Her Lord and Protector (formerly titled On Silent Wings) Read Online Free PDF

Paradise Lost ,
the book I received the other day.”
    Lord Drayton
read books the likes of Paradise Lost ?
    To her chagrin,
he caught her amused reaction. “Even country dwellers such as I enjoy reading,”
he said with a smile that complemented the unexpected twinkle in his eyes.
    Then, Agnes
resumed her blathering, and Katherine shut her out.
    They passed a
long table that would easily seat twenty-five people. Directly beyond, they
turned left and entered a dining room that held a round oak table surrounded by
red-cushioned chairs, their backs carved in intricate patterns. Although the
windows in here were also draped, the late afternoon sun stole around the edges
of the cloth, and a large iron candelabrum lit the room.
    The rising steam
from a platter of savory roasted meat on the sideboard was no rival against the
smolder of Katherine’s hand on Lord Drayton’s arm.
    Alex’s arm grew
cold after Katherine removed her hand to stand behind her chair for prayer.
Afterwards he helped Elizabeth with the carving, serving his guests the choice
pieces of meat. When he sat, he tried to focus on what Agnes was saying, but
found himself drawn to the silent messages Katherine sent his way.
    She was forming
opinions of him, of his house, and had stolen glances at him during their walk
to the dining room. For some foolish reason, Alex cared about what she thought.
    “Even so, I do
hope Lord and Lady Allerton’s Ball in June will be well-attended by London
gentry,” Agnes was saying. “Will you be going, Lord Drayton?”
    “Perhaps,” he
replied.
    How did a mute
woman keep up with conversation at a social gathering? She’d have to be
constantly writing with that squeaky chalk, and the discussion would slow to a
crawl in order to include her. How exasperating for all.
    They ate and
talked, and Katherine ate and listened. She reacted to the topic at hand with
some facial gesture—raised brow, nod, charming smile. Several times she leaned
forward or lifted her hand as if to respond. Frustration creased her brow
during those moments. Alex mused once again on his unorthodox idea, one that
could anger the king and his Anglican physicians.
    “I’d like to
discuss the London fire with her if she is not too softheaded,” Robert said to
Alex.
    “Then do so,”
Alex replied with a touch of irritation.
    Katherine sent
an alert, expectant look Robert’s way, as if she were ready and able to discuss
the fire. However, Robert spoke to everyone but her. Alex’s opinion of his
blunt neighbor began to sour.
    “I heard the
strong east wind made the flames jump houses like a leaping horse,” Robert
said. “’Tis amazing that so many buildings were lost in just a few days.”
    “And all those
churches,” Edward put in. He turned to Katherine, and Alex was glad to see it.
“Is the fire how you lost your voice? I do hope you can understand my words.”
    Of course she
understood, Alex thought, watching her lift the slate from her lap. She would
have plenty to say about the tragedy that had changed her life, especially now
that her father’s treason had been exposed.
    Alex couldn’t
hide his frown thinking she knew all along about it. At that moment, their eyes
met. Her face reflecting uneasy annoyance, she lowered the slate.
    Gadzoks. He was
a toad, no better than Robert.
    Sarah, cutting
her meat, said quietly, “Edward, perhaps ’tis best not to speak to the simpleton.
You will only confuse her.”
    Katherine bent
her head. Her hand trembled as she took a knife and spread honeyed butter on
her bread. She blinked as if fighting tears.
    Something hot
and pulsing and fiercely protective within Alex roared to life and kicked him
hard in his gut.
    “Try her,
Edward,” he said, keeping his voice pleasant but yearning to shout. “I think you
will find her quite astute. And I will provide you with pen and ink, Lady
Katherine.” He gave the orders to a servant, wondering why he hadn’t thought of
that simple solution already.
    She