The Wedding Runaway (46 page)

"
No matter what you choose
,
love
,
I will never hate you
,
but I cannot be a secret lover.
"

A knock on the door nearly brought her out of her skin.

"
Helena
,"
her father called.
"
Are you all right
,
dearest? I thought I heard a scream.
"

"
Hide
,"
she whispered frantically.

"
I will not.
"
Although
,
he lifted off of her and released her wrists.

"
I am all right. I just had a nightmare
,
Papa.
"
She rolled off the bed and stood frozen.

The door rattled.
"
Helena
,
are you alone in there?
"

Oh, what was she to do? Trevor would not hide. Her father was suspicious.

Chapter Twenty

Victor was sure the madness from his wife had afflicted him. There was no other excuse for him showing up at the Earl of Caine
'
s door. What Sophie had said before she fell asleep bothered him
,
and everything that happened with Lydia tormented him
,
and he tried to think about anything but her
,
although thoughts
,
memories
,
wishes of her intruded on his every waking thought and many of his sleeping ones.

The Countess of Caine seemed to bear no lingering malaise from her illness of the night before. In fact
,
she greeted him with a beaming smile. When he asked for a moment alone with Lady Helena, he thought she might burst.

He was shown to a cozy library
,
and Lady Helena entered shortly afterward. Her forehead was crinkled in an expression between puzzlement and fear.

"
Will you have a seat
,
my lady?
"

She glanced over her shoulder as if she expected another to be listening. Then she sat down on the edge of a chair.

Victor searched for a less than blunt way of saying what he had to come for, then shrugged.
"
I shan
'
t ask you to marry me.
"

She blinked
,
and shook her head.

"
My mother will be so disappointed
,"
she murmured and folded her lips together as if to restrain a smile.

Perhaps she wasn
'
t as insipid as he imagined.
"
You are probably wondering why I am here.
"

"
Quite.
"

In for a penny, in for a pound. He might as well jump in headlong.
"
Lady Helena
,
are you in any trouble?
"

"
Trouble? No.
"

He sat down on a chair beside her.
"
Are you sure? I thought I might be of assistance if you are in a bad spot. I could talk to a gentleman for you
,
or defend your honor
,
if needed.
"

She smiled.
"
I am afraid to disappoint you. I do not need you to fight a duel in my name.
"

"
That was not what I meant.
"
Did everyone believe he fought duels for the fun of it? And did Lady Helena understand what he was trying to learn?
"
I assure you I meant to offer my assistance as a friend. Sophie saw you at the midwife
'
s and I was concerned that you might be with child.
"

She smiled softly.
"
No
,
I wish I were. The only trouble I am in is that the man I wish to marry does not meet my parents
'
standards. I hate to defy them
,
but I cannot bear the thought of marrying another.
"
Her expression was serene as she spoke.

"
You do intend to marry this man? He has asked you?
"

"
My lord
,
he has all but begged me.
"
She tilted her head sideways.
"
I do appreciate your concern though.
"

"
So your attentions last night were to divert your mother?
"

"
I
'
m sorry
,"
she blurted. Then she colored bright red.
"
I...
"

"
Never mind, then. You may count me as friend if you are in need.
"

"
I think I would have been in good stead if my answer was yes.
"

~*~

Helena made her way back to the drawing room
,
while Lord Wedmont was shown out.

Her mother leaned so far forward she nearly fell out of her chair.
"
Well?
"

"
He wanted to be sure I understood he would not marry me.
"

Lady Caine looked crestfallen.
"
Are you very sure you did not refuse him?
"

"
No
,
Mama. I am quite sure his affections are engaged elsewhere.
"

"
Not Lady Beauly
,"
wailed Lady Caine.

The butler entered the room with a calling card with the edge folded down. He carried the silver salver to Lady Caine. She picked it up and grimaced.

"
Tell him we are not at home.
"

"
Very good
,
my lady
,"
said the butler with a bow.

"
Tell him I am at home
,"
said Lady Helena.
"
You should be ashamed of yourself
,
Mama. He was very kind to you last night when you were feeling poorly.
"

"
How do you know who is calling
,
Helena?
"

"
I am expecting him.
"
Helena felt near sick. Her father lowered his newspaper and stared at her.

The butler froze as if he did not know what to do with this turn of events. Helena could not recall countermanding her mother
'
s instructions ever before.

She stood and went to the stair and called down to the entry hall.
"
Come up
,
please.
"

Helena watched Trevor
,
her qualms melted into a surety she was doing the right thing as he slowly climbed the stairs
,
his blue eyes trained on her. When he had refused to hide last night
,
she had finally agreed to marry him. He dived under the bed and she opened the door to her father
,
who had insisted upon entering her room and looking around to assure himself there was no intruder bent on harm.

