Page 19 of Storm over the Caribbean
“Yes?” The word was a growl, squeezed out between clenched teeth.
I sent a sweet, innocent look up at him, batting my eyelashes. “It worked, right? I managed to surprise you?”
Another pause.
“I will get you for this. I will get you for this and punish youseverely.”
I gave his arm a hug. “I look forward to it.”
Then I strode to the stage and stepped behind the lectern that had been erected in the very centre. Ringing a small bell resting on the wood before me, I caught everyone’s attention.
“Attention, please, everybody.” With a welcoming smile on my face, I skimmed the assembled people with my gaze, ignoring the figure of Rikkard Ambrose desperately trying to shove his way through the crowd towards me. “Thank you for coming. I would like to welcome you all to the first event organized by theRikkard Ambrose Foundation for Women’s Suffrage and Equal Rights. We have all gathered here for one common cause, one just goal that is very close to my husband’s heart, and that unites us in our fight for a better world of justice and equality. Now, I’m sure you’re all expecting me to give a long-winded speech, but I am a woman of few words, and not particularly good at speeches. So…”
Stepping back from the podium, I beamed. By now, Mr Ambrose had nearly reached the stage.
“…I’ll leave that task to someone much more qualified. Please, Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, give me your applause to welcome Rikkard Ambrose!”
Mr Ambrose stopped in his tracks. He blinked.
Oh, and did I mention I happened to be pointing at him?
Everyone’s eyes focused on him.
“Ambrose!” a young woman called out. A young woman who just happened to have a close resemblance to Patsy.
“Ambrose!” a few other ladies shouted.
“Am-brose! Am-brose! Am-brose!” The chorus of cheers became louder and louder. My smile widened. It was so nice to see my husband was appreciated!
Mr Ambrose’s icy eyes found me. His lips parted ever so slightly, mouthing,“You will pay for this.”
In answer, I cocked an eyebrow, and mouthed back:“You mean with the salary that I get from you?”
A muscle in his cheek twitched.
“Am-brose! Am-brose! Am-brose!” The crowd continued their enthusiastic cheering. The fact that said crowd was led by Patsy, who was smiling with unholy glee, as well as Eve and Flora, who could hardly keep themselves from laughing, was surely purely coincidental.
“Cheer a little louder, ladies!” Patsy called out. “Seems like our benefactor is a little shy.”
“Am-brose! Am-brose!”
That muscle in Mr Ambrose’s cheek twitched again. Pretending not to notice in the least, I stepped away from the podium, gesturing for him to take my place. Slowly, very slowly, he started moving forward once again. Finally, he reached the lectern. The crowd’s cheers grew even louder.
That is, until he looked at them.
With one icy glance, he silenced them. An icy glance that even I could feel, never mind that I was standing directly behind him.
Oops.
Um…maybe I overdid it just a little bit?
Nah. After all, he surely knew I was only doing this because I loved him, right?
Well, that, and I really wanted to hear his speech in support of women’s equality. Some things were just too good to miss.
Patsy apparently agreed. Sidling up to me, she held out a snack platter. “Solid chocolate?”
“Don’t mind if I do.”
