Page 227 of Storm of Bells
‘Things are adequate,’ Mr Ambrose cut in,stepping between me and his mother. ‘Very adequate indeed. Now, ifyou will excuse us, mother, we have things to do.’
‘What things?’ Lady Samantha clamped onto hisarm, her eyes practically signalling in Morse codeIs it aboutbabies? Is it about babies?
‘I’m sorry about this,’ Adaira whispered,appearing at my side with a slightly apologetic grin. ‘I’m afraidwild horses couldn’t have held her back.’
‘Don’t worry about it.’ Shrugging, I glancedaround. ‘To be honest, I’m a little bit surprised that the rest ofthe girls aren’t here to jump us.’
Adaira cleared her throat. ‘I’m afraid theothers got a little bit above themselves last night. Patsychallenged Amy to a drinking competition, and—’
‘Oh God! Are they both still alive?’
A corner of Adaira’s mouth quirked up. ‘Inotice you didn’t ask who won.’
‘Of course not! I know my bloody stupidfriends!’
‘Well, don’t worry. They’re sleeping offtheir hangovers, but they’re all right. All seven of them.’
‘Good. That’s goo—wait! Allseven?’
‘Oh yes. It seems that your other friendswere, um…how shall I put it…inspired by the duo’s example. They allended up having a little bit too much fun.’
‘Amy, Cora, Jenny, Patsy, Eve…one, two,three…’ I counted, a niggling suspicion at the back of my mind.Then suddenly it burst out, clear and unavoidable. ‘Those slimy,slithery, traitorous…Ella? They dragged my sweet innocentEllainto this?’
‘Well, dragged in might not be the rightword…’
‘I’m going to strangle them!’
‘Be my guest,’ Mr Ambrose’s cool voice camefrom behind me. ‘I have several funeral parlours among mycompanies. But—’
‘Will you give me a discount?’
‘—but that will have to wait,’ he said and,with finality, took me by the hand. ‘We have business to take careof, remember?’
‘Right. Right.’ I wagged a finger at Adaira.‘When they wake up, give them the most horrifyingly excruciatinghangover cure you can imagine.’
Adaira’s face lit up with wicked joy. ‘Do Ihave free rein over the kitchen?’
‘Yes.’
Throwing her arms around me, Adaira squeezed.‘You are the best sister ever!’
Letting go and hopping back, she jabbed afinger into my dear husband’s face. ‘Don’t you dare let her getaway!’
And with that, she was gone.
‘Now.’ Squaring my shoulders, I took a tighthold of Mr Ambrose’s hand and stepped towards the door of theyellow drawing room. ‘Let’s see what the gentleman wants, shallwe?’
Mr Ambrose gave a grim nod. ‘We shall.’
And together, we stepped into the yellowdrawing room. Inside, a slim, nervous young man in a tailcoat andbowler hat was sitting perched on a plush armchair.
‘Oh, Rick!’ Lady Samantha sent Mr Ambrose areproachful look. ‘You have a guest? Why didn’t you tell me?’Bustling forward, she bent down to the visitor with a motherlysmile. ‘Are you all right? Was your journey exhausting? Would youlike some refreshment?’
‘Err… Um.’ Glancing at the lady’s smile as ifhe was faced with a tiger’s teeth, the young man started edgingback and held up a tea cup as his shield. Clearly, this was not thekind of welcome he was used to when visiting Mr Rikkard Ambrose.‘Thank you very much, My Lady, but, I, um, have already been takencare of.’
‘Oh.’ Lady Samantha beamed up at me, thensent a far less friendly look at her son. ‘I’m so gladsomeoneis upholding the good name of our family.’
His little finger twitching, Mr Ambrosestepped towards the man and fixed him with a piercing gaze.
