Page 82 of A Raven Repents

“Allow him to gamble in our club, you mean? So there are no debt collectors?”

“More than that. I think there might be a way to keep him close, let him scratch his itch, and give him a purpose, all in one fell swoop.”

“Make him our inside man at the tables?”

Giles nodded. “Exactly.”

Ash sighed heavily and began walking again. “Let’s let him sit on what we gave him tonight for a week or two. I’ll need to think it over and discuss it with Allister to make sure the risk is low enough.”

Ash walked him all the way to his townhouse. Giles knew it was only because there was no other security with him, but for some reason, he was grateful rather than resentful. “Thank you, Ash. For everything.”

“You don’t need to thank me. You’re family, Giles.” Ash squeezed his shoulder. “Take tomorrow night off. It’s time for you to stop running away from”—he nodded toward the townhouse—“what’s most important.”

Giles looked up at his front door. He didn’t know how to respond to that. He had been running away from her, because he didn’t know how to breach the chasm that had opened between them.

Eventually, he nodded. “Goodnight, Ash.”

When he reached the top of the stairs, he placed his palm against her door and whispered, “I love you, Christina.”

Chapter

Nineteen

Christina was at such a loss. Giles wanted nothing to do with her, and she didn’t know how to fix it. Eventually, she wrote to his mother for advice, and this morning, a note arrived with her response. She was too afraid to open it on her own. Perhaps that was silly, but she needed Lavinia’s support with her. So she left Giles a note while he was sleeping, and went to visit her. Donoghue in tow, of course. These days she was never allowed to be alone outside of the house, and apparently, that was just how it would be forever now.

Lavinia opened the door herself and threw her arms around Christina, before pulling her along to the sitting room. Donoghue followed, even there, but kept a respectful distance. He’d probably been told about her previous disappearance from this house and didn’t want to risk it. But she wasn’t running away this time. This time, she was trying to get her husband back.

“Am I supposed to offer him tea?” Lavinia whispered.

“Would you like some tea, Donoghue?” Christina asked, already knowing he wouldn’t accept.

“No, thank you, Mrs. Henderson.”

The last time they had a talk like this, they met at a tea shop, and Donoghue waited outside. That’s when Lavinia had suggested writing to Giles’ mother. Christina took a sip of her tea before placing it on the table and pulling out the note.

“We’re going to be discussing a very personal correspondence, Donoghue.”

He nodded. “I cannot leave you, I’m afraid. But I assure you, you’ll have my utmost discretion.”

Perhaps they should have met at a tea shop again, but it was too late now. “So be it,” she said with a shrug, opening the envelope.

Have you tried seducing him?

She read the single line and then turned the card over, looking for more.

“Well?” Lavinia’s eyes were wide as she waited to hear what it said. Christina merely handed it to her.

Lavinia gasped before doubling over with laughter. Perhaps Christina should be just as amused, but she wasn’t. It felt like his mother was making a joke of it.

Lavinia wiped her tears when she sat up. “I can’t believe that came from his mother.”

“It seems to be a recurring sentiment for her.”

Lavinia clapped a hand over her mouth. “What does that mean?”

She shouldn’t mention it in front of Donoghue, but why not embarrass the lot of them? “When we stayed with her in Bournemouth, she asked Giles if he needed advice on how to seduce me.”

“She didn’t!”