Alexander-Fyn-Sanguinarian

vampire?”
    “I admit nothing. You want to believe me a monster and you will no matter what. But I assure you, dear child, I did not outrage you.”
    “You threatened to if I tried to escape. Is it not a terrible thing to threaten a woman with such misuse just to make her obey you?”
    “I’ll say it is,” Mrs. Brackett joined in. She looked at Rory. “Are you his keeper, luv?”

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    Raven reared up, then thought better of it and sat down, allowing Rory to speak. “No,” Rory replied. “Lord Ravenscroft is a dear friend whom I sometimes advise.”
    “So was it you who advised him to buy my young lady, then kidnap her when she refused to go with him?”
    “No, I did not advise that.”
    “Did you advise him to threaten her with...what he threatened her with?”
    “No, I did not advise that either.”
    “Then what makes you think you can control the blighter now?”
    she demanded, attacking her soup with a large spoon as she waited for his answer.
    Rory spoke very calmly. “Lord Ravenscroft is trying to apologize for his conduct. He realizes that what he has done to Miss Rutledge is wrong, don’t you, my lord?” he asked, looking at Raven piercingly.
    “Yes, I do,” he said through gritted teeth.
    “His lordship would like to begin again and explain his actions and show a better side of himself, wouldn’t you, my lord?”
    “Yes,” Raven said, baring his teeth.
    “In short, Lord Ravenscroft wishes to redeem himself in your eyes, Miss Rutledge. Don’t you, my lord?”
    Raven wanted to kill something. He wanted to pick up something, anything, in his bare hands and throttle the life out of it. He wanted to be back at the castle with Evangeline in his power again, not here apologizing to the woman in a public house with his villagers listening to every humiliating word. He answered clearly and precisely, staring into her eyes, “I wish to redeem myself.”
    His debasement was complete.
    Rory smiled and patted his shoulder to encourage him. “Will you allow him to do so, Miss Rutledge?”
    Evangeline piped up, tartly, “I’m afraid that is impossible. His lordship is beyond redemption. Aside from that we will be leaving in the morning.”

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    Raven felt Rory’s hand gripping his shoulder again. “Please, Miss Rutledge. His lordship knows he was wrong to take such a high-handed attitude toward you. He had no right to behave in such an arrogant and brutish manner.”
    Raven could hardly control himself. Arrogant, brutish? Was he really those things? Perhaps he was. He steeled himself and said,
    “Miss Rutledge, please do not leave the village. Allow me to make up for my behaviour. I want to explain myself.”
    Now she had the upper hand he could see she was determined to make the most of it. “That won’t be possible, my lord. I’ve already heard quite enough from you. We will be returning to London in the morning. Mrs. Brackett and I will resume our search for the perfect little boarding house in Bloomsbury where we will take in genteel ladies and live a very quiet life.”
    Raven whirled around when a voice behind him said, “And I’ll be happy to escort you, Miss Rudge....er, Rutledge.” Young Mr. Harding smiled at her. “And if I may say so, Evangeline is a far more beautiful name than Evelyn.”
    “No, you may not!” Raven bore down on him. “Be gone, you silly boy, we have important matters to discuss.” He flicked a hand at the young man, who took the dismissal very ill.
    “My lord, I am not just here to offer Miss Rutledge compliments, but also to tell you that I take exception to you as a man and your callous treatment of this young lady.”
    “Take your exception somewhere else.” Raven turned away and sat down again in a great huff. “We are busy.”
    “That’s not good enough, Sir,” Mr. Harding told him. Raven felt something swipe across the back of his head. Infuriated, he turned round and before he could stand up to tower over the boy he was swiped yet again, this time across his cheek, with a glove.
    Raven stood up very slowly until he looked down at the rosy cheeks and bright blue eyes from more than a foot above them. He despised the young pup. The glove was thrown at his feet. To accept Sanguinarian 167
    the duel he must pick it up, but he would not stoop before this boy.
    With a swift movement Raven backhanded Harding with such strength that the young man staggered, only just remaining upright.
    Evangeline struggled up