Page 7 of A Raven Revived

Fitz tutted out a breath and rolled his eyes. “You mean that I won’t run to her family and tell them she’s alive? Her family can rot, for all I care, along with my own. Not a single one of them gave a damn when she went missing.” He looked around at all of them. “I didn’t say that, obviously.” They all nodded their understanding. “I was the only one who was out looking for her. The only one who hired trackers and investigators. The only one who did more than pretend to grieve her loss.” His voice escalated and anger boiled in his gut thinking about it again.

The men around him all seemed to relax a bit.

“She’s safe here,” Ash assured him.

Fitz nodded. “Just as long as she isn’t a prisoner.”

Ash shook his head and sat forward in his chair. “None of the ladies are here against their will. They are all free to leave if they wish.”

“I suppose the man who got her away from me yesterday is one of yours?”

“He works for me,” Michael said gruffly.

“Well, he did good work. I wasn’t actually a threat, but he didn’t know that. And from the look on Daisy’s face, she didn’t either.” He let out a long sigh. “Will one of you please apologize to her for me? I didn’t intend to frighten her. Assure her that her secret is safe with me.”

“Of course,” Ash responded quietly.

With another long sigh, Fitz slowly got to his feet. “If that’s all then, I suppose I should bid you good day, gentlemen.”

“Does that mean you’re no longer interested in investing?”

Fitz whipped back around to look at Ash, whose brows were raised in question.

“I most certainly am.” His mouth turned up in a slow smile.

“Good. Let’s move this meeting to the club, then, where we’ll be more comfortable.”

* * *

All the ladies at Raven House had a daily chore to help with the running of the house. Most of them cycled through different ones, but Daisy had been there long enough to have a little sway, and she chose to stick with sweeping. After returning the broom to its closet, she made her way to the front drawing room. She deserved to sit for a few minutes with a nice cup of tea, and perhaps a biscuit.

The door to Ash’s office opened as she neared, but it wasn’t Ash who stepped through. It was Fitz. She gasped and stumbled backwards a step. What was he doing here? When his eyes landed on her, the delighted smile on his face withered and died. A sadness settled into his eyes and the slight smile that returned punctured her heart.

She wasn’t afraid of him. God no. He’d never been anything but incredibly kind to her. So why did his presence create an overwhelming need for her to flee?

He gave her a slight bow and with the barest hint of a nod, he turned and followed Giles to the stairs that led to The Raven’s Den. She couldn’t even begin to understand what was happening.

Ash was at her side in an instant. “It’s alright, Daisy. He won’t hurt you, and he’s promised to keep your secret.”

After a moment, she tore her eyes away from the place where Fitz had disappeared and looked up at Ash. “Did you threaten him?”

He chuckled softly. “Perhaps, but I believe he cares about you.”

She looked back to the bottom of the staircase. Did he? She’d believed he did once. Her heart thudded inside her chest. Why had so much sadness settled over him when he'd looked at her?

“If he cares about me, why did he just turn and leave?”

“The look of terror on your face may have had something to do with it.”

Daisy affected her best scowl. “Are you teasing me?” Of course he was. In many ways, Ash was the big brother she’d never had, even if he was her employer.

He smiled and patted her shoulder. “If you’re alright, I’m going to head over to the Den.”

She nodded and he turned to leave. “Ash,” she called after him. “Will you ask him if he might wish to speak with me?”

He gave her a quick nod. “Of course I will.”

A few hours later, as Daisy crossed over to The Raven’s Den with the other ladies, her stomach clenched. Would Fitz be there? He’d gone over with Giles and the others, but why? She hadn’t asked a single question at the time, but it was definitely strange. The only people who went that way into the club were the owners, the Lady Ravens, and security. No one else was allowed. Even the musicians and other staff all came and went through the rear entrance. So why had Fitz been permitted?

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