Page 190 of Storm of Bells
Oh, get your act together, Lilly! You’re anindependent woman! That means you can open your mouth even if itisn’t convenient.
I cleared my throat. ‘Captain?’
‘Yes, Miss Linton?’
‘Are you really all right? I mean,really?’
Half-turning his head, he looked down at me.‘Actually…yes.’
My eyebrows shot up. ‘You…you don’t mind mygetting married to someone else?’
‘No.’
‘Well.’ I blinked. ‘I see you’ve practisedbeing tactful yourself, haven’t you?’
The captain grinned. ‘Every Monday in frontof the mirror.’
‘Not that I’m displeased or anything…but Ihave to admit I’m curious. Why the sudden change of heart?’ Isquinted slightly. ‘Have I suddenly grown a wart on my nose?’
‘It’s on your left ear.’
My eyes narrowed. ‘Be serious!’
He sighed. ‘You do make tough demands, don’tyou?’ Gazing off into the distance, he was quiet for a few moments.Then… ‘I don’t know. I guess the campaign just gave me…perspective.I suppose I’m not the marrying type.’
I half-turned to stare up at him. ‘Why?’ Idemanded. I had no intentions whatsoever in regard to him, myself,but the idea of him spending the rest of his life alone was justtoo sad. ‘Of course you’ll find love someday! Why would you saythat?’
Behind me, Adaira leaned forward toeavesdrop.
‘Because I don’t think the kind of woman I’dwant to marry really exists in this world.’ He gave another sigh.‘You came as close as I could imagine, Miss Linton, with your charmand free spirit. But the kind of woman I would really want…’
He trailed off.
‘Yes?’ I encouraged.
‘You’ll think I’m crazy,’ he muttered.
‘Don’t worry. I’ve thought that for years. Goon.’
It wasn’t obvious under the captain’s tan,but a slight blush started to rise into his cheeks. ‘I’m anadventurer at heart, Miss Linton. Whether as a military officer orexplorer or just an ordinary traveller—I’ll always have the urge tosee the world, and if I marry, I don’t want my wife to sit at home,thousands of miles away. I want a woman who’d be willing to travelthe world with me, and brave all kinds of adventures at my side.But can there be such a woman?’
I did my very best to keep my face straight.From behind me, from Adaira’s direction, came a strange noise, likea chicken being strangled in the middle of a fit of laughter. ‘Ihave no idea,’ I told him, deadpan.
‘I know I’m being unrealistic.’ He shook hishead. ‘I mean…A woman who wants to venture not just out of herhouse, but out of her country…who wants to think and actindependently, and isn’t afraid of strange lands and foreignpeople…where could I possibly find someone like that?’
Another choking sound came from behind us.Concerned, Captain Carter turned back. ‘Is everything all right,Lady…?’
‘Adaira.’ Swallowing the last remnants of herlaugh, she stepped forward, elbowed me out of the way and grabbedthe captain’s vacant arm. ‘Adaira Louise Jannet Melanie GeorgetteAmbrose. I must say I’m fascinated by your idea of an ideal woman.Do tell me more.’
I was left standing in the dust of the road,gazing after them with my mouth hanging slightly open. Thank Godthat Mr Rikkard Ambrose was still striding icily ahead, blissfullyunaware of the little scene that was going on behind his back.
Karim, however, was not quite as unaware. Hiseyes were boring into the captain’s back with a stare that couldhave felled a tree at fifty paces.
‘Err…’ Falling back towards the slowlyrolling coach, I glanced up at him and cleared my throat. ‘I thinkit might be time to get back into the coach again, don’t youthink?’
‘I couldn’t agree more,Sahiba,’ thebodyguard growled.
Quickly, I rushed forward until I reached MrAmbrose and linked my arm with his. ‘I’ve had enough of walking forone day. How about we get back into the coach?’
