Page 83 of Storm of Bells
‘Who knows…’ A devil dancing in her eyes,Adaira leaned forward. ‘He might make it after all. Wouldn’t thatbe fun?’
‘No!’ Mr Ambrose bit out.
‘Rikkard Ambrose!’ Lady Samantha gazed at herson like a wounded mama bear. ‘How could you say such a thing? Areyou completely devoid of feeling?’
He considered the question for a moment.
‘Yes.’
The marchioness opened her mouth to replysomething—then shut it again. Clearly fighting against all hermotherly instincts but compelled by duty, she turned to me, apained expression on her face.
‘Lilly, dear…are you sure you want to marryhim?’
‘Quite sure.’
‘Hm’ Tugging at her skirts, Lady Samantha satup straighter and threw her son another look. ‘Well, I for my part,as soon as we’ve arrived wherever it is we’re being whisked off to,am going to send a letter to Mister Linton inviting him to come.Keeping him from being at his own sister’s wedding—that’s just notdone! He should be there to walk you down the aisle.’
‘Oh yes.’ The little devil in Adaira’s eyeswas now jumping up and down, waving victory flags. ‘Wouldn’t thatbe sweet? That’s something I’d justloveto see.’
Under cover of my voluminous petticoats, Ikicked her in the shins.
‘Don’t worry. I’m sure my uncle Bufford willbe happy to oblige.’
‘You are?’
‘Oh yes.’ I grinned. ‘He justlovesgiving things away.’
‘I’m so happy to hear he’s enthusiastic!’
Oh, I don’t know if ‘enthusiastic’ is theright word…
***
I knocked at the room to Uncle Bufford’scombined office and hidden treasure hoard.
‘Uncle? May I come in?’
‘Depends,’ came a familiar gruff voicefrom inside. ‘Do you want something?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then scram.’
I considered my options for a moment. As faras I could see, there were just two:
1.Tell my uncle that I was going to marry thelove of my life and wanted him there beside me on the happiest dayof my life.
2.Bribe the old grizzly bear.
I made my decision.
‘I’ve changed my mind,’ I called throughthe door. ‘I want to bribe you.’
‘Well, why didn’t you say so at once,girl? Get in here!’
Uncle Bufford was sitting in his usualmassive armchair behind the desk. The only thing that had changedin the room since last I’d been there was that the piles of moneyhad grown considerably bigger.
I held out my hand to my uncle, displayingmy engagement ring.
