Page 102 of Storm of Bells
I didn’t quite manage to press a hand infront of my mouth to suppress my snort. Karim wasn’t quite assuccessful in stifling the noise that erupted from his throat,however.
‘I…I…think that might be rather difficult,Vicar. But I’ll try my best.’
‘Wonderful!’ The vicar beamed at me. ‘You’resuch a kind, giving woman, Miss Linton. I can already tell you’llfit in wonderfully in our congregation.’
I beamed at him. ‘So glad to hear you saythat, Vicar. It brings me to what I’ve come to talk to you about.You see, I’ve talked to a few people and they’ve told me how thingshave been in the village ever since my husband-to-be moved into themanor. So, I thought about the matter, and I have a few littlesuggestions to make…’
Secrets Beneath theDust
When I returned to themanor house about an hour later, a tall, dark figure was standingoutside, atop the steps, legs spread, arms crossed, in front of themanor. I didn’t need to see the icy glitter in his eyes to know forwhom he was waiting.
‘Hello there.’ Alighting from the coach, Iwaved at him. ‘Wonderful morning for a little drive, isn’t it?’
His granite face didn’t so much as twitch.‘Where have you been?’
‘Oh, just on a little visit to the village.’Reaching up, I turned the red bonnet on my head until it sat askew,allowing some stubborn strands of hair to peek out. ‘Why?’ Igrinned. ‘Did you want me to buy you something?’
‘Most definitely,’ he said, enunciating eachword slowly and distinctly, ‘not.’
‘What a surprise.’
Eyes narrowing infinitesimally, he took astep forward. ‘Why did you go to the village? What did you wantthere?’
‘I bought a few little things, like this.’ Itapped the fire-red bonnet. ‘How do you like it?’
His eyes narrowed further. ‘Was itexpensive?’
‘No. And besides, I paid with my ownmoney.’
‘Well, in that case, I like it verymuch.’
‘Thank you so much for the compliment,Sir.’
‘You’re welcome, Miss Linton.’ He tookanother step forward, his intense eyes not straying from me for aninstant. ‘And that is all you did?’
‘Yes.’
‘Well…’ For the first time, his pose relaxedjust a little bit. ‘If that’s the case…’
‘Oh!’ I snapped my finger. ‘Except for hiringthree dozen people.’
‘What?’
‘Or maybe four dozen. I kind of lost counthalfway through.’
Silence.
Icy silence.
The kind of silence insomniac bears wish forduring hibernation.
But below the surface of the silence, I couldfeel the coming explosion building. His eyes started burning withcold fire. His mouth opened. Any moment now…
‘You didwhat?’
I blinked.
The voice hadn’t come from Mr RikkardAmbrose. Who…?
