Page 12 of A Raven Reborn

“Oh, my dear girl.” Before Rosalyn even knew what was happening, her head was cradled firmly against Ella’s bosom and they rocked back and forth.

“Perhaps he was right.” Rosalyn stared blankly at the far wall. “I must have done something to entice his son into my bedroom. Perhaps, deep down, I am meant to be a whore.”

“No!” Ella crouched down and grasped Rosalyn’s chin firmly. “That is not ‘being caught in a compromising situation’, that is rape. You did nothing wrong.” She squeezed her chin more tightly and stopped Rosalyn’s argument before she even began. “No, you listen to me.” Their eyes were mere inches apart now. “Are you listening?”

Rosalyn nodded.

“You didnothingwrong.” Ella’s gaze was intense and searching.

“You didnothingwrong,” she repeated. “Now you say it.” She lowered her hand to Rosalyn’s shoulder and waited, but saying those words was unimaginably difficult.

“I,” she prompted, squeezing Rosalyn’s shoulder.

“I,” Rosalyn echoed, in a whisper.

“Did.”

“Did.”

“Nothing.”

That word was especially difficult for some reason. “n-nothing.” No sound actually escaped Rosalyn’s lips, but Ella continued.

“Wrong.”

Rosalyn’s swallow caught in her dry throat. “Wrong,” she finally whispered.

“Again.” Ella sat back on her heels. “I did nothing wrong.”

Rosalyn took a deep breath. “I did… nothing wrong.”

“Again.” Ella nodded.

“I did nothing wrong.” The words came more easily that time, and her voice was mostly steady.

“Again.”

“I did nothing wrong,” she said more confidently.

“Again.” Ella straightened her spine and puffed out her chest.

“I did nothing wrong!” Rosalyn spoke the words forcefully and felt something shift inside her. Fear’s grip on her heart began to loosen and an enormous weight lifted from her shoulders.

“Good.” Ella smiled proudly and squeezed Rosalyn’s hands. She got up from the floor and returned to her own chair. “Now then, where were we?”

ChapterFive

Patrick made his way slowly between felt-covered tables, his gaze analyzing every face as he passed.

“Good evening, gentlemen.” Patrick frequently stopped at various tables to make his presence known. Especially the tables with the wealthiest patrons at them.

“Ah, Patrick, it’s good to see you!” The man closest to him clapped him firmly on the shoulder and Patrick cringed slightly as pain shot down his arm.

“Charles,” he said with a nod.

Charles raised his eyebrows. “So the rumors are true then?” He nodded toward Patrick’s shoulder.

“Which rumor is that?”

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