Storm and Silence (FANFIC)

29. My Devious Plan.

So Mr. Ambrose knew my secret. Guess I was gonna have to continue my amnesia once I got home. As I thought more about it, I felt that the idea was slightly stupid. Who would fall for it? Mr. Ambrose already proved that he knew this little secret of mine. It'd be some time before Lord Dalgliesh, my aunt and sisters will know of this game of forgetfulness.

Maybe Lord Dalgliesh would be the first to recognise the truth and know that I was lying.

I hoped not.

We remained on the ship for the rest of time as it went by. I didn't know how long we were out at sea, only knew was that it was for days. I acted as I normally did, on the ship, but knew as soon as I stepped in London, I would have to forget, or pretend to forget, everyone and everything. At least then I could get out of both the marriage and of being locked up in my room for who knew how long.

Speaking of the dastardly marriage... Where was my ring? Had I even brought it with me? I began searching for it and about half an hour later, I didn't find it. Some part of me told me that I'd either lost it, or left it with the native tribe back in Africa. Well, as long as I didn't have that blasted thing anymore, I'd be fine. Wish I'd just chucked it out into the sea though, but I had a feeling the sea wouldn't want metal to eat. It's unhealthy anyways.

I didn't do much on the ship other than eat and sleep. And pester Mr. Ambrose a bit. Also Karim. I just really wanted to go home already. Maybe I can sleep my way through it! I mean, I have nothing better to do anyways... But first I need to ask how much longer we have until we get to London. Sighing, I made my usual trek to Mr. Ambrose's office. As I was about to knock, I heard voices come from behind it.

"..Dunno why she hasn't stopped. She's been keeping it up for days now sahib." It was Karim. I pressed my ear against the door. They weren't talking about me, were they?

"Not days." Mr Ambrose's cold voice cut through the door. "Weeks. Months. Years really. Almost... Almost since I left eleven years ago." What!? Where did he leave? Who did he leave?

"Ah, yes, but remind me sahib, how she found out where you worked?"

"Someone who knows me must have tipped her off."

"Do you think it could be.. him?"

"No Karim. He knows nothing of my..." Mr. Ambrose stopped talking.

"What is it sahib? You look as if you have realised something worth mentioning."

"Simmons! Him again!" I looked at the door in disbelief. What did he have to do with anything? He was dead!

Karim appeared to have the same thoughts as I did, but he, unlike me, voiced them. "But sahib, I do not understand... Simmons is dead. He was killed, was he not?"

"Yes, Karim he was. But do you remember what he said? He said that... No." I then heard a scraping of a chair and panicked briefly when I heard footsteps... But they weren't coming near me. "Samantha's been sending those letters for a long time, before Simmons left. Simmons may have given Dalgliesh's men the letters, and they in turn may have given those letters to Dalgliesh, but she has been sending them long before so. And Samantha would never go near Dalgliesh. She knows him and what he's after and most of what he's up to. I know her."

"But then how...?"

"Either someone tipped her off, or I told her at one point in my life that I never bothered to remember."

"Or perhaps when the Empire House was being built, it went onto the news. There's the possibility that-"

"One of the newspapers from London reached her! But how? And which newspaper? I must know..." I heard more footsteps. And then they stopped. I waited in bated breath and then heard the footsteps resume... But this time they were coming for me. Quickly, I scooted away from the door and stopped at the window, pretending to look out. When Mr. Ambrose opened the door, I turned around.