Page 135 of Storm of Bells
‘Oh, shut up about yer rosy little romance,ye! I’m talkin’ about somethin’ important ‘ere! So…where was I…ah,yes! Sex and solicitation! Your fellow is a no-go zone, but…whatabout da rest of da wedding guests? Are dey fair game?’
Mr Ambrose stiffened. Eyes, flashing, heturned towards Amy, opened his mouth and—
‘By all means,’ I called up the stairs. ‘Havefun!’
Mr Ambrose’s mouth slammed shut again, and hewhirled towards me.
‘Thanks!’ Amy called down. ‘Did ye ’ear that,girls? It’s open season!’
Another round of giggles erupted. Giggleswhich came not only from Carol and Jenny, but from at least twomore females as well. One sounded suspiciously like Adaira.
Footsteps hurried away, and a door slammedshut.
I cleared my throat. ‘Um. Yes. Where werewe?’
‘You,’ he told me, taking a step towards me,‘are going to pay for this.’
‘Indeed?’
‘After you have gotten rid of those threetroublemakers! I won’t have my wedding disrupted.’
And your sister corrupted?
Being not entirely suicidal, I didn’t saythat last part out loud.
‘Oh, well, of course.’ I nodded. ‘That’sunderstandable. We wouldn’t want any disruptions.’
‘Exactly.’
‘So they’ll have to stay.’
‘What?’
‘Well,’ I told him with a smile, ‘I can’tvery well have a wedding without my bridesmaids, can I? Especiallynot my maid of honour.’
‘Maid…of…’
Patting him on the back, I left him standingthere, his mouth slightly open, and started to dash up thestairs.
‘Take your time to digest it, will you? I’llbe upstairs.’
I was halfway up the stairs, before—
‘Stop! Stay right where you are!’
‘Pardon? I didn’t hear you.’
‘I said stop!’
Running faster, I reached the top landing anddashed down the corridor. Halfway down the passage, I met Amystrolling in the other direction.
‘Ah, there ye are! I wanted to ask ye—’
‘Not right now! I’m busy!’
‘Busy? What do you m—oh.’ She spotted MrRikkard Ambrose appearing at the end of the corridor, like a darkangel of vengeance. The widest, most salacious grin I had ever seenon her face spread across her features. And with Amy, that wassaying something. ‘Ah, I see. Ye’ve got to keep them on their toes,don’t ye? A little chase is just the thing to get the peckerup.’
‘What? No, I—’
