by Abby Ayles
Elias said nothing.
“It is your fault that they speak of us in such a manner,” Beatrice continued.
“Who?” Helena questioned.
“I entered the drawing room to hear them speaking about you, about us,” Beatrice said. “They called our father a thief and said you have come only to win favor for yourself because we are destitute. Destitute!”
The word echoed in Helena’s mind. “Come now. Do not allow their words to upset you.”
“How could they not upset you? To be spoken of in such a manner by people we do not even know. I have only just arrived. How can you bear it?”
Helena didn't answer the question. She didn't dare to even look in Elias’s direction. “Come, Beatrice, let us go to my room and talk.”
“What will satisfy you, my lord? To see my father hanged for the crime he is accused off? Would that suit you?”
The bitterness in her sister’s words resonated between them as Helena led her from the room. She glanced back at Elias only once, and her eyes were met by a steely glance. She could not imagine what he was thinking, but she prayed he would understand her sister’s feelings.
Beatrice was in pain and Helena needed to know why. The moment they were tucked behind the doors of her room, she addressed the matter.
“What is it? Why would you behave so, and in this house, knowing why we have come here?” she chided.
“I’m sorry Helena, but I couldn’t stand it. You have no idea the state I left Mother and Father in, then to be greeted by such hurtful words and thoughts. When I saw him, I couldn’t hold my tongue. We have lost so much,” Beatrice said as she broke down and dropped to the edge of the bed.
“Beatrice, talk to me. You have not been yourself for weeks, and now this outburst. Is there anything more? Is there something amiss that I do not know about?” Helena asked as she stepped forward and cradled her sister’s head against her body.
“It isn’t fair,” Beatrice wept. “Why must it be so unfair? Father is innocent and here we all are, punished for this crime.”
“The truth will come out. It has to,” Helena encouraged.
“Not soon enough,” Beatrice wept.
Helena frowned. “Soon enough for what?”
“To save my heart.”
Helena took hold of Beatrice’s red cheeks and lifted her face to her. “Your heart? What of your heart?”
“It has been broken, Helena. It has been cast aside,” her sister cried anew.
She wasn’t making sense. Her heart had been cast aside? “Who has cast aside your heart?”
“The one who had promised to keep it forever. The Viscount of Morsby.”
“Elias’s cousin? The Earl of Farthing's son?” Helena asked in shock.
Beatrice nodded sadly. “We have been corresponding these months, ever since last year’s visit to Balwell. Do you remember? He and the Earl visited at the same time.”
“But it was only for two weeks. You and the Viscount of Morsby?” Helena repeated. When did this happen? Why had she not known?
“I love him, Helena,” her sister cried. “He said he loved me.” The pieces suddenly fell together, and Helena’s heart sank. Was this what was to become of them? Was love to be denied them too for a fault that was not their own?
“He severed the connection?” Helena asked.
“The engagement.”
Her eyes shot wider as disbelief filled her mind. Beatrice had been secretly engaged?
“Why? Why did you not tell me?” she asked shakily as she sat beside her sister. If she stood a moment longer, she would be in fear of falling.
“Because he wished it so. We wanted the perfect time to announce it. Elias was returning and we did not want our engagement to overshadow his ball. It gave us a reason to see each other.”
Helena suddenly remembered that Lord Morsby had danced with Beatrice once or twice that evening, but she had put nothing to it. How little did she know at that time?
“He was able to get past the financial scandal, but not this. His father-in-law cannot be a convict,” Beatrice replied as she choked back tears.
“But he is not a convict. He is imprisoned but he has not been sentenced. His innocence will be proven.”
“He doesn’t believe there is anything to prove. The fact that he was arrested at all, and our inability to find the truth all this time, has convinced him,” Beatrice explained.
“So it is over, just like that?” Helena said sadly.
Her sister nodded and fell against her body as more tears shook her. Helena held her close as her eyes moistened.
“I’m so sorry, Beatrice. Really, I am.”
“It is all their fault. Elias and his father. If they had not had Father arrested. If they had helped him, none of this would’ve happened,” Beatrice continued to cry.
Helena wanted to protest, but she couldn’t. Her sister was in too fragile a state to accept anything she said. When she was calmer, she would attempt to bring her to the truth. Until then, all she could do was comfort her.
Chapter 24
Beatrice’s arrival had caused an unexpected and unpleasant change. Helena, who had already done her best to avoid Elias, now ignored him completely, and kept herself solely to her sister.
Elias sat on the back balcony of Dunlily with his leg folded over the other and his index finger tapping against his lips. Something had happened to make Beatrice so discomposed. The question was what?
In their lives together, Elias had never seen the older Leeson behave in such a manner. She was near heartbroken as she spoke to him.
