stories. When I patrolled the fields I imagined I was