Chasing Raven by Jayne Fresina

Author:Jayne Fresina [Fresina, Jayne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance, Victorian, The Deverells
Publisher: Twisted E-Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

"Raven, you know very well that women are not allowed here. And that includes you, whether you would rather be a man or not." Her brother stood from behind his desk as she was shown into his office at the club that evening. The butler who had accompanied her gave a crisp bow and left them alone.

Raven looked around the office, swinging her reticule. "Papa used to bring me here all the time when I was young. I had to sit in the corner there and read aloud or practice my letters." These were some of her favorite memories from youth— sitting in her father's office, watching him shout at people, count money, and put his booted feet up on that large desk while he whistled. Sometimes, if he was in a good mood, he taught his daughter card tricks and other useful talents, such as how to empty a man's pockets without him feeling a thing. All lessons, of course, that caused her mother to scream at him that he was unfit to be a father.

Ransom sniffed. "He only brought you here with him because you were such a terror to any unfortunate woman he hired as a nanny, and he feared one of them might be reduced to throttling you one day."

"Ha ha! But the name of the place is Deverell's, is it not? And since I am one, I should at least be familiar with how father made his fortune. He might even decide to leave all this to me one day, especially if you shoot at him again."

"You never tire of trying the boundaries, do you?"

"Certainly not." She noticed the half empty decanter of brandy on his desk— something he had supposedly given up after the tragic curricle accident that left a young woman dead and himself suspected of murder. "But at least I learn from my mistakes," she added, terse.

Ransom threw her a scowl and flopped back to his chair. "What are you doing here?"

"You said Hale sleeps and dines here most evenings, and I need to see him. Alone."

"I'm not sure I should allow it."

"Try."

He looked at her thoughtfully, the fingers of one hand tapping on his desk. "Will you accept his invitation to Greyledge, then? Does mama know you're here?"

"Perhaps. And no. There are a few things I need to know, before I make up my mind and this is the only chance I have to see him alone."

Eventually he agreed to let her wait in one of the small private rooms, although he warned her, "Hale won't like this. He's very much against women being allowed into clubs like Deverell's."

She sighed. "And you wonder why I hesitate to accept his invitation to Greyledge? Even if mama is blind to everything but her own needs, you must see why he and I are totally unsuited."

Ransom ought to understand her more than anyone, she thought. As children they had survived their parents’ tumultuous marriage together, and as young adults they had endured the infamy of that divorce.

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