Elias hoped it was not some ill news regarding their father or mother. The family could not take the weight of it, especially now. Elias would have someone investigate and report to him.
Though they were to stay away from each other, Elias still wished to know of the well-being of the family. On occasion, he had a man check on them to be sure everything was well, or at least not worse. He hadn’t done so in three weeks and, after Beatrice’s outburst, he believed it was time he inquired again.
Mr. White had been tardy with the list, but he had supplied it to Elias before breakfast the morning after the first party. Since then, Elias had combed through the names and sought to contact who he may regarding the matter.
Someone amongst them was the culprit, and Elias was determined to find out who. If not them, it was someone who had gone through tremendous lengths to frame Mr. Leeson for no reason except to gain an easy scapegoat.
Elias was enjoying the warmth of the sun as he observed. It was warm, and yet a cool breeze was drifting down from the North, taking the edge off of it all.
“Lord Chatleton,” Arabella’s voice called from behind him.
Elias turned around to find her walking toward him in the company of another woman. The woman had not been present for the past days. He got to his feet to greet them.
“Miss Eggerton,” Elias said as he waited to be introduced. It was only when they were closer that he realized he was already acquainted with the lady, though only slightly.
“Lord Chatleton, please allow me to introduce Lady Alice Mortimer. Her father I believe is an acquaintance of yours, Lord Bartholomew Mortimer, the Earl of Evertonham.”
Elias turned to Lady Alice and smiled as he nodded a greeting to her. “Lady Alice, it is indeed a pleasure to meet you again. We met only briefly when I became acquainted with your father when I was seeking to purchase Leeson’s Goldsmith & Jewellers.”
Lady Alice bowed in return. A bright smile was on her face, which was half-shaded by the large, decorated hat she wore. “Lord Chatleton, the pleasure is all mine, I assure you. When Arabella told me you were here, I insisted upon giving you my regards immediately. My father has done nothing but sing your praises since your meeting.”
Elias chuckled. “I am sure the praises are unwarranted. I have done very little to earn them.”
“Not at all. My father is never one to overestimate or exaggerate. If he praises you, then
there is a reason for it, whether you see it or not, Your Lordship,” Lady Alice said with a smile.
She was a very pretty woman. Quite exceptional, if Elias had to admit it. She was neither too tall nor too short. Her face was fair and bright, with large blue eyes that set off a head of gold. She was also well-formed. Her figure was enviable to others and always dressed in the finest of clothing.
“Lady Alice, now you flatter me,” Elias laughed.
Arabella and Lady Alice joined in the laughter. “It seems that anyone who meets you speaks well of you, Lord Chatleton,” the first mused.
“I am a very good pretender,” Elias continued to joke.
“Lord Chatleton is a man of humility it seems,” Lady Alice commented. “And yet it only serves to increase his praise, for humility is a very rare and worthy quality.”
“Lady Alice, I will no longer deny your words, as the more I try to do so the more I seem to prove that what you say is true,” Elias said with a smile.
A thought occurred to him as he spoke. The Earl of Evertonham was one of the men that had invested with Mr. Leeson. He was the only one of the investors of Leeson’s who had wanted Mr. Leeson to continue on with the company.
Perhaps his daughter could assist him in finding out information that would otherwise be suspicious if he were to question about it.
“Arabella?” Lady Eggerton’s voice called from the doorway as she approached their small group.
“Yes, Mama?”
“Would you be a dear and come help me? I have quite lost my brooch and shawl, and your father wishes to leave shortly. We are to lunch and then to the theater later,” the older woman informed.
“I will be right there, Mama,” Arabella answered. She turned back to them apologetically.
“Go attend to your mother. I will see to Lady Alice,” Elias said with a smile. Fortune had smiled on him. The opportunity to speak with the lady privately was before him, and he was most certainly going to take it.
“Mrs. Reading?” Elias called to one of the ladies of the party who happened by the door. “Would you be so kind as to join us?” The woman smiled and nodded.
Elias returned his attention to Lady Alice who was watching Arabella as she left them. He smiled at her when she looked back at him. “Shall we take a turn around the gardens?”
“I would love to,” she replied sweetly as she reached out and took the arm he offered her.
“It is good that you came at such a time,” Elias commented as they strolled down the stair and onto the gravel path. Mrs. Reading followed at a comfortable distance. The older woman knew well when the young wished a private conversation, and kept her distance and her eye upon them.
Elias cared little for what she might see, as there was nothing untoward about their walk. It was what she might hear that concerned him, therefore he kept his voice low.
“Is that so?” said Lady Alice. “Why, pray tell?”
“The day is warm, yet not hot, and there is a good breeze to accompany it. The perfect weather for a walk,” Elias commented.
