Storm and Silence (FANFIC)

16. The Unavoidable Urges of Wanting to Know Things.

READ THE AUTHOR'S NOTE PLEASE! IT IS QUITE IMPORTANT. THANK YOU!!!

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The first notes of the quadrille floated out and we began. At first we didn't speak, just danced. The feminist part of my mind was enraged that I had accepted his offer to dance, but what could I do? I wanted to know what he was thinking - now. I didn't want to wait until Monday. We remained silent, breaking apart when necessary and then coming towards each other again. But then he broke the silence, something of which he usually never did.

"I see that another man is pursuing you." I narrowed my eyes.

"You're doing it again sir."

"Again? What are you talking about?"

"You are referring to me as if I am some hag who is overly unattractive to the male species." I replied, slightly miffed. The first time he'd done it, was when I had first mentioned it to him myself. He'd pestered me to know and I had to give in. When I told him, he immediately thought that someone from Lord Dalgliesh's army was following me. Of course I had been offended. And now... He was doing it again.

Mr. Ambrose's little finger twitched and he stiffened, but twirled. Like a brick. A granite brick. I knew that he was uncomfortable with this topic, so just for his sake as of now, I changed it.

"I honestly did not expect you to come here. Lord Dalgliesh isn't here, is he?"

"He is. I have not come here to meddle with him now. My job involving him is done."

"Then? Why are you here? You don't celebrate either, nor do you dance, nor would you ever seem to find yourself here, mingling with folk you tend to stray away from!"

"Why do you care so much?" He counterattacked, without answering any of my questions.

"Because," I said, gritting my teeth once more. "You are not acting as your normal self."

"Indeed? And what would that normal self be, might I ask?" He really truly wasn't hisself right now.

"Well first of all, you never ever use manners. You just said 'might I ask' which is something you naturally never would've said. Yesterday, you happened to leave early with some unfinished work left over. And you did not tell me why or where it was you were going. Second of all, you are here, dancing with one of my own sisters, and then with me, and I would've thought that no dances would suffice for you, but I guess not sir." I finished, unclenching my teeth.

"Your sister was asking for it. She played damsel in distress and complained that she had no one to dance with. I, being a gentleman, only did what was right." I couldn't help but to gasp and then hiss out.

"You! A gentleman! A hundred years might have passed and never would I ever heard you call yourself a gentleman! Why, you are far from one Mr. Ambrose!" People were glancing our way, and I lowered my voice. "Do you hear yourself, sir? You are not acting as your cold, ungentlemanly self! What has happened to you!?"

"Why do you care so much!? Why is it that you are trying to find out about my whereabouts, and what I do?" To the best of my ability, I glared up at him, staring straight into his sea green eyes.

"Maybe it is because I am supposed to care. Am I not your assistant?"

"You are, but none and I mean none of the other assistants would've done the same."

"Well they bloody hell wouldn't! Why? Because they are all male and I am not!" I paused. "Although... Maybe that's what you want." I said softly, and then broke my gaze away from his, looking elsewhere.