Page 58 of Storm of Bells
A muscle in his jaw twitched. ‘You think youcan blackmail me?’
‘Well, it worked so well last time, so Ithought, why not?’
‘You…you infuriating, impossible…!’
‘You forgot unique, charming andloveable.’
He was on me again in an instant, not lettingme get out another word. When his lips finally released me, Ilooked up into his eyes and saw an icy determination there.
‘You will never set foot into that deathtrapagain. Do you hear?’
‘No can do. I will have to get up heresomehow.’ I blinked up at him innocently. ‘Since some ingenious manwhose name I won’t mention had the stairs blocked off.’
His jaws worked silently as he stared into myeyes. Finally, he gave a jerk of the head.
‘The speed of the paternoster will behalved.’
‘Thank you very much.’
‘But don’t you dare use that as an excuse forlaziness!’
‘I wouldn’t dream of it, Sir.’
‘Adequate.’
I pressed a featherlight kiss on the tip ofhis nose. ‘Well done. That wasn’t so difficult, now, was it?’
His eyes narrowed infinitesimally. ‘Are youpatronizing me, Mr Linton?’
‘Of course not.’ Reaching up, I patted hischeek. ‘I’m a woman. I’m matronizing you. It’s much more fun,believe me.’
His hands tightened around my lapels, holdingme in an inescapable grip—then suddenly relaxed. Nodding, hestepped back. Cool eyes surveyed me from beneath perfect, darkbrows.
‘This round goes to you, Mr Linton.’
I raised an eyebrow. ‘Only this round? So youhaven’t given up yet?’
Lightning flashed in the depths of his eyes.‘I never give up, Mr Linton. There still is time before thewedding. Today’s victory may belong to you, but tomorrow’s will bemine.’
‘I’m pretty sure it won’t be.’
‘Oh?’ He took a step towards me again,something deliciously threatening in his posture. ‘So sure you canbeat me at this game, are you?’
‘No, not that.’ Fishing my business calendarout of my pocket, I let it pop open. ‘It’s just that tomorrow, if Iremember correctly….ah, yes. Tomorrow, I’ll be unavoidablydetained.’
‘Detained? You’re my employee! I say when andwhere you go!’
‘Indeed?’ I smiled. ‘Well, you’re welcome toexplain to your mother and sister. Of course, you can just comedress shopping with us. I’m certain your mother would love theopportunity to choose something fitting for you to wear, especiallya new tailcoat, since this old thing you’re wearing certainly isn’tsuitable for a wedding, and…Mr Ambrose? Mr Ambrose, where are yougoing, Sir? No need to run!’
ShoppingShenanigans
‘Are you certain youwish me to accompany you? I’m not quite sure…I mean…perhaps Ishouldn’t leave your uncle alone for so long…’
‘Oh, fiddlesticks. He’d never notice you weregone unless you took his accounting book with you.’
‘Ehem. That’s as may be, but, but still…’
‘Oh, please, Aunt.’ Giving her my best doeeyes, I blinked up at her. ‘You are the closest thing I have to amother.’Because all the other candidates from my family arerotting six feet under. ‘I wouldn’t dream of doing this withoutyou. Besides, didn’t you always say you wanted me to make a goodmarriage? Didn’t you always say I needed to find a wealthy,well-bred man to take care of me? Well, now I have. Sounds to melike all your deepest wishes are coming true.’
