Page 163 of Storm of Bells
‘You should have seen his young face light upwith joy when I offered to help, Miss Linton.’ Placing a hand onhis heart, Lord Dalgliesh twisted his face into an expression ofnostalgic compassion. ‘He practically wept with gratitude, the poorboy.’
Mr Ambrose made an abrupt move forward.Tightening my grip, I clung on to him. Judging by the look in hiseyes, letting go right now would not be a good idea.
‘I’m sure he did.’ My voice was as dry as asunny day in the Sahara. ‘And you were the soul of helpfulness,right?’
‘I most certainly was. After all, I was in anexcellent position to help. Some new, profitable investmentopportunities had just come up, and I let young Rikkard know aboutthem. He was so thrilled! Immediately, he dragged me home to hisfather to tell him all about the fabulous opportunity. It took someconvincing, but eventually the old man let himself be swayed by hisdear son. They invested the last of their money into some of myupcoming investments that promised high returns.’
A growl erupted from Mr Ambrose’s throat. Hestarted forward, dragging me with him. I just barely managed tocling on.
‘Something tells me,’ I got out betweenclenched teeth, ‘that promise wasn’t kept.’
‘Oh, well.’ Dalgliesh shrugged. ‘It’sbusiness. There always is a certain risk involved. Sometimessmaller, sometimes greater.’
‘And this one was greater?’
The smile was back on Dalgliesh’s face. Thistime not poisonous, but sick and sweetly. As if his heart wasaching, he placed a hand on his chest. ‘Trust me, nobody was moresurprised than I when those mines I had placed such high hopes ondidn’t contain any ore. My prospectors had promised me richreturns! And that tea plantation in India…’ He shook his lion’smane, sadly. ‘It was really a terrible accident that it burned tothe ground like that. I remember young Rikkard rushing up to myhouse, frightened out of his wits by the debt collectors who wereabout to throw his family out of their house. The poor boy was sosure it was all a mistake—’
This time I had no chance of holding back MrAmbrose. He leapt forward, his fist striking out—but Dalgliesh hadbeen waiting for it. Deflecting the punch to the side, Dalglieshgrabbed him and punched, hard, sending him staggering back.
‘Does it bother you?’ he whispered. ‘Do youwant to keep her from knowing how pathetic you were?’
‘Don’t listen to him!’ I urged.You shouldbe good at that. You never listen to me.
‘Oh yes, don’t listen to me,’ Dalglieshmocked. ‘What do I know? After all, I’m just the man who took awayyour family fortune, and who’ll take yours away as well, leavingall of you as beggars!’
This time, Mr Ambrose didn’t retaliate withfists. Instead, he shot back one cold, hard, challenging word.‘Try!’
‘Gladly.’ He glanced over at me. ‘Iwonder…once all your businesses have failed and you are utterlyruined, will your dear future wife have to rely on the same methodsas your sister?’
Mr Ambrose stiffened. ‘What are you talkingabout?’
Dalgliesh raised an eyebrow and gave an uglylaugh. ‘Well, how do you think she supported herself and her familywhile you were away, gallivanting through the colonies? Of course,I can’t be a hundred percent certain. Unfortunately, I wasn’t thereto see it, but I can imagine just about one single option for ayoung girl in her situation. I hope the first time wasn’t too roughfor the poor gi—’
That was it.
Mr Rikkard Ambrose had never been aparticularly patient man. Right then and there, he lost what littlepatience he had left, and any scruples along with it. In a blink,he had drawn the hidden sword from his walking stick. Springingforward, he aimed it straight at Dalgliesh’s chest.
Whirling out of the way, Dalgliesh sweptaside his tailcoat. Beneath it glinted something metallic.
‘Watch out!’
This time, my warning arrived in time. WhenLord Dalgliesh’s sabre appeared in his hand, Mr Ambrose was ready.His blade came up to deflect Dalgliesh’s first blow. Then a second.Then a third.
‘What’s the matter?’ I hissed. ‘Why isn’t heattacking?’
Karim’s hand went to the grip of his weapon.‘Dalgliesh is better armed. He has a sabre, long and sturdy. AlltheSahibhas is a slender cane-sword. It doesn’t havenearly the reach of Dalgliesh’s weapon!’
‘Meaning?’
‘Meaning that if he tries to attack, he’llget his hand cut off!’
‘Oh.’
Something to be avoided, if possible. I wasrather fond of Mr Ambrose’s hands.
Karim seemed to agree. Drawing his own sabre,he took a step towards Mr Ambrose.
‘Men—advance!’
