Page 147 of Storm of Bells
‘Me too! Me too!’ Eve jumped up and downexcitedly. ‘Let’s all help!’
‘But…ladies, ladies!’ The vicar took ahurried step forward, his face paling. ‘I wasn’t thinking that youyourself would…I thought that maybe you’d put in a good word withyour fiancé, Miss Linton, nothing more. You can’t go around tryingto repair all that needs attention here. That’s men’s work!’
Silence sank over the interior of thecottage. Nine pairs of snipers’ search lights, also called femaleeyes, snapped to the vicar and froze him in place. Karim coveredhis face and muttered a curse in Punjabi.
‘Whatdid you say, Reverend?’
‘Err…I…um…’
‘I heard distinctly what he said.’ Smiling,Patsy stepped forward, gripping the clergyman’s shoulder. ‘He saidhe’d be delighted to accept our help, didn’t he?’
‘Yes, exactly!’ Lunging forward, the vicargrabbed the lifeline. ‘That’s what I said.’
‘Excellent!’ Clapping her hands, Adairapushed open the door. ‘Let’s get to work, shall we?’
‘But…but…’ The vicar’s attempts to slam hisheels into the ground and brake were foiled by Patsy, who tightenedher grip and started to tug him towards the door. The little familyfollowed at a safe distance. ‘No matter how determined you ladiesare, volunteer work won’t do it. There’s real damage done to thesehouses. We need the professional help of experts who know how tohandle such matters.’
‘Excellent point.’ Smiling, I gestured up thepath that led to the main village. ‘So why don’t you run along andassemble the craftsmen from the village. I’m sure they’ll bewilling to help if you let them know that I’d be mostgrateful.’
‘Err…I’m not sure they—’
‘Perhaps I should rephrase. I will be mostgrateful, and my fiancé won’t hear about them saying no to me.’
‘Oh.’ The vicar nodded. ‘Certainly, MissLinton. Right away!’
‘Of course, if they wish to bill me for theirservices, they are welcome to present their demands up at themanor. I’m sure Lord Ambrose would be most happy to listen tothem.’
We all watched the vicar hurrying off downthe road. Grinning, Amy turned back towards me.
‘Lilly…you’re a genius!’
‘Oh, you thinkthatwas genius?’Innocently, I folded my arms behind my back. ‘Adaira?’
‘Yes?’
‘Do you think you could tell a good lie?’
She gave me a look.
‘Forget I asked. Could you do me afavour?’
‘I’m at your service.’
‘Great! Then please go up to the manor. To myaunt’s room, in fact.’
‘What?’ Adaira wrinkled her nose.‘Why?’
‘Well, of course to let her know all aboutthe Duchess of Fingleton and the Marchioness of Manglewood andtheir charitable efforts. Isn’t it wonderful, the example those twonoble ladies set? Originally, they just came to attend my wedding,but now they’ve noticed the plight in the village and are helpingto restore it to its former glory. And they’ve promised to inviteall other volunteers to their hunt ball in on the Duchess’s estatethis summer.’
‘Lilly…there is no Duchess of Fingleton orMarchioness of Manglewood.’
I gave her a smile as innocent as a childwith its hand stuck in the cookie jar. ‘But my aunt doesn’t need toknow that, does she? And neither do any of the other ladies who arestaying up at the manor, who have plenty of free time and daughtersto marry off.’
Slowly, an answering grin spread overAdaira’s face. ‘Have I mentioned that I’m really, really gladyou’re going to be my sister?’
‘Only about three dozen times.’
‘Make that thirty-seven!’
