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

Chapter Three

M adelene felt strange wearing the clothes of someone she’d never even met.

But at least Simon could have his coat back, and her feet were no longer bare.

She looked at her reflection as the maid slipped one last pin into her hair.

Apparently, the dress belonged to Lady Epworth, which meant the house wasn’t owned by Lord Ashdown, as she’d assumed.

Not that it made any difference. Madelene didn’t know who any of them were.

“Thank you for all your kindness, Molly.”

“I’m just happy to have someone here for once. Lord and Lady Epworth don’t visit this estate very often, and it’s awfully quiet most of the time.”

“Don’t you think she’ll be angry that I’ve taken her clothes?”

She shook her head. “Lady Epworth is one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. If we turned you away without giving you something to wear, then she’d be angry.”

“Well, when next you see her, please give her my sincerest thanks.”

“I will. Now, would you like me to show you the way downstairs so you may eat with the others?”

Madelene nodded, but the maid seemed to be expecting a verbal answer. “Yes, please.” She followed her down to the dining room where Simon and Brennan already sat at the table with plates full of food.

A footman hurried to pull out a chair for her. Another servant placed a plate of food in front of her as soon as she was seated and then quickly filled her teacup.

“Would you like anything else, miss?”

It was all a bit overwhelming. There had been a few servants in her father’s household, but they never spoke to her. She wasn’t entirely sure how to respond.

“No, thank you.” The plate was filled with a delectable assortment of eggs, toast, bacon, and stewed apples. Surely it would be gluttonous for her to eat so much delicious food?

She looked up at Simon but he merely raised a brow at her reticence. “Eat,” he said, nodding toward her plate. “We have a long day of travel ahead of us.”

Even if it was a sin, what difference would it really make at this point?

She might as well indulge while she had the chance.

Her mouth watered as she lifted the fork.

Nothing had ever tasted so good. She closed her eyes to better savor the delectable food.

When she opened them again, Simon was watching her.

Her cheeks grew warm and she ducked her head.

“It’s quite delicious,” he said quietly. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

“It might be the best meal I’ve ever eaten.”

“Well don’t waste a bite, then.”

It was all the encouragement she needed to enjoy the rest of it. She saved the apples for last, a sweet treat to end with.

As soon as she laid down her fork and knife, the footman was at her side. “Would you like more of anything, miss?”

“No, thank you. I’ve already eaten more than I should have.”

Simon got to his feet. “Please tell the cook it was incredibly delicious and we are very appreciative.”

“I will, sir.” The footman gave a nod, a smile turning up his lips.

“Is the carriage ready for us, Mr. Beecham?”

“Yes, sir.”

“It’s time for us to take our leave, then. I am so grateful for the hospitality you’ve bestowed upon us. If you see Lord Epworth before he receives my letter of thanks, please tell him thank you for me.”

The housekeeper hurried up to them as they made their way to the front door. “You need a coat, Miss Madelene.”

“I’ve already taken far too much,” she said, shaking her head.

“If I send you out in the cold with no coat, Lady Epworth will never forgive me.”

Simon took the coat from Mrs. Lamb. “We can’t have you in trouble with your employer.” He held it up and Madelene reluctantly slipped her arms through. It wasn’t even that cold outside. Certainly nothing like the icy water she’d endured, but she couldn’t very well argue.

When it was settled around her, she smiled at the housekeeper. “I hope one day I might meet Lady Epworth. She sounds like a remarkable woman.”

“That, she is,” Mrs. Lamb said with a nod.

Two horses stood behind the carriage and Brennan climbed onto one of them.

“Are you not riding in the carriage?” Simon asked him.

He shook his head. “I don’t do carriages if I can avoid them.”

Simon helped her up before turning back to Brennan. “There’s no reason for you to wait for us, then. You might as well go on ahead and get Ash’s horses back to him. Give him my thanks. I have some pressing things to see to, but I’ll call on him again soon.”

“What about her?”

“Ash has plenty on his plate already.”

“What are you going to do with her?”

She held her breath. What was he going to do with her?

“You needn’t concern yourself with that. I’ll see that she’s taken care of.”

What did that mean?

