‘Yes, your grace.’ Livingston left the library in obedience.
‘Come, Charles. I believe you have made your demands known to your sisters. We need to retire to the study to review the holdings status.’ Abraham softly placed his hand on Charles’ shoulder.
The Duke let out a huge breath through his nostrils before turning away to matters of better concern.
As the large door closed, Helena and Elizabeth immediately broke out in sobs.
‘Oh, Lizzy. There must be something you can do! You are our oldest sister. He has to listen to you.’
‘I’m sorry, Helena. He is the Duke. I am the Marchioness of Manchester. We knew growing up Charles was our family's heir apparent. The Duke's title could only pass to our father's oldest living son. We talked about this Helena. Had Charles not been born, we would have both shared in equal measure of the estate, waiting for one of us to produce a single male heir. Alas, that wasn't the case, and Charles is honour-bound to care for each of us. I have no say. I matter not.’
‘Humph, that makes two of us.’
The sisters could pour out nothing more than their tears. Helena slipped the picture of their Mamaw from her small pocket and held it in her hands. Elizabeth laid a hand atop of Helena’s, causing both girls to hold onto their mother.
Helena lowered her head to Elizabeth’s shoulder and continued to cry as Elizabeth sent up a prayer for their brother.
‘Father, God. Please soften the heart of our brother. Please help him to see the wrong he is pouring over Helena. Please give him the wisdom and sensitivity as Papaw did.’
It was undeniable. Charles Delaport truly had become the Duke of Sunderland, and his first true act as Duke was to banish his spinster sister from Delaport Manor for life.
Chapter Eight ~ Forgotten Child
The visit in London ran rampant through Robert’s memory. The moments he spent with his love at Benston House, the evening of shared emotions one to the other, were forever playing constantly in his mind.
‘And know that you have all of mine, even if I cannot marry you.’ Helena’s last words repeated over and over.
Father God! Why must Helena and I be apart if our hearts are in tune as one? Why will she not accept my hand, become my wife, and leave the pressing thumb of her brother? I have more than simply a house, land, and fortune; I have love. Please, Father! Change her heart from pain to a life of joyful love and forever devotion.
Unable to deal with the solitude in his large study any longer, Robert readied himself to journey to Reverend Sedgewick’s manse.
~~~
‘Forgive me, Graham. My intentions are not to burden you with my troubles. Usually, I speak to my brother Abraham about such concerns. However, I feel these matters are much too close and personal to share with him.’ Robert rested his arm on the quaint mantlepiece of the reverend's small fireplace.
‘Robert, you need not apologize for coming to me with your worries. I have always been and will always be your closest friend and confidant. I have watched you rise from the sizable inheritance your father, the late Marquess of Manchester, gave you into the successful young lord of triple holdings what was given.’ Graham took a sip of his tea as he sat in his large armchair.
‘I simply want to save Lady Helena from the miserable life the young Duke insists on forcing upon her. I do not understand why she will not put her pride aside and receive the wonderful life I am offering her.’ Robert pushed away from his place beside the mantle and walked heavily towards the window.
‘I understand your desire to pursue Lady Helena. However, I want you to take a step back and realize that God has all timing in his Hands. Helena does not need to marry for freedom or for home. She does not need to take a husband as an alternative, but rather only love alone needs to influence her choice. The good Lord will pour upon us the blessings and ways to walk as He sees fit. Do not rush what the Lord wants paced, Robert.’ Graham was always kind, yet firm with the truth in every word he spoke.
After taking another sip of his tea, Graham set down his cup and saucer, patted his lips with his napkin, and leaned back in his chair. Reaching into his breast pocket, the reverend pulled out an opened envelope and set it on the table between him and the lord.
Robert turned his head to see what was pulling his attention from his own meditation. Immediately, his eyes widened. ‘Is that what I think it is?’
Graham simply nodded.
‘Why?’ Robert’s voice quivered with a range of emotions.
