Page 91 of Storm of Bells
‘Oh, hello there!’ Turning, the woman gave mea broad, motherly smile. ‘I didn’t notice anyone else was here.Wonderful place this is, isn’t it.’
‘Err…yes.’
‘Well, I can see what you’ve got your eyeon.’ The woman winked. ‘But I’m afraid I saw it first. And I thinkI really like it. Herbert, get it down, will you?’
With a sigh, the poor, put-upon husbandceased his observation of the fly on the wall once more. He steppedforward and plucked the painting his wife had been admiringstraight off the wall.
My mouth dropped open.
‘Yes.’ The Lady nodded, smiling brightly.‘This really will fit splendidly into the living room.’ She wavedat me. ‘Good bye, dearie. I hope you find what you’re lookingfor.’
And she marched outside, her husband closebehind, somehow trying to balance the painting on his shoulder. Istared after them, unable to quite grasp what I had just witnessed.What in the name of all self-respecting burglars wasthat?
‘Out of the way, lady! Admiral comingthrough!’
Jumping, I whirled around just in time to seea group of three men in brown working shirts and caps comingtowards me. Between them they were carrying the big, marble bust ofAdmiral Nelson. Before I could even open my mouth, they were pastme and out the door. For a moment or two, I just stared—then Irushed after them. At the door, I came to a stop and watched as thethree men loaded the marble bust onto a wagon that was alreadystuffed full of furniture, knickknacks and valuables, including apurple sofa, three tables and a still ticking grandfatherclock.
All right…either burglars had become a lotbolder recently, or something wasn’t quite right here.
I received a slight indication towards thelatter when the three burglars marched back in through the frontdoor and grabbed a cabinet standing in the corner, lifting it offthe ground.
‘Hey, you!’ Marching after them, I waved afinger in the air, devoutly wishing I had my parasol handy. If onlyPatsy were already in here. ‘What the heck do you think you’redoing?’
The three men exchanged glances.
‘Err…lifting that cabinet?’ one of themsuggested.
‘Out!’ I jabbed a finger at the open door.‘Out! All of you!’
‘That’s where we’re going, lady,’ the oldestof the three pointed out, giving his friends a ‘don’t mind thehysterical female’-look.
‘Withoutthe cabinet,’ Iclarified.
‘Really?’ Taking a bite off his chewingtobacco, he chewed and gave me look that told me exactly howdistinctly unimpressed he was. ‘And what the ‘eck gives you theright to be orderin’ us about, eh?’
‘This!’ I told him, thrusting the hand withmy engagement ring under his nose.
He regarded it for a moment—then furrowed hisbrow. ‘A curtain ring?’
All right.
That was it.
I was a patient woman, as anyone who had metme and didn’t want their arm twisted could attest. I could take alot before hitting back. But this? In my own future home? Justbefore my wedding?
Cracking my knuckles, I took a step towardsthe man. ‘Pardon me.Whatdid you just say?’
WholesaleHall
Breathing in deeply, Ilearned against the closest wall, rubbing my knuckles while Ilistened to the sound of hurried footsteps fading in the distance.A minute or so later, I heard someone approaching outside. The doorwas pushed open, and Ella stuck her head inside. ‘Is everything allright, Lill?’
‘Everything is perfect,’ I breathed, slowlyunclenching my fists and examining my precious engagement ring fordamage. Nothing. Good. ‘Just peachy.’
‘Really? Because I heard a really strangenoise from in here, like a beast snarling.’
Well, well. Compliments in the morning arealways nice.‘You don’t say?’
‘Yes, and then three men came running out ofhere as if the hounds of hell were on their heels.’ She glancedaround from left to right. ‘Do you think it was one of those twobig dogs? I’m sure they’re really big softies inside, but they dolook a bit intimidating, don’t they? You don’t think those poor menwere attacked by them?’
