Page 20 of Storm of Bells
‘I see. And that is…?’
‘Terrible! Horrific! Atrocious!’
‘Definitely!’ I nodded. Having previouslybeen in the captivity of murderous maniacs, I knew it was best toagree with them at all times. ‘And that is because…?’
‘Isn’t it obvious?’
‘Of course, of course it is! It’sbecause…um…err….’
‘Because they clash with your hair, ofcourse!’
‘Ah. Of course.’
‘I can’t fathom for the life of me how anyonecan have such poor taste in style as that girl! I can’t imagine…I…’Suddenly, her voice died down, and she started to cough. Steppingcloser, I thumped her on the back.
‘Thanks,’ she croaked. ‘I’ve been shoutingmyself hoarse all morning.’
‘Oh, you poor dear.’ Reaching into my pocket,I held out a colourful paper bag. ‘Would you like a bonbon?’
‘That’s so nice of you, Lill! Thanks!’
‘It’s the least I can do, considering all thehard work you’re doing to make my wedding day the most special dayof my life.’
Smiling, Ella slipped the sweet into hermouth. ‘Hmm! That’s good!’
‘You think so?’
‘Yes! The taste is slightly unusual,but…good. Very good.’
‘Ha! I knew it! Positive customer feedback.Just wait until I tell him!’
‘Him? Who?’
‘Oh, err…nothing, nothing. So you likethem?’
‘Definitely. Yes, absolutely! They’re sosweet… and they make me feel so…so…’ She gave a little giggle. ‘Ithink I’ll go back in there and discuss this with Eve again. I’msure we can come to an amicable solution.’
‘Bravo!’ I was quite proud of myself. Mybonbons definitely seemed to have a sweetening effect.
‘And if not,’ Ella added with another giggle,‘I can always chuck her out of the window and eat her feet.’
And with that, she whirled around and dancedback into the room, singing the national anthem.
I blinked.
Surely, I must have misheard?
Yes. Surely. She was probably juststressed.
A little while later, I was sitting upstairsin my room, reading a book, when Eve popped her head in through thedoor, her brow furrowed. ‘Lilly…what in God’s name did you say toElla?’
I blinked. ‘Me? Nothing. Why?’
Looking from left to right, she lowered hervoice, as if about to say something horrifically outrageous.‘Because she suddenlyagreeswith me.’
‘Err…and that’s a bad thing? I should havethought that after all the arguments the two of you’ve had, you’dwelcome some agreement.’
‘Even when I suggested that we do yourwedding with a colour scheme of pink, orange and maroon?’
