Looking For Trouble by M T McGuire

Author:M T McGuire
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: science fiction fantasy adventure, comedy science fiction, science fiction, comedy fantasy, K'Barthan Trilogy, car chase
Publisher: Hamgee University Press
Published: 2014-07-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 52

After General Moteurs had come to see her, Ruth had hoped he might find some way of protecting her from any further visits from her fiancé. However, as she sat at the table on the balcony and looked miserably out over the city, she heard the rattling of keys in the door. No polite knock, so she knew it wasn’t the General.

She could not be on the balcony with Lord Vernon. Not after the panic-stricken moment back in London, a few nights previously, when she’d watched him throw The Pan off Nigel’s. She went back inside, pulling the glass doors closed behind her. Lord Vernon strolled casually down the stairs into her room, putting his sunglasses into the pouch on his belt as he went. She stayed where she was, waiting.

“Good evening, my darling.”

Yeh, until he turned up, it almost was, she thought.

“I have come to ...” he waved one hand while he tried to locate the right phrase, “spend a little time with my betrothed.”

“Well that’s very nice,” she said, and yes, it seemed he was still completely impervious to irony. She turned away from him, thinking to head for the table and chairs, but he slid one arm around her waist and pulled her round to face him. She glared contemptuously up at him. “Let go of me.”

He ignored her, pushing her backwards against the wall by the window and holding her there.

“Today you were magnificent,” he said. He seemed to actually mean it.

“I did what I had to do. I gave you my word, so I kept it.”

“Very honourable.” He took her hand and looked down at the ring she wore, his ring, and kissed it. “For a human, and, I will concede, brave – especially after the way my demonstration reduced you to tears.”

She tensed, holding her breath. Knowing she could not move backwards, she tried to inch sideways out of his grasp but he held her fast.

“I think not, my own one. After today, I believe you finally understand how completely and utterly helpless you are.”

She was aware of the uneven surface of the plaster behind her, of Lord Vernon’s arm around her waist and of his presence: close, way too close, and blocking her escape.

“I’m not helpless. I score seven and a half; I have power, too.”

“Against ten? Believe me, it won’t help you. Your destiny, Ruth – the immutable ‘will be’ of your future – lies with me.”

“How does that work? I’m still in love with The Pan of Hamgee.”

“Oh. You can give your heart to whomever you like. I really don’t care, because it will make no difference. You will still spend the rest of your life with me.”

“Neither my destiny, nor I, will ever lie with you, Lord Vernon.”

“Really ...?”

He growled; the same deep bass rumble she’d heard before and she wondered, in her terror, if Grongles killed and ate other creatures or even people. No, stop. Those thoughts were not conducive to courageous behaviour and heaven knew she wanted

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