Trevor entered the drawing room
,
his hat held in his hand. The footmen had not relieved him of either hat nor coat. She winced but tried to ignore the set-down.

Trevor brushed through the doorway of the drawing room, his height imposing.
"
My lord
,
my lady
,"
he said as he bowed.

"
Trevor
,
this is my father
,
Lord Caine. Papa
,
this is Mr. Trevor Hamilton.
"

Her father stared at Trevor
'
s hat.
"
Sit down
,
young man.
"

"
I will not intrude on your hospitality long. Lady Caine
,
you are in good health today?
"

Helena wrapped her arm in Trevor
'
s. She could tell he was working very hard at being correct. He might have insisted on a marriage and hate her parents
'
attitude toward him
,
but he would not do anything to raise their ire
,
for her sake.

Her mother gave a short nod.

"
She
'
s much better today
,"
said Helena.

"
My lord
,
I ask you for your daughter
'
s hand in marriage.
"

Lady Caine stood.
"
Of course not. How dare you presume.
"

Helena closed her eyes. Trevor had insisted
,
although she told him they would be better served to just sneak off and not bother with asking her parents
,
who would be furious.

Her father coughed.

She only hoped that Trevor
'
s request had not startled him into an apoplexy fit.

"
Are you ready?
"
Trevor asked.

"
I am packed. Let me get my valise
,"
Helena dropped her grip on his arm and headed for her bedroom.

"
Are you not stopping them?
"
asked Lady Caine
,
her voice rising.
"
Why could you not stay in the colonies where you belong?
"

"
Let them go
,
dear
,"
said her father.

Helena stopped in her tracks. Had she heard her father correctly? Although what could he do to prevent a marriage, since she was of age? She slowly turned around.

"
Let them go. Helena has made her choice.
"
Her father turned and coughed again.

"
How could you?
"
asked Lady Caine, staring at her daughter.

"
Please do not distress yourself
,
Mama.
"
Anguish welled up in Helena.

"
I am sorry my birth does not meet your expectations
,
ma
'
am
,
but I will do everything I can to keep Helena happy. My country does not recognize titles and we are an old and venerated family in Boston.
"

"
You have got the cart before the horse
,
young man
,"
said her father.
"
If you mean to stay in England
,
I will see if I can stop the sale on the Coventry Estate.
"

"
Oh
,
Papa
,"
whispered Helena her heart breaking and filling in the same moment.

"
No!
"
said Lady Caine.
"
I will not have it. Helena
,
you will have no connections or respect.
"

"
It is not too late for us to find a renter for the townhouse this season
,"
said Lord Caine.
"
I presume you are in a hurry to be off.
"

"
I am more than willing to stay in England if it will please you to have your daughter close
,"
said Trevor.

"
I never want to see you again. Helena
,
how could you squander such a good blood line?
"
Lady Caine said.

Trevor lost his poise then.
"
Madam
,
I do think your blue blood would benefit from a drop or two of my savage blood.
"
He shook his head.
"
Helena
,
let
'
s go.
"

She ran and grabbed the valise in her room, shoved her bonnet on her head without bothering to tie the ribbons and scurried back down the stairs.

She returned to hear the tail end of Trevor
'
s apology.

He took the bag from her and wrapped his arm around her waist.
"
I am sorry
,
love.
"

"
I am sorry too
,"
she whispered as they descended to the front door.
"
But my father took it much better than I expected.
"

"
I don
'
t know
,"
said Trevor.
"
He kept staring at my hat.
"

Helena clapped a hand to her mouth.
"
Oh, goodness
,
we left it on the nightstand.
"

"
So when your father tells your mother that
,
will it help or hurt my case?
"

"
The only thing that will help in my mother
'
s eyes is powerful connections. Perhaps if one of your family was elected President.
"

"
I
'
ll suggest it to my brothers.
"

Helena wrapped both her arms around his waist.
"
Being with you feels too right to be wrong.
"

~*~

Lydia leaned against a pillar and closed her eyes. She was so sleepy this last week. Her eyes jerked open. Just this morning she had been beset by a wave of nausea. A piece of dry toast had cured that
,
though. Perhaps these late nights were causing her to take ill.

She had not seen Victor in a week. She had expected that he would withdraw
,
but she had not expected a total defection. Sophie kept her busy though. In fact
,
Sophie never let her be idle a minute. They had been to museums and balloon ascensions until every waking minute was crammed with activity. Perhaps that was why she was so tired.

"
Sleepy
,
pet?
"