“I see. And had you wished to take a walk but lacked a partner?” she questioned.
“Until your arrival, I was content to sit and enjoy the view, but now that you are here, the good weather seems better put to use. Wouldn't you agree?”
“I would agree, and I would say that we are fortunate to have such a lovely place in which to walk. I have not been to Dunlily in some two years and I am truly astonished at the improvements they have made.”
“It is all new to me,” Elias confessed. “This is my first time as a guest of the Baronet and Lady Eggerton.”
“Is that so? You seem well at ease here. One would never dream that you are not better acquainted with the family.”
Here was his opportunity. He looked back at Mrs. Reading who was admiring some purple flowers along the path. She seemed hardly aware of them at all.
“I am acquainted with the family, but not this particular branch of it. Lady Eggerton is the sister of Mrs. Mary Leeson. She is the wife of Mr. Ambrose Leeson.”
The name sparked in Lady Alice’s mind. “Ah, yes! I do recall the name now.” She looked at Elias sympathetically. “I am told there have been some further unpleasantries on that gentleman’s account.”
“There has been an accusation,” Elias confirmed.
“He was arrested, was he not?”
“Yes. He now makes his home in Newgate Prison.”
“Such a sad thing. I would never have thought the man capable of it,” Lady Alice commented. “I met him several times when my father visited his offices and on the few occasions we dined together. He did not seem that sort of man.”
“I agree, Lady Alice, that is why I am persuaded to believe in his innocence,” Elias confessed. His remark surprised her.
“Is that so? You believe in his innocence despite the evidence against him?”
“I do. As you said, the man has never been the sort. One would never attribute to him the character of one who would be accused of embezzlement. That is why I must find the truth.”
“As well you should,” Lady Alice replied. “It would be misfortunate indeed if an innocent man were to spend his days in prison for a crime he did not commit.”
He smiled. “I am glad we are of the same mind.”
Lady Alice smiled back at him. “How do you propose to prove the truth, one way or another?”
“That, Lady Alice, is where I would solicit your assistance.”
She chuckled. “I see, so this walk was not entirely innocent?”
“I am found out,” Elias answered. “I hope you will forgive me.”
“Only if you will agree to be my partner at the card table this evening,” she mused.
“I believe I can arrange that,” Elias answered.
They continued their walk, talking about the little niceties of life. It was pleasant to have a discussion that did not surround the unhappy circumstances of the Leeson family, nor cast aspersions upon the friends he held so dearly.
The sun had dipped low behind the trees by the time Elias and Lady Alice returned to the house. They were met by Helena and Beatrice returning from their walk. The foursome stopped at the bottom of the stair to the balcony.
“Miss Leeson. Miss Helena, please allow me to introduce Lady Alice Mortimer,” Elias said politely.
“We are already acquainted,” Beatrice said coldly. She nodded her head. “Lady Alice.”
“Miss Leeson. Miss Helena,” Lady Alice replied. “It is good to see you again. His Lordship and I were just discussing your family.”
Beatrice’s eyes turned to him with a glare. She raised her chin higher as her nostrils flared. “Is that so? Well, I hope that you enjoyed the conversation.”
“I did indeed,” Lady Alice replied sweetly. She seemed unaware of the tension between himself and the older Leeson daughter.
“How have you been, Lady Alice?” Helena asked. Her eyes refused to meet his. How Elias wished they would. A glance from her would mean the world to him, but his wish was not to be granted.
“I am very well. And yourself?” Lady Alice asked.
"We are as well as can be expected," Beatrice interjected. "Though that may find fault with some."
“Fault?” Lady Alice questioned, confused.
“Forgive my sister,” Helena answered. “She is not herself today. We were just going in before the night air finds us.”
“I see. Do not let us stop you. I do hope you will feel more yourself,” Lady Alice said kindly.
“Thank you,” Helena replied.
Elias watched as Helena and her sister walked away from him. This madness had to come to an end. He could not bear to be treated in such a manner. Though he understood the cause, it did not lessen the pain of it.
“Lord Chatleton, shall we go in? I do believe dinner will be served soon,” Lady Alice asked sweetly. Elias couldn’t help but appreciate the warmth of her conversation that eclipsed the coldness he received otherwise.
He nodded slightly and proceeded up the stair after the Leesons. “Mrs. Reading, thank you,” he said with a smile as he passed the older woman.
“It was my pleasure, Your Lordship,” she replied as she followed them indoors.
Dinner was jovial for most of those present. Beatrice did not join them and Helena was forced to sit alone.
Thankfully, her cousin Arabella kept her close by. Elias wondered how she would bear it if not for her cousin. Her sister was too emotional to be of any help, and the growing murmurings about them could only make her stay more unpleasant.