Page 79 of A Raven Revived

“Thank you for all of this,” she said as his hands settled into place.

“It’s the least I can do for my longest serving Lady Raven… and possibly my favorite.” He winked and she laughed in sheer joy.

“Careful. If you say that too loudly, you might start a riot.”

Laughter danced in his eyes as he led her around the floor. If she hadn’t seen it before, she’d be surprised by his grace on the dancefloor.

“Last night, Gwen asked me what I thought about having you take over for Iris, since she’s going to be leaving us. Not the dancing part,” he clarified. “Just the choreography. What are your thoughts on that?”

Her heart swelled, and it took every ounce of control she possessed not to throw her arms around him. “Do you even need to ask?”

“There’s just one caveat. You have to promise me you won’t sneak out onto the floor again.”

She rolled her eyes.

“I mean it, Daisy. You’ll be too much of a distraction for your husband. If you want the job, I need your promise.”

“That’s easy, Ash. I promise. I knew that was my last time when I did it.”

“Good. That means you’ll have a reason to visit more often.”

“And the floors will still need sweeping.”

He laughed softly. “And the floors will still need to be swept.”

She was giddy with happiness as the music came to a close and he led her off the floor. She noticed McKinnon standing against the far wall.

“Do you think I can convince him to dance with me?” She gestured with her head.

Ash chuckled. “I think he will do anything you ask of him, as long as it falls within the range of what’s appropriate.”

She did a happy little shimmy and could hear Ash’s laughter behind her as she made her way across the room.

“Mr. McKinnon, might I have the pleasure of this next dance?” His eyes widened and if she wasn’t mistaken, his cheeks flushed.

“I don’t have a lot of practice, but if that is what you wish, Mrs. Fitzwilliam.”

She rolled her eyes. “What I wish is for you to still just call me lass.”

“I’m not sure that would be appropriate.”

“Well, perhaps you don’t know this about me yet, but I don’t put much stock in propriety or rules.” She raised her brow.

“Very well, lass. Although, I might find myself in trouble for it.”

“If someone has a problem with it, you just tell them to see me.”

He smiled and held out an arm to escort her onto the floor.

She was sure to share her final dance with her husband before he whisked her away to a waiting carriage.

“Well, Mrs. Fitz, are you ready for an entire wedding night of pleasure?” He pulled her onto his lap and kissed her passionately.

“Actually,” she said as she reluctantly pulled her lips away from his. “I had something else in mind for tonight, at least for the first part of the night. If you wouldn’t mind too much, anyway.”

“I am yours to command, my beautiful wife.”

Wife. She loved the sound of that.

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