by Pearl Wolf
“Without a doubt. The earl made sure the scandal at the ball became known not only to your father, but also to the world. He arranged to have the whole sordid affair made public in the London journals.”
“Go on.”
He took her hand in his. “There isn’t much more to tell. Your father said he would not allow his daughter to suffer a lifetime of humiliation. I argued I was no longer the wild man of my youth. ‘Once a rake, always a rake,’ he insisted. I could not penetrate that wall of resistance no matter how hard I tried.”
“What you may not know is that I am very much my father’s daughter.” She laughed, but humor was missing. “When we marry, you’ll learn just how much my father and I are alike. I was not yet one year old when my father withheld my favorite stuffed bear. I was so much attached to it, I howled loud and long, but my father has a difficult time backing down. When my mother begged him to give it back to me, he said I was too old for such nonsense and refused.”
“How cruel. You were a mere infant.”
A sly smile curled her lips. “According to my mother, I held my breath until I turned blue. My father was so afraid I would die, he gave me back my bear at once.”
Waverley laughed. “Will you hold your breath and turn blue until your father gives in?”
“If nothing else prevails. Shall you hate it?”
“Very likely.” He rose and held his arms out. Helena went willingly into what turned out to be a prolonged embrace.
“I want you, Waverley,” she said in a rasping voice. Her hands ran down his back.
“My love,” he murmured with poignant tenderness.
Just two little words, but they very nearly broke her heart. She made a silent vow. Father or no, she’d have this man come what may. “I need you. Now, my beloved.”
“No, my bewitching raven. Not if we’re ever to have a chance to win your father’s consent. You’ve already tricked me once into a premature tryst, haven’t you? Let’s hope you’re not with child.”
“That might make it easier for us to marry. Father couldn’t stand the scandal.” She giggled.
“What?”
“I was thinking of the last time I saw you buck naked.”
“You thought I was someone else then. What was that poor fellow’s name?”
“I’ve forgotten. Do you remember when I first touched you?”
He smirked in the time-honored way that began with cavemen. “How can I ever forget? It changed my life. Where did you learn such devilish tricks?”
She giggled again. “Oh, I’ve had worlds of experience in the art of lust.”
“Liar. But you do get better all the time.” He kissed her.
When he stopped, she said, “Dear me. I see stars.”
“I’m that good, am I? Thank you for the tribute, love.”
She burst out laughing. “That’s not what I meant, my darling. The heavenly stars are out. We’ll have to hurry and change or we’ll be late for dinner.”
Chapter 25
Saturday, the Sixteenth of May, 1818
The marquis lost no time in summoning the town fathers to a meeting at Waverley Castle. Among them were Dr. Fenwick and Vicar Swiveley. Robert Nelson, a yeoman and Squire Hawkes, two of Waverley’s boyhood friends, had been invited in addition to Sennen Cove’s only magistrate, Sir George Wyndham.
“I have asked you here to discuss the case against the Earl of Glynhaven. Undersecretary Sir Sebastian Brooks, Lady Fairchild’s brother-in-law, is from the home office. He has authorized me to inform you of the Crown’s decision in the matter of the Earl of Glynhaven and the mischief he has caused us all.”
“Mischief? No, Waverley. It was more than mischief he brewed,” said Nelson. “Ever since we were boys, the earl was envious of you and wanted to best you. We all knew that.
Thank God it is at an end now.”
“True enough, Robert. I need to remind you that the information I am about to disclose must not leave this room. Do I have your word?” He looked from one man to the other for agreement.
He explained concisely what was in store for Glynhaven, and why it was necessary. He added, “Captain Le Clair has asked to be taken to London, for he wishes to offer his deposition and return to his home in France as soon as possible. He’s a brave man and his testimony will go a long way to putting an end to smuggling here in Land’s End. The French government has been kept informed of his role. He shall be welcomed home as a national hero.”
