Silence Is Golden (Storm and Silence 3)

‘No! Definitely not.’

‘Would you like another dance?’

‘Yes! Definitely yes!’

‘All right. Hold on. I think this one is going to be a bit livelier.’

He was right. The notes of a polka started whirling through the air. We danced this dance, too, and another after that, and it was still not enough. I knew that soon enough, the worries of the world would come crashing down on me again, but just for the moment I wanted to shove them in a corner, hang a blanket over them and pretend they didn’t exist. For one waltz and one blissfully mad polka, I forgot all about Lord Dalgliesh and my…

Ew! There really was no other way to say it: my engagement.

Two blessed dances. But the bliss didn’t last long after we stepped off the dance floor.

‘Captain Carter!’ My sister Maria advanced on us, giving me a bright, cheerful I’ll-gut-you-like-a-fish smile. She was leading someone forward. A small, roundish someone. ‘How wonderful to see you here. Have you met Lillian’s fiancé? Mr Morton Marmeduke Fitzgerald.’

The captain’s eyebrows shot up like Chinese fireworks. He stared at Morty - who thankfully didn’t notice because he was busy bowing and mumbling greetings - and then glanced over at me.

‘Fiancé?’ he whispered.

‘Temporary!’ I whispered back.

‘Since when is there such a thing as a temporary fiancé?’

‘Since I invented it! Now shut up!’

‘Yes, Miss Linton.’

‘And don’t smirk like that! This isn’t funny!’

‘Of course not, Miss Linton.’

And, of course, he didn’t stop smirking.

But what he didn’t know was: this really wasn’t funny. Because it was about much more than my getting an unwanted fiancé. Over Morty’s head, I caught another glimpse of Lord Dalgliesh, his golden hair shining in the chandelier’s light. He wasn’t alone, now. Reinforcements had arrived: several officers in uniforms of the presidency armies surrounded him. Huzzah! Lord Dalgliesh’s personal pack of bloodhounds had arrived.

I had to get out of there. And I had to do it fast.

‘Lilly!’ Maria sent me another bone-chilling smile. ‘Why don’t you tell Captain Carter exactly how you and Mr Fitzgerald met? I think he’d just love to hear such a romantic story.’

‘I’d love to, I really would, but, um…I’ve just remembered I have to go to the powder room. Please excuse me.’

And before my sister could grab me and think of any more tortures for me, I ducked behind a portly Dame of the Empire and vanished into the crowd. I hadn’t been lying. I really had to get to the powder room. Just not to powder anything, or to pee. Pushing people aside right and left, leaving a trail of ‘Ouff!’s and ‘Pardon me!’s behind me, I made my way to the discreetly marked door. Grabbing a nearby waiter by the arm, I pulled him behind a vase filled with flowers.

‘Miss?’ He looked taken aback. ‘Um… how may I help you?’

‘Well…I’m not sure…’ I cleared my throat. ‘It’s a bit delicate.’

He smiled. ‘Don’t worry, Miss. I’m sure there’s something I can do.’

‘Oh, would you?’ I gazed up at him with wide, adoring eyes, doing my best imitation of my little sister Ella. ‘The thing is…oh, I hardly know how to say it!’

‘You can trust me, Miss.’

‘I can see that.’ Shyly, I touched his arm. ‘You seem like such a kind man. You see…a friend of mine - a younger cousin - spilled wine on his tailcoat and trousers. And, you know, he is here to make a good impression on old Lady Abercrombie, and she can be, rather…particular.’

The servant shuddered. ‘No need to say more, Miss.’

‘I just need someone to slip out and get him a fresh tailcoat and trousers,’ I pleaded, making my eyes even bigger. ‘Please? They don’t have to be new, just presentable. I’ll pay, of course. Here you are, two shillings. You may keep the rest.’