‘Because, my son, you need to be reminded of more pressing matters which deserve as much attention as you are giving the Lady Helena. You need to focus on the child who bears your name.’
‘But, it isn’t true, Graham. This letter is nothing but pure rubbish. Why would Abigail have kept such a secret from me? Why would she have had a child, especially a boy, and not send word of her predicament or his birth?’ Robert struggled with whether he would entertain such gossip. Finally, he reached down, picked up the letter from the table, and slowly opened it to read its contents once again.
Robert shook his head in disbelief. ‘Have you spoken anymore to Dowding about this? If these words are true, he would have brought news to my attention by now.’
‘Listen to me, Robert. You need to keep an open mind over this child. If it is as this letter states, he is a young boy who needs his father’s guidance. He too is a descendant of the Kendall family tree.’ Once again, Graham spoke truth to Robert’s doubt.
‘I understand, Graham. I will make the appropriate contacts to research the matter further.’
~~~
‘My lord?’ A stout butler stood in the doorway of Lord Robert’s large library.
‘Yes, Burke, what is it?’ Lord Robert did not look up from his book as he spoke.
‘Mr. Dowding is waiting to see you. Shall I send him in?’
Immediately, Lord Robert slammed the book closed and rose from his seat next to the window. ‘Yes. Please show him to my study. I will meet him there momentarily.’ Lord Robert took a deep breath, desperately trying to calm his flipping stomach.
Lord, please let this be a meeting of promising results. Please show me the truth to the letter.
Robert finished his silent prayer before marching with great haste to the study.
‘Tell me what you have discovered, Dowding.’ Lord Robert didn’t bother with the formality of greetings. Peering into the face of the solicitor, Lord Robert received all the news he needed to know. His heart dropped instantly.
‘My lord, unfortunately, I have been unable to find any information regarding the birth of a child by the late Lady Robert.’
It was as Lord Robert suspected.
‘Do not fret, my lord. I have not and will not give up until the facts of your letter are proven. I still have many other resources yet to be used regarding information about the child. I will come to you the moment new truths are discovered.’
‘Thank you, Dowding. I trust you will find what I desire.’ The two men sat in silence before Lord Robert spoke. ‘Money is no issue, Dowding. Whatever it takes, I want to know the truth.’
The solicitor simply nodded, ‘I understand, my lord.’
Chapter Nine ~ Finally Found
The Chipping Weekly Observer, February 12, 1819
Aunt Ellie’s Advice for Ladies
Dear Aunt Ellie,
I am in quite a predicament. I seem to be having trouble maintaining my complexion while remaining attractive for my betrothed. What can I do to keep my youth?
--White and Worried
Dear W.a.W.,
Valentine’s Day is the perfect time for adoring the colour red. And what a better way to greet your betrothed than with a concoction made from tomato juice! A beautiful complexion clearer, it acts as both a skin tonic and freckle remover. Cut a ripe tomato in half and rub face with it at least once a day. A decided improvement in your complexion will soon be noticed. With a tender skin, ripe tomato is much more efficacious than a cucumber.
Yours loyally, not to say elli-estically,
--Aunt Ellie
To my loyal readers, all requests for advice on matters of concern are welcome. Please submit inquiries on single parchment. Address these to Aunt Ellie’s Ladies’ Advice Column, care of The Chipping Weekly Observer, Chipping. Letters must reach our offices not later than the second Friday of each month to be included in the next month’s weekly editions. Please indicate if you desire a private answer. Once answered, letters are not retained.
~~~
‘Lord Robert to see you, my lady?’ Philip opened the door to the small library where his ladyship was engrossed in her Valentine favourite book, Until There Be Happily Ever After.
Robert slipped around the footman and smiled widely at the sensational, full woman sitting beside the large picture window. His breath was quickly taken at the sight of Helena surrounded by the beams of sunlight.
