Page 233 of Storm of Bells
‘Just to make this clear from the outset,’ Istated, still not turning to face her, ‘This changes nothing abouthow I feel about you. No matter what happens today, I still loveyou.’
‘Good to know,’ came Miss Lilly Linton’svoice from behind me, crisp and decisive. ‘And just so you know, nomatter what happens today, if you fire me, I’ll hate your gutsforever.’
I cocked my head, not falling for the threat.No. Not in the least. The fact that my spine had stiffened like arod of iron was surely a coincidence. ‘Enough to call off thewedding?’
‘And rob myself of a chance at lifelongrevenge? Not on your sweet life!’
I tried to tell myself that my shouldersdidn’tsag in relief. No, not the tiniest bit.
Taking a deep breath, I turned to faceher—and there she was. Miss Lilly Linton, in all her infuriatinglyfeministic, crossdressing glory. I fixed her with my gaze, doing myvery best not to sink into the depths of those warm,chocolate-brown eyes. We stared at each other for a long, longmoment.
And another.
And another.
Enough time wasted! Time to get down tobusiness.
‘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—’
Abruptly, I clamped my mouth shut. But tojudge by the look in her eyes, not fast enough. The words I hadn’tspoken were already hovering in the air.
A woman shouldn’t be risking her life.Especially notmywoman!
She nodded, staring daggers at me. ‘Isee.’
Infernal wench! Most women wouldwanttheir men to protect them.
Then again…most women weren’t her.
No one was like her.
‘But there is no need to worry,’ I reassuredher. ‘There will be plenty of work for you as head of my household.I have everything planned.’
Judging by the way she was staring at me, shedid not appear very reassured. ‘You do, do you?’
Or…was she staring at me? On closerinspection, it appeared more as if she were staringthroughme. Her face had turned blank and expressionless. Was she evenpaying attention? ‘Yes, I do. You will get used to it soon enough.After all, work in the house is a woman’s true vocation.’
‘It is?’
Still that blank expression. Still staringoff into the distance, as if…as if she wasignoringme?
I felt a muscle in my cheek twitch.
‘Mr Linton! Mr Linton, are you listening tome?’
‘What? Oh, yes, yes. Women, vocation,whatsitsname.’
Somehow, I got the distinct impression myspeech on proper womanly behaviour had not been particularlyeffective. Cocking my head, I eyed her suspiciously. ‘What’s goingthrough that mind of yours, Mr Linton?’
‘My mind?’ She widened her eyes at me, hergaze brimming with innocence. ‘Nothing. Nothing is going throughthere at all.’
I didn’t believe her for a second. Thenagain…did it really matter?
‘Hm.’ Stepping away from the window, I senther a penetrating stare. Then I glanced down at the document on thedesk. The one with the headingLetter of Dismissal.
