by Aria Norton
"It was just like a love story, only real. I think I've gotten a hold of every love story in the English language, and some in French, but none of them have been as interesting as Helena and Nathaniel's story."
And that was why Rose couldn't allow it to end. A normal person would have considered a betrothal as the end of the romance between her friend and the violinist, but Rose had never considered herself as normal. How could she be when she had a friend like Helena?
“If I do not find a way to bring them back together again, Helena will be unhappy for the rest of her life.”
Luke, although a good person, was not the man for Helena. The man didn't challenge her as Nathaniel did, and didn't understand her.
“I have no doubt he adores Helena, but does he love her?”
Rose pondered this and knew the answer was no. Luke was obsessed with Helena and wanted to own her. Before long, the man would try to change her and mould her into the wife he expected her to be. Rose knew with every fibre of her being that Nathaniel would never do such a thing. He would encourage Helena to be herself and pursue her passions.
“A loveless marriage would be a fate worse than death for her.”
Helena may not see it now in her melancholic state, but she would soon regret her hasty decision to marry Luke Christiansen.
“It's no use speaking to Helena, but I can talk to Nathaniel. Fortunately, I know where he lives.”
Rose had found his address while taking Hera out for a walk with a footman in tow.
“He needs to come clean about his feelings for Helena. I will not accept any less.”
Imagine if love were to conquer all, and the two could elope and be married? Rose sighed, smiling off into the distance.
“How lovely that would be. Helena and Nathaniel are made for each other, and they should not allow silly things to get in their way.”
They were both pretending that they meant nothing to each other, but Rose had been there from the very beginning. There was no way that a person can make up the sort of interaction they had had.
“I'll have to see him tomorrow. It's far too late to go anywhere this evening.”
Rose would have to find an excuse to go out, or she might be refused. There was always something to get done in the house despite there being a multitude of servants.
“They cannot do without me. I wonder what will happen the day I marry and leave?”
If Rose ever married, that was. There was a severe shortage of worthy men in their home town, and London was teeming with men looking for women with a fortune. Rose hadn't a cent to her name besides what she had saved over the years. Hopefully, it would be enough to buy a little cottage and some land to live off. Rose would plant vegetables, have a flower garden and an orchard, and keep several animals. That was her ultimate dream.
The next day, Rose was able to slip away under the guise of walking Hera. Stuart, one of the Barclay footmen, followed behind her, ready to pick up any animal droppings. It took a good fifty minutes to reach Nathaniel's townhouse, but it was worth it.
Rose handed Hera to Stuart, before walking up three short steps and ringing the bell. The door opened, and she expected to see Nathaniel, but instead, she saw a woman. I recognise her. Rose had accompanied Helena on her walk with Luke the day Nathaniel had all but confessed his betrothal. Rose had been a little too far away to see the woman well, but she recognised the dark blonde hair and slight figure. She could do with a few cakes.
“May I help you?” the woman asked, staring haughtily down at Rose.
“Yes, you can. Would you please let Monsieur Baudelaire know that Rose is here to see him? He knows me.”
The woman narrowed her eyes. “You're Lady Barclay's personal maid, aren't you?”
Rose was much more than that, but she nodded. “Yes, I am.”
“What are you doing here?” the woman demanded.
Wasn't that obvious? I just told her! “I've come to see Nathaniel. Would you please alert him to my presence?”
“I will do no such thing!”
Rose pulled back, frowning when the woman's spittle landed on her shoe. Of all the disgusting things to do! Rose looked at the woman, seeing her scrawny chest heaving. You know, I feel like I've seen this woman somewhere else, but I can't put my finger on it.
“Why not?” Rose countered. “Nathaniel knows me well.”
“You and your mistress need to keep away from my fiancé,” the woman hissed. “I have not worked so hard to have him to myself only to have you interfere in my personal business. Just go away.”
I cannot shake this feeling that I have seen her somewhere, but surely that's impossible? I saw her for the first time at Hyde Park some days ago. How can I have seen her before? Maybe I've seen someone similar to her, that's all. But the feeling wouldn't leave her. And what does she mean that she worked hard to have Nathaniel to herself? Rose didn't like the sound of that.
“Does Nathaniel know that you have refused me entrance into his house? This is his house, yes?”
