Page 160 of Storm of Bells
Finally, I stepped out from between the lasthouses and found the church towering above me. In the early morningsun, it cast a long shadow over the reverend’s rose garden.
A shadow that I somehow really didn’t want toenter.
But then…you love being contrary, don’tyou?
Squaring my shoulders, I took a deep breathand headed straight into the darkness. Slowly, I followed the samepath around the church I had gone down a few days ago, keeping aclose eye on the alcoves between the buttresses. I had no intentionof letting myself be taken by surprise again. The time when I wouldlet Lord Dalgliesh play his games with me was over. I would—
‘Good morning, Miss Linton.’
I whirled.
There he was! Not in an alcove. A smallside-door had opened, revealing the tall form and sharp, aquilineface that had plagued me and Mr Ambrose for the last few years. Hisgaze bored into me as he took a step closer. I retreated away fromhim, deeper into the shadows. His face twisted into a smirk.
‘Running already?’
Not exactly…
I took another step backward, forcing him tofollow me around the corner—which, coincidentally, meant we wereout of sight of the village.
‘Running is no good. You know very well whois in charge here.’
It took quite a lot of effort not to smile.‘Yes. I do.’
‘So?’ he demanded. Steel-blue eyes pinned meto the spot. ‘Have you decided whether or not to comply with mydemands?’
I nodded. ‘Indeed I have. But I think I can’tquite find a way to put my decision into words.’ I gestured tobehind His Lordship. ‘So I’ll let him explain.’
‘Him?’ Frowning, Dalgliesh started to turn.‘Who—’
That was the moment when a strong handgrabbed him from behind and whirled him around. An instant later,Mr Rikkard Ambrose’s fist connected soundly with his face.
A FightingChance
I was not, in general,a musical person. The list of my favourite sounds was a rathershort one. The screech of my aunt when she discovered a toad in herboot was on that list, along with the triumphal march Patsy hadcomposed for our first suffragist rally. It was horrific enough tonearly split my eardrums, but on the other hand, it had the sameeffect on the policemen who had been sent to break up our rally.Never had I seen Bobbies run so fast.
Yet among all the different sounds I hadheard in my life, there was one that reigned supreme, one that noother could equal: the sound of Mr Rikkard Ambrose’s fist smashinginto Lord Dalgliesh’s jaw.
Stumbling back, Dalgliesh collided with thechurch wall.
‘Jeffreys!’ he barked. ‘Holli—’
Abruptly, his voice cut off.
‘What’s wrong, Dalgliesh?’ Slowly starting tocircle his enemy, Mr Ambrose raised his fists, ready to strike.‘Forgot to bring your henchmen? Didn’t think you’d need them forjust one helpless woman?’
‘Hey!’ I protested. ‘Who’s helpless?’
They ignored me.
‘You?’ Steely sparks of hate surged fromDalgliesh’s eyes. ‘Impossible! How could you have known about—’
Wham!
Mr Ambrose’s fist interrupted himmid-sentence. Dalgliesh tried to retaliate, but Mr Ambrose blockedhis strike.
‘You want to know how he knows about ourlittle meeting?’ As fists flew and muscle smashed against muscle, Icircled the combatants until I stood behind His Lordship, almostclose enough to whisper into his ear. ‘Did you really think I’d bedumb enough to come alone?’
‘But…but this is impossible! I blackmailedyou! I….’
