“Why do I need to have a care? He is nothing to me.” Her chest felt tight suddenly.
“He is of Raven blood.”
“And?”
“Do not save him if you do not wish to marry him. I’m not entirely sure a sweet-natured, gentle soul like you would survive with such a man.”
She looked to where Ash sat. The children were still with him.
“Can he be so bad if the children like him?”
“Very likely not, and let’s face it, we’ve had those like him enter our family before and change. But just don’t save him if you are not prepared for the consequences.”
She hadn’t meant to flinch.
“Did you just flinch?” Dev grabbed her shoulders and looked down at her.
“No, why would I?” Dorrie was good at schooling her expression so no one knew what she was thinking. With a family like hers, it was important.
“I don’t know. Why would you?” Dev’s green eyes fired to life as he studied her.
The problem was, this man knew her better than anyone.
“Do not inspect my color,” she snapped at him.
“I’m not.” He looked over her shoulder.
“You’re avoiding my eyes.”
“I was looking at my beautiful wife dancing with Cam. Surely you can allow me that much.”
“You”—she poked him the chest—“are a shocking liar.”
“You”—he impaled her with a look—“are not, and that worries me.”
Somer waltzed by with Gus.
“They are so happy,” Dorrie said. “It is a wonderful thing.”
“It is, and one day that will be you, I’m just not sure that should be with Gus’s brother.”
“Do you ever think that maybe I don’t have to marry a Raven, Dev? I mean, surely there are not that many of them wandering about London? Perhaps I may marry Zachariel Deville after all. Or maybe I could find someone with the name Raven and that will suffice even if he does not have Raven blood?”
He laughed. “Perhaps you will. But I fear history does not support you in that.”
She huffed out a breath.
“I want only your happiness, Dorrie. Never forget that.”
“I know.”
“And I doubt that happiness is with a man like Ashford Charlton. He has a darkness about him. As yet we do not know what his story is, only up until Gus left him, injured and nearly dead.”
“But he is here, Dev, and for Gus that is a good thing.”
“Let’s hope so,” Dev muttered.
Dorrie hoped so too.
