Hi - I do hope you are having a reasonable time given the events happening around the coronavirus. Anyway if you have time to spare here is next chapter which I hope may cheer some of you up. All the best and stay healthy.

Ruth did not return to her own room immediately, preferring to delay the impending one to one encounter with Harry courtesy of a quick detour into the bar where she encountered Danny polishing glasses and looking very much the part. The ostensible reason she claimed was that since she was due to met with Harry she simply checking as to whether Danny had anything much to report. During the course of this necessarily brief conversation - as an undercover PA it was not part of her role to chat up bartenders - she rather wished that she'd taken a straight line back to her private suite. Not only had Danny nothing of interest to report, 'They're Muslims Ruth so they don't drink alcohol' but he'd followed that up by a more than casual enquiry as to how she and Harry were managing to maintain the necessary pretence required by their own cover stories 'must be difficult when you're not on speaking terms'. Having frostily reminded Danny that Harry was a professional to his fingertips Ruth, on escaping into her own room, decided that she'd prefer not to await Harry's summons to explain herself.

Dumping her handbag on the side table, prior to taking the initiative of presenting herself unbidden, she checked out her appearance in the extravagantly gilded full length mirror discreetly placed in a corner of her room. Thus a knight of old might have readied himself for battle. Having examined her reflection, although Ruth would have opted to walk around in sackcloth rather than admit a reluctant truth to Harry, here in the privacy of these four hired walls she was forced to accept that the clothes he'd coerced her into wearing did look good. Concluding a thorough inspection of herself Ruth after a quick shake, with shoulders squared marched into the shared room, or as she preferred to designate it, the ground neutral.

Anticipating a continuation of the ongoing antagonism which had formed the keynote of her exchanges with Harry for the last three months, she predicted from her covert observations of him on the Grid that he would be pacing their shared sitting room. Whether this was a habit owing to the necessity to work off nervous energy, temper or simply his custom when searching for solutions to operational issue she'd never been able to decide. Initially in that respect at least he seemed unlikely to disappoint, since on entering quietly she was greeted with the view of his ramrod straight back as he walked towards the window. As he turned in response to the sound of her arrival it was Ruth who was promptly wrongfooted. Minus his tie he seemed more relaxed than she'd expected, and at her appearance he nodded her into a chair, where she on the small side table a cup of already poured coffee awaited her. Taking a deep breath, prior to calling him out on his presumption, any protest on her part was stymied by his admitting as much, as he sank into the chair opposite

"I know you need to report to me but no hurry, it's been an interesting couple of hours."

Tempting as it was to argue with him, the coffee posed an even greater temptation, and deep down she was grateful for his recognition that she had just emerged from a draining hour in the field. Swallowing her first mouthful she commented, "I assumed you were listening in."

"Correct as ever, but I'd still be grateful for your impressions as the operative in the room. More specifically where you feel the priorities should rest."

After a moment's thought, since he was asking for a professional opinion and he was her boss, Ruth for once complied without question, "Obviously the news about Ali's father was a shock but the priority still seems to be to hobble uncle. Helping Zahra may seem less important on the surface, but should temporarily disrupt her father's plans to use her to stage a coup, a delay that at the very least will allow some space to continue embedding the current more liberal regime."

If she'd excepted any argument it was not forthcoming, "Agreed, so Ruth kindly divulge your masterplan as promised to the group."

Ruth, while almost relieved to hear the sarcasm – confirming her opinion that he was a patronising blackmailer - had been dreading this moment of accounting. On her journey back to this interview she'd revised her scheme and concluded that her flash of brilliance plan contained more holes than a factory full of colanders could boast.

Sighing – best sound humble she supposed – she informed him. "Now I've had a chance to consider it I don't think it'll work."

Harry, struggling to avoid sounding sharp, managed not to snap back that given what she had already put into train it was a little late for second thoughts, preferring instead to suggest, "Let me be the judge of that. So what was your plan or were you just trying to give some hope?"

"It's rather based on something you did when Giles was blackmailing me."

Harry gave an involuntary start, the subject of Giles Bamford Smythe was as securely buried as the man himself, his sudden posting by the DG to the edge of Eastern Europe having resulted in a fatal food poisoning incident when he'd gorged on shellfish a la Gavrik, thereby relieving the service of a total embarrassment.

