Crossword Genius

Told stories about heartless lady being dastardly (4-7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

lily-livered

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'dastardly' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'told stories about heartless lady being' is the wordplay.
'told stories' becomes 'lied' (I've seen this in other clues).
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'heartless' means to remove the middle letters.
'being' becomes 'liver' (a being is something which lives).
'lady' with its centre removed is 'ly'.
'ly'+'liver'='lyliver'
'lied' enclosing 'lyliver' is 'LILY-LIVERED'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for lily-livered that I've seen before include "Weak and cowardly" , "Yellow" , "chicken" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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