by Anne Herries
‘Yes, he does deserve his chance,’ Helene agreed and looked thoughtful. ‘You are generous and forgiving, Max. I think that makes me love you even more.’
‘Then you have truly forgiven me?’
‘Yes,’ Helene replied and reached up to kiss him softly on the mouth. ‘Providing you do not tell Mama what has been happening here.’
Max laughed huskily. ‘You are so brave, my darling—and yet you fear your mama’s displeasure?’
‘I do not fear it,’ Helene told him. ‘It is just that she would make such a fuss and probably want to cancel the wedding.’
‘Then you may be sure that I shall make every effort to make certain that she does not discover what happened this morning.’
‘You may think me a fool, Helene, but I am not,’ Mrs Henderson said and frowned at her daughter. ‘I know something has been going on these past few days. You have tried to keep it a secret from me, but I have seen the glances between you all. Why has Mrs Heronsdale gone off so suddenly—and why has Lord Coleridge’s cousin come to live in this house?’
‘Mrs Heronsdale has been called to the bedside of a sick relative.’ Helene could not look at her mama as she told the lie. Robert had banished his mother to stay with friends abroad until he could bring himself to forgive her, which might not be for some time. She was to have a small pension while she remained there. Helene did not know exactly what had taken place when the two met in Max’s presence, but she understood that Mrs Heronsdale was much chastened and had confessed that her husband had threatened her when she began to question him about the precise nature of her son’s illness. At first she had loved him blindly, but at the last she had begun to fear him.
‘I still do not see why Robert should come to live here.’
‘It is only until after the wedding,’ Helene replied. ‘Robert is to have a house in Bath. Max has an interest in a wine-importing business, as I told you before, and Robert will be in charge of outlets both in Bath and in London. He has no need to work, for Max has made him a generous allowance, but he wishes to do something in return. It is just so that Max can have the house made ready for you, dearest.’
‘Well, I must say I like Robert well enough, but I still do not know what is going on,’ Mrs Henderson grumbled. She looked at her daughter awkwardly, then, ‘I have had a letter of apology from Annesdale. He says that he will provide me with a residence in Bath and an allowance. I am not sure how to answer him…’
‘Max wrote to him and invited him to the wedding,’ Helene replied. ‘I have decided to forgive and to accept him in my life. Perhaps you should do the same, Mama?’
‘He has written me a very decent letter, apologising for what happened years ago. It is not easy for me to forgive him, Helene. However, I quite see that it would be awkward to be on bad terms with him once you are married, for we may meet in company, therefore I must try to come to terms with him. Coleridge is having the dower house refurbished for me, and he has also made me an allowance—but I do not see why I should not take what is rightfully mine, for I can divide my time between Coleridge House and Bath. I am not sure what your father would have thought.’
‘If Papa knew that his father had apologised, I believe he would tell you to accept, Mama,’ Helene said. ‘You may be easy in your mind on that score. I am sure he would say we should not continue to hold a grudge, but let the past go and enjoy the future.’
‘Very well, since you are so well settled and happy, I dare say I may accept Annesdale’s offer.’ She smiled at her daughter. ‘So it is your wedding day tomorrow, my love—and you are truly happy?’
‘Happier than I ever expected,’ Helene told her. ‘I cannot wait to be Max’s wife.’
‘You look beautiful,’ Amelia said and kissed Helene’s cheek. ‘I am so happy for you, my dearest. I know you will be loved and spoiled by your husband—and I am glad that you have mended fences with Annesdale.’
‘Max showed me by example that it was best to be generous and to forgive others,’ Helene told her. ‘I could not do less, Amelia. I want Max to be proud of me.’
‘I am certain he already is,’ Amelia replied. ‘You are a beautiful bride, my love, but you are also brave and wise. Max told me what happened here and it seems that you behaved very creditably. I am sure that you will make him an excellent wife.’
‘I shall try,’ Helene said. She glanced at the diamond-and-sapphire bracelet on her arm. ‘You have spoiled me once more, Amelia. After all you had already done, this bracelet is almost too much.’
‘I wanted you to have it. Aunt Agatha had it as a girl and I know she would have been happy to see you wearing it at your wedding.’
‘Thank you so much,’ Helene said and kissed her cheek. ‘Annesdale sent me a magnificent sapphire-and-diamond necklace and tiara set. He has also settled ten thousand pounds on me—and the remainder of his fortune will go to our sons.’ Helene blushed. ‘I hope we shall have at least three sons and two daughters. I was an only child and I would like a large family.’
‘Does Max feel the same?’
‘Yes, he does. He had a brother once, but Tom died when he was seven. Max says that he would like a house filled with children. You haven’t seen him with his orphan boys, of course—they adore him! We are going to set up another home in one of the houses he owns locally so that I may take an interest in the children. And we are to set up a campaign to make it unlawful to force boys up chimneys, besides other projects I have brought to Max’s attention.’
