Page 6 of A Raven Repents

She jumped to her feet. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

Giles shrugged. “It’s awfully late.”

She took a step around the end of the sofa, putting it as a shield between them.

The irony of it jarred a laugh from him. “Now you’re afraid of me? Perhaps you should have been a bit more afraid before you trapped me.”

“I-I didn’t mean to.”

His eyes nearly rolled to the back of his head. “You didn’t mean to? You just inadvertently led me into a dark study, gave me permission to close the door, and allowed me to kiss you?”

“I didn’t have a choice.”

“Your father forced you?”

She shook her head and lowered her gaze to the floor. “He didn’t force me.”

Her contradiction nettled his remaining wisp of patience. She didn’t have a choice, but she wasn’t forced? He blew out an irritated breath. “Why are you here, Miss Pelham? Did your father change his mind but is too much of a coward to come, himself? Had to send his daughter to do his dirty work, like usual?”

Her green eyes were wide and darted about, her fingers gripping the arm of his sofa. “He doesn’t want me to marry you.”

“Then why are you here?”

“Because I’m desperate.” She looked down at her hands. “I was hoping… perhaps stupidly… that your offer still stands, and you might elope with me.”

His lungs seized. He didn’t want to marry. Especially a woman as duplicitous as this one.

“You mean now?” He chuckled, but it quickly escalated into full-bodied, slightly manic laughter. He threw his arms into the air. “Why not?” At least that way, they’d be married by the time Thursday’s meeting came around. Perhaps that would help to ease his partners’ inevitable anger. Hopefully, it would be enough to keep them from expelling him.

Giles pulled the door open, not surprised to see Thistle right on the other side. “It would seem we need an extra bed readied.”

The man’s brow furrowed but he nodded. “Yes, sir.”

Giles turned back to her. “There won’t be a train for a few hours yet, so we might as well get some sleep.”

“Thank you, Mr. Henderson.”

“Under the circumstances, I think you can probably address me by my given name, Giles.”

“Thank you, Giles.”

He shook his head. “Thistle will take you up when your bed is ready.”

As he climbed the stairs, guilt whispered in his ear for the way he’d treated her. He shook it away. He was going to marry the woman, for God’s sake. Surely that counted for something.

An hour into their train ride, the silence was unbearably heavy.

“Why did you do it?”

She jumped at his words. “At the ball, you mean?”

“What else would I be talking about?” He wasn’t usually a grumpy man, but he was so angry that she’d forced him into this. So angry that her actions had led to him losing trust with his partners.

“You’re only going to hate me more for it, if I tell you.”

“I doubt that’s possible.”

She shifted nervously. “I needed your money.”