Page 110 of Storm of Bells
‘Quite correct.’ Oh, how cold his voice was.How ruthless. How determined. He was coming for me. I could justfeelit. Shivers started racing up and down my whole body.‘I swore you would no longer have to obey any of mycommands—afterwe are married.’ Suddenly, a hand closedaround my ankle. ‘We aren’t marriedyet.’
I tugged at my ankle, trying to tear free—butI might as well have tried to break free from iron shackles!Reaching out, I tried to grab him instead, to get some leverage,and my hand found something far more interesting than an ankle. Abig grin spread across my face.
‘Miss Linton!’
‘Yes, Sir, Mr Ambrose, Sir?’
‘Remove. Your. Hand.’
‘Do you really want me to, Mr Ambrose,Sir?’
Growling, he started towards me—and Isqueezed.
‘Nnnng!’
Suddenly, for some reason, he let go of myankle. Apparently he abruptly needed his hands for something else.Sliding back, I let go and slipped off the bed. With swift fingers,I started buttoning up my dress.
‘Miss Linton?’
In answer, I followed the example of the manI loved most in this world. I stayed silent.
‘Miss Linton, where are you going?’
Tiptoeing away from the bed, I reached out myhand and felt around. Wall panelling, wall panelling, painting…yes!There it was!
My fingers grasped and turned the doorknob. Amoment later, a shaft of candlelight from the hallway fell into theroom, illuminating a truly magnificent sight. I paused in thedoorway for just a moment to appreciate it—long enough for MrAmbrose to notice the sudden light and whirl around.
My, my…
The view was getting better and better.
‘Miss Linton! What in Mammon’s name are youdoing?’
‘I believe it’s called “opening a door”, Sir.I’ll fully explain to you how it works sometime if you’d like meto.’
He leapt up from the bed, which caused someinteresting motion in his nether regions. My eyes went up and downand up and down…
‘Miss Linton!’
‘Pardon me. It’s rather noticeable.’
His eyes blazing, he took a step forward.‘Why are you leaving?’
‘Oh. Didn’t I explain that?’
‘You. Did. Not.’
He took another step closer. Dangerouslyclose.
‘Oh. Well…’ I smiled at him. The biggest,brightest, most innocent smile I had ever smiled. ‘It’s because wearen’t married yet.’
His eyes narrowed infinitesimally. ‘Are youtrying to tell me that you, the woman who wanted to seduce me andtried to convince me to live in sin with her forever, have suddenlydeveloped moral scruples?’
I flashed him a grin.
‘Of course not, silly! It’ll just be fun towatch you squirm. Plus, it’ll be really useful to have something tomanipulate you with.’
Something glittered in his eyes. Somethingthat was not ice, nor was it lust. No, it was far better: a tinyhint of admiration. ‘You would make an excellent negotiator, MissLinton.’
