Page 17 of A Raven Revived

There was surely a story there. One he’d likely never know.

“So,” she said to her husband. “What kind of sentence did you hand down?”

“You make me sound like a tyrant.” He shrugged. “One week’s suspension and confinement.”

She raised her brows. “I think you might be getting soft in your old age.”

Fitz choked on a laugh.

“Who are you calling old, wife?” He got out of his chair and pulled Gwen in for a brief kiss. “Go have a talk with her. I told her you would have the final say about her consequences.”

Gwen nodded. “Very well.” She sighed. “She really does have the sweetest soul, and it will be difficult to say even a harsh word to her, so thank you for doing the hard part for me.”

“Oh, and while you’re at it, get the details of how she slipped out of here. She should not have been able to just wander away by herself, late at night, three sheets to the wind, without anyone even noticing.”

“She’s not just anyone, Ash. She’s been here a long time. She knows every little detail about this place. But I’ll find out what I can for you.”

A besotted smile remained on Ash’s lips, even after the door closed behind his wife. He shook himself and returned to his seat.

“Where were we?”

Ash was a lucky man. “You were telling me you won’t take my money.”

“That’s right.” He let out a sigh. “It’s a shame, really. I think you’d be a good addition to our group, and with Patrick and Michael both soon to be fathers, we’re in need of adding someone. That being said, if Daisy decides to take a position somewhere eventually, I’d be happy to revisit the idea.”

“Can I at least come back as a patron and give you my money that way?”

Ash considered the question for a moment but eventually nodded. “I don’t see any reason you shouldn’t, at least for the week she’s on suspension.”

“Fair enough. At least I’ll have something to keep me occupied at night for the next few days.”

“I’m afraid you’ll find it much less attractive now that you won’t be investing.”

“Perhaps.” Fitz stretched his neck. He was tired. He hadn’t slept a wink. His heart warmed remembering Daisy’s soft snores and mumbles as she’d slept. But then he pulled his mind back to the current conversation.

“It may be time for me to leave.” His heart railed against the thought, but what was he supposed to do? “If there’s no investment, and all I’ve managed to do in the short time I’ve been here is cause Daisy heartache and problems she never would have had if I hadn’t come, why stay?”

“You know.” Ash grabbed his cane from where it leaned against his desk and began to fidget with it, rolling it between his fingers and tapping it lightly on the floor. “Daisy has been here more than three years and has never shown any interest in leaving. The average stay here is about eight months. In the time she’s been here, she’s rarely broken a single rule. Sure, she’s been late for a shift a time or two, or missed her chores here and there, but she’s one I’ve never really had to punish.”

“Are you trying to make me feel worse?”

“Quite the opposite, actually. My point is, in three years, nothing has ever been important enough to her to break the rules. Then you show up, and she breaks them all. When she left here last night, regardless of how much she’d had to drink, she knew she was not only putting her safety at risk, but she was also putting her place here in jeopardy. The place she hasn’t taken a single step to try to leave in three years. The place where she has felt safe, and I dare say, happy. She risked all of that to get to you.”

Ash might as well have thrown a bucket of icy water over him for the shock that rushed through him at those words. “But what does that mean?” he asked, desperately.

A sympathetic sort of smile grew on Ash’s lips. “I don’t fully know. But one thing I’m afraid is probably true. If you just disappear again,”—Ash stilled, and his dark gaze locked with Fitz's—“it will break her.”

ChapterSix

Fitz fled Raven House, Ash's words echoing in his ears. What was he supposed to do with that? What did it even mean? How was it possible? How had her well-being suddenly become his responsibility? He could hardly take care of himself, let alone her. Fitz wasn’t like Ash, or any of the other partners, for that matter. He didn’t have a title or stability or even a good sense of right and wrong.

Oh, he had money. More of it than he knew what to do with. But he had no purpose. He simply wandered aimlessly, finding ways to spend it that might bring him a moment of joy. That’s how he’d found himself in Raven Row in the first place. He hadn’t come here looking for her.

He roared up at the sky, startling a couple walking past in the other direction. He suddenly felt trapped.It will break her.

No, Ash was wrong. She’d only sought him out because she’d been drinking and wanted physical pleasure. And the only reason she’d even come to him looking for that was because he’d taken liberties with her in the past when he shouldn’t have. Back before her sister had died. Before she’d become betrothed to his brother. Back then, he’d foolishly thought they might somehow have a life together.

He rolled his eyes. He’d never deserved her.

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