“I shall be his wife, so I have every right to ask you to leave,” the woman said. “And if you will not, then I'm afraid you've forced my hand.”
The woman took a step back and closed the door in Rose's face. Blinking, Rose felt her blood boil.
“Horrible woman! How dare she do that?”
The woman was touched in her upperworks for certain! Rose thought about ringing the bell again but decided against it. She huffed, and turned away, seeing a bewildered Stuart.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“As right as I'll ever be.”
Rose knew that there was something else to the story. I cannot believe Nathaniel has chosen this woman over Helena. There has to be some sort of a mistake here. Had this woman caused the rift between Helena and Nathaniel? Rose wouldn't put it past her.
Marching down the steps, she took Hera from Stuart, pausing when a carriage stopped near them. All chaos seemed to break loose when Hera jumped out of Rose's arms and sprinted to the carriage. I certainly do not need this right now.
“Hera!” Rose scolded. “You come back here this instant!”
The cheeky little dog didn't even look back but concentrated on the carriage.
“I'll get her, Miss Rose,” said Stuart.
“No, that's fine, Stuart. Hera is my responsibility.”
Rose went after the dog, not noticing the man who stepped out of the carriage until he bent down and picked Hera up. Usually, the dog barked her head off at any strangers, but today she allowed herself to be carried! Was this man the pied piper of dogs?
As the man walked towards her, Rose couldn't help but notice how handsome the man was. Oh, don't go the silly root of fawning over dashing men! Shaking her head, Rose closed the space between them, holding her hand out for the dog.
“Thank you, kind sir. Hera has never done this before.”
The stranger handed a reluctant Hera to her. “I'm glad she did, or I might have never been able to speak to such a beautiful woman.”
Such comments usually annoyed Rose, but for some reason, she found his words flattering.
“Thank you for bringing her to me,” she said, ignoring the compliment.
The stranger smiled. “My name is Christopher. And you are?”
She might as well give him her name since he was so kind. “Rose.”
“Ah, how apt. A rose in human form, and just as prickly.”
He found her prickly? “Best not let your finger catch on my thorns, Christopher. You might get hurt.”
“I would risk it to reach your petals.”
Rose coloured. She wasn't quite sure what the man meant by that, but it sounded a bit scandalous.
"I noticed you were coming from my friend's house," he continued. "Do not tell me you are one of his inamoratas?"
“Of course, not!”
“Phew, I was rather worried.”
He was? Not that it matters. Rose needed to focus on the matter at hand. Christopher had just
claimed to be Nathaniel's friend. Perhaps he could help her speak to him.
“You said you're Nathaniel's friend?”
"Indeed, I am. His best friend. Does that interest you?"
It interested her greatly, but not for whatever reasons were floating about in his head.
“Since you are his best friend, then you must know of my mistress, Lady Barclay.”
His eyes flickered. “I do know of her.”
“Then you must know that they are meant to be. I'm confident Nathaniel has mentioned something of his time with her.”
“Lady Barclay is betrothed, is she not? And Nathaniel will marry Beatrix.”
Oh, so that was the woman's name?
“Helena is only marrying Luke because Nathaniel removed himself from her life without warning. It hurt her. I wish to speak to him to find out what happened before they both make terrible decisions and marry the wrong person. I know that Helena and Nathaniel love each other, and I wish to reunite them.”
“You say that Lady Barclay loves Nathaniel?”
“Yes, she does. She hasn't been the same since he abruptly ended their lessons.”
“But Nathaniel did not end their lessons, she did,” Christopher insisted.
“She most certainly did not,” Rose countered. “Her parents informed her that Nathaniel had cancelled them. I would not lie about such a thing.”
Christopher frowned. “Something doesn't seem right. Did you tell this to Nathaniel?”
“I tried to, but Beatrix refused to let me see him.”
“I'm not surprised. Tell you what, I'll organise a meeting with Nathaniel, and you can tell him all that you've told me. He deserves to know the truth.”
Rose beamed. Finally! “That would be wonderful. When should I come?”
“The sooner, the better. I think tomorrow should be fine.”
“What about Beatrix?” she asked.
“Don't worry, I'll take care of her. Simply be here by ten tomorrow morning. I know he has a performance at twelve.”