When the meeting drew to a close, Waverley said, “If there are no other questions, I bid you good day, gentlemen. Thank you for coming. I need not caution you again as to the secrecy of our meeting.”
He shook hands with his guests as each one took his leave. All but one, for Waverley placed a restraining hand on the magistrate’s sleeve. “A moment, sir. I must detain you to discuss what’s to be done with the Glynhaven estate during the earl’s…er…shall we call it his continued absence?”
Wyndham was an imposing figure, almost as wide as he was tall, but his eyes were kind, especially when he dealt with those less fortunate. To them he administered benign justice, but to others who were intent on malicious mischief, his sentences were indeed harsh.
“What are your thoughts, sir?” asked Waverley.
“Glynhaven has an honest bailiff managing his property. I know the man well. I’ll advise him to maintain the estate and to continue to pay the merchants and the servants their wages from the proceeds.” The magistrate paused in thought. “I’ll request him further to search for contraband. We’ll need evidence for His Majesty, if we are to make a case for bestowing the earl’s estate on someone more worthy.”
“Thank you, sir. Your reputation as a wise man is well deserved.”
The magistrate grinned. “You’ve come a long way from that young mischief maker I once knew, my boy. I’m sorry your father didn’t live to see the fine son he raised to take his place. He would have been proud of you.”
A flicker of regret crossed Waverley’s face. “I’m sorry, too, sir.”
Helena labored over the letter she was writing to her father. After several ruined sheets, she turned to her sister for help.
“No, Helena. Cross this word out. You mustn’t ‘demand’ anything from Father. That only serves to raise his hackles. Instead, you must plead for his help in your plight. It’s the only way.”
Helena rolled her eyes. “Don’t I know it! But I’m so angry with him, Livy. How dare he interfere with my happiness. I’m going to marry Waverley with or without his approval, I tell you.”
Olivia glanced at the clock on the mantel. “Heavens, it’s past four. I’ll leave you to finish your letter while I dress for dinner.” She blew her sister a kiss and added, “Let me have a look at the letter before you send it off.”
“I will,” Helena answered and bent to her task. She became so engrossed, she didn’t hear the door open.
“What are you writing, my raven?” Waverley kissed the top of her head.
She looked up and touched the hand resting on her shoulder. “A letter to my father.”
“Can you hold your breath and turn blue in your letter?”
She laughed. “If only that were possible. I’m done.” She sprinkled sand on the ink, folded the single sheet and put it away in her drawer. She rose and wrapped her arms around his neck. “How did your meeting go?”
“Very well. The town fathers were most understanding. We have many good friends here, my love.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“The vicar was full of news. Banns have been posted by two of our people.”
Helena laughed in delight. “Hmm. Shall I guess?”
“Go on.”
“Casper has offered for Amy.”
“And…?”
“And you have offered for me.”
“I have indeed, but we are not the ones he means.”
She made a face. “Too bad of you to remind me. Well, then. I can’t think who else. You’ll have to tell me.”
“
You surprise me, love. Which of the kitchen maids has been pining over a certain stable boy forever?”
Helena giggled. “You can’t mean Trudy and Lemuel?”
He nodded in mock solemnity and led her to the sofa. They sat side by side, one of his hands holding hers and one arm around her shoulder. “Trudy must be thrilled. Let’s hope she doesn’t torture him the rest of his life for being so tardy. That would be a disaster, wouldn’t it?”
“It would, but Trudy means to keep him occupied. She confessed to me she wants a large family. What other news, love?”
“Magistrate Wyndham paid me a compliment. He said my current sobriety would have made my father proud, a refreshing change from my wild youth.”
“Perhaps you ought to ask the magistrate to write a letter of recommendation to my father, though I don’t think it would do any good.”
“I agree. Your father doesn’t know our local magistrate well enough to take his word for my reformation.”
London
Helena’s pleading letter did nothing to soften the duke enough to change his mind. He brought her letter to the duchess to read. “Pretty language, Ellen, but if my daughter thinks to use fine words to get her way, she’s wrong.”
