Dangerous Silence

Chapter 7

Dedicated to AnnSumesh

I stared at him, unable to say anything. Have you ever gone through a situation when someone whom you consider as only a very good friend proposes to you and you have some feelings for another chavinist, cold miser, with whom your relationship goes definitely beyond that of a employer and employee, but has more chances of expressing his feelings for you than Patsy falling in love and now you have to reply to your friend who is currently wearing out his kneecap waiting for you to answer, hopefully in a yes?

Holy whiskers of hell! Blast and double blast and a whole crate of bombs! I was in deep, deep trouble tonight, and not the easy one consisting of gunfights and knife swinging thugs attacking sweet little yours truly and Lord Dalgliesh trying to find out your secrets! No! I would readily accept that trouble if it meant that I could get out of here this instant, or probably learn the art of disapparition!

I was in the 'I-absolutely-have-no-idea-how-respond-to-Captain-Carter-and-if-I-hurt-him-I-will-lose-my-only-male-friend-who-is-not-any-other-suitor-which-can-be-chased-away-and-probably-regret-my-decision-all-my-life-what-the-hell!' kind of trouble, and I am telling you, it is definitely not the most enjoyable one!

I took another glance at his face and immediately regretted my action. He was looking at me very...lovingly...and...hopefully...and....some other emtions swirling in his eyes, which I chose not to decipher, and painfully swallowed the lump in my throat.

"I...um..." I whacked my head for something to say, but came up with nothing, after all it had been wired to usually answer such codswallop with a firm and resounding 'hell no!', but it definitely would not do in this tricky situation.

Bloody hell! When had things between us escalated so quickly, without me noticing it! It was not fair, sneaking upon a respectable lady and confusing the stuffing out of her, without a prior notice was absolutely dastardely cowardly!

Noticing my hesitation, he masked the tiny hurt in his eyes with his usual cheeky grin, getting up to his feet again, " I don't want to force you into any decision, if you do not want it. I want to know your honest opinion, which is why I am asking you in private; anywhere else you would not really have a choice, you know, with your beloved aunt glaring at you and all." He gave a small chuckle, and my lips pulled in an smile against my will, but it quickly disappeared when I remembered what were we talking about.

I stared at him some more and sorted through my scrambled thoughts. Damn! All this thought was giving me a headache! For the second time tonight!

"I...uh...I need to...um...think about it."

Wow. What a well thought response was that. Just great. Couldn't have done better.

Shut up. I did not ask for your opinion. Currently I am waiting for his, you know.

Oh, I know. But what if he takes it as a no? If he no longer wants to be your friend too? What are you going to tell him then?

Another pang of guilt and dread shot through me, as I looked at him.

I don't know. Really. But I hope he won't.

So you'll tell him no, then?

Ye-no. Sigh. I don't know, okay?

"Let's go, Ms. Linton. Its getting late, and your family will be worried." Damn. His voice had so much hurt in it, that I almost told him yes, just to get the old, cheerful and jolly Captain back. Almost.

If this happened even once more, I was sure I would give in. Blame friends for having control over my decisions. Majorly. I bit my lip. "Captain?"

He stopped in his tracks, and spoke without turning behind."Yes, Ms. Linton?"