Page 20 of A Raven Realized (The Raven’s Den #5)

Chapter Twelve

S imon’s eyelids were as heavy as iron gates, but slowly he managed to lift them.

Every inch of him hurt, and his head pounded as he scanned the room.

He wasn’t sure where he was. Raven House if he had to guess, since the last thing he remembered was riding toward the gates.

Sunlight glowed through the curtains, so it was no longer nighttime.

In the chair next to his bed sat the last person he would have expected to be watching over him.

“Fogg?” He was weak and barely able to get the word out.

Fogg raised a brow as he approached the bed. “I told Ash you were too stubborn to die.”

“I’m definitely not dead. No offense, but yours is the last face I would see on the other side.”

“Unless you’re in hell.” Fogg shrugged.

“I’ve no doubt I’ll be going that way, but I don’t imagine they have soft beds.”

Fogg held a glass of water to his lips, and he took a sip. He didn’t have the energy to argue.

“Madelene?”

“She’s here.”

Simon sighed with relief. She was safe. “Raven House?”

Fogg nodded. “I’m glad you made it here. God knows what would have happened to you if you hadn’t.”

“I had to. I couldn’t just die somewhere random and abandon her.”

“Perhaps if you’d come here before your errand, you wouldn’t have had to shake hands with death.”

“My fight isn’t the responsibility of anyone here.”

Fogg shrugged. “Ash says you might be joining us soon.”

“I hope so.” He rolled his shoulder gingerly with a groan. It felt as if he'd been hit with a sledgehammer. “You’ve been with him for a while now. How is he to work for?”

“It’s a mixed bag, of course, but it’s a hell of a lot better than the Intelligence Services.

He’s grumpy and demanding, but he doesn’t take your soul.

He respects me, and even though I’m his valet, he always makes sure I’m well.

The truth is, I couldn’t ask for better.

He expects absolute loyalty, though, so don’t make your decision lightly. ”

Simon nodded. How could he not pledge his loyalty to the man? He’d already taken on his sister, probably saved his life, and made sure Madelene was safe.

“Don’t misunderstand me. He will give his loyalty in return.”

“Thank you. I appreciate your candor. And thank you for making sure Madelene was safe.”

“It’s Brennan you have to thank for that. He was the one who went to fetch her. He said her name was the only word you spoke when you landed on our doorstep. So do you have a happy announcement to share with us?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Well, I assume there are wedding bells in your near future.”

Simon laughed, or as close as he could manage to a laugh. “Don’t be ridiculous.” He pushed himself up a bit and Fogg slipped a pillow behind him. “She’s simply staying with me until I can find a place for her to go.”

The door opened in the middle of his sentence, and Ash stepped into the room. “She hasn’t left your side for a moment, Allister. I finally sent her to bed a few hours ago.”

“Well, she’s only concerned for me because she has a very kind soul and she doesn’t really have anyone else to turn to. And even if it is more than that, I am not husband material.”

“Neither am I,” Ash said with a shrug as he came to stand opposite Fogg.

Simon shook his head. “We are not the same, Ash, and you wouldn’t compare our situations if you knew where I was before I ended up here last night.”

“I may not know exactly where you were, but I can guess what you were doing. The blood you were covered in didn’t just disappear on its own.”

Simon looked down at his hand. He’d forgotten about the blood.

“It wasn’t just on your hand,” Fogg said quietly.

“You cleaned me up?”

“It was a joint effort, but the pajamas are mine.”

Simon hated feeling vulnerable and reliant on someone else’s help. He always took care of himself. “It doesn’t really feel like enough, but thank you.”

“Is there a mess somewhere that needs to be cleaned up as well?” Ash asked. Strangely there was no judgment or derision in his tone.

Simon shook his head. “It won’t matter now. His servants will have found him before the sun even rose. This is why I’m not husband material. I was careless.” He swallowed to soothe his throat. “If the authorities trace it back to me, I’ll hang. Where will that leave her?”

“Well, first of all, you weren’t there last night, you were here,” Ash said. “But you also weren’t there the night before, when the man, whoever he was, was killed.”

“What do you mean the night before? Are you saying I’ve been here more than an entire day?”

Ash nodded slowly. “And Madelene has not left your side.”

“That doesn’t matter,” Simon said grumpily. He couldn’t let it matter. He pushed himself upright in the bed. Dizziness swept over him as he threw the blankets off, and he swayed, but he didn’t stop. “I have a horse that I’ve got to get back. One more piece of evidence to connect me.”

Fogg and Ash stood on opposite sides of the bed, blocking him in.

“Relax, Allister. The horse has already been returned to where it belongs.” Ash placed a hand on Simon’s shoulder.

“Madelene is safe. You’re safe. The doctor said you’ll need to rest to allow whatever you were poisoned with to leave your system.

So right now, you’re going to tell me the man’s name so we can see what we can find out about the investigation, while you’re doing just that. ”

“No,” he said firmly. “No. I am not becoming your problem, Ash. I am already heavily indebted to you.”

Fogg leaned in and spoke softly. “As someone who’s been where you are now, I understand what you’re feeling. But trust me, Allister, you’re not going to win this one. Just give us the name.”

