Page 40 of A Raven Reformed

When they entered the house, his valet approached him almost immediately.

“Pardon me, my lord.”

“What is it, Jones?”

“Might I have a word?” He looked somewhat nervous.

“Of course.” He led Jones to his study.

“There’s something I think you should see, my lord. I probably shouldn’t have read it, but I needed to know what it was in order to know what to do with it, and well…” He shook his head and held out a piece of paper.

Meet me at the cottage across the bridge.

“Where did you find this?” He didn’t understand what it was.

“It was on the floor in your bedroom.” He paused for a moment. “I found it when I picked up her ladyship’s clothes.”

Slowly, Michael sorted through everything in his mind. Belle had somehow received a cryptic invitation for an assignation at the same time they were looking for a mysterious tall, thin, dark-haired man.

He’d seen Belle with a man that matched that description once before. The picture of her hand-in-hand with him and of him embracing her and kissing her cheek flashed in his mind. It would seem her beau had followed them here… and shot Michael, before luring her away.

She’d been a virgin just a few days ago, so they hadn't been lovers before, but now that she knew the pleasures of the flesh, she’d undoubtedly be happy to pursue them with the man who held her heart. Bile filled his throat and he lowered himself into his chair. Well, Isaac may have her heart, but Michael was her husband. She belonged to him. Isaac was about to find out what happened to a man when he took something that belonged to Michael.

“I’m sorry if I crossed a line by reading it, my lord.”

Michael shook his head. “You did the right thing, Jones.” He looked his valet in the eye. “I’m sure this goes without saying, but please don’t mention this to anyone else.”

He nodded. “Of course, my lord.”

“Where is she?”

“I believe she is in her chambers, my lord.”

“Thank you, Jones.”

But she wasn’t in her chambers. She wasn’t anywhere else in the house, either. He walked into the drawing room where Patrick, Ash, and Giles were all warming themselves with hot drinks. He handed the paper to Ash.

“She’s there now.”

Ash read the note and it took him a moment to understand what was happening, but he got there in the end.

“Belle?”

Michael nodded. “I’m only telling you so you can stop me from doing something stupid. But I’m going after them. Now.”

He didn’t wait for an answer before he stormed from the room. Hurt and a ferocious anger blazed through him. The others were right behind him, though. Ash gave quick orders to McKinnon and O’Connell, sending them around to come in from the other direction and block them in, in case the man tried to run.

They didn’t get very far, though. Belle emerged from the trees then, practically skipping, a smile on her face that vanished instantly when she saw him and the others.

She approached him slowly. “Don’t be angry, Michael. I just needed some fresh air. I’m going back inside now.”

The lies came so easily for her. It disgusted him and made his mouth turn as dry as chalk. So much for having honesty between them.

The man stepped out of the trees not far behind her. Giles and Patrick both had guns trained on him. He raised his hands in the air and dropped to his knees in surrender.

“No!” Belle gasped. “What are you doing here Isaac? You weren’t supposed to follow me.”

Michael had prayed he was wrong, but obviously he wasn’t. His heart broke in an instant and fury surged through his veins.

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