Page 44 of Storm of Bells
As if summoned by magic, a knock came fromthe door. A moment later, the door swung open, and Leadfield, ourarthritic butler, limped into the room.
‘Miss Lillian? There are two ladies at thefront door who say that you—’
‘Yoo-hoo!’ The face of a broadly grinningyoung woman appeared over the butler’s shoulders. She had jet-blackhair, forceful features, and a pair of very familiar sea-colouredeyes. ‘What is all this shouting about? Is my brother making anarse of himself again?’
Family Time
‘Adaira!’ Slippingbetween Ella and Eve, I raced towards the newcomer, pulled her pastLeadfield into the room, and threw my arms around her. ‘Come here,you! I’ve missed you so much!’
‘I’ve missed you, too! And I’ve worried sick,you know.’ Putting on a faux concerned expression, she put a handonto my forehead. ‘I’ve heard the most worrying rumours about yourmental condition. People are saying that you’ve lost your mind andagreed to marry my brother!’
‘Very funny,’ Mr Ambrose said from somewherebehind me, ice dripping from his voice. ‘Very funny indeed.’
Adaira beamed at him. ‘You’ve acquired asense of humour? Well, well, wonders never cease. So, Lilly, tellme, what fit of madness made you want to shackle yourself to thatgrumpy block of granite?’
‘Who, may I ask,’ Ella enquired, steppingforward with a big smile on her face, ‘is that lady with theimpeccable taste in men?’
Adaira jerked her head towards Mr Ambrose,the way you’d gesture towards a stubborn cart horse. ‘I’m hissister.’
‘Oh.’ Ella patted her shoulder. ‘Don’t worry.I won’t hold it against you.’
‘That’s so nice of you. I don’t often meetpeople who are so generous when it comes to my faults.’
‘Are you two quite finished?’ Steppingforward, Mr Ambrose regarded the two of them with an icy gaze whichthey completely and cheerfully ignored. ‘Perhaps we could return tothe subject at hand?’
‘Which is?’ Adaira raised an eyebrow. ‘Iheard you all arguing, but I have no idea what it was about.’
Ella sniffed. ‘I showed your dear brother theplans for the wedding he’s supposed to pay for, and he—’
Adaira held up a hand. ‘Say no more.’ Hereyes, at other times so warm and sweet, hardened as they focused onMr Ambrose. ‘Rick?’
‘Yes?’
‘Perhaps we should have a little talk. Justthe two of us.’
‘I don’t think that will be necessary.I—’
‘Oh, but I do.’ Cracking her knuckles, Adairagrasped him by the tails of his coat.
‘Hey! That coat is only ten years old andstill in mint condition!’
‘Then you had better come along before ittears now, hadn’t you?’ She told him sweetly as she towed himtowards the nearest door. ‘Move your butt, brother!’
‘You are utterly overreacting. I was onlypursuing a sensible, spendthrift policy of budget-reduction inregard to—’
The door closed behind them with athud.
Eve and Ella exchanged a look. ‘Whatnow?’
Grinning, I settled in the chair closest tothe door. ‘Now we have fun listening at the keyhole.’
‘Lill! That would be against all rules ofpropriety, and—’
A crash came from behind the door, followedby a lady’s impressively raised voice, half audible even throughthe thick wood.
‘Then again, maybe we won’t need the keyholeafter all,’ I added cheerfully.
Eve and Ella exchanged another look—thenhurriedly scampered over to join me beside the door. We were justabout to begin Mission Eavesdrop, when the front door swung openonce again, revealing the slender figure of an older lady in a paleblue dress that perfectly matched her kind eyes.
