The Philanthropist's Danse by Paul Wornham

Nay.”
    William counted the votes. “The motion to have Mrs. Tremethick removed is defeated seven to five. I’ll remind you that nine votes are required to pass a motion.”
    Winnie sat perfectly still, thinking about what had happened. She was irritated that Freddie Hagood had tried to throw her out while pretending it was for her own benefit. Winnie was increasingly curious about why she had been invited to America. Despite her inability to sleep at night, she felt as if she was in the middle of one of her beloved BBC detective stories and wanted to find out how it ended.
    Freddie Hagood was disappointed his motion failed, but he was far from upset. He had gained useful intelligence about his fellow guests. He was surprised to discover he may be able to manipulate Camille Jolivet against the family and hoped Janice Elliot and Caroline Smith might be persuaded to join him. Freddie leaned back in his seat and calculated the angles as those around him prepared to continue.

Chapter Ten
    P hilip Thurwell was not used to being restricted in one place. He longed to be outside in the fresh air and felt as if he were suffocating in the conference room’s turgid atmosphere. He looked around. No one wanted to take charge following the heated vote. Philip looked at William Bird who seemed content to sit and do nothing. The bastard was collecting his fat fee no matter the outcome for the rest of them.
    Philip rapped the table with his knuckles to get everyone’s attention. His nervousness made him rap too hard, and he not only startled the group, he also hurt his hand. He grimaced but realized everyone stared at him. He tried to morph his pained expression into a smile, but it looked as awkward as it felt, and Philip felt his face redden. “This is going nowhere. We’ll sit here and propose motions, and none of them will pass, and before we know it all the money will be gone.”
    He spoke too fast, but his point was clear and he saw some agreement for it. He felt good until a voice challenged him. “So what do you propose, Phil?” Freddie’s question startled Philip. He didn’t have a plan, only a feeling that they weren’t getting anywhere. Now Freddie had put him on the spot with the obvious question and seemed amused at Philip’s unpreparedness.
    Philip felt anger rise in his chest and looked away from Hagood’s smug expression to the lawyer. “We need a person to take charge of this, a Chair.” Bird nodded. “Good idea Philip, whom do you suggest?”
    “Well, I don’t know who…” Philip was flustered, he was afraid he’d given Freddie a chance to grab a powerful position. He scrambled. “Junior should do it. What do you say Junior? You’re the oldest, you should be in charge.” Junior smiled and prepared to accept his brother’s nomination when he heard several objections. Caroline and Freddie noisily talked over each other, both objecting to a family member as Chair.
    Junior began to argue, and the volume of their fight rose quickly until he found himself on his feet shouting at Caroline amid sudden silence. Freddie had stopped cold, and everyone looked at Junior with shocked expressions. Caroline Smith sat stunned. Her face was pale, and her eyes were wide with revulsion.
    Junior’s mind raced. What had he said? He had a hot temper and sometimes would fly off the handle. He cast a desperate look at Bethany, who stared into space, unable to look at him. He glanced at Philip, who looked defeated. Finally, he looked at Caroline Smith who glared back at him as hot color rushed back to her face.
    Junior remained on his feet but felt suffocated by the weight of the silence around him. Then he understood. He recalled his words to Caroline and groaned as he sank into his chair. He had never liked Smith. He was suspicious of her rampant ambition. He’d once incurred his father’s wrath for referring to the woman as a monstrous cunt . He had just used the same epithet, to her face, in front of