“She loves the marquis, Tony. Isn’t that enough for you?”
“No, my dear. What do you suppose will happen to her the first time he strays from her bed, eh? There will be a second and a third time, I assure you. She is in love with a rake. His behavior may well prove to be too treacherous for her comfort.”
“She might marry him without your consent. What then?”
“If she disobeys me, she shall not be welcome in my home,” he said bitterly.
“You’re forgetting, Tony. It’s our home.” The duchess spoke almost in a whisper, but she knew her husband heard every word.
“You may see your daughter whenever you like, my dear, but you will advise me of her visits in advance, so that I may arrange to be absent at those times.”
She folded her arms and tapped one foot. “I’ll do no such thing, your grace. Do you mean to banish her from our Christmas celebrations every year? Do you mean to deny yourself the pleasure of dangling Helena’s children on your knee? Let me warn you that I will not tolerate such harsh treatment toward our daughter. If she makes a mistake in marrying Waverley, it is quite her own affair. You of all people ought to know better than to behave with such revenge.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know very well what I mean. How can you be so hard on your daughter when your own record is so far from spotless?” The duchess whirled around and stalked out of the library, Helena’s letter crumpled in her hand.
The duke stared after his wife, his eyes hard and unforgiving. He returned to his desk and wrote a brief answer to his daughter.
Chapter 26
Monday, the Eighteenth of May, 1818
Helena broke the seal on her father’s letter and spread the single sheet out on her desk, but the only words that mattered leaped out at her: You cannot disgrace your family by marrying a rake. Her eyes blurred with tears as a knock on the door of her library caught her attention.
Without waiting for answer, Waverley strode in, but he stopped, the smile on his face disappearing when he saw her tears. “What’s wrong, dear heart?”
Without a word, she held out the letter.
He glanced at it and flung it aside. “Hell and damnation! The sins of my past persist in punishing me. Perhaps I’ve earned your father’s contempt, but you haven’t, my love.”
“Let me assure you I’ve no intention of obeying his decree, Desmond dearest. It will have to be an elopement. Shall you mind very much?”
Waverley took her into his arms. She parted her lips for his kiss, a surprisingly light one. There was so much to say, yet neither spoke. They sat on the sofa, mute, like an old married pair who had run out of words. What was there left to say?
“My past haunts me. It always has and it always will. I’ve learned to live with it, but I cannot ask it of you as well. If we marry, your family will disown you and the rest of society will ostracize you. I won’t allow the woman I love to bear such a burden. We can’t marry.”
She raised her head from his shoulder. “You don’t mean that!”
“I do mean it. You came into my life like a breath of fresh air. I’d do anything to make you happy, my love. But if I marry you, I ruin you. In time, you’d come to despise me for the loneliness and the isolation you shall be forced to endure.”
“I don’t care for that, Desmond. I care only for you. I’m disappointed with my father’s decision, but I refuse to allow it to interfere with our happiness. Besides, it’s not only you I love. I’ve come to love Waverley Castle and the people in Sennen Cove as well. You’re a hero in their eyes in spite of your past. You’re a hero in my eyes and that’s enough for me.”
He gave a harsh laugh. “A hero, you say? No, my love, I’m not a hero. This business is tearing me apart, Helena. You see simple solutions where I see endless problems. You were humiliated at Glynhaven’s ball. I couldn’t bear to see you suffer like that again. And what of our children? Will the sins of their father rain down upon them as well?”
“We love one another. That’s all that matters.”
“It isn’t enough. Your father is a duke. He’ll find a way to prevent us from reaching the border. He may even have put such a scheme in motion as we speak. What then?”
Helena’s eyes flew open. “I hadn’t thought of that, but knowing him as I do, I wouldn’t put it past him to stoop to such a low trick. Perhaps, if we leave at once…”
“No, my darling. If your father succeeded, he’d drag you back to London, where I might be prevented from seeing you ever again.”