‘Well, it seems that you will share your interests and that must bode well for the future,’ Amelia said and a little sigh escaped her. She turned as the door opened behind her. ‘Here is your mama, which means that you must go down if you are ready, Helene.’
‘Yes, I must not keep Max waiting,’ Helene said and smiled. ‘I am perfectly ready, Mama…’
Helene turned her head as the vicar pronounced them man and wife, her heart beating fast as Max lifted her wedding veil to kiss her softly on the mouth. She seemed to be walking in a dream of happiness as they signed the register in the vestry and then went out into the sunshine to be met by the sound of church bells and a little storm of rose petals.
Max’s eyes were warm with love as he turned to her. ‘You are so lovely, my darling,’ he said in a husky voice. ‘I cannot wait to have you to myself. I am tempted to sweep you up now and run off with you.’
Helene laughed, because she too was impatient for the moment when she became truly his, but she knew that he was teasing her. Max was a gentleman. He would never desert his guests or behave in a manner that would cause hurt or offence to others—and perhaps that was why she loved him so very much.
‘Be patient, my love,’ she whispered back. ‘We have the rest of our lives.’
‘I like the sound of that,’ he replied. ‘If you will not run away with me, I dare say we should go back to the house and entertain our guests.’
‘Well, Lady Annesdale-Coleridge, I must congratulate you on your choice of a husband,’ the Duke of Annesdale told Helene a little later that day. ‘Coleridge is a fine man. He has told me about his home for orphan boys. I hear that you intend to open one for girls? Coleridge asked me if I would associate myself with the project. I shall be happy to do so, for I like children—perhaps there is yet time for me to see my great-grandchildren before I die?’
‘I hope that we shall oblige you, sir,’ Helene said, a faint blush in her cheeks. ‘I think I ought to apologise for the way I spoke to you before.’
‘No! I deserved it,’ the duke told her and there was a twinkle in his eye. ‘You were the first person to stand up to me since your father. I have been fawned over too much, Helene. I was proud and cold and I have been much at fault. It was time someone refused me. Your comments shocked and hurt me, but they also made me realise that my unhappiness was my own fault. I am grateful that you forgave me and allowed me hope for the future.’
‘Max is so generous and forgiving,’ Helene said and her mouth curved i
nto a tender smile. ‘As his wife I could do no less. I am pleased to have a grandfather and I sincerely hope that you will have many more years left to you.’ She leaned up and kissed his cheek. He patted her arm awkwardly, clearly unused to such displays of affection.
‘Your husband has come to claim you, girl. I dare say he wants to be off.’
Helene turned as Max came up to her. ‘Is it time for me to change, Max?’
‘Yes, I think so,’ he told her. ‘Your mama was looking for you a moment ago.’
Helene knew that her mama would not approach her while she was with Annesdale. They had acknowledged each other at the wedding, but it would be a long time before they truly forgave each other.
‘I shall go up,’ Helene said, gazing up into her husband’s eyes.
‘At last,’ Max said and drew her closer, his eyes burning her with the heat of his passion. She felt desire pool low in her abdomen as she lifted her face for his kiss. ‘Have I told you how much I love you?’
‘Only six times since we got here.’ Helene laughed.
They were in the bedroom of a house loaned to them by one of Max’s many friends. Their intention was to stop here one night and a day and then travel on to the coast where they would take ship for France.
‘Not nearly enough,’ Max said hoarsely. He swept her up in his arms and carried her to the bed, depositing her gently amongst scented sheets. Max lifted her nightgown, pulling it over her head so that he could feast his eyes on her lovely body. ‘You are so lovely. I want you so very much, my darling.’
Helene shivered with pleasure as he removed his robe and then gathered her close, the touch of his flesh searing her with the heat of desire. His kisses thrilled her, making her body arch with pleasure as he explored her with lips and tongue, his hands stroking the satin smoothness of her skin.
‘I love you…’ she whispered, feeling as if she were being carried away on a wave of love and need.
Helene responded to his seeking heat, as the hard urgency of his manhood penetrated her, giving one little cry of pain as he broke through her maidenhead. Then, as the pain was forgotten in surging joy, she clung to him, her body moving with his in the sweet dance of love. She whimpered and moaned as the pleasure mounted unbearably and then cascaded through her in wavelets of pleasure that made her writhe and call out his name.
‘I adore you, my sweet Helene,’ Max murmured against her ear. ‘You are all that I want and more.’
‘I was so fortunate that you came to my rescue that day when we stopped that awful man beating poor Jezra,’ Helene said and smiled as he looked down at her. ‘If you had not seen me, we might never have met or fallen in love.’
‘I think we were destined to meet,’ Max told her as he kissed her softly once more. ‘You are my soulmate, Helene. We were meant to be together for always.’
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘I think we are.’
ISBN: 978-1-4592-0951-0
AN INNOCENT DEBUTANTE IN HANOVER SQUARE
Copyright © 2009 by Anne Herries
First North American Publication 2011
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†† Melford Dynasty
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‡‡ A Season in Town
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