“You've been most helpful, Christopher. Thank you.”
She held out her hand to shake his, but he kissed it instead. “And it's been my pleasure to meet you, Rose. I hope we see each other again soon.”
Rose drew her hand away, her cheeks on fire. "Perhaps. I must get back home, or they will wonder where I've gone off to. Good day."
“Good day, Rose,” Christopher smiled. His eyes dazzled in the summer sun. “Until next time.”
Rose hurried away, feeling her heart race a mile a minute. Once she had moved a fair distance away, she turned back and found Christopher watching her. Her breath caught, unable to look away. He waved, but Rose turned, her hand on her chest.
“Friendly man, that,” said Stuart.
Rose nodded her head, saying nothing. How could she when she couldn't speak? For the first time in her eighteen years, a man had caught her attention. She didn't like it.
Nathaniel couldn't believe his ears. “So, Helena didn't betray me on purpose?”
“Of course, not, you foolish man!” Rose scolded. “How can she do that when she cares about you?”
Nathaniel left his seat, running his fingers through his hair as he walked to the mantelpiece. How was this possible? How had everything managed to go so wrong?
"Monsieur Debussy informed me that Helena no longer wished for my services, and I was not to try and contact her. That's why I came to London to see her. I wanted to find out what was going on."
Nathaniel had not wanted to accept what he had been told.
“Then what happened?” Rose asked. “Why didn't you come to see her?”
"Beatrix had found out Helena was seeing suitors and told me about it. She didn't want me to be humiliated."
Rose narrowed her eyes. “How did Beatrix come by this information?”
Nathaniel shrugged. “I haven't the foggiest. But it turned out to be true, didn't it? She's engaged to someone else.”
"Only because she believed you had abandoned her! Foolish man! You should have come to see her instead of listening to gossip. Look at what has happened now. Do you know she kept waiting for you to appear? To save her from an unwanted engagement? She only did it to please her parents and to try to forget about you."
Nathaniel grabbed his head. This was too much to take in. If he had followed his heart and spoken to Helena, she wouldn't be engaged right now. Why did I allow Beatrix to deter me from my goal? Nathaniel knew the answer to that. His pride had gotten the best of him.
“It's too late now, Rose. I can't do anything about the situation. The banners have been read, and Helena is due to marry in just a few months.”
Nathaniel had woken up to the news in the morning paper. He had been expecting it but seeing the proof of it had punched him in the gut.
“But she is not married yet. You still have time to stop this marriage, but you need to set aside your pride and whatever else is holding you back.”
“Stop this marriage? How do you propose I do that?”
“Speak to Lord and Lady Pembroke. They love their daughter and want what's best for her. They, too, were surprised when Helena accepted the first marriage proposal. I don't know why, but I think they are regretting their decision to come to London so early.”
Nathaniel was willing to do anything if it meant he might have Helena back in his life, but meeting with the Earl and Countess was no small feat.
"I will do it, but what on earth am I supposed to tell them? Their kind doesn't mix with my kind."
“That's up to you.”
Rose's words did nothing to comfort him. I hardly know what to say to these people. I can count on one hand the number of times I've spoken them both.
“Can you offer me any sort of advice that won't get me kicked out of the house the minute I open my mouth to speak?”
Perhaps if the Earl and Countess were not Helena's parents, Nathaniel might not have been so worried. However, knowing that his future rested in their hands filled him with dread and fear.
“I suggest you speak from your heart,” said Rose. “No frills and fluff. Tell them you love Helena.”
Nathaniel groaned. “That might just earn me a trip into the River Thames.”
Rose laughed. "Lord and Lady Pembroke are not malicious or dangerous people, Nathaniel. They are protective of their daughter, but that's normal. Helena is their only child, and they want to ensure that she's happy. If they can see that she'll be happy with you, they might set aside this social class issue and allow you to be together. It's worth taking a chance, isn't it?"
“I'm willing to do anything for Helena,” Nathaniel confessed.
"That's a good start. Perhaps Lord Pembroke may try to intimidate you, but fathers are like that. However, Lady Pembroke has a softer heart and tends to listen better."
“That's what I'm counting on,” Nathaniel muttered.