Stormy Hearts

Chapter 1

"Hello, Miss Linton. It's good to see you again" I heard a familiar male voice from behind me. Well, it's not like I often heard that voice. But Still, It didn't take me more than a few seconds to figure out to whom that voice belonged to.

What the bloody hell he was doing here? Shouldn't he have been in India right now, running his kingdom there. After all, he was the main share holder of the East India company. And as much as I knew, East India company had a very strong influence all over the India. It ruled the whole country and that made Lord Dalgliesh no less than the king of India.

Honestly, I was in no mood of answering him the same questions today. Shortly before leaving for South America, I clearly remembered the last time I had the pleasure of meeting Lord Dalgliesh at Lady Metcalf's ball and how he had irritated the hell out of me with his charms, asking me the same question over and over again.

I was already dead tired after working like a dog in the office all day and didn't want anything more than to spend my evening sleeping in a dark quiet corner of mine and Ella's shared bedroom. But my aunt, my dear aunt had made the fact clear to me that if I didn't grace the ball and especially all the gentleman present with my honorable presence willingly, she wouldn't mind dragging me all the way to the ball by my hair.

The train of my thoughts came to a halt when I heard the same voice clearing its throat. I pretended not to hear him and was about to run. When he gripped my arm and turned me towards him. I met his steel blue eyes and saw there wasn't anything unusual in them. They looked dangerous.

"I don't appreciate to be ignored, Miss Linton. So next time, think twice before doing something like that" He hissed dangerously, on my ear. But the usual artificial broad smile was still present on his face.

His voice sent a chill down my back. And my knees wobbled.

'Lilly! You don't have to be afraid of him. You're a strong, independent woman. A feminist! And he touched you. And that too without your consent! How dare he touch you without your consent!

Yeah! My conscience was right. How dare he touch me without my consent! No man never touched me without consent and never will.

But Mr. Ambrose also touched you. Neither did he ever ask for your consent, and you didn't seem to mind to it.

Mentally cursing my inner feminist, I replied to him "Would you be so kind as to tell me, what will be the consequences, if I don't? My lord."

"Trust me, Miss Linton. You don't want to know them."

"I'm quite sure I am, your lordship."

"You will be very sorry, if you don't listen to me. Now, Miss Linton. Let's come to the point, what's your relation with Mr. Ambrose?" he asked for the hundredth time. But for the first time he asked it straight.

Great! I could see he really made some progress. He was being straightforward for the first time with no pretense of politeness. His voice also seemed quite annoyed. Perhaps, It was because he was irritated asking me the same question over and over again and not getting the reply his heart wished for."

But the real question was, did I really want this man to be annoyed at me. I was well aware of his power. Even Mr. Ambrose had ordered me to stay away from him and be careful.

No! Lilly. You can't be scared. There is no place for fear in your heart.

"For the hundredth time, My lord. I don't share any kind of relation with Mr. Ambrose. We are just mere acquaintances." I snapped.

He opened his mouth to say something when from behind Lord Dalgliesh another familiar voice interrupted our friendly conversation.

"Hello, your lordship. How are you doing?" my aunt greeted the lord happily, in a sickly sweet voice. Happiness was evident in her face as she looked at me and him.