A Raven Repents (The Raven’s Den #7)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

There were usually plenty of amorous widows at Lady Hempsted’s masquerades, but tonight the ballroom was filled with mothers, here for one last, desperate attempt to find husbands for their daughters.

Giles was heir to an earldom until his cousin had a son, and despite the mask he wore, they’d all recognized him and circled like vultures.

He had barely managed to escape the last group of them trying to foist their daughters onto him.

But he wasn’t here for a wife. He was here for a widow. One eager to have him in her bed. He was too young to settle down, and his life was perfect just the way it was. Part-owner of a successful gaming hell, plenty of money, and good friends. What more could a man ask for?

A night of vigorous bed sport. That’s what.

He was just about to give up on his quest when a woman across the room made deliberate eye contact with him from behind her mask. Her lips turned up in an alluring smile, and she tipped her head before disappearing into the hallway in that direction. Just the invitation he’d been waiting for.

He grabbed two glasses of champagne from a passing footman before starting down the same corridor. He wasn’t sure where she had disappeared to, but if she was smart, she’d be all the way at the end.

The last door was open just a crack, and he pushed it slowly with his shoulder.

He didn’t want to intrude on another couple, after all.

But it was quiet, and as he turned into the room, she was there, waiting for him.

A single lamp was lit on the far side of the room, and she leaned against the edge of the desk, her hands clasped in front of her.

“Good evening,” Giles said. “Do you mind if I close this?” He gestured toward the door.

“I don’t mind.” Her voice was quiet. Nervous, even. Perhaps this was her first assignation. Not exactly what he was hoping for, but as long as she was willing, they could start slow and work up to vigorous.

Giles pushed the door shut with his hip and crossed the room to her. The lamplight glinted off the dark ringlets that brushed against her neck as she swallowed. Definitely nervous.

“Here, this will help.” He handed her a glass of champagne.

She took a sip. Her lips were full, pink, and irresistible. They parted slightly as her gaze locked with his, and he leaned in and pressed his own against them. They were just as soft as they looked, but not altogether responsive.

Her green eyes filled with surprise. “You didn’t even ask my name.”

Giles chuckled. “I find it’s better to not involve names in this sort of rendezvous.”

Her eyes were still as wide as a doe’s behind her silver beaded mask. Was it possible he’d gotten the wrong end of the stick?

The door banged open. He stepped in front of her to shield her from view and spoke over his shoulder. “This room’s already occupied, old chap.”

“Christina?” The man’s voice was angry and accusatory.

“Papa!” She looked around him. “This isn’t what it looks like.”

Papa? Oh, Satan’s bollocks. She wasn’t a widow. Ice filled his stomach, even before he downed the remainder of his champagne. “There seems to be some kind of misunderstanding here, but I assure you, sir, I have not engaged in any inappropriate behavior with your daughter.”

“Papa.” She hurried over to him. “Nothing happened.”

“Nothing happened?” A vein bulged in his temple. “He has ruined you. Your reputation will be in shambles. How could you be so careless, Christina?”

“It wasn’t her fault. She was in here, and I wandered in by mistake.” Giles placed his empty glass on the desk. “I’ll bid you both a good night.”

“You most certainly will not.” The man pushed the door shut. “You just happened to wander in here… with two glasses of champagne? I’m not a complete fool. You have sullied her reputation, and you will do the honorable thing.”

Giles shook his head. “Trust me. You do not want her marrying a scoundrel like me, Mr…?”

“Pelham,” he barked, the puff of breath ruffling his mustache. “Recompense, then, for dishonoring her.”

“Very well.” He pulled a stack of bank notes from his pocket and reluctantly handed the man ten pounds. It was her reputation, after all.

“You think her reputation is only worth ten pounds?”

“That’s a lot of money for a simple misunderstanding. Now if you’ll excuse me—”

“One hundred pounds,” the man said, stepping in front of him.

“You must be joking. You think I have one hundred pounds in my pocket?”

“You have it somewhere, Mr. Henderson. I’ll give you one hour to collect it. If you don’t return by then, I’ll announce your betrothal to the entire ballroom.”

Why had he even bothered with a mask? He pulled it off and chucked it onto the floor.

Apparently, his needy cock had led him straight into a very expensive trap. Had she intentionally lured him in? Or had her father simply followed him and was taking full advantage of the situation?

