Page 23 of Storm of Bells
‘Yes, it is, isn’t it?’
I watched and waited until he had put thecough drop into his mouth, then smiled and tipped my hat. ‘Have asweet day, Mr Pearson.’
And, with a spring in my step, I proceeded tothe stairs. If today was to be my last day here, I’d make the mostof it!
Mr Ambrose was awaiting me in his office,standing at the window, with his back to the room. The curtainswere almost drawn and, through the bright gap in the middle, he wasgazing out over the city. I was abruptly reminded of the first dayI had entered this office. That day, he had stood in exactly thesame manner. That day, just as now, he had been intent on gettingme out of here as fast as possible.
But he’s no longer the same man as backthen. And I’m no longer the same girl.
Because now, I was a woman.
‘Just to make this clear from the outset,’ MrAmbrose said, his back still towards me, ‘This changes nothingabout how I feel about you. No matter what happens today, I stilllove you.’
I nodded. ‘Good to know. And just so youknow, no matter what happens today, if you fire me, I’ll hate yourguts forever.’
There was a moment of silence.
‘Enough to call off the wedding?’
A wicked grin spread over my face. ‘And robmyself of a chance at lifelong revenge? Not on your sweetlife!’
He turned around, and his fierce, arctic eyesfound mine. We stared at each other for a long, long moment.
‘This is for the best, you know.’
‘It is?’
‘Yes. A woman’s place is in the home. Not inan office. Not travelling around on ships, and marching throughjungles, and risking—’
He abruptly cut off.
Risking her life.
I knew it. I just knew this was what it wasall about. Sweet, stone-headed, chauvinistic idiot!
I nodded. ‘I see.’
‘But there is no need to worry. There will beplenty of work for you as head of my household. I have everythingplanned.’
‘You do, do you?’
So you probably won’t be very pleased if,right after you fire me, I use my disguise to get a job somewhereelse?
I didn’t say that out loud, though. No needto bring out the big guns yet. The battle had only just begun.
‘Yes. You will get used to it soon enough.After all, work in the house is a woman’s true vocation.’
‘It is?’
Where should I try my luck? A lawyer’soffice? A bank? Hm…no. Working with Mr Ambrose had given me a tastefor experiences that ranged slightly beyond the work of youraverage secretary. If I was to get another job, it had to besomething different. Something exciting. I was quite handy with agun. Maybe Karim could help me find work as a bodyguard, or—
‘Mr Linton! Mr Linton, are you listening tome?’
‘What? Oh, yes, yes. Women, vocation,whatsitsname.’
Mr Ambrose eyed me suspiciously. ‘What’sgoing through that mind of yours, Mr Linton?’
Hm…maybe Mr Ambrose had some competitionsomewhere? Of course the non-evil kind, without a power-hungrymaniac named Dalgliesh involved. Wouldn’t it be sweet to get thebetter of him in the business world?