“I shan’t give you up. I shan’t! You may be a rake, but you are my rake. You’re welcome to hold orgies for all I care, but only after we marry.”
The door flew open to admit Olivia, who had heard only the last sentence. “Orgies? Are we to have one? What fun. I’ve never been to one. May Sebastian and I join you? Delightful notion,” she said as she shut the door behind her.
Helena laughed in spite of her tears. “Thank God I have you to lift my battered spirits, Livy.” She pointed an accusing finger at Waverley. “This…this beast refuses to marry me just because Father persists in being a stubborn mule.”
Olivia’s amused eyes gazed at her host. “As usual. Let me understand you, Waverley. Are you saying that a big man like you is afraid of a little old duke? I find that hard to believe.”
Without a word, Waverley retrieved the duke’s letter and handed it to Olivia. She read it quickly and stared at him in astonishment. “What has this to do with anything? Do you love my sister?”
“With all my heart.”
“Then let us put our heads together and think of a way to change Father’s mind. I became a spy in spite of his opposition, didn’t I?”
Helena brightened. “Oh, Livy, do you think…?”
“I do, indeed. Dry your tears, love. You shall marry your rake, orgies and all.”
Lighter of heart for the first time that day, Waverley said, “Sebastian is lucky to have you for his wife, ma’am.”
“Certainly. And I never let him forget it, sir,” she retorted, her eyes filled with mischief.
Noting the time, Helena said, “Come with me, Livy. Help me change for dinner. The marchioness sent word she’s preparing to join us this evening.”
Waverley held the door for them, his eyes on Helena until she disappeared from his sight.
The sisters climbed the staircase to Helena’s chamber arm in arm. Livy helped her dress, for Amy was still at Ship Inn nursing Casper. “We’ll find a way, I promise you. Hand me your hairbrush.”
“I waver between hope and despair. Father’s dug his heels in, a sign of his stubbornness.”
Livy laughed. “Father does not have the advantage of my excellent spy training. The need for a little espionage turns up in the oddest plac
es, don’t you think?” She stepped back to admire her work. “There. You look presentable so long as everyone politely ignores your red eyes. Shall we go?”
The sisters found the marquis and his grandmother already in the drawing room when they entered. After they exchanged greetings, the dowager lost no time in getting to the point.
“My grandson informs me that your father has refused his consent once again. What are you prepared to do about it?”
Olivia brightened, understanding that the dowager had an interest in the business. She could very well turn out to be a useful ally. “These two lost souls are wallowing in despair, ma’am.”
“Then we must find a way to rescue them!” The dowager’s eyes fired up with determination. “There’s always a way, you know. What we must do is change that stubborn curmudgeon’s mind.”
“I couldn’t agree more, ma’am,” said Olivia cordially.
Helena looked into Waverley’s eyes and said, “I won’t give you up.”
“Why should you, my dear?” The dowager turned to her grandson. “Desmond, come here.”
“Yes, Grandmother?” He knelt by her chair and took her hand.
“You must go to London at once and persuade the duke to change his mind.”
“He’s already turned me down, love.”
“No matter. Tell that ridiculous Indian of yours to pack your things. If you leave at first light, you’ll reach London in two, three days at the most.”
The marchioness reached out for Helena’s hand. “Don’t worry, my dear. I’m determined to see you wed to my grandson. Worthless in your father’s eyes though he may be, he is certainly not worthless in mine.” She turned to Waverley and added, “And when you plead your case, grandson, be sure to remind the duke that your grandmother not only approves, but desires it.”
“Do you know my father, ma’am?” asked Helena.
A mysterious smile lit the old woman’s face. “Better than you think, my dear.”
Hope in his eyes, her grandson kissed her hand. He turned to a footman and said, “Go and tell Rabu to pack my portmanteau. Tell him he is to accompany me to London. And send word to the stable to ready my curricle and my fastest horses. We leave for London at dawn.”