Page 54 of A Raven Reformed

At least he had the decency to look guilty for the wounds he’d inflicted. What was Isaac doing there in Michael’s study? He looked well, other than the evident injuries on his face. He was clean and shaven, and his hair had been combed, and although the brown suit he wore was a bit too short for his long arms and legs, at least it wasn’t a rumpled, dirty mess. Most notably, his scabbed lips were turned up in a smile that also shone in his eyes.

“Have a seat, Belle,” Michael said.

She did, with an annoyed sigh. The truth was, she had mostly forgiven him, but seeing Isaac’s injuries again, stirred her irritation. With his eyes, Michael instructed Isaac to take the seat next to Belle, which he did.

“As I mentioned earlier, I’d like us to try living in London for a bit. Long-term, I don’t know exactly what that’s going to look like, but if you are going to be living in Raven Row, you will need protection when I’m not around. Assuming we’ll have your approbation, I have offered that position to Isaac.”

“Truly? He’s going with us?” Belle’s heart soared at the prospect and her eyes filled with grateful tears. In her mind, the best-case scenario would have been Michael allowing Isaac to return home without further consequences. Not that she thought he should be punished at all, but presumably, shooting a peer of the realm was typically frowned upon.

Belle hopped out of her chair and scurried around the desk. She threw her arms around Michael’s neck, jarring a grunt from him as she pressed her lips to his.

“Belle,” he said, as he gently pushed her off of him, raising a brow in warning.

She clasped her arms in front of her and fairly skipped back around the desk. Both men’s faces had grown a definite blush at her behavior, but she didn’t care. She quite liked ruffling her husband’s feathers.

Michael cleared his throat. “As I was going to say, don’t get too excited yet, because it may not be quite the arrangement you’re hoping for. The friendship you have between you is going to have to change into something much more professional.”

“What exactly does that mean?”

“Well, the biggest changes will be that he will address you by your title, and there will be no physical contact between you, unless required by his job.”

“Alright, but when you say he’s to address me by my title and we’re to have no physical contact, surely you don’t mean in private, as well?”

“That’s just it, Belle. You will never be spending time together privately. If he is with you, he will be on duty, not on a social call.”

“But I don’t want him to be my servant, Michael. He’s my friend. Why can’t you trust me with him?”

“Belle, it’s not about trust.” Isaac turned to look at her. “Your husband is giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, when, by all accounts, he should have just shot me. Why can’t you be grateful for what he’s offering us rather than constantly fighting him?”

“That,” Michael said sharply, “is exactly the kind of thing that cannot happen.” He let out a long sigh. “Although I agree with the sentiment, behavior such as that, directed at my wife by someone in my employ, will not be tolerated.”

“Yes, my lord,” Isaac said, immediately bowing his head.

“Michael.” Belle practically spat his name, irked by his cool, aloof manner. He completely ignored her, his gaze still fixed on Isaac.

“I’d like you to apologize.” Michael spoke with a quiet firmness.

Belle’s body tensed in frustration. Why was he doing this?

“I’m sorry, my lord.”

And why was Isaac just going along with it?

“Not to me,” Michael clarified.

Belle watched Isaac’s throat work as he swallowed his pride. He turned slowly toward her and bowed his head. “Apologies, my lady. It won’t happen again.”

“I won’t have it, Michael.”

He sat forward abruptly. “What would you have me do, Belle? Just move him in with us as your male companion? The two of you can go gallivanting through the streets, hand in hand, and we can all just ignore the rumors of how my countess spends more time with her lover than with her cuckold husband?” His voice was escalating with exasperation. “I offered this option as a kindness to you both, and the terms are not negotiable. You can either make this work, or Isaac will be on the next boat back to America, counting his blessings that I sent him there instead of the gallows. And without a bodyguard, when I go back to work in London, you’ll be staying right here.” He jabbed his finger against the top of his desk. “It’s your choice, Belle.”

Belle stood up, intent on storming out the door when she met Isaac’s eyes.

Why was she even doing this?

If Isaac was content with taking the position, why was she fighting against it? Of course she’d rather have him here than back in America where she’d likely never see him again. She didn’t like the idea of him as her servant, but as Michael had just reminded her, she was a countess. She may not like that society would never see Isaac as her friend or as her equal, but that’s just the way it was. It wasn’t Michael’s fault. He was simply trying to give her the best option he could. Trying to make her happy.

Perhaps a part of her still struggled to believe that he really did want what was best for her. And perhaps, as Lady Dalinridge, it was also time for her to realize that sometimes there were things bigger than herself to consider. Her actions could have consequences for the entire earldom. The revelation landed on her like a pile of bricks.

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