Page 37 of Storm of Bells
My smile widened. This was going to begood.
BudgetBadgering
At precisely two hours,fourteen minutes and fifty-nine seconds after noon the next day, aknock sounded at my uncle’s front door.
Leadfield poked his aged head out of thepantry.
‘Miss, do you wish me to get the frontdoo—’
He cut off when I scampered past him. ‘Don’tworry! I’m already on the way.’
‘Miss! You’re a young lady of the house. Thisis highly irregular.’
‘I know.’ I threw him a grin. ‘But if he’sgot to wait until you are at the door, he’ll have a coronary.’
I reached the door. With a sweeping curtsy, Ipulled it open. ‘Welcome to our humble home, Mr Ambrose.’
‘Miss Linton.’ Giving me a curt nod, hestepped inside. ‘Where will I find the opposing party?’
I buried my elbow in his ribs. ‘That’s mysister and my friend you’re talking about!’
‘Exactly. Shall we go? I have a feeling thatthese negotiations will be difficult, and I would like to finishthem as quickly as possible.’
‘Why in such a hurry? This a familygathering, not business.’
His little finger twitched back and forth, asif shuddering. ‘Exactly.’
I rammed an elbow into his side, harder—thenwinced, and rubbed my stinging elbow. ‘Behave yourself, will you?My little sister is a gentle creature.’
‘She is? Excellent. Then she will be easy tomanipulate.’
‘You know…normal people would refrain fromsaying such a thing aloud.’
‘Which is presumably why you are marryingme.’
Damn him if he wasn’t right. There were manythings to fear about Mr Ambrose. But deep down I knew that he wouldalways tell the blunt, honest truth. Which was why I wassimultaneously looking forward to and feeling scared shitless ofthis little meeting.
‘Please follow me.’ With a smile, I directedhim down the corridor. The sound of doors flying open came from theother end.
‘Is he here?’ Ella’s excited squeak came fromdown the hall. ‘Is he here?’
‘What is that noise?’ Mr Ambrose enquired.‘Your pet squirrel?’
I gave him a look. ‘My little sister.’
‘Ah.’
‘He’s here! Everyone, he’s here!’
A white-golden blur came rushing down thecorridor, and, a moment later, something frilly and sisterlyslammed into Mr Ambrose—and bounced off. Stumbling back, Ellaalmost landed on her delicate derrière. I reached out to grabher—but she grabbed hold of Mr Ambrose instead. Grabbed him andhugged him.
Mr Ambrose stiffened.
‘Oh, I’m so, so glad to finally meet you!Welcome to the family.’
Mr Ambrose responded with eloquently icysilence. Instead of letting go, Ella just squeezed him harder. Thenagain, maybe he had frozen her solid with his glare. It wasentirely possible.
‘Oh, I’m so glad I’ll finally have a brother!May I call you Rick?’