Ruth taking another sip of her coffee began to outline her wonky reasoning. "You've probably noticed the resemblance between Zahra and Aaisha."

Harry was hoping this wasn't a trick question designed to allow Ruth to accuse him of eyeing up women so he nodded with a cautious, "So what of it?"

"I wondered whether having seen now them side by side Ali could announce that he's decided that Aaisha is less suited to the new situation, given that his father is terminal and Zahra would be the more acceptable traditional choice, so he agrees to marry Zahra and dumps Aaisha. Then while he is marrying Zahra but really marrying Aaisha Faizan can smuggle Zahra out of the hotel as his sister on the basis that they've been insulted.

Hoping that she'd manage to weather the Pearce wrath at her having produced such a daft plan – and the Ruth the analyst was quite prepared to admit that he would have reason to be cross - Ruth the ex lover was unprepared for the sight of Harry relaxing back in his chair and saying quietly, "Very well and now the problems that have occurred to you?"

Feeling that she was being played Ruth snapped, "Does it matter when the whole thing is unworkable?"

Harry disarmed her with a warm smile, "I've heard more ridiculous schemes, actually run some of them, so seriously Ruth you tell me what you consider to be the major obstacles and see if I concur."

The impression that Ruth was rapidly gaining that Harry was revelling in her discomfort wasn't entirely inaccurate, after several weeks of Ruth implying that she could do very nicely without him it would be a pleasure to point out that really she couldn't. Along with reminding her that he hadn't reached his current position without initiating escapades that had made other agents blench.

Deciding that she'd best get it over with Ruth sat up to articulate the reasons as to why the scheme doomed to fail.

"I forgot that however alike Aaisha and Zahra may appear the resemblance is not sufficient to fool Zahra's father when the pair are standing in front of the Registrar. Also we have a time problem, in that I think a few more days are needed for Ali to discover he wants to dump Aaisha. Plus once dumped why would Aaisha and Faizan stay until the day of the ceremony? But if Aaisha and Zahra aren't here on the day we have no chance of smuggling Zahra out."

Having rushed through this catalogue of errors sinking her head in her hands Ruth sighed, "And now I have to admit that I've made been stupid to think this could ever work."

Harry felt an impulse to move over and put his arm around her but suppressed it in favour of putting down his own coffee cup before adding, "And you've also forgotten that a Muslim ceremony is scheduled first." Trying to avoid sounding smug he reassured her, "Apart from that little fact I'd say you nailed all the difficulties."

Ruth lifted up her head to produce the glare he was all too familiar with, "Thanks for confirming what I already know – that the scheme is ridiculous."

Harry abandoned his attempt not to sound patronising as he informed her, "I didn't say that – I think with some help from Dolby we can make it work."

Ruth practically shrieked in shock, "How and why would Dolby…." Before silencing herself instantly as Harry leant back into his own chair with the expression she recognised, the one that indicated he was plotting to outwit some hapless opponent.

"Because Dolby has his reasons – contained within information you weren't aware of."

Ruth wasn't mollified, "So I was sent in to deal with a situation without full disclosure – thanks." She was tempted to continue that theme but ceased when for once in her life she noticed Harry nodding before saying, "I don't disagree, and Ruth as this goes above your grade so I'm trusting you. There is an 'Eyes only' file on uncle which includes details of his associates. I know of the man lined up as a substitute bridegroom for Zahra. We need to get her away because this individual not only possesses huge influence and wealth in the area, he also makes her father look liberal. If she is forced into marriage with him then that alliance will make it very difficult to prevent uncle enforcing extremist values, however much Ali wishes to resist them."

Seeing the disapproving look Ruth shot him he hurriedly added, "Not that I would refuse to help her even without that issue lurking in the foreground."

Ruth's reply matched Harry for sarcasm – "and of course you would never blackmail anyone."

Harry knowing that this was a bone Ruth constantly gnawed at was ready with his reply "Not in that way – my blackmail was simply to keep a prize asset working in my section". Knowing that this would not clear the air, staled by three months of hostility, and crucially before she could argue further, he thought he'd best calm her by outlining his suggestions to ensure her plan succeeded.

"Firstly the Muslim ceremony – Ali announces that he now wants to cancel it in favour of it taking place in Pakistan with all his family present- that will also give Zahra a chance to start gabbing to Aaisha about the hordes of relatives that Aaisha doesn't know, while Aaisha can object on the grounds that she'll have no family or friends present – when she's overruled that should add nicely to the overall tension."