‘Thank you, Philip.’ The servant nodded as he backed out of the room. ‘Good afternoon, Robert.’
‘Hello, my darling Helena. How wonderful it is to see you! You are absolutely radiant.’ Robert could hardly control his emotions.
‘You are too kind.’ Though she loved this man immensely, Helena struggled to even be alone in his presence.
Robert crossed the room slowly, soon becoming aware of the uncertainty she was sending out through her body language. ‘Helena, is everything all right, my love?’
‘Please, Robert. I cannot do this.’ She closed her eyes, turning her head away from him.
‘Can't do what, Helena?’ He watched as her bottom lip tucked in under her top teeth to keep from quivering.
‘This…Robert.’ She waved her hands back and forth between them. ‘I cannot do this; us; here; now.’
‘Sweetheart, please just listen to me. I’ve come to ask you once more to marry me.’
‘Robert…’
‘No, Helena, listen, please.’ Robert lifted his hand to her cheek, cupping it in a caress. ‘When I heard the Duke of Sunderland sent you away once more, I knew I needed to see you. I’m here because I cannot stand to see you in such loneliness and misery. It pains me to know you are deep in these feelings when I have the means to instantly take them away…forever.’
‘You are truly a man who cares for more than his societal standing. You would rather be weighed down by the burden of an old hag than to be free with a young maiden.’ Helena stared with a firm eye.
‘Helena, you are not an old hag. You are a beautiful woman ready to live a life of freedom and joy. And you can do simply such by taking my hand in marriage and moving to Kensington Hall with me.’ Robert smiled tenderly, softening the firm gaze of his love.
‘Robert, please do not ask me anymore. I am not at a place to be free to accept.’ She lowered her head in sorrow. Robert slipped his finger under her chin, lifting her face to match his level.
‘My Darling, know how greatly I love you and refuse to be at such a distance from you.’
‘What are you saying?’
‘I do not want to be away from you. I will be staying at Lord Wensell’s London home as you continue to reside in Benston House.’
‘Lord Wensell’s? But I do not understand.’
‘I am staying in London to be with you, my love. I cannot focus on other matters greatly needing my attention with us being so far apart.’
‘What matters?’ Helena gazed quizzically into Robert’s eyes which quickly shifted away from her. There was a moment of distance between the two. ‘Robert, Darling, what matters?’
He dropped his hand from holding her arm and sat back on the large sofa. He could not look at the woman across from him. ‘I received a letter almost two fortnights ago.’
‘What was in the letter?’
‘I was sent word the late Lady Robert had a child, a son.’ He paused at the sound of Helena’s gasp. ‘My solicitor is investigating the claim, researching all he can to find the truth.’
‘And has he found anything?’ Helena’s sorrow was quickly replaced by intrigue and pure curiosity.
‘As of the past two days, his search returned cold from the last place Abigail resided.’
‘Where exactly would that place be, Robert?’
‘A small, country town called Gloster.’
‘Then to Gloster, we must go.’
~~~
‘I don’t understand why we cannot find any information!’ Robert’s voice raised in an embarrassing tone.
‘Hush, Darling. People are staring.’ Helena looked around the sitting room of the inn; eyes shifting back and forth.
Robert quickly changed his approach. ‘Forgive me, my love. I do not mean to cause a ruckus.’
Helena placed a gentle hand atop of Robert’s fidgeting arm. ‘What makes you so certain this place has answers?’
‘Because this was the town Abigail wrote me a final letter from.’
‘She wrote you?’
‘Yes. Abigail was certain she would catch scarlatina, the contagious fever that is a devastating epidemic continuing to wreak its woes throughout England including many homes in our own land holdings. In her mind, she already succumbed to the deadly disease, sending her on an unexpected leave from Sunderland. I was sure her actions would find her void, leading her right back to our home where I was ready to care for her, no matter her mental state. But when I received her letter telling me where she ended her travels, I became worried my surety would fail.’
