Page 53 of Storm of Bells
‘But—’
‘No special license, mother. Do you have anyidea how much those cost?’
‘I would be happy to pay for—’
‘No. A special license will not do us anygood. Whether we have one or not, the staff at my estate will needa few days to open up the house and prepare it for our arrival.Especially,’ he threw me a look, ‘if my bride persists in thisnonsensical idea of wanting to haveguests.’
Instead of shooting back a barbed remark, Isimply smiled up at him and touched his cheek. ‘Definitely. I wantall my friends at my wedding. I want the whole world to see what alucky girl I am to get to marry you.’
He opened his mouth—and closed it again. Fromsomewhere in the background came a female chorus of ‘Awwws’.
Well, what do you know? I should try evilattacks of niceness more often.
‘A week!’ Lady Samantha offered, sensingweakness.
Mr Ambrose cleared his throat.
‘Two months,’ he shot back.
‘A week and a half.’
‘Six weeks.’
‘Two.’
‘Five.’
Grinning, I watched the two of them. I couldsay with fairly great certainty that this was the first time MrRikkard Ambrose had tried to haggle upwards.
‘Three.’
‘Four. My last offer, Mother. Take it orleave it.’
Lady Samantha hesitated, throwing me anotherlonging, motherly glance. I determined I would have to lock mywindows at night, just in case she came to abduct me and stage animpromptu wedding under the light of the full moon.
‘Oh, come on, Mother.’ Adaira nudged theMarchioness in the ribs. ‘She isn’t going to wake up tomorrow anddecide to run! Besides, the four weeks will give us plenty of timeto prepare. There is so much to do before the actual wedding.’
Lady Samantha brightened. ‘That’s right!There are the dresses, the flowers, the invitations…’
‘Exactly.’ Adaira smiled around at Ella andEve. ‘We should all go dress-shopping the day after tomorrow.’
Ella beamed. ‘Why, that soundswonderful!’
I nodded. ‘Why not? It sounds interes—’
‘The day after tomorrow is impossible,’ MrAmbrose cut me off. ‘That is a week day. Miss Linton is busy onweekdays.’
All female eyes in the room turned onhim.
‘Busy?’ Adaira blinked up at her big brotherinnocently. ‘With what could an as-yet-unmarried lady possibly bebusy during the week, dear brother?’
He sent her a look that, if it couldn’t kill,could at least mortgage and foreclose on you, and throw you intodebtor’s prison.
‘Yes, what?’ Ella demanded, her normally soinnocent eyes narrowed in suspicion.
‘I’m sure my dear brother just misspoke,’Adaira’s smile widened. ‘I’m sure there’s nothing that could keepMiss Linton from going out with us. After all, only men are busy onwork days, and Miss Linton definitely is no man. Am I not right,brother mine?’
Silence.
