Page 154 of Storm of Bells
‘She’s a lady,’ Tom pointed out. ‘Not ahorse.’
I was really starting to like this boy.
‘Besides, my mum also told me you shouldn’tkiss horses.’
‘Did she? I think I’m going to have to have atalk with your mother, boy.’
‘You will do no such thing.’
Mr Ambrose blinked.
Then, very, very slowly, his gaze shifted tome. ‘Did you just countermand one of my orders, Miss Linton?’
‘You can bet on it!’ Plucking Tom out of MrAmbrose’s grip, I set him down on the roof and knelt in front ofhim. ‘It’s your brothers and sisters who are sick?’
The little boy bit his lower lip. ‘Y-yes, MyLady.’
‘Don’t you worry. They’ll be well againsoon.’
‘I know.’ His eyes glowed as he gazed up atme. ‘Thanks to you, My Lady. My mum told me! You sent for thedoctor, didn’t you?’
‘Yes. Yes, I did.’ I whirled around, just intime to see Mr Rikkard Ambrose open his mouth. ‘And don’t you dareto ask who’ll pay for it!’ Turning back to Tom, I raised aneyebrow. ‘You came up here to give me a message, I believe?’
The boy straightened. ‘Yes, My Lady. My mumsent me up here to tell you that her and the others got togetherand made supper for you and all the other ladies. We wanted to saythanks after all you’ve done. But then he—’ Tom jabbed an accusingfinger at Mr Ambrose ‘—did you-know-what, and I forgot all aboutwhat I was supposed to tell you.’
‘How very naughty of him. I’ll make sure tomake him apologize.’
A strangled noise came from behind me. Thekind of strangled noise that indicated the person who wasresponsible for it very much desired to strangle someone else.
Young Tom nodded earnestly. ‘You should, youknow. My mum told my sister that when a boy wants to kiss her andshe doesn’t want to, she should…’ Looking around to see if anyonewas listening, he took hold of my ear and leaned forward to whispersomething so only I could hear. A grin spread over my face.
‘I think I’m going to have to get togetherwith your mother. She sounds like a woman after my taste.’
Hope lit the boy’s face. ‘So…you’ll come tosupper with us?’
‘Definitely. Would you mind if my fiancécomes, too?’
Considering, Tom sized up Mr Rikkard Ambrose.‘I suppose not. If he behaves himself.’
‘Don’t worry. I’ll make sure of it. Why don’tyou run ahead and let your mother know to set an extra space at thetable?’
‘Err…we don’t have a table, My Lady. Not onethat’s big enough, leastways.’
‘An extra place at the picnic blanket,then.’
‘Yes, My Lady! Certainly, My Lady!’
Beaming, the boy scampered to the edge of theroof and started down the ladder. Mr Rikkard Ambrose turned towardsme, his dark eyes swirling.
‘You cannot be serious, Miss Linton!’
‘Why not, pray, Sir?’
‘You wish to sit picnicking with a bunch ofrustics while Lord Dalgliesh is trying to blackmail you andconcocting God-only-knows-what other plots against us?’
I shrugged. ‘I won’t be alone down there.I’ll be well-protected.’
He stepped towards me, his eyes not droppingfrom my face for an instant. ‘Karim is a capable bodyguard. But heis not perfect.’