Helena placed a second hand upon his hand which she was holding tightly with her own. How selfish she found herself to be in the moment. For months, she was angry over not being free to do as she pleased. But here sat the love of her life, struggling to grasp the last moments of his departed wife.
‘When there was no word from Abigail, my mind immediately began to race. Against my good will, the thoughts of Abigail’s unfaithfulness started to take over my emotions. I truly thought she was using the excuse of disease only to give her the means to be free of us. I accepted the fact that she was gone, and I would be succumbed to a life of married shameful loneliness, unable to rid myself of the godless woman.’ Robert took a deep breath, struggling to comprehend the thoughts of his life. ‘But when Dowding received a correspondence last month, my entire outlook on the situation changed; especially when the correspondence contained word of a child.’ Robert lowered his head. ‘I’m completely at a loss as to what to do next.’
Helena sat in deep thought, searching her voice of reason for some solution.
‘Robert! I know what to do! I know who can help us!’
He lifted his head to her encouragement. ‘Who, my darling?’
‘Mellie, of course!
~~~
‘Inspector Conolly, thank you for contacting me so quickly. I take it you asking me here is to reveal certain news regarding Lady Robert.’ Lady Darby extended her hand as she entered the small office within the British Scotland Yard.
‘Good day, milady. You would be correct in your assumptions.’ The grey-haired officer received her hand with much enthusiasm.
‘Well let’s get right to it then, Inspector. Is there a child? Did The Lady Robert Kendall bear the son of The Lord Robert Kendall?’
‘Yes, Lady Darby. There was a child, a boy. Nathaniel Robert Kendall.'
‘And the scarlet fever?’
‘Took the mother a month after the child was born.’
‘Where have they been this whole time, Inspector Conolly?’ Lady Darby wanted all information.
‘The Convent of the Sisters of Mary’s Mercy in Gloster.’
‘Unbelievable! Helena and Robert were so close to the truth without even knowing.’
~~~
‘Helena, Darling, what do you not comprehend? Abigail’s death has been confirmed. Scarlet fever was the ultimate cause of her passing. The apothecary she sought help from only made the disease worse. He was not a skilled physician. By the time she returned to the convent, it was too late. She died only two days later.’ Robert lean
ed back against the large sofa. When Robert received the initial findings of the situation, immediate feelings of regret for his unkindly thoughts of her filled his heart. But, despite the unending love he gave to Abigail, he knew she had her reasons for leaving him.
‘But what does this have to do with me?’ Helena’s worries started to flare up as once before.
‘Helena, we can be married without the burden of Abigail’s unbeknownst. And, because of Nathaniel, you no longer must worry about giving me an heir. Darling, don’t you see? We can be together without the scandal. We can be a family forever.’ Robert was practically on his knees in a pleading position.
‘I told you before, and I will tell you again…do not ask me to marry you.'
‘But, Helena…’
‘And do not ask me to meet the child. My heart is in a thousand pieces over you. I cannot bear to have it broken any further the moment I look into his eyes. You have my love, Robert. It is the only piece of me you can ever have; you and you alone.’
Robert lowered his head.
Defeated.
As the many times before.
Chapter Ten ~ Freedom and Joy
The grey clouds and steady rain made Helena fear her day would end up the same; cold, wet, and full of depression.
The large door opened to the library where she found herself spending most of her days anymore. Not wanting to face the world, Helena’s nose remained in her book as Philip entered, waiting for her acknowledgment, which never came.
‘My lady?’ Philip’s voice was soft and cautious. Still, no response. ‘My lady, Lord Robert is here to see you.’
Helena simply lifted her head and stared out the rain-soaked window, following each raindrop with her eyes.
‘Helena?’ The familiar gruff voice of her true love pulled her from the silence.
‘I did not give you permission to enter, Lord Robert.’ She continued to stare out into the muddied streets of London.
Robert peered over to Philip who nodded in understanding before taking his leave, closing the library door behind him.
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