Page 183 of Storm of Bells
‘You were hurt.’ The words whispered in myear were half threat, half promise of vengeance.
‘I was punching a portrait.’ I winked up athim. ‘Guess of whom.’
Holding me away for just a moment, he gazeddown at me, sea-coloured eyes swirling with unreadable emotions.Then he roughly pulled me against him, pressing his face into myhair.
‘Next time you volunteer for infiltration,’he growled, ‘I shall lock you in a room and throw the keyaway!’
‘Hm. Could be interesting. Will you be in theroom with me?’
The stable boy cleared his throat. ‘This isyour fiancé, I assume?’
Mr Ambrose’s answer was a cool glare thatsent the poor boy into a rapid retreat.
‘Who,’ he enquired, his voice as icy as thearctic tundra, ‘is this?’
‘This kind young man,’ I informed my dearfiancé, ‘is in the service of Lord Daniel Eugene Dalgliesh.’
‘You don’t say?’ One of Mr Ambrose’s arms,hidden behind me, slipped down from around me and reached for thesword hidden in his walking stick.
‘When I informed him about my twisted ankle,’I hurriedly continued, ‘he was kind enough to lend me one of hismaster’s horses and escort me here to you.’
‘How very kind of him.’ Mr Ambrose examinedthe poor stable lad from top to bottom. ‘I’m sure Lord Dalglieshwill have a very…special reward for him.’
The young man’s eyes lit up. ‘You reallythink so?’
‘Oh yes.’ Mr Ambrose nodded. ‘Lord Dalglieshhas a special room in which he gives out “rewards” to people likeyou. Usually they’re so captivated that they won’t leave for avery, very long time.’
‘Amazing!’ A big smile spread over the youngman’s face. ‘I never knew His Lordship is so generous!’
‘You can’t even imagine.’
I kicked Mr Ambrose’s shin, glaring up athim. ‘But I’m sure Mr Ambrose would give you aneven biggerreward, correct?’
‘Give areward?’ My dear fiancé lookedas if he had just been forced to swallow an electric eel steeped invomit sauce. ‘I?’
‘Yes.’ I kicked him again, harder. ‘In fact,I do believe you still need an assistant stable master back at yourmanor. Wouldn’t this young man be perfect for the job?’
‘A-assistant stable master?’ The lad’s eyeswent wide. ‘That’s too generous!’
‘Yes,’ Mr Ambrose instantly agreed. ‘Itis.’
That, in my opinion, deserved another kick.He didn’t seemed to agree, as the foot smashing down on my toes amoment later clearly expressed. Wasn’t it just sweet how the two ofus could communicate without even saying a word? We truly weremeant for each other.
Reaching up, I gently touched Mr Ambrose’scheek. ‘Please?’
‘Miss Linton, I can’t just…’
‘Please?’
‘I…’ He cleared his throat. ‘On the otherhand…I really do need a new assistant stable master.’
‘Really, Sir?’ The young man came a fewcautious steps closer.
‘Yes.’ Mr Ambrose’s left little fingertwitched, and he directed an imperious gaze at the youth. ‘Ofcourse, because of your youth, you’ll only be getting half the pay.You will still be making slightly more than in your currentposition.’
‘Yes, Sir! Thank you, Sir!’
‘Come!’
