In the Eye of the Storm

05. A Study in Golden

'She also tells me that you were gone for quite a long time. An entire week, in fact.'

'Yes, Sir.'

Uncle Bufford grunted into his beard. 'I suppose that is unusual for girls? How long are the free runs you're usually given? Do they take off your leashes at all?'

I blinked. Was he joking? He didn't seem to be.

'Um... we don't wear leashes, Sir.'

He shook his head. 'Pity. Education nowadays could learn a lot from dog training.'

Still, I was not sure whether he was joking. That gnarled old face gave away about as much as the trunk of an oak tree. Finally, I decided to assume for my own sanity's sake that he was, but outwardly, I had better act as if he wasn't. Just to be sure.

'I think leashes are not very fashionable, Sir,' I told him, demurely. 'They would clash with ball gowns.'

My Uncle gave a derisive snort. 'Fashion! As if that counts for anything!'

Suddenly, in spite of the leash talk, he seemed a lot more likeable.

'I quite agree, Sir,' I told him, perfectly honest this time.

'Oh, you do, do you?' He studied me with those sharp eyes of his, and I couldn't help it. I raised my chin and met his eyes defiantly. Blast it! Why couldn't I be meek for all of five minutes? This man could throw me out on the street if I didn't behave!

'How would you liked to be leashed?' he asked, cocking his bald, bearded head.

'Not at all, Sir.'

One side of his mouth twitched up. 'Because it's not fashionable?'

'No, Sir! Because I want to be free.'

'Is that so...' His eyes got even sharper. He was silent for a moment. Finally, he asked: 'Why?'

'Why what, Sir?'

'Don't play dumb with me, girl! Why did you run away?'

I swallowed. 'I cannot tell you, Sir. But it was important.'

His bushy eyebrows rose again. 'You cannot tell me?'

'Yes.'

'Cannot, or will not?'

'Both.'

'Was it a man?'

I nearly choked. 'No! No, no! It wasn't! It most definitely wasn't!'

His gaze wondered over my face for a moment. 'No, I didn't think so. So... what was it, then?'

'I cannot tell you, Sir. I'm sorry.'

His eyes narrowed. 'If this is all some sort of tantrum, a ploy to get me to give you more pocket money, you can forget it. I took you in for my sister's sake, God rest her soul, but I will not indulge your female extravagances!'

Female extravagances? My eyes blazed.

'No,' I told him, flatly. 'It is not a ploy to get you to raise my allowance. In fact, since I'm already here, I want to use the opportunity to tell you that you can reduce it, if you want to.'

This time both of his eyebrows shot so high up, it nearly looked as if the bald top of his head had suddenly grown hair again.

'Reduce it?'

'Or forget about it altogether.' I made a dismissive gesture. 'From next week onward, I won't need it anymore.'

If he had been giving me searching looks before, it was nothing to how his eyes probed me now. There wasn't just determination in those eyes now. This time, there was genuine interest.