Page 10 of A Raven Repents

“Sorry, old chap,” Giles said to him, then righted his chair and sat down. “My intention was never to steal anything. I understand now that I shouldn’t have helped myself to that money, even if it was just a loan. And I am sorry to all of you for breaking your trust.” He groaned softly, still struggling to catch his breath.

“Was that entirely necessary?” Ash asked Michael.

“I think it was probably warranted,” Giles said.

“Are you able to tell the rest of the story?” Ash asked.

Giles nodded and swallowed some brandy to fortify himself. “As Ash already knows, I was drawn into a trap by a young woman and her father.” He held up his hands. “And yes, I do know how stupid I was. But regardless, the man blackmailed me. That’s why I needed the money.”

“But you have money,” Michael argued.

Giles nodded. “I didn’t have ready access to one hundred pounds in the middle of the night.”

“So you thought you’d just steal from the club to pay for your mistake?”

“I wasn’t stealing, Michael! As you’ve just pointed out, I have money. I was always going to pay it back.” Giles didn’t have any right to be indignant, but he didn’t like being called a thief. “Do you want to hear the rest of the story? Or would you rather continue to berate me?”

All he got from Michael was an angry sigh.

Giles shook his head and downed the last of his drink. “The details don’t really matter. But as of yesterday, I am officially a married man.” Another awkward silence fell as they all stared at him. “What? No congratulations?”

It was a measure of just how shocked they were that no one laughed.

“Where is she?” Ash finally asked.

“At my country home.”

“What’s her name?” Fitz asked.

“Mrs. Henderson, to you.”

Fitz’s smile was sad rather than amused. Another failed attempt at humor.

“Christina. Her name is Christina.”

“But if you had the money,” Fitz asked, “why did you marry her?”

Giles shrugged. “I couldn't just leave her to be a pawn in her father's schemes.”

“Will you be going back to her?” Ash asked.

Giles shook his head. “Not any time soon.”

“Then we need to make a decision as a group. I’ve already taken Giles’ keys, but I’m willing to keep him on as a partner, if we have unanimous agreement.”

Giles was ashamed and humiliated. It reminded him of being sent to the headmaster’s office for a caning. But so much worse. He loved this place.

“Fitz? Yes or no?” Ash asked.

“Yes,” he said with a nod. “I think we should all be allowed a mistake or two, so long as it’s not repeated.”

“Michael?”

Giles felt as if he were waiting for the executioner’s axe to fall as silence stretched on.

“Yes,” Michael finally said. “But I went easy on you this time, Giles. I will not the next time.”

Giles nodded, relief flooding through him. “Understood. I swear I won’t do it again.”