Page 43 of Storm of Bells
‘Ha, ha, ha.’ Mr Ambrose ground out betweenclenched teeth. ‘What a wonderful sense of humour you have,darling.’
I beamed. ‘Yes, I do, don’t I?’ Batting myeyelashes up at him, I patted his cheek with my free hand. GoodGod, this was funny! Too bad I could only ever plan one wedding inmy life. Or…perhaps we could do it a few times more, just forfun?
‘So…it was a joke?’ Ella enquired, hopeshimmering in her eyes again. ‘That all was a joke?’
‘Oh yes.’
‘Thank God!’ She breathed a deep sigh ofrelief. ‘I thought he honestly meant to host the wedding in a tiny,run-down chapel in the worst neighbourhood of London.’
‘Oh no, he was serious about that,’ Ihurriedly clarified. ‘Just the last bit was a joke.’
‘What?’
‘No need to be so loud, Ella. I don’t reallycare how big my wedding is, you know. The main thing is that he’sthere, and I’m there, and you and my friends to share in my specialday. That’s all I need.’
‘But…but…’ Ella was wringing her hands now.‘This isn’t how your wedding is supposed to happen! You’re marryingone of the richest people in Great Britain, and—’
‘Therichest,’ Mr Ambrose was kindenough to correct her. To judge by the look on her face, Elladidn’t appreciate his correction. Turning towards me, she fixed apleading gaze on me, as if begging me to understand.
‘Please! Lilly, don’t let this happen! You’llregret it later on, I promise!’
‘Err…’ I scratched my chin. ‘Sorry, I’m notexactly sure how to break this to you gently, but…I really do wantto marry him.’
‘Not that!’ She made a dismissive gesture, asif whether or not I married Mr Rikkard Ambrose wasn’t even worththinking about. ‘Although I definitely think you could do better.No, I mean don’t let that blighter ruin your wedding day!’
‘Blighter?’ Mr Ambrose enquired, his voicefrosty. ‘Miss, I don’t know whom you think you’re talking to, butI’m not in the habit of letting people—’
‘Oh, shut up, you!’
He was so taken aback that, against all odds,he actually did. Without wasting another glance on him, Ella turnedback towards me and fixed me with that same intense, pleadinglook.
‘I don’t care whom you marry tomorrow! Wait,no, of course I care. What I mean is…as long as you’re happy withhim, I’m happy. It doesn’t matter to me if I can’t stand him, or ifhe’s a stingy block of ice with the manners of a grumpy walrus! Ijust want you to be happy with your choice. But the wedding…’ Sheshook her head. ‘A wedding is supposed to be special! It’s supposedto be the most memorable day in a woman’s life!’
‘Oh, I’m sure it’ll be memorable.’
‘I meant memorable because it’s beautiful,you nitwit, not because the chapel roof leaks and street gangs arefighting outside in the nearest alley!’
‘Oh. You should have clarified.’
‘Lilly!’ Taking me by both shoulders, Ellashook me. Holy moly, did that girl have some strength in her.‘Don’t you understand? This is your wedding. Yourwedding!’
‘Err…yes, you mentioned that a couple oftimes already.’
‘She’s right, you know.’ Eve appeared on myother side, her eyes big and sincere. ‘If you don’t make this dayspecial, you’re going to regret it for the rest of your life.’
‘You know, I really don’t think I will. Idon’t need much, you know. I—’
‘Lilly Linton! I’m one of your best friends,and if I’m going to tell you to regret something for the rest ofyour life, you had better go and regret it, understand?’
Mr Ambrose chose that moment to intervene.‘Miss Linton is an intelligent, independent young woman. If shedoes not believe she needs a fancy, expensive wedding, I don’t seewhy—’
‘You…!’ Whirling around, Ella nearly stabbedhim with a finger. ‘Don’t you ever shut up?’
‘Oh, he does,’ I told her. ‘Frequently.’
‘But not now,’ Mr Ambrose continued, coolly.‘Not when you are bent on blowing the small matter of formalizingmatrimonial relations between me and Miss Linton so wholly out ofproportion.’
‘Small matter of formalizing matrimonialrelations? God! You are impossible! I wish there were someonewho could put you in your place!’
