Nicholas glanced at his hands. “None of my shots have ever been as important.” He started toward the inn with Helena held close against him. “Thanks to you, my friend, for causing the stampede that distracted Odell and thank goodness the horses didn't go in their direction."
"I had help with the distraction.” Franklin pointed to Lawson and Miles standing in the opening to the barn.
Nicholas nodded briefly in their direction, before stepping inside with Helena.
Lady Steeples directed him up the stairs and into one of the bedrooms.
I'll take over from here, Your Grace."
He shook his head. “I won't go."
Lady Steeples studied his face. He stood resolute.
"Don't you think you might be needed downstairs, young man?"
Mary Ann gasped at her mother's remark. Nicholas smiled. “You sound like my mother and I very often didn't obey her either. If you're afraid of the impropriety of me being here, don't worry. As soon as I can, I plan to marry your daughter before anything else can possibly happen to deter it."
Helena opened her eyes and took a short breath. “Stop fussing over me, both of you.” She moved her head toward the duke. “Are you sure after all of this that you still want me for your wife?"
"I admit to some trepidation seeing how poorly you follow orders, but if I can manage a group of unruly men I should be able to handle one small woman.” He grinned at her, waiting for her response.
Helena tried to rise.
"Lie down. You might faint again."
"I never faint.” She fell back against the pillows Mary Ann had placed behind her head.
Nicholas raised an eyebrow at her.
She frowned. “Well, almost never."
"Now that that's resolved I want both of you out of the room,” her mother said, eyeing the duke and her husband.
Nicholas hesitated. “I would prefer to stay until I'm sure she is fully recovered,” he stated in his most firm voice.
"She will recover quicker once she is cleaned up. Have the landlord send a maid and a tub of warm water up. Now!” Lady Steeples glared at her future son-in-law. Stillness fell over the room.
Nicholas bowed and turned walking briskly out the door.
* * * *
Nicholas requested the maid send bath water upstairs. He stepped outside into the early dawn. Water dripped from the trees after a sudden early morning downpour. The rain soaked the ground and puddles stood in the large muddy courtyard. He saw Franklin had rounded up the other men working with Odell and had them ready to send to the nearest jail.
He turned and strode into the inn's common room. Lawson and Miles sat at a table with glasses of ale and plates of ham and eggs.
"Care to join us?” Lawson indicated a chair.
"I'll take a glass of ale, no food for me,” Nicholas spoke to the landlord. “It seems I need to thank you two for the message and the help last night."
Lawson laughed. “Always the gentleman, even when you hate thanking me. You'd much rather knock my teeth in."
Nicholas studied the man in front of him. “You may be right, but I will not forget your assistance. Even though I had to force you to help us at the beginning, I believe last night you could have helped Odell and perhaps gotten rid of us. That is why I'm thanking you. It doesn't mean I don't remember other less favorable behavior. And that, I won't forget or forgive."
* * * *
Lawson glanced to his side at Miles.
"All right, I can take a hint.” Miles grabbed his drink and food and moved to a table across the room.
"She told you?” Lawson eyed the stern faced man in front of him.
"Yes."
"Thought so. We were young."
"True. But, as a man you understood better what you were doing and the possible repercussions. And still you took advantage of her innocence."
Lawson shrugged. “I'd do it again."
Nicholas lunged across and grabbed Lawson by the collar. “Nothing would give me more pleasure than to throttle you."
"Let...me go,” Lawson stammered and took a deep breath of air when Nicholas threw him back into his chair. He pulled his collar away from his throat. “Is that anyway to treat a man who helped you last night?"
"Yes! And your helping is the only reason you will have your passage to America. I'll meet you in London next week with the arrangements. In the meantime, stay away from what is mine."
The duke slammed his chair back and marched out of the room.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 28
"Mama is looking for you, Helena.” Mary Ann was out of breath from climbing the stairs to the turret room too quickly. “She is going to fuss when she finds you up here."
"It has been over a week since my fainting spell. I can't stand anymore fussing over me or I shall go mad."
Mary Ann chuckled. “I'm surprised you've lasted this long. Let me see what you're working on."
Helena had turned the canvas away from her. “I'd prefer you didn't."
"You're working on his portrait, aren't you?"
Helena slumped down onto one of the benches against the turret wall. She remembered how desolate she felt on finding out Nicholas had left the inn soon after her mother assured him Helena was going to be all right.
At first, she thought he'd only left the room. Later her mother said he'd returned to London with the captured men.
Mary Ann sat beside her. “Are you all right? I'm sure he has been busy and he'll contact you soon. Mama said he had requested to be notified of your condition and she has written him at least once."
"I know. I worry he is angry about my actions that night. Well, I suppose it is too late to be upset. I did what I did. Would you like to ride with me over to the Falscroft's estate? I'm concerned about Lady Falscroft and how she is handling the news Lawson is leaving the country."
"Mama will have a fit if you try to go riding. She is very worried about your reoccurring nightmares."
"We'll go in the carriage and Mama can come with us. She shouldn't be surprised about the nightmares, not after that horrible scene I saw when Odell died."
