Chapter 6
Chapter Six
“Bloody Ash!” It had taken him a minute to figure it out, but that’s who had sent it.
That’s what he’d done with the money Giles gave him.
A piece of gravel stabbed into the bottom of his foot.
“Ouch!” He hadn’t bothered to put his shoes on, and they weren’t doing him a damn bit of good in his hands.
Lifting his foot, he removed the rock and threw it as far as he could manage.
He brushed off the rest of the gravel and straightened his sock before slipping on his shoe.
He repeated the same with his other foot and crouched to tie them.
“That was uncalled for, Giles.”
He’d forgotten Isaac was even there. “What are you still doing here, Isaac? I don’t need a nanny.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that. You certainly behaved like a child in there with your wife.”
Giles stood up and swung, but Isaac blocked his punch. He shook his head. “I’ve sparred with every man on your security team, and your cousin, so trust me when I say I can hold my own. And you’re not my employer, so I will fight back.”
Giles turned his face up and roared his frustration at the sky. Why couldn’t he do anything right anymore?
He could not go back to Michael’s right now, so using his own carriage, he went straight to the station.
The train ride back to London probably should have cooled his ire, but instead, it was all the hotter by the time he entered Raven House and stormed into Ash’s office. “You sent that money to my wife?”
Ash looked up from his desk, his brow raised just a bit, but he spoke quietly. “Close the door, Giles. We don’t need to make a scene in front of the ladies.”
Giles huffed and pushed the door shut behind him. “There, it’s closed,” he said angrily.
“Now sit down.”
“Why are you like this? Why can’t you ever just shout back?”
Ash sat there, silently waiting. But Giles didn’t want to be calm. He wanted to hit something, or someone. He wanted to throw things, curse, bellow, and stomp his feet.
“Why?” he asked desperately, but Ash still just waited.
With a groan, he finally lowered himself into the chair. “Why did you send that money to my wife?”
“What do we do here, Giles?”
“Oh, bloody hell, not this again.”
“This is all there is. What do we do here?”
“My wife isn’t on the streets, Ash. She’s living in a lavish home with her every need seen to. I even sent a dressmaker.”
“What do we do here, Giles?”
“For Christ’s sake.” He closed his eyes and breathed out a cleansing breath. There was no winning against this man. “We bring in women and give them safety.”
Ash nodded. “That’s step one. What comes after that?”
“We give them the tools they need in order to have agency over their own lives.” As he spoke the words, his conviction faltered.
“And did you give your wife that?”
Slowly, he looked down at his hands and shook his head. “No.”
“That’s why I sent her the money. I had a feeling you hadn’t thought to leave her with any. And without it, she becomes a prisoner. Even if the prison is a very lavish one.”
He raised his eyes to meet Ash’s. “She redecorated my whole bloody house. Flowers and pastels everywhere.”
Ash chuckled. “Good.”
“It’s not good,” he said irritably.
“At least she’s still there, and hasn’t left you yet.”
He wanted to argue and seethe about how she’d trapped him, but he was starting to wonder if perhaps he was on the wrong side of the argument.
As usual, Ash was probably right. She was his wife, after all.
Regardless of how it got started. “I’m not going to be able to just pretend like it isn’t real forever. Am I?”
“I’m afraid not. But is the prospect of having a marriage with her really so bad?”
“I don’t know anything about her.” He couldn’t help the smile that tipped his lips just a bit. “She’s feisty, though.” And beautiful, if he was being honest with himself. He chuckled. “She threw a pillow at my head.”
“Surely the least you deserve.”
He looked up at Ash and nodded. “Did you send me up to Glenwood knowing I might somehow find my way home?”
Ash shrugged. “Take the night off and get yourself in order. Then you can go back and start groveling.”
“I know I was out of line the way I came in here, but please don’t take this away from me. I need this place.”
“I’m not. But I can smell the booze on you from here. Take the night off.”
“I still shouldn’t have come in here the way I did.”
“I knew how angry you’d be when you found out I’d sent her the money behind your back. But once a woman becomes a part of this family, she’s protected by all of us. Even from others of us, when necessary.”
The words were like a knife in his gut. How had he become that? “I’m sorry, Ash. I know I’ve built up an entire mountain of mistakes recently.”
“We all make mistakes, Giles.”
“Even you?”
“Especially me. Why do you think this whole place exists?” He gestured to their surroundings.
“I don’t know. I suppose I never really thought about it. I assumed it just started as a lark with three friends.”
Ash shook his head. “It was never a lark. Don’t get me wrong, I think we all enjoy ourselves here. But for me, it was always an attempt to try and balance my ledger, and make up for some of the sins in my past. Not that it actually works that way, but you have to start somewhere.”
“I’m going to turn this around, Ash. Somehow. Even if I don’t have the faintest idea how to be a husband.”
Ash nodded. “I’m counting on it.”
Not until he walked into his townhouse, did Giles realize he’d left Thistle behind. He groaned. He hadn’t wanted to return to Glenwood and face Michael. Hadn’t wanted to endure another inevitable beating, even if he did deserve one.
He stared at the bathtub. He’d never had to fill it himself, but surely he could figure it out. It couldn’t be that complicated, could it? At least here, there was running water. He didn’t have that in his country home.
He filled the tub, then went back down to the kitchen to boil some water. Apparently, one kettleful wasn’t nearly enough, because the water was barely this side of frigid when he climbed in. But it would have to do. His consequence for being a coward and a selfish bastard.
