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‘In fact, I remember distinctly saying that she was not to be involved in the search for the file, correct?’
‘Yes, Sahib.’
‘So, I repeat, and trust me, I won’t do it again: why is she here?’
‘It is rude to talk about people as if they weren’t there!’ I snapped. ‘And even ruder not to answer their questions! What about Miss Hamilton?’
Again I was ignored. Karim shrugged, and it was a mystery to me how he managed to do that without falling out of the coach. The chaise swayed again, and the horse whinnied.
‘A shrug?’ Mr Ambrose’s eyes narrowed infinitesimally. ‘That’s all? Why didn’t you stop her?’
‘Why did not you, Sahib?’ Karim asked, deadpan.
Silence.
‘She wanted to get in the coach,’ he repeated. ‘She is the woman that is worse than Ifrit. I do not disagree with a woman that is worse than Ifrit.’
Mr Ambrose gave his servant another cold glare, which the Mohammedan dutifully ignored. From Mr Ambrose’s stonier-than-stone face, long past granite and transcended into the realms of fossils, I gathered he didn’t like to be ignored.
Well, neither did I!
‘Excuse me!’ Impatiently, I tapped on his shoulder. ‘Will you answer my question now? Why the heck did you pretend to be in love with that shrew?’
Immediately, Mr Ambrose switched targets. His frostbite-inducing stare, before directed at Karim, now turned to me.
‘Have you forgotten what I told you, Mr Linton? As long as you are in my employ, you will speak respectfully to me and refer to me as “Master” or “Sir”.’
Swallowing the answer I would have liked to deliver, I gave him a tight smile.
‘Yes, of course, Sir. I thought you said earlier, Sir, that you had decided to dismiss me, so I no longer considered a formal address necessary. I am so glad you have changed your mind and will allow me to continue to work for you, Sir.’
‘Mr Linton?’
‘Yes, Sir?’
‘I’ve changed my mind. Be as rude as you want to me. You’re dismissed.’
‘Oh no, Sir. I couldn’t possibly forsake you in your hour of need.’ I pointed out the window at the wet houses rushing past in the gathering darkness. ‘Besides, we’re already on our way to get the stolen file back. You can’t stop now, when that might mean that it could slip through your fingers.’
He studied me, his eyes narrowing the fraction of an inch.
‘I’m not going to get rid of you, am I?’
‘No, Sir.’
‘I am the master here! I can decide to dismiss you whenever I want.’
‘You gave your word, remember? Your word that I would get this position.’
‘Get it, not keep it.’
‘Did I do anything to deserve to lose it?’
Silence.
‘Well, Sir? Did I? Really, honestly? On your honour as a gentleman?’
Silence.