Ruth broke out into a broad smile tinged with relief – "Yes and I've seen Aaisha when she's furious."

"Run for cover." Smirking as he suggested meaningfully, "I know the feeling well."

Ruth chose to ignore that remark preferring to ask, "And the other issues? Why have the civil ceremony in this country?"

"Simple, Ali has commitments that will delay his immediate return so he wants the British ceremony, which will be recognised in this country, to enable Zahra to stay with him."

"Except they get married in the wrong names. I mean so Aaisha doesn't…"

Harry cut across this confusion. "That Ruth is where Dolby comes in, I'll ask him produce a reason for delay - quoting alteration to the paperwork and get it rigged so the right names are on it. In any case while the actual certificate is supposedly written on the spot most registrars or clergymen prepare in advance as at least two, if not three copies are required, so that problem can be fixed."

"And the bride's face?"

"Zahra to honour her father's views insists on remaining veiled until she reaches the front of the desk."

"And when uncle finds out he's been tricked?"

Harry was thinking hard before admitting – "Not sure, possibly we can waylay him, but since he's likely to storm out of the ceremony we also have the fall back of a nice nearby lake and some well fitting concrete boots."

"Harry…"

"Just joking Ruth," Making a mental reservation that if it came to it…..

Having hoped that now he and Ruth could perhaps begin to approach matters more intimate– even just sitting together as companions would be an improvement on current relations, Harry noticed her frowning as he asked wearily, "What now?"

"Well hasn't Zahra got two sisters - one of whom could be forced to marry uncle's choice."

Harry had to admire Ruth's capacity to keep her mind on the job even as his had begun to stray, and it was a reasonable objection given the information that had been redacted. "Normally yes but Zahra is the eldest, uncle married twice and the youngest daughter is only about five while the middle one unfortunately has a handicap, a damaged arm I believe, and that makes her ineligible to someone wants a perfect specimen to be his trophy."

Ruth hmphed "Normally that's an attitude I'd despise and do, but in this instance."

Harry nodded, "Better that than the fate worse than death?" The words were out before he remembered that given his history with Ruth, not to mention his hopes, this was not the most judicious of comments but damn it he couldn't be continually be treading on eggshells with her. Nor at the time had she objected to his advances, in fact….

Quite how Ruth had intended to respond to this inadvertent allusion was to remain a mystery as a knock on the outer door heralded the arrival of Ros,

"Sorry Harry but I thought you should know that uncle and a companion have decided to go for a walk alongside the lake."

Harry stood up instantly "Is that the companion we suspect of various criminal incitements to violence?"

Ros's expression told him this was an affirmative although her drawled reply suggested, "Of course they might be simply enjoying the English autumn in a sylvan setting."

Harry decided not to expostulate that if that was their motive then he was a eunuch and Malcolm a party animal, favouring instruction and action. "Very well ask Adam to alert Jed to break out his surveillance equipment." Fervently hoping that Jed would realise that his own career depended on his coming up to scratch, while instructing Ruth,

"You told the group that you'd run your plan past me – so now it's approved and while uncle is out of the way see if you can give Aaisha, Ali and Faizan the new outline – Zahra may be under some form of guard but she knows that she has flirt so Ali can update her later with a tete a tete."

As Ruth left the room he thought he detected a certain reluctance on her part to leave him alone with Ros. Ahh jealousy the emotion of hope. The slight quirk of his lips along with Ruth's mild delay in departing had not gone unnoticed by Ros as she responded, "At once Sir." Leaving Harry as she saw Ruth vanishing at the end of the corridor towards the suites where Aaisha and company were housed she hurried to catch up with the analyst.

Remaining impeccably in character Ros warned her, "Miss Evershed your friend and her two companions have gone for a walk in the grounds." A coded statement that meaning"For God's sake steer them away from uncle, Jed and anything they might think suspicious. And what the hell is going between you and Harry"

Ruth every bit as professional replied, "Thank you. I'll try to find them and show them some of the less well known walks." Her equally coded comment meaning "Message received I'll try to get them out of the way asap. Why do you keep lingering around Harry - not that I care'. " With which mixed thoughts she hurried out of doors relieved to have escaped unscathed by Harry's scorn while feeling vaguely narked that they had been interrupted before she had managed to finish his considerately gifted cup of coffee.

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