Fogg was probably the only person alive who truly did understand. Simon sighed heavily. “Lord Alan Webber.”

“Was he part of the fake marriage scheme?” Ash asked.

“Not strictly speaking.” Simon closed his eyes.

He didn’t want to tell anyone about what had happened to his sister, but perhaps it was right if Ash knew the truth since she was currently in his care.

“The man who had my sister—” He paused for a moment, centering himself.

“He shared her with a group of other men. Webber was the only one of them left. Which is why he knew I’d be coming for him. ”

Ash let out a long sigh and patted his shoulder. “Get some sleep. If for no other reason, for Madelene. Husband material or not, she’s been worried about you.”

“What about Samantha?”

Ash shook his head. “She doesn’t know you’re here. She has enough to be getting on with right now without worrying over you. She’s making progress and I was afraid seeing you that way might set her back.”

Simon nodded. “Thank you.” How had he become so useless?

“Now rest.”

“You need to get some sleep too, Ash,” Fogg said as they turned for the door. “You’ve only had a handful of hours in two days. I’ll go look into the investigation.”

Ash raised a scornful brow, and Fogg held up his hands. “You’re the boss.”

Fogg cupped a hand around his mouth and spoke conspiratorially to Simon. “Like I said, don’t take your decision lightly.”

With an exasperated sigh, Ash left the room.

Fogg looked back as he reached the door. “I’m glad you didn’t die, Allister. We were worried about you for a little while.”

* * *

Madelene watched every breath as Simon’s chest rose and fell while he slept. At least now it was a steady rhythm and strong, and he’d regained some of his color. When Ash had finally made her leave his side, he’d still been frightfully pale, his skin almost grey.

He was propped up now and no longer lying flat. Apparently, he’d even been awake and talking. Thank God for that, but she was so conflicted. Part of her wanted to shake him awake, but he needed rest.

There was a light tap on the door, and Gwen peeked her head in. “I’ve brought you some tea,” she whispered. She closed the door softly behind her and handed Madelene the saucer, which also held a biscuit.

“Thank you.”

“The ladies are going to be up and about soon, so we’ll need you to stay in here or in your room for the next few hours.”

“Am I not supposed to be here?”

“It’s not that. We just want to keep the gossip to a minimum.”

That still didn’t make a lot of sense, but Madelene simply nodded and looked down at her tea. “I’d prefer to stay in here if I may.”

“Of course,” Gwen said with a nod. “Do you need me to bring you anything else?”

Madelene shook her head. “You have all been so kind. I am truly thankful.”

She gave Madelene’s arm an affectionate squeeze. “I’ll be back in a little while.” When she reached the door, Gwen looked back at Simon. She smiled and nodded toward his bed.

His eyes were open.

“Simon!” Madelene deposited her tea on the table with a slosh and a clatter and rushed to his side.

His lips turned up in a smile and tears instantly poured down her face as she gripped his hand. This time, it squeezed her back. “Thank God,” she whispered, pressing a kiss against the back of his hand.

“I’m sorry, Madelene.” He held up his other arm and she laid across his chest so he could wrap it around her. He pressed a soft kiss to her temple. “I’m sorry,” he said again. His voice was weak, but he was awake.

“You’ve nothing to apologize for, Simon.”

He breathed in deeply against her hair. “I do, but I’m so grateful you’re here. Has everyone been treating you well?”

She nodded against his chest. “Except when Ash threatened to carry me out of here if I didn’t go to bed.”

His body moved with a quiet laugh. “I’m glad to hear it.”

She looked up at him. “Glad to hear he was going to carry me away from you?”

“If that’s what it took.”

She laid her head back on his chest. “I was worried about you.”

“I know, but this is the safest place I could have been.”

“How do you know Ash? When I asked him if he’s your friend, he didn’t give a straightforward answer.”

“It’s complicated. I actually have a few connections to him, strangely. The biggest one is my sister. She’s in his care.”

“Your sister is here?” She stood so she could see his face. “Why didn’t she come to visit you?”

“She doesn’t know I’m here. And it needs to stay that way. She’s healing from some really hard things right now, and worrying about me would only set her back.”

That was why they didn’t want gossip spreading. “What are the other connections?”

“I hope he’ll allow me to come and work for him, once we’re finally able to track down the bloody vicar. He’s the only thing keeping me at the Intelligence Services now.”

Before she could ask what kind of work he’d be doing here, the door opened, and Ash stepped into the room. She squeezed Simon’s hand more tightly, shaking her head. She wouldn’t leave him.

“Don’t worry,” Ash said. “I haven’t come to send you away. How’s our patient?”

She smiled at Simon, so grateful that he was awake and talking.

“Much better,” he said, but his voice was still strained.

“Good. If you’re up to it, we need to move you tonight.”

“I can go now if you want.”

Ash shook his head. “After the club opens. The ladies are up and about right now. You can’t keep my valet, but I’ll send him with you to make sure you’re safe and settled. And I know you’ll be in good hands when he leaves.” He gave Madelene a warm smile.

She nodded. “I won’t leave his side.”