What difference did it make now?

“I’ll need a day or two to get that kind of money, but I’ll pay you,” he said irritably.

The man shook his head. “I’ll extend it to two hours because I’m feeling generous.” He pulled his watch from his pocket. “That starts now.”

Bloody hell. There was clearly no use arguing with the man.

With a huff, Giles wrenched the door open.

He didn’t keep money like that in his townhouse.

That was just asking to be robbed. Since the bank wasn’t open, he’d have to borrow some of it from one of his partners.

He didn't particularly want to tell them about his folly, but what choice did he have? He certainly wasn’t going to marry the deceitful woman.

When he stepped down from the cab in front of The Raven’s Den, it was too quiet.

He cursed under his breath. He’d completely forgotten they’d closed for Trent’s wedding celebrations.

If no one was around, he’d have to borrow it from the safe, instead.

Perhaps that was better anyway. Then he could just sneak the money back in, and no one would ever know about his imbecilic mistake.

“Good evening, O’Connell,” Giles said as he patted his pocket. Great, no keys.

“Evening, boss.”

“Would you mind letting me in? I need to retrieve something from the office.”

It was eerily dark inside, and the silence was absolute. He could have heard a pin drop, if there had been someone around to drop one. Under normal circumstances, the cavernous space was filled with light from the countless lamps, and a mélange of noise from all kinds of raucous activities.

Unable to see, he felt his way cautiously across the large space, still managing to bang his shin twice by the time he got to the other side. He whipped the curtain aside and marched up the stairs. The door to the office was locked. Of course it was bloody locked.

He’d never been in the club when it was empty, and it hadn’t even occurred to him he wouldn’t be able to get what he needed.

He kicked the door. Clearly, he had not thought this through.

Perhaps that was the theme of the night.

He didn’t want to trudge back through the darkness.

Not to mention, did the bouncers even have keys for the office?

With his fingertips, he massaged his forehead. If he went all the way home for his keys, he might not make it back to Lady Hempsted’s within the two-hour window. How had he managed to put himself in such an impossible situation?

At least the back door was easier to get to than the front. Definitely safer for his shins. He should have come in that way in the first place. He couldn’t unlock it, of course, so he knocked and waited for it to open.

“Good evening, boss.” The man was obviously confused to see Giles just standing there like an idiot, but he didn’t ask any questions.

“Do you have a key to the office upstairs, Donoghue? I really need to get in there, and I don’t have mine on me.”

“We don’t get a key for that door. I believe Allister has one, though.”

“And where might I find him?”

He shrugged. “You could check Raven House, but he may have gone home, since the club is closed for the night.”

Giles breathed a frustrated sigh. “I don’t suppose you have one hundred pounds on you?”

The man’s brow furrowed and he shook his head, the joke completely lost on him. Giles had no choice. If he didn’t want to bother someone at home, he’d have to go fetch his keys. Perhaps if he hurried, he’d still have enough time.

By the time he got back to The Raven’s Den, he was out of breath and sweaty.

He let out a string of curses as he banged his shin, again.

Why hadn’t he come through the back? With an exasperated roar, he barged through the curtains.

Worst night ever. After fumbling to line it up correctly, he jammed his key into the lock.

He flipped the switch, blinded by the harsh light it created.

Through squinted eyes, he got the safe open and pulled out the bank notes he needed. Checking his watch, he was relieved to see it hadn’t been two hours yet. If he was quick, he might just make it. He locked the safe and turned to leave.

Ash stood in the doorway, and Giles’ heart leapt into his throat.

“Bloody hell. You startled me.” But Ash didn’t laugh, or smile. Giles looked down at the money he held in his hand.

Not again.

“This isn’t what it looks like, Ash.”

“Sit down, Giles.”

“I don’t have time. I have to—”

“Sit. Down.”

Oh. He hadn’t raised his voice, but there was no question.

He was angry. Giles had never been on the receiving end of Ash’s anger before.

Annoyance plenty of times, but nothing like this.

Without another word, he pulled out a chair and sat.

He wasn’t sure what was coming, but Ash could be dangerous, so he prayed it wasn’t a beating.

“This isn’t what it looks like, Ash.” His heart was thundering.

“It looks like you’ve gotten yourself into a spot of bother and didn’t want to tell anyone about it.”