Page 47 of A Raven Returns

Ash’s heart began to race. “What did she say?”

“Nothing. Not a single explanation.” He looked at Ash. “I’m hoping you can provide that because she didn’t look very happy, and they don’t usually come back after that long away.”

Ash breathed a sigh of relief and hated himself for it. “I think we’re going to need to place her somewhere quickly. Somewhere I can trust she’ll be safe. Do either of you have need of someone at an estate?” He looked at Patrick. “Or perhaps your brother?”

“I’m sure one of us could find room for her,” Patrick replied. “But we’re going to need more of an explanation than that, Ash.”

Ash explained how he’d found her and told them about the abusive fake marriage she’d been in for a year. All three of their faces grew horrified and then angry.

“Where is this piece of garbage?” Michael growled, his hands fisted on top of the table.

“I don’t know yet, but I have good men working on that, and I will take care of him as soon as he’s found.”

“You meanwewill take care of him,” Michael said quietly. “These ladies are under all of our protection, Ash. Not just yours.”

“Michael is right,” Patrick added. “But there’s still something you’re not telling us. Why does she need to be placed somewhere? Why not keep her here, where we know she’s safe, and looked after by all of the other ladies, and Sarah? Does she not want to be here?”

Ash closed his eyes, his stomach suddenly churning with nausea. “Because.” He swallowed, steeling himself for what he needed to say. “While we were at Woodburn Hall, she shared my bed.” Ash risked a glance up at his friends, expecting to see derision or anger. Instead, what he saw was shock. Except for Giles, who just looked confused. He hadn’t been around long enough to fully understand the enormity of Ash’s confession.

Patrick was the first one to finally speak. “You’re serious?”

“It’s not likely to be something I’d joke about. Is it?” Ash ripped out the words.

A group of sighs made their way around the table. Ash had a sudden need to justify, to explain his actions.

“Obviously I’m not going to go into any detail with the three of you, but believe me when I say this wasn’t a case of me taking advantage of an employee. I swear nothing like that will ever happen with any of the other ladies. You can still trust me around them.”

Michael threw back his head and laughed.

“I don’t see what’s so funny,” Ash growled.

Michael shook his head. “Of course you don’t. Ash, none of us thinks you’ve suddenly turned into a debaucher of young women. You’ve spent your entire adult life as sexually repressed as a monk.”

“Michael isn’t wrong, although perhaps a bit tactless in his description.” Patrick threw a disappointed look toward Michael.

Michael held up his hands. “Fair enough. I’m sorry, Ash. I was only being sarcastic. But you must know that after all we’ve been through together, we trust you. Of all of us, you would be the last one to take advantage of any woman, let alone one under your protection.”

Giles raised his hand a bit before speaking, as if he needed permission. “I know I’m the new guy here, and I don’t know anything really, but is being placed quickly in a position somewhere what Gwen wants? I feel like that’s the important question that no one seems to be asking.”

Ash nodded grimly. “The truth is, I don’t know. I don’t see a good alternative, though. I think it would be naive to believe that gossip about what happened with Gwen and me won’t eventually make its way around Raven House. I hadn’t really considered that until Fogg mentioned it this afternoon.” How could he have been so stupid? “Christ!” He slammed his hands on the table, standing so forcefully that his chair tumbled over backwards. He picked up his mostly empty glass from the table and hurled it across the room, unleashing a string of curses.

“Hey,” Patrick said sternly. “I know you’re angry, but don’t wreck the place. We have to open in just a couple of hours. Either pull yourself together or find somewhere else to have your temper tantrum.”

Ash breathed in deeply. As much as he wanted to rage and destroy things, Patrick was right. It wasn’t going to help.

He turned back to the table. “I’m sorry. It’s been a trying few days, and somehow I’ve managed to create a right bloody mess for which Gwen will likely pay the consequences.”

“Well, we are your friends and partners, so sit back down, and together, we’ll figure out how best to move forward.” It was almost amusing to have Patrick be the voice of reason, the one in charge. That was usually Ash, but he was grateful that the others were willing to step up and put him in his place when necessary.

As Ash righted his chair and sat back down, Michael spoke again. “I think Giles is right. You, or one of us, needs to have a conversation with Gwen to find out what it is she wants.”

Ash nodded slowly. “It needs to be me.”

ChapterFifteen

When the other ladies got up for their shift, Gwen went back to her room to hide, grateful that she managed to miss Daisy. She just didn’t have the strength to face them all yet. Most of them were probably new since she left all those months ago, but there would be a few that knew her. They’d wonder why she was back and what happened. She couldn’t yet bring herself to tell the story of her marriage.

There was a light tap on the door and Sarah peeked her head in. “Good afternoon, Gwen.” Her smile was kind and reassuring.

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