Dangerous Silence

Chapter 5

Dedicated to maddycolton

" Captain Carter!"

The cheerful voice of the captain greeted me as I made out his shape in the semi darkness behind the curtains. His easy smile, fun sense of humour and willing acceptance of my feminist principles made him the only male friend I ever had or could tolerate without making me wish to jab him with a sharp parasol.

His appearance also relaxed some of my panic about answering Lord Dalgliesh. He would not dare to ask me about Mr. Ambrose and Mr. Linton, in the presence of another, would he? Or perhaps I could simply dance with Captain Carter and avoid him for the evening!

The idea of a gallop with Captain Carter along with the prospect of not having to face Lord Dalgliesh considerably brightened my dark mood as I grinned at tbe captain.

"Aren't you supposed to be on a mission to Greenland along with your fellow mates?"

His smile only widened in response, "Miss Linton, aren't you too supposed to be on the dance floor now, looking for possible suitors while crushing that poor man's feet into pulp?" Both of us burst in to laughter before remembering that others in the ball may be spooked out on realising that a curtain was laughing at them.

Coming out of the curtains, I swept my eyes on the dance floor to look for the Lord, before moving towards the table on which the bits of heavenly flavour were calling out to me. Captain Carter merely chuckled when he realised where were we headed before following me. Grabbing two pieces, I handed him one while I put mine in my mouth.

Savouring the sweet delicacy, all thoughts of Lord Dalgliesh, Mr. Ambrose and trouble flew out of my mind as I closed my eyes in bliss.

"Miss Linton, can I have the honour of your company for this dance?" My eyes flew open at the sound of Lord Dalgliesh's voice, and I nearly choked on solid chocolate. He stood in front of me , a smile in his face

Bloody hell! What was wrong with this man? Couldn't he leave me alone in peace with my solid chocolate? Also, he had chosen an appropriate place to ask me; many of the guests were looking towards the lucky lady, or unlucky me, in this case, who had a chance to dance with the Lord Dalgiesh, the second richest and powerful man in the British empire, the ruler of an entire subcontinent and the owner of his private army, so I wasn't sure that I would be surviving the night if I denied him.

That is, completely ignoring the fact that dearest Aunt Brank would be so disappointed and sad if I denied yet another potential suitor. Not. I would not even raise an eyebrow if she decided to torture me to death, bring me back to life, and then strangle me if I denied him and brought disgrace upon the so called honour of the family in society.

I cast a forlorn look at Captain Carter and placed my hand, unwillingly, I might add, into the extended hand of Lord Dalgliesh. The nerve of this man!Really, his hand had been outstreched even before I had looked at him! As if he knew that I had no choice but to accept his offer for another dance. As if the first one had not been uncomfortable enough.

As he led me to the dance floor where a slow melody had been struck, my subconscious did not fail to notice the similarity of the sense of authority and confidence with which both Mr. Ambrose and Lord Dalgliesh presented themselves. Even though it was eerily same, a part of me agreed that it really suited Mr. Ambrose, while it seemed out of place with the so called friendly Dalgliesh.

Even his hands on my waist were too close for comfort as he held my hand in his other one. I felt almost repulsed by the touch, my hands used to another gentle, yet firm ones holding me, caressing me..

Hello? Concentrate on the enemy, Lilly. Now is not the time to daydream about Mr. Ambrose. You have many nights for your fantasies.

Excuse me! I do NOT fantasize about my thickskulled employer of mine! No, not at all!