Page 237 of Storm of Bells
With a sour taste in my mouth, I turned toMiss Lilly Linton.
If your mouth tastes sour, my innervoice whispered inside me,why don’t you try Cocaine CoughDrops? I hear they taste quite sweet, and only cost one penny perbag.
I knew there was a good reason why I hadruthlessly suppressed anything resembling an inner voice. Silencewas golden.
‘Well?’ Miss Linton’s voice abruptly pulledme from my thoughts.
Cocking her head, she stared at me, daring meto try and pretend I didn’t know what she was talking about. Daringme to pretend I had forgotten my promise.
And whatever people might say about me: Ikept my promises.
‘Hm…’ Raising my eyes from the desktop, I mether gaze. And there in her eyes, I found more than just warmth.More than just fire. I found an iron determination that I had neverseen in any other businessman. There was only one place I had everseen a glimpse of it: in the mirror.
Maybe, just maybe, that treacherousinner voice that just wouldn’t shut up whispered,it wouldn’t besuch a bad idea to have her standing by your side as a partner inevery sense of the word.
Immediately, I slammed shut the door on thatvoice. But the door seemed to be far too cheap and shoddy, becauseI could still hear the voice whispering, unwilling to besilenced.
Maybe because I didn’t really want it tobe.
‘It seems you have gotten your wish, MrLinton.’ Leaning forward, I met her eyes with mine, giving her myfull and undivided attention. Apparently, she would remain in myemploy for a little while longer. ‘Very well. You have until thewedding to prove yourself. Game on!’
Making HerMine
(Chapter 42, ‘Becoming One’, from Mr Ambrose’sPoint of View)
‘Wilt thou have this woman as thy weddedwife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate ofmatrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her insickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee onlyunto her, so long as ye both shall live?’
I had been asked many a question in my life.Most of them I had answered with the only response they deserved:icy silence.
This one, however…
This one was completely different.
Taking a deep breath, I turned to the left togaze down at the woman who stood by my side. Who would be standingby my side forever after. Her warm brown eyes stared up at me withscorching intensity, and I did not hesitate to answer her gaze withequal ferocity, my hand squeezing hers.
Without hesitation, a single, resounding wordleft my mouth:
‘Yes!’
The vicar turned towards the woman who wouldsoon no longer be Miss Lilly Linton, a broad smile on his face.
‘And wilt thou have this man as thy weddedhusband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estateof matrimony? Wilt thou obey him—’
I tried my very best not to let my facetwitch.
‘—and serve him—’
Was that mantryingto turn myintended into a runaway bride?
‘—love, honour, and keep him in sickness andin health—’
All right, that might be slightly morefeasible.
‘—and, forsaking all others, keep thee onlyunto him, so long as ye both shall live?’
She glanced at me…and then she smiled! Inthat moment, I lost any worries or doubts. It didn’t matter whatthe vicar said. It didn’t matter what we said. All that matteredwas the silent understanding that formed between us in thatinstant.
I felt her squeeze my hand and, taking a deepbreath, she turned back towards the vicar. Her voice rang out loudand clear. ‘Yes!’
