Read Online The Clever Fox: Part Two (The Pleasure Hound Series) by Ines Johnson - Free Book Online Page A

the older male would lecture him on what he saw today of his relationship with Lady Alyss.  
    Emet headed him off. “It’s not what you think.”
    The Male Voice raised a single eyebrow, much like Emet’s brother Jian would often do in their youth. Jian, the most devout of his brothers from the Pleasure Temple, would indulge Emet in philosophical and spiritual arguments from time to time. Whenever they came across a debate that allowed the intrusion of faith over fact, Jian would raise an eyebrow in triumph knowing Emet couldn’t logically argue against the ethereal.
    The Male Voice arched his eyebrow in the exact same way, and Emet had to concede because what was going on between him and Lady Alyss defied any sense of logic. By all rights, the woman was an enemy to the Male Movement. Just because she’d come into harm’s way didn’t mean her mind had changed about the plight of man-kind.
    “She’s a good person.” Emet looked around the room. The words spewing from his mouth made him certain Adom had stepped into the space. But no, that was his voice defending the woman whom he had not trusted for a stone’s throw just two days ago.
    The Male Voice raised the other eyebrow to join the first. This was a feat Emet had never encountered with Jian.
    “She is,” Emet insisted. “Deep down. She just doesn’t know any better. She’s been with that family her whole life. She doesn’t know things could be different. None of them know things could be different. We have to show them.”
    The Male Voice smiled at Emet. It was a pitiful smile. One he remembered from his first days at the temple. As a new arrival, he’d told Elder Gerry that his parents would come back for him. Elder Gerry smiled, just like this.
    “You saw what happened today between her and her Mother,” Emet said.
    The Male Voice’s eyes darkened with that memory. Though they fought against women in this office, no male would ever welcome nor condone the harming of a female.
    “For generations that family has been on a mission,” said the Male Voice. His tone was less a warning and more contemplative. “I’ve seen Lady Regyn and Lady Angyla manipulate any and everyone to advance their cause.”
    But Lady Chanyn had not climbed aboard her family’s initiatives. And Lady Merlyn had stepped off the track later in life.
    “Lady Alyss didn’t manipulate me. I thought that was her game at first, but…I can’t explain.” Really, how did Adom infiltrate this room. His idyllic voice kept coming through Emet’s logical person.
    The Male Voice put a hand on Emet’s shoulder. “I’ve come to trust your judgement, Emet. I’ll trust you have this matter in hand, and that it won’t come back to hurt the cause and the men of this office.”
    Emet wanted to plead Alyss’ case, but he didn’t see a way through with the Male Voice. Besides, he didn’t need the male’s permission to support her. And Alyss was no longer a factor in the Sisterhood. She’d said so herself. So there definitely was no manipulation.
    Emet rose to leave the offices while the Male Voice stayed behind. The Voice was often the first in and the last to leave. Emet opened the doors of the chamber to leave and nearly bumped into a young lady.  
    “I beg your pardon, sir.”  
    It wasn’t often that Emet heard a lady apologize. The young lady ducked her face and didn’t meet Emet’s eyes. Recognition dawned on him.
    “Lady Eryka, isn’t it?”
    Her eyes raised a fraction, surprise in their crystal blue depths. She nodded in affirmation instead of speaking her answer.
    “My apologies, my lady. Is there something I can help you with?”
    “I was looking for Lady Alyss. Someone mentioned that they saw you speaking with her some time ago.”
    “Lady Alyss is…not here. But I can get a message to her for you if you’d like.”
    Lady Eryka looked over her shoulder. Fear lighting her eyes. She wouldn’t need to speak her message. Emet saw it moving quickly down the