Storm and Silence (Storm and Silence #1) - Robert Thier Page 0,58

important about a few flowers?’

‘Just promise me, my love,’ he said with fervour. ‘If what I believe is correct - oh, I shudder to think of the possibility! If what I think is correct, then every single flower from Sir Philip Wilkins is an arrow straight to my heart.’

‘Then I shall throw them away directly,’ Ella exclaimed, tears in her eyes again. ‘What are a few flowers to me?’

‘No! You must not do so. You must not do anything that would arouse suspicion.’ Bowing his head against the iron poles and closing his eyes, he murmured: ‘You were right. I am beneath you. If any suspicions were to enter your aunt’s mind that you had given your heart to me, all would be over between us. Do not throw the flowers away. Do not do anything unusual. Act as though I didn’t exist and you were leading the easy, trouble-free life that you ought to have.’

I shook my head. Dear me, this was getting a bit thick. Did all people act like this when they were in love, or was it just Edmund?

‘Act as if you didn’t exist?’ cried Ella. ‘Edmund, without you my life would be nothing! The sun would not rise and all food would turn to ashes in my mouth!’

Yes. Apparently all people acted like this.

I didn’t pay much attention to what happened afterwards. Mostly they were talking about stuff that seemed pretty silly to me, like how much they loved each other, what would happen if they didn’t have each other (most of which seemed pretty unrealistic) and then some more about how much they loved each other.

Finally, when I had almost fallen asleep against the tree, the lovers’ talk was abruptly interrupted by my aunt’s calling from the house.

‘Ella! Ella, where are you girl?’

Anxiously, my little sister looked over her shoulder.

‘I must go. Farewell, my love,’ she whispered.

‘Farewell, oh sweet Ella, light of my life.’ Edmund hesitated, then plunged on: ‘May I ask, something of you, before we depart?’

Instantly I was wide awake! I knew it! I knew now he was going to… well, he was going to do whatever rakes do when they take advantage of innocent girls! I didn’t quite know what that was, though from the insinuations I had read in the papers, it couldn’t be anything good.

I stood up, preparing to defend my sister from that foul fiend!

‘May I…’ he hesitated again. ‘May I touch the tips of your sweet fingers to carry with me the feeling of your love? Please, my dearest, just extend a hand to me?’

What? That was all? I wasn’t too versed in rakishness, but I had at least expected something improper. He didn’t even demand a kiss? He had to be kidding! This fellow was too decent to be real.

‘Oh Edmund.’ Again my sister had tears in her eyes, and I was amazed to see her shake her head. ‘How could I? You know what my dear aunt would say? How could I so lay myself open to her disapproval and that of all my family?’

‘But she will not know.’

‘But my heart and conscience will.’

I tapped my foot against the ground impatiently. Well now, I was all for morals and stuff - after all, you couldn’t have people running around in the streets naked - but this was taking things a bit too far! Throw the fellow a bone, Ella!

Then I realized what I had been thinking and scowled. What was wrong with me? I didn’t want them to end up together. Did I? Didn’t I?

‘Please, my love,’ Edmund breathed, leaning closer to the poles separating him from my sister. ‘Just the tips of your fingers, just once. I need to know that you are real, not some apparition from the realms of angels or fairies that has come to beguile me with its loveliness.’

‘No, Edmund, I can’t…’

But apparently, Ella’s hand and her mouth weren’t quite in agreement about the matter: for while her lips denied him, her small ivory hand reached out, nearing the space between two of the iron poles. Edmund watched it, breathless, and I must admit I was pretty engrossed, too. This was better than the opera. Who knew romance could be this interesting?

Finally Ella’s fingers slipped between the iron poles, and Edmund’s hands flew forward, taking hold of them.

‘Ella,’ he breathed.

‘Just a swift touch, Edmund, you promised,’ she said, still with tears in her eyes.

‘And I shall keep my word. One touch.’ He led her fingers to his chest, to the