Page 21 of A Raven Returns

Fogg grunted as Ash shoved the cane against his chest before he turned and left the room.

Ash fumed as he mounted his horse, cursing his sore leg. He wanted to have a conversation with the young tenant before anyone had a chance to stop him. When he arrived, he didn’t knock or announce himself in any way, he just stormed straight into the house. The man whipped around, dropping the saucepan he was carrying, which landed with a loud clang, and porridge splattered across the floor.

Panic flashed over the man’s face and he shuffled backwards as Ash charged toward him. Ash grabbed the front of the man’s shirt in his fist and slammed him against the nearest wall. A high-pitched scream pierced through the room.

“Please don’t hurt my brother.” Her small, scared voice wrapped itself around Ash’s heart. In his anger, he’d forgotten all about her.

The man he had pinned against the wall swallowed and spoke softly. “Please not in front of her. I swear I won’t try to run.”

Ash wasn’t in the business of terrorizing children. He let go of the man’s shirt, then turned and crouched before the little girl. “I’m sorry, Poppet. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I just need to have a word with your brother. You stay here where it’s warm, and we’ll be just outside.”

“You promise you won’t hurt him?” The girl’s wide, innocent eyes could force a promise out of even the meanest thug.

“I promise.” With a sigh, he stood and walked out the front door. He heard the man give the girl some reassurance before he stepped out and closed the door behind him.

“Thank you,” he said. “And thank you for trying to put her at ease.”

Ash grunted. “I’m not a complete monster.” The look in the man’s eyes said he wasn’t so sure about that.

“Do you know who I am?” Ash asked the question in earnest, not pompously trying to put the man in his place.

“Yes, my lord.”

“Well then, you have me at a disadvantage, because I don’t know who you are.”

“Trent Gibson.”

“And do you know why I’m here, Trent?”

Trent mulled it over for a moment before answering. “I have a guess.”

“I’ll make it easy for you. What is your role in the fake marriage scheme?”

The man blanched. “The what?”

“Don’t,” Ash warned. “I’d really like to keep that promise I made to your sister.”

Trent shook his head frantically. “I don’t know anything about any fake marriages. I swear.”

He seemed genuinely confused about the accusation, but that didn’t make sense. “Then why is it you think I’m here?”

He seemed to be debating what he should say.

“Trent, you might as well just be honest while you have a free pass. I promised your sister I wouldn’t hurt you, and believe it or not, I am a man of my word.”

He gave a resigned shrug. “I assumed you were here to confront me about the robbery.”

Ash was beginning to feel like he’d stepped into some sort of pantomime. How did things just continue to surprise him? How the hell was this man involved with the robbery at his club in London? Fogg had tracked down the only man who had gotten away, and this certainly wasn’t him.

“What part did you have in the robbery?”

Trent furrowed his brow. He looked almost offended by the question. “I didn’t play a part in it. I was the one who made it happen. Apparently, I chose the wrong people for the job, though, since they didn’t actually succeed.”

“It wouldn’t have made any difference. No one tries to rob my club and walks away. But why did you do it? Did you need money so badly?”

He shrugged. “I wanted to take something from you, to hurt you.”

“Well, you got what you wanted, then.” Ash’s voice was escalating. “They bloody shot me! This goddamn leg still hurts!”

---