In Harm's Reach

part II

I stood motionless, for the second time today, you'd almost take me for an out of place statue, with how pale I was, and how still I was standing, this was truly the first time I had ever felt like I had something in common with Mr. Ambrose, as we both exhibited a stone like aura. His of course, was intentional, mine, on the other hand, was not.

No words came from either side, not like Mr. Ambrose would have said anything anyway, but this was one of those silences, a pregnant kind, who if we had luck, would give birth to a child of escape.

'Mr. Ambrose? And perhaps an acquaintance? What do I owe the pleasure of this meeting?'

I held my head as low as I could without dislocating my spine, in hopes of Dalgleish not finding who this acquaintance was.
'The letter.'

'I believe I don't know of the letter you speak of. Would you care to elaborate?'

'No.'

'If you do not elaborate, then I believe you have no business here, and are infiltrating my company for no apparent reason.'

Mr. Ambrose's little finger twitched, perhaps he was debating if he should reveal what the contents of the letter were.

Perhaps not, as a good minute of the same silent treatment I received during our intrepid infiltration was left hanging, until Dalgleish not so subtly broke it.

'Well, if you will not elaborate why you are here so early and unprecedented, perhaps a more personal place will help you ease up. Guards! Please escort this young man out of the room!'

A rush of cold and hot panic rushed through me like the rapid waters of the thames. There were only two men here, and a feminist pretending to be one, and not so well either. And I was beting my peacock vest that Dalgleish was talking about me.

And I was right, unfortunately. As soon as the words escaped Dalgleish's thin pink lips, two sweaty scruff men with red and blue uniforms rushed in the room, and discerned that of the three men (one not so manly looking) that stood before them, the least intimidating one, and girliest, was their best bet. And with that they hauled me away, but not without a fight! I'd be damned if I was gonna be done in without a few punches in, I think I even gave one of them a black eye! The scratches and the bruises wonderfully highlighted the blue-ish black hue around his eye, giving his face a wonderfully red and swollen glow, quite a suiting look for him, if you asked me.

To their luck, we had arrived at a room where they not so gently placed me in, being ever so mindful that I get the feeling of hard marble flooring engraved on my generous backside. What gentlemen.

The place was quite fetching, it had wonderfully low spider infested ceilings, with rather copious amounts of ooze sliding from the delightfully dingy walls, and the floors were simply stunning, with cracks and unidentifiable stains that brought out the particular tan-once-white colouring. A homey place, where surely any family would love to spend their time in.

If I'd known I was getting thrown in a five star hotel, I might have protested even more when Mr. Ambrose told me to show up for work at three in the morning without any other explanation than the standard "because I said so".

After admiring my lovely suite some more, I decided it was time to start to look for a way out before my lovely escorts returned to complement me on their makeovers. I surveyed the room, but like all of the other exceptional rooms ive been placed in, it didn't have windows. How nostalgic.

I trotted over to the door to see if they had locked it, and to my utter surprise, they hadn't! Perhaps they thought that Lord Dalgleish's acquaintances respected him too much to ever neglect his wishes. Too bad I wasn't an acquaintance.

I hurried down the corrider, remembering the turns where through which I was escorted through, until I eventually reached my destination. And to my luck, Dalgleish was still there, and so was Mr. Ambrose. It was as if the only displaced figure was myself, but not to worry, I would soon be placed where I belonged. Next to the icey Sculpture that was my employer and sometimes, on rare occasions, even more.

Inhaling a deep breath, I entered, making sure to make as little noise as possible, but with the magnificent hearing of the two richest people in England, I was discovered at only three steps in.

Both Lord Dalgleish and Mr. Ambrose looked at me, Dalgleish in mild surprise, and Mr. Ambrose in barely recognizable annoyance.

'Lilly Linton... I should have guessed.'

I was taken quite aback, had he known all along? Or had he recognized me, even in men's clothing?

And as if he could hear my thoughts, he spoke.

'You've seemed to have misplaced your hat.'