Page 26 of A Raven Repents

With a frustrated huff, he pulled his tie open and started over. His knots were never as neat as Thistle’s. One more person he needed to apologize to. He took the man’s presence for granted. And not just for his expertise with ties. This house was still and empty without him. It wasn’t actually empty. Mrs. Riley was always there, but she kept to herself and was so quiet, he only knew she was around because his house was clean, and tea was made if he requested it.

He paused with a realization. “I’m a spoiled brat.” How had he never seen that before? He’d always thought himself a nice, affable guy.

He was. Or at least, he had been before Christina. She’d never known him as anything but a bully. He would make up for that somehow. Starting tomorrow.

He donned his jacket and trotted down the stairs. Some time at The Raven’s Den would do him good.

He opened the front door and his heart leapt into a sprint. He hadn’t expected a man to be standing there. “Thomas?” Winnie stood at the bottom of the steps, but he still didn’t see Christina.

“Mr. Henderson.”

Giles waited, but the man didn’t say anything else. “Why are you on my doorstep?”

Thomas swallowed nervously, his hands fidgeting. “Mrs. Henderson wished to go shopping in Mayfair, with her friend, Miss Taylor. Afterward, we accompanied her to Miss Taylor’s residence. She said she wanted to have a cup of tea before we returned home. It would seem…” He paused for a moment. “It would seem she left through the rear door.”

“You lost my wife?”

Winnie hurried up the steps. “I’m sorry, sir. I shouldn’t have let her out of my sight.”

“It’s my fault, sir. You were trusting me to make sure she was safe.”

Giles shook his head. It would be so easy to blame them for it, but it was time for him to take responsibility for once. “The onus is mine. It’s me she’s running from, after all. How long has she been missing?”

“About two hours.”

“And she’s alone?”

“Yes, sir.”

Ice filled his chest. Alone, for two hours, and it had been dark for at least half of that. Where would she go? Her father’s perhaps?

A young lad appeared at the bottom of the steps. “I have a note for a Mr. Henderson.”

Giles hurried down. “Give it here.” It was from her father, demanding payment, or he was going to sell her virginity to Lord Chilton. He unleashed a string of curses, and vowed to kill the man. But then he stopped and took a breath. He couldn’t be rash this time. It would put her safety at risk. For once, he was going to be man enough to put her needs ahead of his own.

“She’s with her father,” he said to Thomas and Winnie. “You two stay here and wait for me to return, just in case she comes back.”

He dropped a coin into the delivery boy’s hand and climbed into the waiting cab, anger boiling in his veins.

The club wasn’t open yet, but he found Allister on the balcony watching everything be prepared for the night.

“I know I’m not your favorite person right now, Allister, but I need your help. My wife may be in danger.”

He turned. “Tell me what you need.”

“Just you. Her father is holding her for ransom, and I’m afraid if I go on my own, I’ll muck it up somehow.”

He gave a quick nod and headed for the door.

“I have a cab waiting at the end of the back alleyway,” Giles called after him.

“I’ll be right behind you.”

It was barely two minutes before Allister climbed in beside him. Giles had already given the driver the address, so they immediately started moving.

“Thank you, Allister.”

“You don’t need to thank me, Giles. I work for you, remember?”