Simon didn’t wait for any kind of response. He simply climbed into the carriage and seated himself across from her. He pounded on the roof and they lurched into motion.

The question continued to play through her head, but she didn’t have the courage to ask Simon directly. They sat in silence for some time before he eventually spoke.

“We have a long journey, so we might as well get to know each other a little. Tell me something about yourself.”

“There’s not really anything to tell.”

“Sure there is. What’s your surname? We can start there.”

“Lund.”

“You live with your father?”

Madelene nodded. “I did. And I assume he would have come back for me eventually, after I learned to control my wickedness.” Was Simon going to take her back to her father?

“How long have you been at Auburn Ridge?”

“Less than a day, I think. Although, it felt much longer.”

“What sort of wickedness was it that led your father to deliver you to Auburn Ridge?”

Her heart suddenly lurched into a gallop.

What would Simon do if he knew the truth about her?

Would he abandon her? Would he turn around and take her back to the asylum?

Slowly, she forced her gaze up from her fidgeting fingers to meet his.

It was difficult for her to do that, but she needed to see his reaction to her words.

“I tried to seduce my music teacher.”

The corners of his mouth twitched as he held back laughter. His ridicule stung even more than his judgment would have. She folded her arms over her chest, wishing she could just disappear, and turned to face the window.

“Hey,” he said, placing a hand gently on her knee. “I’m sorry, Madelene. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

She shrugged, trying to hide her pain. “I know I’m not much to look at.”

“Is that what you think my laughter was about? It wasn’t. You are beautiful, Madelene.”

Was he teasing her? She looked into his eyes again, but there didn’t seem to be any jesting there now.

“It’s simply that you’re so quiet and reserved I have a hard time imagining you being bold enough to seduce someone.” He gave her an apologetic smile. “Will you tell me what happened?”

She shrugged. “He sat down beside me on the bench to show me the proper way to play the piece, and I asked if he would kiss me.”

“Your music teacher was a lucky man to have your affections.”

It was her turn to laugh. “He didn’t have my affections. I hardly know the man. It was my thirtieth birthday and I’d never been kissed, so I took my chance while I had it.”

“Well, was it a good kiss at least?”

“There was no kiss.” She shook her head, humiliated at the memory. “Unbeknownst to me, my father was standing in the doorway, and he heard me.”

“Are you telling me your father left you at that place because you asked for a kiss?”

She nodded. To hear him say it, it did seem like perhaps her father’s reaction was a bit extreme.

Simon looked into her eyes, and his features relaxed, his lips turning up in a slow, secret smile.

“I know it's no longer your birthday, but would you like me to kiss you, Madelene?”

Her heart skipped a beat at the words. There was no teasing in his blue-grey eyes. She’d never wanted anything more in her life, but was she brave enough to say yes?

Her nod was a bit jerky, but it was the best she could manage. He slid off the bench and knelt before her.

“If you want me to kiss you, you’re going to have to say so with words. I’ll not take your first kiss unless I’m absolutely certain it’s what you want.”

She swallowed down her nervousness and gazed into his eyes. “I want you to kiss me.”

Her whole being seemed to be filled with waiting as he slowly leaned forward.

His lips were warm and soft as they pressed lightly against hers, and her eyes slid shut.

His kiss was slow and gentle, but it sent a rush of excitement through her body, and she shivered.

He started to pull back, but something possessed her, and she wrapped a hand around the back of his neck, pulling him closer.

This might be the only kiss she would ever experience, and she wasn’t ready for it to end yet.

With his soft groan, everything changed. His mouth covered hers hungrily, his tongue sliding over her lips. The sensation breathed life into the need that was growing within her and she whimpered.

He ripped his lips away from hers and gasped in a breath.

His eyes locked with hers and she knew he was looking to see if she was alright.

She nodded and he smiled tenderly before climbing back onto the bench behind him.

He blinked a few times then scooted over and pulled the curtain aside, blowing out a long breath which fogged the surface of the window as he looked out.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she touched them to her lips. They tingled, and she could still feel where his tongue had traced over them. That was not at all what she’d imagined a kiss would be. Her mind could never have conjured something so utterly intoxicating.

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