Page 140 of Storm of Bells
‘Threewhataswhat?’
I turned to smile at him. ‘Oh yes, I forgot.I believe you already know Carol and Jenny.’
‘What?How dare you insinuate suchinfamy, woman! I would never associate with—’
‘Try thinking back a few weeks ago. You know,that time I went to an establishment in the East End and youinsistedon coming with me for some reason?’
For someone whose face was as dark astropical wood and covered eighty per cent in bristly hair, Karimdid an impressive job of blushing like a maiden on her weddingnight.
‘I accompanied you solely to protectyou!’
‘I’m sure.’ I winked at him. ‘That’s why youended with those three lovely young ladies. They probably were adanger to me.’
‘Sahib!’
‘Yes, Karim?’
‘Permission to strangle?’
‘Not quite yet, Karim.’
I sent the bodyguard a magnificent smile.‘Did I mention that Carol and Jenny will both be needing a date tothe wedding?’
Karim’s face swiftly changed colouragain.
‘Enough of this!’ Mr Ambrose’s cool voice cutthrough the air. ‘We have a much more pressing matter to discuss.Dalgliesh.’
Karim’s head jerked around. ‘Dalgliesh ishere?Allahbe prai— um, I mean, horrific! Terrible! Whathas he done,Sahib?’
‘He—’
Mr Ambrose hadn’t gotten out more than thatone word when a knock came from the door. Roughly half a secondlater, it popped open, and Amy stuck her head inside.
‘Hello, Lilly, I—oh!’ A grin spread acrossher face. The kind of grin only Amy was capable of. ‘So sorry tointerrupt. I was lookin’ for my friend Lilly. I didn’t know thiswas the threesome suite.’
A croak came from Karim’s direction.
Sending a meaningful glare Amy’s way, Istarted buttoning up my dress and slipped out of bed. Grabbing hisshirt up off the floor, Mr Ambrose followed my example, dressinghimself with swift, economical movements.
Amy wiggled her eyebrows. ‘Ye needn’t do daton my account. Ye know, ye could make a pretty penny if you everdecided to—’
I moved so fast I probably appeared blurredto any onlooker. My foot came down on hers.
‘Not another word!’ I hissed. ‘The last thingI need is for my future husband to learn aboutthatparticular way of making money.’
She dared to send a smirk my way, the dirtylittle devil! I sincerely pitied any and all gentlemen whom shehappened to stumble across on her visit here.
Except for one.
One who could very well take care ofhimself.
Buttoning the last few buttons of his shirtwith a menace that was far too deadly for little bits of metalmeant to fasten clothing, Mr Rikkard Ambrose turned towards her andspeared her with his gaze. In spite of herself, Amy took a stepbackwards.
Without turning her head, she asked out ofthe corner of her mouth, ‘Does ‘e look at ye like that, too?’
‘All the time.’
‘And ye’re sure ye wanna marry ‘im?’
