Page 7 of A Raven Realized (The Raven’s Den #5)

Chapter Four

M adelene had never been into the city before, and although the sun felt glorious on her face as she stepped down from the carriage, the barrage of sounds and smells was overwhelming.

She held Simon’s hand tightly and pressed herself close to his side.

Why did a man she still knew nothing about make her feel so safe?

More to the point, why was a man she didn’t know keeping her safe?

He showed her briefly around his townhouse.

On the entry level, there was a kitchen and small dining room.

On the next level, a serviceable sitting room and his study, for which she only saw the door.

Eventually, he escorted her up another flight of stairs to the room she’d be staying in.

She still didn’t fully understand what that meant, how long she’d be there, or what he intended for her.

It wasn’t as spacious as she was used to.

Although, none of this was what she was used to.

This man, who was kind, caring, and gentle.

Who talked to her and looked into her eyes.

And kissed her. The memory tugged at her lips.

Smiling wasn’t something she did very often, and usually only while reading. But that kiss…. Her sigh was dreamy.

“I need to go into the office, so I have to leave you for a few hours. The only room that is off-limits to you is my study. You are free to go anywhere else in the house, but please don’t leave. This isn’t a safe area for a woman to go wandering on her own.”

She nodded.

“If you get hungry, I’m sure you can find something to eat in the kitchen.”

She nodded again and he laughed softly. She wasn’t used to voicing her responses, but he obviously thought it strange that she didn’t speak much.

“Thank you, Simon.”

“That’s better.” He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I’ll try not to be away more than a few hours.”

When he was gone, she climbed the stairs back up to the room she’d be staying in. She sighed as she seated herself near the fireplace. The room was warm. Almost stuffy, but after leaving the cold baths behind she could hardly complain.

As she sat there in someone else’s home, wearing someone else’s clothes, she felt completely lost. Who was she?

She’d only ever been the bane of her father’s existence.

He never failed to remind her that she had killed her mother, that there was evil in her that she had to overcome, and that she’d never been strong enough to do so.

But Simon didn’t seem to think that was true.

She touched her fingertips to her lips, remembering the kiss.

Kisses. She’d been wanton enough to ask for two.

So why didn’t she feel sullied? Surely she should be ashamed, but she wasn’t.

She had longed to experience a kiss for years, even though she knew it would never happen.

But it had happened, and it had not disappointed.

The beginning of a smile tipped the corners of her mouth, once more.

Perhaps, she could even convince him to do it again.

Putting that out of her mind, she got up and paced to the window. People hurried about, some of them shouting or waving, alongside lines of carriages and cabs moving in both directions. The chaos made her nervous, even from up there.

Madelene’s grandfather was a viscount, with enough wealth that her father didn’t have to work, so she didn’t even know what it meant when Simon said he needed to go into the office. She understood the words, and the idea. But what did he do for work? Where was this office?

Panic began to rise in her chest as she was reminded just how little she knew about him and this world he apparently lived in.

Did she live in this world now too? What was he going to do with her?

Was she going to have to find employment, as well?

Was that even something a woman could do?

And what about her father? What would happen when he realized she was gone?

Would he go looking for her? Or would he just be glad to wash his hands of her?

Shaking herself, she walked away from the window. Worrying about what may come was not going to resolve anything or answer any of her endless questions. Perhaps she could find a book or some other way to occupy her mind until Simon returned.

She wandered through the rest of the house, but if he had any books, they’d likely be in his study.

He’d specifically said she was not allowed in there, so she’d have to figure out something else to do to keep her mind busy.

Perhaps there were clues around that might tell her a bit about what kind of person he was.

Through a lifetime of forced silence, she’d made a game of figuring people out.

She’d become quite adept at discerning what people were like by simply observing.

But as she meandered around the sitting room, there was just nothing.

No clues about what kind of man Simon was, what brought him joy, or captured his interest. No art on the walls, no decorations to speak of.

There was a single newspaper on the table beside one chair.

His chair of choice, presumably. The paper was neatly folded and perfectly aligned with the edges of the table.

