“Keep that up, and we’ll have to lock the doors!” Charles chortled. Then Myra playfully slapped his hand away.

“Please make the travel arrangements for her. I’ll send her an e-mail telling her to expect a full itinerary by the end of the day.” Myra was feeling more like herself—giving Charles orders, which he gladly acted upon.

“Will do, love. But do you suppose we should check on her availability first?”

“My instincts are telling me we need to do this pronto!” She gave him a pat on the bum. “Now go!”

Charles took a small bow. “At your service, my lady.”

* * *

Charlotte’s father had been the groundskeeper for Myra’s family’s farm when she and Charlotte were teenagers. She and her father had lived in one of the small cottages on the property, and Charlotte, Myra, and Annie would explore the vast farm and make up stories together. Charlotte had gone on to become an author of children’s books. She had made a tidy sum of money, though it was nowhere near the size of Myra’s fortune. Not to mention Annie’s. The Countess Anna Ryland de Silva was thought by many to be the richest woman in the world.

Charlotte had had a few best sellers early in her career, and toy manufacturers had licensed some of the characters. She’d been able to put her daughter through a pricey prep school and an equally expensive college. She had also established a trust for her grandson’s education, but this still left more than enough money for her to lead a very comfortable life. Her lifestyle was not really extravagant, but she could travel when and where she wanted and could play a round of golf whenever she felt like it in Aspen during the summer. She usually spent the winter months visiting friends in Florida, Arizona, Saint Thomas, and Barbados, and she made regular trips to the UK, where her daughter, Maryann, lived with her husband and Charlotte’s grandson.

Several days after she had sent the letter, she received an e-mail from Charles, husband and confidant to her friend Myra.

Greetings from across the pond. Myra and I
have arranged for you to join us at Pinewood.
Please review the attached itinerary and let me
know if it meets with your satisfaction.

Charlotte could almost hear the British accent in Charles’s e-mail. And she wrote back:

Sounds divine! Hope I am not putting anyone out?

Absolutely not! We are very excited to have you as our guest. Please let us know if there is anything else you need before you embark. Happy landings. See you in two days.

Charlotte reviewed the itinerary:

9:00 A.M. Private car pickup at 1223 Mulgrave Rd., Croydon

12:00 P.M. United Flight 919, first-class ticket from Heathrow to Dulles. Open return. Private car service to greet at airport and take to residence. Driver’s name Edward. Cell: 703-555-1987