He kept it brief, but even still, his body shivered as he dried off, the incessant pounding in his head made only worse by the cold. He climbed into bed, curled up on his side, and pulled the blankets over his shoulder. If he could just sleep, things would be better in the morning.
Christina nearly jumped out of her seat when the butler entered with the reply she’d been waiting for.
She tried to hide her urgency as she removed the letter from the salver.
“Thank you.” She waited for the man to leave before reading the missive.
She wiggled in her seat with a celebratory dance.
Lavinia was happy to meet her for a day of shopping.
“Thomas, I’d like to go shopping with my friend Lavinia today. In Mayfair.”
He blinked a half-dozen times without speaking.
“Surely, my husband hasn’t said I’m not allowed?”
“No, but perhaps we should inform him first.”
She shook her head. “I am going, just as soon as I get my reticule. Since you always seem to be watching me, I assume you’d like to accompany me. If so, I suggest you don’t dally.”
“Yes, Mrs. Henderson. I’ll have a carriage made ready.”
When he was gone, she blew out a breath. Thank goodness he hadn’t called her bluff. She wouldn’t even know how to get to Mayfair on her own.
Fortunately, Winnie didn’t need convincing. She was thrilled at the prospect of a trip to Mayfair.
“I’ve never been before,” she said happily, as she tidied Christina’s hair. She retrieved a jacket and a parasol, and soon, they were on their way.
Excitement grew as the train picked up speed.
Even her husband wouldn’t be able to stop her now.
She wasn’t leaving him. Surely he’d find her eventually.
But she needed a little time before she could endure his cruelty again, and with no way of knowing when he might return, she would not be going home today.
Instead, she was running away like a coward.
“Lavinia!” She threw her arms around her friend. Tears welled in her eyes. It was so nice to see a friendly face.
“Are you alright, Christina?”
“Of course I am. I just need some time with my friend.”
“And perhaps some shopping?” Lavinia linked her arm with Christina’s as they walked.
“The shopping was more of a ruse than anything. I don’t have much of that money left. But perhaps I can afford a new pair of gloves or a hat.”
“Oh come now. All of these stores will open accounts for your husband.”
Christina nodded. “Undoubtedly, but I don’t feel right about doing that without his permission. And he certainly wouldn’t give it. He didn’t even admit to sending me that money. Probably too drunk to remember doing it.”
“Is he a drunkard? I’ve never heard that about him.”
“I don’t know, but he was certainly in his cups when he showed up the other night and passed out at my feet, proclaiming he was there to rescue me.”
Lavinia giggled. “Rescue you from what?”
“Himself, apparently.”
“That’s stuff and nonsense.”
Christina laughed. “One would think so.”
“Well, I think he deserves for you to spend some of his money. By all accounts, he has plenty of it.”
Christina spared a quick glance behind them. Winnie, Thomas, and Lavinia’s maid all kept their distance but followed the pair of them as they walked.
She leaned in and spoke quietly. “Did you manage to get a note to my father?”
“You doubt my abilities? He’ll be waiting for you a bit later. I’ll provide you an opportunity to slip out after we get back to my house.”
Christina squeezed her arm. “You really are the best friend a girl could ask for.”
“You say that, but I selfishly plan on having you return the favor one day.”
By the time they arrived at Lavinia’s townhouse, it was rather late in the afternoon. Thomas approached her. “I think we should be getting back, Mrs. Henderson.”
“One cup of tea, Thomas. I promise I won’t dally.”
After they settled into the sitting room, Christina excused herself to use the lavatory, but hurried through the house and out the back door. Running as fast as her feet would carry her, she made her way to where her father’s carriage was waiting.
He stood beside it, the door already open. As soon as they were both inside, he thumped the roof and they were in motion.
Exhilarated laughter spilled from her lips as she tried to catch her breath.
“Papa! Thank you so much for coming!”
He smiled at her, but his eyes were bloodshot, and the smell of alcohol hovered in the carriage. He’d been drinking again. Hopefully that didn’t mean he’d been gambling as well. She couldn’t bring herself to ask. She was just grateful that he’d come for her.
When they walked through the door, she closed her eyes and breathed in the wonderful aroma.
“I had Betsy prepare your favorite roast chicken.”
“Thank you, Papa.”
She settled into the chair to his left at the dining table. Her chair. The chicken was tender and delicious, just as it had always been.
“I’ve missed this.”
“Does he treat you well, Christina?”
She huffed a cynical laugh. “No. I wouldn’t be running away from him if he did.”
“Has he hurt you?”
She shook her head. He hadn’t hurt her. Not physically, at least.
“Has he forced himself on you?”
“No, Papa.”
“So the marriage still hasn’t been consummated?”
“Papa.” Heat filled her cheeks. But he merely raised his brow. “No,” she said eventually. “I’ve hardly seen him, and when I have, he’s never done anything but shout at me.”
Her father sighed. “I’m sorry, Christina.”
“It isn’t your fault, Papa. I’m the one who ran away with him.”
“But I’m the reason you had to. I failed you.”
“It’s not a bad life. He doesn’t abuse me. I want for nothing. I have my own maid, I live in a grand house full of servants, and more gowns than I can count. I even redecorated." She smiled remembering the words her husband had used. It looks like a bloody flower garden threw up in here.
With a sigh, she placed her napkin on the table. Giles had given her a lot, but it was hard to be grateful for it when he openly detested her.
“Why don’t you go up and get ready for bed? There are still nightgowns in your armoire. I’ll bring you a cup of some special tea, that will help you get good rest tonight.”
She pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you, Papa.” Her father had made his share of mistakes, but he was good to her, and she loved him.