The Whisper of Silenced Voices by C J Archer

Author:C J Archer
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter 9

I pushed at Lord Xavier and smacked his chest, his shoulders. But that only made him tighten his hold and press his lips harder to mine. I jerked my head to the side, breaking the kiss, if that's what the mashing of our mouths could be called.

"Let me go!" I spat.

He chuckled low in his throat. "My, my, aren't you the fierce little—"

"Josie?"

I almost cried with relief when Lord Xavier let me go at the sound of Dora's voice.

"Who're you?" he barked.

Dora shrank back into the kitchen, her eyes huge with fear. Remy tucked himself against her side, and she clutched him to her.

"Dora and Remy are my friends," I told Lord Xavier. "They're staying with me."

His tongue flicked over his lower lip as he regarded her.

"Please leave," I said, opening the door wide.

He chuckled again, but it didn't have the cockiness of earlier. "You liked it, Josie," he whispered. "I could feel how rapidly your heart beat."

"That was fear."

He licked his lips again as he straightened. "You can protest all you want, but I know the difference between desire and fear."

I leveled my gaze with his. "I've asked you to leave. Please do so."

"Or you'll do what? Scream?" He grunted. "The sheriff's men won't touch me."

"But the king's men will."

He chuckled again. This time I was very sure it was all showy bravado. "I came here to congratulate you," he said. "You won. The governor has bowed to your wishes and won't go ahead with clearing The Row."

I said nothing. Telling him that I wanted the residents of The Row to be given proper, affordable housing would only invite him to engage in conversation. I wanted him to leave as soon as possible.

"Well done, Josie." The sinister thread through his voice shredded my nerves. "Your words the other night made the villagers change their minds. But it also made you a very powerful enemy. My mother is furious."

"Your mother had decided before that night that she didn't like me."

His gaze searched mine. I forced myself not to look away. "The funny thing is, she would like you if you weren't so common. You have a lot of the qualities she admires. As do I."

His gloved finger stroked my cheek to my jaw and his hungry gaze followed it. I pulled away and he grasped my breast. I slapped him. He pushed me.

I fell against the table by the door, knocking off the candlestick I'd set down. The flame went out. Dora gasped and rushed to my aid.

"Oi!" Remy shouted as he charged forward. "Don't hit ladies!"

Dora grabbed his hand to keep him back, but Lord Xavier was already striding through the door. I lurched to my knees and slammed it shut. Dora slid the bolt across then sank to the floor beside me. We clasped each other's hands.

Remy remained standing, the light from the kitchen behind him casting his face in shadow. "I don't like him."

"Stay away from him, Remy," I said. "Him and his family."

"Go and put some tea leaves in the pot.

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