"Something that could have been avoided had you stayed inside as directed. You don't follow directions very well, sister."
"Something the two of you seem to have in common.” Lady Steeples said.
Helena smiled at her mother standing where the light glanced off of her pale blond hair, her blue eyes trying to stare sternly at her daughters. Her soft blue muslin gown and white lace shawl accentuated her good looks and denied her forty-six years.
Her mother sighed. “I suppose if I don't agree to go with you to the Falscroft's today, you will go anyway."
"Yes, Mama,” Helena admitted.
"Then we will leave later this afternoon. Come and have some refreshments. We need to talk."
Helena hesitated and looked longingly at her canvas, but seeing the tilt of her mother's head and her determined expression, she gave in and followed them down the stairs.
Lady Steeples led the way to the small family sitting room and a maid followed bringing tea and pastries. She sat across from Helena and Mary Ann.
Helena sensed she was about to say something or ask her a question she didn't want to hear. Determined to ignore the look on her mother's face, Helena took a warm scone, filling her mouth with the sweet filling in the bun.
"I must say something, Helena, although I see from your expression you would rather I not. Speculation is rife about whether you and the duke will marry. Your wedding date is less than a week off, the gown is ready and the invitations sent."
"I have no idea how Nicholas feels, Mama. You know I have not heard from him since the incident at the inn.” Helena remembered his closed expression that day. He seemed worried about her. Nevertheless, after Lady Steeples ordered him from the room, he quietly slipped away.
"After your behavior that night, he might have thoughts of your not being a proper duchess, but his note to me only e
xpressed concern for your health” Lady Steeples put down her dainty Sevres tea cup. “You are not the quiet, calm, woman he asked to marry him. I hate to say it, but you and Mary Ann have acted more like twins then ever before. Have you changed your mind about wanting to marry the duke?"
Helena glanced at Mary Ann sitting beside her and staring into her tea cup.
"No, I haven't. You are probably right though and he is tired of the whole idea of taking a wife."
Mary Ann spoke for the first time. “If you want him, it is up to you to let him know."
Helena studied her sister's expression. “Are you talking about me alone, or both of us?"
Mary Ann shrugged, not answering.
"Normally I would not agree with Mary Ann,” their mother said. “And I don't understand the reference to Mary Ann. Nevertheless, Helena, you should write the duke. Let him know how you feel and ask him his decision regarding your marriage."
Helena nodded, knowing full well she had a different plan in mind.
* * * *
The ride to the Falscroft's brightened Helena's spirits. Summer had come fast to the country and flowers bloomed, birds flew amongst the trees and scrubs, and cows stood in the pastures with baby calves at their side. Clear blue skies and fluffy white clouds filled her vision for as far as she could see. A feeling of almost contentment filled her. The only thing that disturbed her thoughts was the questions surrounding her marriage.
The old butler led the three ladies to the drawing room.
"How nice of you all to come for a visit.” Lady Falscroft stood and took Lady Steeples hand, complimenting the bouquet of flowers she held out to her.
"You always did have the best gardens, Claudia,” Lady Falscroft told her old friend. “Come in, girls.” She motioned to Helena and Mary Ann. “I'm sure you must have heard Lawson arrived home late last night. Sit, please. Let me pour you a cup of tea and send for him."
Helena glanced at the door, as she took her cup. Lawson watched the ladies, a smile on his face.
"Good afternoon.” He came into the room and greeted each of them. When he got to Helena, he held her hand longer. “You are well?"
"Yes, and you?"
"Except for having to tell Mama goodbye again, I am excited and ready for my new adventure."
His mother beamed at him. “At least this time I know he is well and happy. It makes it a little easier to see him go."
Helena watched him captivate his audience as he had so many other times. She'd been too young before to understand how he always managed to cajole others to whatever he wanted with his cleverness and charm.
He caught her staring. “Helena, would you come for a walk with me?"
Helena glanced at her mother and she nodded yes. Standing she put her arm through Lawson's and he led her out. She heard Lady Falscroft's loud whisper.
"They do make a lovely pair."
Lawson laughed. “Mama would have us married tomorrow, if she had her way."
Helena ignored his statement and lifted her face to the warm rays of the sun. They wandered along a wide path toward a small gazebo in the distance.
When they arrived in the shade of the white gazebo, Helena sat down. Vines of lush red roses twisted around the columns holding up the roof and the rich sweet smell of the flowers blew across her face.
She directed her gaze at Lawson as he stood leaning toward her, one leg on the bench beside her. “Your mother seems to be handling the news of your departure better then could be expected."
"It is difficult. She has been so happy to have me home.” His blue eyes stared off in the distance.
"Could you not make a life for yourself here?” she asked, hoping she wasn't giving him the wrong impression.
He put his leg down and turned, glancing toward the house. “This can not be my home, but I do have enough money to build one of my own.” He faced her. “I don't suppose you'd want to marry me and join me in that house?” His lip curled up. “I thought I'd ask one last time. I see the answer in your face."
