Page 63 of Storm of Bells
‘You had the guts to call Mr Rikkard Ambrosea stingy bugger.’ I gave her another pat on the shoulder. ‘You aredefinitely hired. Call at Empire House as soon as you can, and askfor Mr Victor Linton. Oh, and don’t let yourself be put off by thegaunt, sallow faced goblin at the front desk. Or the huge beardedfellow with a sabre and turban. Or the man who owns the place. Noneof them will eat you alive, no matter all appearances to thecontrary.’
‘Err…all right?’
‘Excellent!’ I gave her another dazzlingsmile. ‘You really are just what I’ve been looking for. I have asudden desire to double your salary.’
‘But you haven’t even told me what it’ll beyet!’
‘Which makes the whole thing far moreinteresting. Tell me how much you’d like so I know how double it,will you?’
‘Um…you wantmeto pick mysalary?’
‘Why not? Sounds like a novel approach.’
‘So you can double it before I even startworking?’
‘I knew you were a smart girl. I’m glad Ihired you.’
‘Err…um…and I think I’m glad I’m going towork for you.’
‘Hand me that pair of shoes, will you? I’dlike to see how they go with the dress.’
‘Certainly, Miss. Right away, Miss.’
Ten minutes later, I was staring at myself inthe mirror. Or was it myself? I wasn’t quite sure, because thewoman in the mirror was a vision. A vision with a somewhat generousderrière, yet still, a vision. A snow-white, floor-length gown fellin elegant curves around her, decorated with patterns of lilies andforget-me-nots that seemed so real I was tempted to pick them offthe dress and smell them. Her posture was straight and confident,her face full of happiness, and her eyes shining with hope for thefuture.
Ella stepped up to me from behind, gazing atthe mirror with awe. At me. ‘Beautiful,’ she whispered.
Patsy nodded, and tapped the gilded, lavishlydecorated frame of the mirror. ‘Yes, not bad, as mirrors go.’
Eve gave her a kick to the shin.
‘Ouch! Yes, yes, not bad. If you really haveto marry him, you might as well knock his socks off!’
I smiled at my friends in bliss. Could lifeget any better?
Just then, from the front part of the store,I heard the jingling of the bells over the entrance, followed bythe energetic voice of an older lady:
‘What do you mean, you cannot attend to mebecause you have your whole team working on a bride, MadameLegrand? I have been a customer of this store for years, and I’llhave you know that my husband holds a very important position inthe House of Lords, you know. Who is this female who ismonopolizing all of your attention? The Queen of England?’
‘Well, not quite, Lady Metcalf,but…ehem…well…’
My grin widened, as my question wasanswered.
Yes, life could get better. A lot.
‘Oh, Lady Metcalf!’ Popping my head aroundthe corner, I beamed at the old viper, who nearly keeled over whenshe saw me. ‘What a grand coincidence to see you here! Why don’tyou come back here? I’d love to hear your opinion on my weddingdress.’
Home SweetHome
‘You know, I don’tthink I gave my little sister enough credit. Weddings really are afiendishly difficult thing to plan.’
‘Indeed, Mr Linton?’
‘Yes, indeed, Sir. Take this matter ofinviting people whom you dislike, for instance. No, that’s notquite right…perhaps I should say inviting people whose guts youhate and who you wish would slowly roast in hell over a smallflame, subsequently to serve as food for a deserving little broodof hungry demon children.’
‘Indeed, Mr Linton?’
‘Yes. You see, on the one hand, youreallydon’t want to invite them, because you don’t wantthem within a hundred miles of your special day. On the other hand,you reallywantto invite them, to rub it in their faces howincredibly happy you are, and how you are marrying the mostfantabulous man in the world, while all three of their daughtersare still single.’
