Page 56 of A Raven Reborn

Ash put his right hand across his chest. “On my honor. The roses were a compromise.”

Rosalyn’s heart warmed. Everyday, a rose of a different color had appeared, each one with an identical note.A beautiful rose, for my beautiful Rosie. The thing that made her heart skip every time she read it was the word my. Perhaps she had given it more meaning that it deserved, but it felt important to her.

“That was very kind of him,” she said finally.

“Since it’s the last night of your confinement, and it’s his night off, he talked me into allowing him in for a visit.”

Rosie gasped and whipped around, half expecting him to be there in the corner.

“Easy, Rosie. He’s not here. I would never do something like that.”

“I’m sorry.” Rosalyn held a hand over her pounding heart. It was a strange thrill, comprised of a combination of elation and terror.

“This is precisely why I wanted to speak with you about it. I told him he could come if, and only if, you also want him here.”

“I do,” she answered without any hesitation. “But I would like to have a little time to get cleaned up and gather my thoughts.”

“You’re certain?” Ash asked, looking deep into her eyes.

“Yes.” Rosalyn nodded. “I’m certain.” Some of the revelations she’d had during this week had shifted the way she viewed his actions toward her, and she desperately wanted to talk to him.

“Patrick will be delighted,” he said with a smile. “I am, however, going to impose a couple of rules.

“Of course you are,” she said with a teasing grin.

“Firstly,” He held up an index finger. “The two of you must remain in common areas at all times. That means, he’s not allowed in your bedroom, and you’re not to sneak off somewhere private or duck into an alcove together. I’ve seen what the two of you get up to when there’s no one about.”

Heat flooded Rosalyn’s cheeks. She dropped her face into her palms and folded down onto her lap. She’d never felt so embarrassed and just wanted to crawl away and hide.

“I’m sorry, Rosie. That may not have been very nice.” She could hear that he was holding back laughter as he spoke. “I just needed to make sure we’re on the same page.”

“We’re on the same page,” she said into the heels of her hands.

Ash choked, his laughter breaking through in full. “Don’t be embarrassed, Rosie. I should never have said that. I’m sorry.” His fingertip tapped the top of her head, the only part he could reach from across the desk. “Will you forgive me?”

Rosalyn nodded. Ash sat silently, and finally, she peeked her eyes over the top of the desk to see what he was doing. Apology was written over every inch of his face. With an exasperated groan, she sat back up again.

“Can we just get to the other rules so that I may be excused to run away and hide?”

“Alright, alright. There’s just one other rule. No leaving Raven House. Simple enough?”

“Yes, Ash.” she nodded, her cheeks still on fire.

“I’m sorry, Rosie. I was a bounder saying what I did.”

He obviously felt genuinely remorseful, which somehow helped to ease her embarrassment slightly. “You’re forgiven, Ash. Now, may I be excused?”

“One last thing. If for any reason you no longer want Patrick here, you simply tell the man at the front door, and he will take care of it.”

“Patrick would never hurt me.”

“Oh, I know he would never intentionally hurt you, but I also know that he can sometimes be a feckless arse.”

Rosie laughed.

“So,” Ash made sure she was listening. “If at any moment, you want him to leave, you don’t need to confront him. Just tell the doorman, or tell one of the other ladies in the house, and it will be dealt with.”

“Alright, I understand.”

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