Page 55 of Power
But that’s when it hits me that I’m being a selfish bitch. “Uhm, it’s okay; you don’t have to.”
I see him blink in the reflection of the window. “You’re sweet, Bailey. You get me more than anyone ever has. Even my own father.”
The mention of his father fires up my curiosity cat. “Do you not get on with him?”
He snorts. “No. Viscount Charles Cavendish VII doesn’t approve of me or my choices or pretty much anything that isn’t him.”
“I’m sorry. That has to be tough.”
Silence.
“How come you aren’t Charles VIII?” I ask like a fucking idiot. I don’t know how nobility works. I’m as far from it as a peasant can be.
He smiles. From what I can see in the window, it's genuine and really lights up his face. “I will be when he dies. I will be Viscount Charles Finley Cavendish VIII. For now, I’m Right Honorable Finn Cavendish.”
“Fucking fancy, aren’t you?” I murmur.
He smirks and turns to face me again. “No. My father is. He was at the ceremony earlier. You didn’t see him throw water on you. You had your head on your knees. That alone shows you how much Archer hated having to do this to you.”
I frown. “What do you mean?”
“He allowed you to sit. Everyone else, him included, had to stand and take it.”
“Oh.” I chew my lips again. I guess that’s something. “That Trish is a real bitch,” I spit out after a moment.
“She is. But she is low-level. You don’t need to worry about her.”
“She fancies Archer.”
“Does that bother you?”
I consider that. I mean, yeah, it fucking does, but he makes it sound like it shouldn’t. “No,” I lie.
He snickers. “Hmm, you don’t lie well, Alice. That is something we need to work on.”
“I don’t want to be a good liar.”
“You may need it.”
“That’s cryptic and makes me shudder.”
He doesn’t reply. He just continues to stare out of the window.
“What are you looking at?”
“You don’t like silences, do you, Alice?”
“Sorry,” I murmur, feeling my cheeks heat up. He must think I’m a blithering idiot who can’t keep her trap shut.
“Don’t ever apologize,” he says blandly. “I’m just not used to it.”
“I blabber. Can’t help it.”
“Are you nervous?”
“No, I’m terrified.”
That gets his full attention. He turns and walks a couple of paces toward me. “I’m keeping you safe. You have nothing to fear.”