"Lawson...” Helena stood and stepped to his side. “I wanted to thank you for helping—” He stopped her, putting his fingers over her lips.
"Don't. I can't bear to hear you thank me. I did it because I had no choice. I realized that in spite of the changes in me, I couldn't be part of a plan to harm you. You are one of my best memories. Perhaps with you I could have been a better person.” He spoke rapidly and reached out to take hold of her arms, but she stepped quickly aside.
That cynical smile briefly flashed across his face.
"I'm too late. He is the one you love."
"Yes, I don't know how it happened. Ironically, if you had returned a few months earlier we might have been married by now. I don't think it would have made either of us happy. We've both changed.” She stepped back and sat. This time she looked away from the taut expression on his face.
* * * *
He kneeled at her feet and took her hands. “Part of me will always remember you, my first love."
She smiled at him. “How gallant and dashing you were."
"Your decision is right. He is the better man.” He raised his hand to stop her words. “I am being honest for once. Let me finish. I did not earn my money in the most respectable way and sooner or later, here, it would catch up with me. Leaving and going to America, I can have the comfort of knowing my family still thinks I am a fine man.” He chuckled softly. “Maybe even a hero in their eyes. Nevertheless, there is restlessness in me and I have an ambition to want more. In America those are good traits."
They had no words left to say. The duke had arranged his passage and he would leave early the next day. He did not plan to come home again. He took her arm and they started to walk toward the house to join the others. She stopped him at the door.
"I hope you find whatever it is you're looking for and I'm sure we'll hear of your grand success from your letters home to your family.” She removed her hand from his arm and faced him. “Goodbye, Lawson. Thank you for your help last week.” She slipped through the door and disappeared. He walked off alone in the other direction.
* * * *
Helena and Mary Ann left for London the next day, with their parents, two maids, several groomsmen and the one guard Nicholas insisted stay with them.
The heat and stink of London wafted into the carriage on the breeze. “I don't know why anyone would stay in town this time of year, unless they had to.” Mary Ann put her handkerchief up to her nose. “Will you send a message around to the duke right away?"
"Yes, I will ask for a meeting at his townhouse. I hope he is still here. His last letter to Mama came from town and he did not mention going to the country. Will you try to see, Franklin?"
"Only if I accidentally run into him when out shopping."
"You never told me what he said that day at the inn."
* * * *
Mary Ann watched the crowded roadway give way to the less crowded streets, where the fashionable lived. Her father rode ahead of the carriage.
"You don't want to know."
"Yes, I do."
"He said we were both spoiled and unmanageable, making clear he meant we didn't know how to do as told. He frowned the whole time he lectured me, then seeing no one else in the private dining room, he pulled me to him and kissed me.” Mary Ann touched her lips recalling the hot hard kiss, melting against his body and putting her hands around his neck. The next moment he'd pulled away and rushed out of the room.
"Whatever is he scared of, Mary Ann? He must know Mama and Papa would approve of him as a suitor."
"It's nothing so simple. There is a mystery about my Franklin and I intend to find it out. Whatever it is will not let him commit to me and I fear I have done a foolish thing."
"What?” Helena took her sister's hand.
"I've fallen in love and you heard Mama. I need a husband by the end of next season.” Mary Ann glanced across at her mother, glad to see she still slept, her head resting against one side of the coach.
The carriage pulled up in front of the town home. Mary Ann saw the carriage with the maids and their baggage right behind them. “We're here. Let's implement your plan."
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 29
Helena wrote a brief note and sent it to Nicholas. After unpacking, she joined Mary Ann in the sunny sitting room at the back of the house.
"We need to find out what is going on in town,” Mary Ann said. “Let's go shopping."
Helena hesitated. “I would hate to miss a message from Nicholas."
"He is sure to be at his club and then he may go to parliament. He won't even see your message until much later in the day."
Helena sipped her tea. She could use a new gown. In case Nicholas did not come to her, she would go to him. After all, she caused much of the problems between them. It was up to her to solve them.
"All right, let's go shopping for a new gown."
Mary Ann rose immediately. “I'll be ready in a few minutes."
Helena leaned back in her chair enjoying the restful scene of the outdoors seen through the large ceiling to floor windows. Mary Ann was never ready in a few minutes. She had plenty of time to have her breakfast and read the paper.
Nicholas Selwyn, the Duke of Monteroy, has been seen about the town in the past few days, bringing up the question of his marital status. Has the very eligible duke decided to not get married? Many anxious mothers would love to see him back on the eligibility list. Yet, the wedding date is still set for the end of the week. Hopeful mothers never give up. Consequently, many of the Ton remain in town and continue to have their dinners and parties with the duke being an honored guest.
Helena lowered the paper. Nicholas? He, who had never been fond of the social scene? Her mission may be more difficult then she imagined. But, he had not asked for the rubies back, nor talked with her about ending their contract. She had come to town in time and she would definitely need a new gown for her plan.
* * * *
They headed directly to the dressmaker's shop. “I need something different,” Helena tried to explain. “I'm not sure what I want, but I need it for tonight."
The Duke's Dilemma Page 23