Page 94 of Storm of Bells
I opened and closed my mouth once or twice,waiting for a brilliant argument to come. I knew there had to beone. Somewhere, there was an important reason and…and…
And I couldn’t think of it.
Blast!
‘Because I’m just not! That’s it!’
‘Ah.’
‘Don’t give me that look!’
‘Look, Miss Linton?’
‘That “WARNING! Hysterical female”-look!’Taking a firmer hold of the back of his neck, I dragged him downfor a kiss. ‘This is too important for you to not take meseriously,’ I breathed against his mouth. ‘This is our wedding.This is our home.’ I gazed up at him with fiery determination. ‘Orat least it will be once I am finished with it.’
He looked down at me and I saw wearinessflicker in the depths of his cold eyes.
‘I know that look. Whatever it is you areplanning to do, Miss Linton—I forbid it!’
A broad grin spread over my face.
***
‘Ouch!’
The last removal man landed in the gravel infront of the front door, rubbing his maltreated backside.Scrambling to get away, he glared up at me.
‘There wasn’t no need for that, lady!’
‘Agreed.’ Nodding, I stepped outside, hammerand nails in hand. ‘You could have just left when I asked you thefirst time, instead of ignoring me.’
‘But my orders said—’
‘And now you have new ones,’ I cut him off.Reaching into my purse, I threw the man a shilling. ‘For yourtrouble. Leave.’
He opened his mouth to argue—then glanceddown at the shilling, shrugged, and scampered away. Raising myhammer, I stepped up to the front door and, two nails between mylips, raised the sign Benson the Butler had kindly helped meprepare. With determination, I started hammering. Due to the noise,I didn’t notice anyone approach until someone touched myshoulder.
‘Ah! Ouch!’ Dropping the hammer, I whirledaround, sticking my suddenly throbbing thumb in my mouth. ‘God,Flora! Warn a girl next time you sneak up on her while she’s usinga hammer, will you?’
‘Err…yes, of course.’ Flora’s gaze nervouslyflickered between me, the sign on the door, and the rest of thewedding party, who were still standing around the coaches, chattingand grabbing their luggage. She gestured to the sign.
‘Err…is there something I should know?’
I turned to the piece of wood on which, inbig black letters, were emblazoned the words:CLOSED UNTILFURTHER NOTICE!
‘Oh.’ I waved it away. ‘That doesn’t apply toyou.’
‘Ah.’ Her shoulders sagged in relief—then herbrow furrowed. ‘Then to whom does it—’
Hurriedly, I pushed the door open andmanoeuvred her inside. ‘Go in, will you? I’m sure Benson will finda room for you. I’ll see if I can find the rest of the servants tounload the coach. The others have been waiting long enough.’
Gesturing to the others around the coach, Icalled: ‘Please come in and make yourself comfortable in the foyer.Sorry that there are no servants to help you with the luggage.There has been, um…a slight mix-up with the telegram announcing ourarrival.’The mix-up being that a certain stone-headed son of abachelor didn’t send a telegram in the first place. ‘I’ll seewhat I can do about getting the servants to unload the coach.’
‘Servants? Codswallop! Who needs servants?We’re women!’ Patsy clapped her hands together. ‘We can carry ourown luggage!’ And with that, she tugged two massive trunks from theroof of the coach and, hefting them onto her shoulders, marchedtowards the house. My aunt and sisters stared after her, eyeswide—and, to my considerable amusement, so did Karim.
‘Err…’ Flora cleared her throat. ‘I think I’drather wait for the footmen.’
‘I’ll be right back with them. Don’t youworry!’
