Page 10 of Storm of Bells
‘There you are! I haven’t seen you in weeks.Where have you been?’
Karim gave me the look of reluctant respect awarrior might give a pack mule, because while the warrior might befar superior to it, at least they’re both equally stubborn.
‘Busy.’
‘Too bad. But now that you’re back, you canhelp out with the wedding.’ I gave him a charming smile. ‘How wouldyou like to be the flower girl?’
‘If you try, I shall eviscerate you with mybare hands.’
Ah, the sweet sentiments of friendship… Howcomforting to know that some things never changed.
‘Enough time wasted,’ Mr Ambrose ordered.‘Come, both of you!’ Pushing open the front doors, he stepped outinto the cheerfully damp and overcast London morning. I pulled mytailcoat more tightly around myself and followed. Outside, MrAmbrose’s little excuse for a chaise waited, strapped to the grumpygrey horse that had reluctantly towed us around on previousoccasions. Karim climbed on the box while Mr Ambrose squeezed intothe small space at the back.
‘You know,’ I mused, snuggling against himand sliding an arm around his shoulders, ‘I used to get annoyed bythe fact that this bloody thing is so small. For some reason, Idon’t mind anymore. Funny, isn’t it?’
Under my touch, Mr Ambrose stiffened. ‘MrLinton! We are in public!’
‘Why, yes we are, Sir. So observant of you tonotice.’
‘And you are wearing your…work attire.Masculineattire.’
‘You don’t say.’
‘What if someone should see us?’ he hissed,lowering his voice. ‘Remove your arm this instance!’
‘And where else would you like me to stashit?’ I enquired sweetly, looking around the miniscule space. ‘Inthe luggage rack? Well, I suppose if you don’t want it around yourshoulders, I could always slide it a little lower, and—’
He made a strangled noise in the back of histhroat. ‘Karim! Put the top up!’
‘Yes,Sahib. Immediately,Sahib.’
With asnap, the cover of the chaiseunfolded over us, shielding us from prying eyes. Snuggling closerinto Mr Ambrose, I rubbed my nose against his neck and breathed himin.
‘Mr Linton!’
‘Hmm?’
‘Desist!’
‘Nobody can see us.’
‘That’s not the point. I…you…’
I smirked up at him. ‘Afraid I’ll steal yourvirtue before the wedding night? That’s already taken care of,remember?’
A muscle in his cheek twitched. For a moment,he didn’t say anything. Then…
His hand touched my cheek. ‘I’m not likely toforget.’
I leaned into his touch.Neither am I.‘So…what are you thinking about, Sir?’
‘Classified business matters, Mr Linton.’
The smirk returned. ‘In other words, you’reconsidering how best to fire me before the wedding.’
The little finger resting against my cheektwitched just a little. ‘No comment.’
I glanced up at him. ‘It’s all right. I don’tmind.’