There were no used glasses or signs of a teapot, but there was a sideboard with a few bottles of different spirits.

Madelene had never been allowed spirits.

She’d once been brave enough to sneak a sip of sherry.

It certainly hadn’t been worth the week she’d had to spend in her room as a result.

With a sigh, she headed back upstairs, eventually finding herself in Simon’s bedroom. He hadn’t said she wasn’t allowed. Surely, there would be something there to tell her about what kind of man he was.

His bed was made neatly, with plush but plain duvet and pillows. There were very few colors in his home, a simple palette of shades of brown. Dark woods, brown leather, and even his bedding was tan. Everything was uncluttered and tidy. Almost too tidy. It didn’t feel as if he really lived there.

She opened his armoire, and it was more of the same. A half-dozen brown suits hung, equal spacing between each one. He liked order. That much was obvious. Why, then, had he rescued her on a whim? It didn’t make sense. It didn’t fit with the rest of this.

“Who are you?”

Madelene shrieked and whirled around at the sudden question, dropping the pair of socks she’d picked up. A woman stood in the doorway, her arms folded across her chest, her brow raised haughtily.

“M-Madelene,” she said, as if that was a sufficient answer.

“And what are you doing in Simon’s bedroom, Madelene? You’re not his sister, but in that dress, you didn’t just walk in off the streets either. Are you one of his strays?”

What did that mean? She didn’t know what to say, so she simply shook her head and looked at the floor.

“I don’t think he’ll appreciate you going through his private things. He’s not a man to be trifled with, so if you’ve stolen something, I suggest you put it back before you leave.”

Madelene sputtered. “I haven’t stolen anything. But you’re right. I shouldn’t be in his personal space. I’m sorry.” She stepped toward the door, but the woman didn’t move.

“You still haven’t told me who you are.”

“I don’t know,” she said stupidly, but it wasn’t wrong.

She didn’t know how else to answer the woman’s question.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t steal anything. I swear to you.

” Simon would never believe her. Why else would she have been in his bedroom, going through his wardrobe?

This woman, whoever she was, would surely tell him.

He’d take her back to Auburn Ridge. She couldn’t go back there.

She surged through the doorway, pushing the woman aside before sprinting down the stairs all the way to the ground floor. She threw the front door open and stumbled toward the street, sheer terror driving her forward.

She couldn’t go back.

Turning up the nearest alley, she collided with a large man. She tried to skirt past him, but his thick fingers clamped around her upper arm. His remaining teeth were yellow and his breath reeked.

“Where d’ya think yor goin’?”

“Get your hands off of her.” It was the woman from Simon’s house. She held a knife out in front of her and glared into the man’s eyes. “Or I’ll gut you,” she added.

Suddenly Madelene’s arm was free and she ran. She didn’t look back. She should make sure the woman was safe, but how could she possibly help?

“Madelene, stop.”

Not knowing what else to do, she did stop. She turned to face the woman. “Please don’t hurt me. I didn’t steal anything. I’ll go. I didn’t mean to cause any problems.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” she said, grabbing Madelene’s wrist. “I don’t know who you are, but I’m guessing Simon will be furious with me if he comes home to find you gone.”

The sun was nearly set and the alleyway grew darker by the minute. Madelene had never been more frightened. What was she supposed to do?

The woman pulled lightly on Madelene’s wrist. ”Let’s get you back inside before I really do have to stab someone tonight.”

She didn’t have a better option, so after a moment, Madelene nodded and followed her back to the house.

“Sit,” she instructed once they were back inside. There was a small table in the kitchen with a chair on either side of it. “I’ll make us some tea.”

“Who are you?” Madelene asked as she sat down.

“My name’s Bonnie. I’m Simon's housekeeper.” She looked over her shoulder. “I’m sorry I scared you.”

“Do you really know how to stab someone?” Madelene asked as Bonnie set the tea tray on the table.

She nodded. “That isn’t something you want to bluff about.” She added a plate of biscuits to the tray and poured them both a cup of tea before seating herself across from Madelene.

“Simon taught me how to protect myself.”