Free Mastering the Marquess by Vanessa Kelly Page B

his way here at this very moment to see Annabel and, if necessary, remove her to his own household.”
    As soon as Meredith saw the vicious grin on her uncle’s face, she knew she had overplayed her hand. His harsh laugh ground across her frayed nerves like glass shattering against pavement.
    â€œIf Annabel is under his protection, then why is she here with you instead of with him? No, girl, I’ve had enough of your nonsense. You and your sister will go pack your bags now, or I will drag you both out of this house so fast your heads will spin off your necks.”
    Meredith felt Annabel jerk against her. As she looked at her uncle’s sneering face, a cold rage swelled in her chest.
    â€œWhat kind of man are you that you would threaten defenseless women?” she retorted. “You sicken me! Annabel and I will never go willingly with you. You will have to drag us out onto the street for all the world to see what kind of monster you truly are.”
    â€œMeredith, don’t be a fool,” Jacob blurted out, clearly exasperated by her defiance.
    Isaac Burnley bared his teeth in a ghastly smile. “As you wish, Niece. I am only too happy to oblige.” He moved across the room, large hands outstretched to grab them.
    As Meredith shrank back against Annabel, she heard a clattering from the hall. A flustered Agatha materialized in the doorway. Casting a frightened glance about the room, she bobbed an unsteady curtsy and announced in a breathless voice, “Lord Silverton is here, miss, and Mr. Robert Stanton, too!”

Chapter Six
    Meredith stared at Agatha, who stood panting in the doorway, her hair tumbling out of her now-askew cap. She heard a firm, masculine tread out in the hallway and almost collapsed with the sheer relief that help had arrived so quickly.
    Silverton appeared in the passageway behind Agatha. He gently placed his hands on the maid’s shoulders and moved her as he stepped into the room, followed closely by his cousin Robert.
    â€œThank you, Agatha,” he said, his eyes fixing on Meredith. “You may go now. Please shut the door behind you.”
    â€œYes, my lord.” Agatha bobbed again, backed out of the room, and shut the door quietly behind her.
    Silverton stood silent and motionless, but his eyes moved from Meredith and came to rest on Isaac. His cobalt gaze turned wintry, and his patrician features grew haughty as he returned the older man’s glare.
    â€œWho the devil are you?” growled Isaac. He planted his big fists on his hips, his stance both aggressive and insolent as he confronted Silverton’s obviously aristocratic presence.
    The marquess leisurely reached for his quizzing glass, raising it to his eye and deliberately perusing Isaac from head to toe. The older man’s face mottled a bloody red.
    Silverton dropped his quizzing glass and looked at Meredith, a hint of a smile touching his hard mouth.
    â€œMiss Burnley,” he said in a bored tone of voice, “please forgive me if we have interrupted a private family discussion. Perhaps you will be so good as to introduce us to your guests.”
    She gaped at him in astonishment. One of his eyebrows quirked up, and the smile that played around his lips grew genuinely amused. That look finally galvanized her into action.
    She walked swiftly across the room, her arm outstretched to return his greeting. Silverton took her hand in a strong clasp and squeezed it slightly before letting it go.
    â€œLord Silverton, I am most happy to see you.” She smiled tremulously at him and then glanced at Robert, who stared grimly at her uncle, a look of murderous intent on his normally boyish face.
    â€œAnd you, too, Mr. Stanton. Indeed, your visit is most welcome.”
    She turned to face her uncle, who had moved across the room to stand by his son.
    â€œThis is my uncle, Isaac Burnley,” she said, hardly able to contain her anger. “And this is my cousin, Jacob Burnley.