Page 176 of Storm of Bells
‘Your powers of observation areremarkable.’
‘You! You hurt His Lordship?’
‘Don’t be a fool!’ His voice conveyed theice-cold disdain that only Mr Rikkard Ambrose was capable ofproducing. ‘Even if I had the power to, do you really think if I’ddared to injure His Lordship, I would show up on his doorstepafterward?’
‘N-no, of course not, Sir.’
I nodded. Of course not. He hadn’t needed toharm His Lordship. That’s what his lovely fiancée was for.
‘I was on my way to deliver a message to HisLordship when I found this on the road, next to marks of ascuffle!’
‘I-is that really blood?’
‘No, it’s tomato sauce. Of course it’s blood!Gather the guards, man! We have no time to waste!’
‘But His Lordship gave strict orders to guardthe house and—’
‘—and do you think His Lordship will begrateful for your service when you let him be kidnapped and killedwhile you and his men sit here, guarding an empty house?’
‘Well…no, Sir.’
‘No indeed! Now get your men together! Chopchop! It might not be too late to catch up with them!’
‘Yes, Sir, right away, Sir! CaptainBryant!’
Heavy footsteps thudded towards the front ofthe house. Moments later, a sharp, military voice cut into theconversation. ‘Yes? What is it?’
In quick, short words, Mr ‘Ridgeway’ and thebutler explained the situation. Seconds later, whistles andcommands echoed through the air, and the guards at the back of thehouse rushed around the corner, their weapons drawn.
‘Now?’ Karim hissed.
‘Not yet. Wait!’ I held up my hand. Fromaround the house came the tinkling of tackle, then the pounding ofhooves, slowly fading into the distance.
‘Now!’
We dashed towards the hedge that surroundedthe property, trying to keep our heads low, just in case some ofthe guards had stayed behind. If the situation hadn’t been serious,it would have been quite amusing to watch Karim trying to keep hishead, or any other part of him, low. But right at this instant…
Pressing against the hedge, I slowly edged upuntil my eyes were just above the foliage.
‘It’s clear! No guards anywhere insight.’
I gestured for Karim to help me up.Interlacing his fingers, he formed a stirrup for me. Over theyears, I’d had plenty of opportunities to step on gentlemen’sfeet—but chances to trample on men’s hands had been few and farbetween. With a grim grin, I grabbed hold of Karim’s shoulder andhoisted myself up. The twigs and thorns of the hedge stung throughmy dress as I rolled over the top and landed on the other side.Only seconds later, Karim landed with a heavy thud beside me.
‘Check the windows!’ I hissed and, wonder ofwonders, he obeyed my orders.
Turning back to me, he shook his head. ‘Noguards inside either.’
‘Let’s get to the door!’
We sidled along the wall until we stoodbeside the door. Fishing the ring of the keys out of my pocket, Irammed the first one into the keyhole. It didn’t fit. Darn! Thenext one. And the next.
‘Hurry!’ Karim growled.
‘As if you could do this faster with yoursalami fingers!’
‘You…!’
I threw him a grin. ‘It really sucks that I’mthe boss’s fiancée, doesn’t it? It means you’ll never be able tostrangle me.’
