Page 37 of A Raven Revived

He didn’t give her a chance to argue before exiting the carriage and striding to the front door. When it opened, the butler stood to attention. He hadn’t changed a bit since she last saw him. His brow furrowed, and he shook his head. He was turning Fitz away. She sighed and opened the carriage door.

As she climbed down, the butler looked in her direction. His eyes grew wide, and he took an involuntary step back.

“Lady Jane,” he said, astonishment still evident on his face as she approached the door.

“Grayson.” She raised a brow. Would he refuse her as well?

“I told you to wait in the carriage,” Fitz admonished.

She smiled and shrugged. “I’m not very good about doing as I’m told.”

He chuckled. “And you never will be, will you?”

She shook her head and turned her attention back to the butler. “Will my parents wish to see me, Grayson? If not, we will leave.”

“My lady, I—” He trailed off. He didn’t know the answer and didn’t want to just let her in.

“Why don’t you go ask them? We’ll wait.”

He nodded, still looking unsure. “Yes, my lady.”

When the door closed, Fitz placed a hand on her shoulder. Sadness filled his eyes. She’d known there was a chance they wouldn’t wish to see her after the way she’d left.

A few minutes later, her father appeared at the door, a sneer on his face. “You finally realized selling your wares can’t provide you with the same comforts that I always have, and thought you might be able to beg your way back into my home? Well, you’d better come in then, before someone sees you. But he’s not welcome.” He gestured with his chin in Fitz’s direction.

She was quite sure she heard a low growl from Fitz.

“I won’t be coming in without him, Father.”

“You disappear for three years, leaving us to assume you’re dead, and you think you can show up on my doorstep making demands?”

She shook her head and stepped in front of Fitz to stop him from doing something foolish. His anger was nearly palpable. “I’m not making any demands. If you do not wish to see me, I will leave.” She was proud of herself for sounding so calm while her heart was trying to gallop its way right out of her chest and tears were threatening to burst from her eyes.

“Please.” Her mother’s voice was quiet, but Daisy heard the single word spoken from behind her father.

He let out an irritated sigh. “Very well.” He turned and walked away from the door.

It would seem that was as much of a welcome as she was going to get. With a deep breath to steel herself, she stepped into the house. As soon as the door closed, her mother approached her. Tears shimmered in her eyes. She reached a hand up and placed it gently against Daisy’s cheek.

“Jane. It’s really you.” Her fingers trembled as her gaze swept over every inch of Daisy’s face.

Daisy nodded. “It’s really me.”

“I thought I’d lost you too.” A single, quivering tear made its way slowly down her mother's cheek.

She’d never considered how painful it must have been for her mother to lose first one daughter and then the other. They’d not been very close, and the truth was, Daisy hadn’t thought much about how her decision to run might affect anyone else. She’d just had a desperate need to flee.

Her father cleared his throat as he stood next to the entrance to the drawing room. He didn’t want them to make a scene in front of the servants. He’d always cared more about how people perceived them than how anyone actually felt.

Fitz followed closely behind her as they made their way into the room. Her father nodded toward a chair, and her mother sat in it. Somehow Daisy had never realized just how much he controlled her.

Daisy seated herself on the edge of the sofa and Fitz sat beside her. His presence was comforting. It made her feel safe and reminded her that she was cared for, even if her parents didn’t. Or, at least, her father didn’t. He quite clearly despised her for what she’d done.

“I’ve come because—” She paused for a moment, trying to bolster her confidence. “Gerard and I are going to wed, and I thought you should hear it from me.”

Her father’s eyes narrowed and he turned them on Fitz. “Come looking for a dowry, have you? Well, I won’t be providing one, so you can go fortune hunting somewhere else.”

Fitz shifted beside her. She placed a hand on his arm, afraid he might pummel her father.

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