“Oh, that would be very unseemly,” Clarence looked scandalised at the thought.
“Piffle,” Jane answered. “They didn’t even inform Helen that they were coming, which is very bad form on their part. They can hardly expect to be welcomed with open arms, which is most likely why they didn’t write.”
“Still, it’s getting late and they have already been shown to their rooms. We should let them stay the night, at least.” Clarence argued with Jane as Helen watched, wondering whose side to take.
“You’re a very kind man, Clarence. Yes, they can stay the night,” she finally agreed.
“Are you sure?” Jane asked.
“One night can’t hurt. I lived with their teasing and bullying for sixteen years, I can put up with them for one evening.”
“If you insist,” Jane shrugged. “Clarence, can you take the boys back to the schoolroom? I think we girls need some time alone.”
“Of course.” He smiled and ruffled Jules’ hair but Joe kept his distance, his earlier happiness completely gone as he followed them inside.
“Come on,” Jane said, guiding Helen towards the house, then to Jane’s bedroom. She sat Helen in the chair by the fireplace then she rummaged in a drawer, returning with a pewter hip flask. “Here, I think you could do with some of this.”
Helen accepted the flask and took a long sip, which caused her to cough and splutter.
“My word, what’s in that?” she had drunk wine before, and every night since marrying Alex, but this was far more potent.
“Whisky. I thought that given how shaken you looked, you needed a little Dutch courage.”
Helen nodded and took another, smaller sip before handing it back.
“So, do you want to tell me what has you so shaken?” Jane asked as she replaced the cap.
Helen considered the woman before her for a moment, then decided that everything she knew of Jane’s character, made her likely to be understanding.
“I’m illegitimate,” she stated baldly.
Jane looked surprised but didn’t comment.
“My mother died soon after I was born and my father took me in as his ward and raised me with his other children, although everyone knew the truth, except me. No one but him wanted me there, his wife loathed me, his children picked on me and even the servants seemed to look down on me. It was the butler who told me the truth about my parentage when I was six. Then things began to make sense. Why he had taken me in, why his wife hated me, why the others picked on me.”
“That must have been difficult.”
“It would have been, if not for my father. I know he loved my mother and I know he was aware of how his family treated me, although they were careful not to misbehave when he was around. I think that’s why he singled me out for special attention, to try and make up for how they behaved but it only made them hate me even more. They turned me out the very same day that he died.”
Jane reached over and took her hand, squeezing it. “I’m so sorry.”
“You don’t think less of me?”
“How could I blame you for the acts of your parents? You had no control over the circumstances of your birth.”
Helen gave her a relieved smile. “Most people don’t see it that way.”
“Does Alex know?”
“Of course; I couldn’t marry someone without letting him know the truth.”
“Then if he accepts you, who am I to say differently?”
“If only Pearl would see things that way,” Helen grimaced.
“Now don’t let that witch get to you, you’re a far nicer person than she is.”
“Thank you.”
“And while we’re on that subject, and I apologise if this is the wrong time, but I think it’s time that you began asserting your rights in this house.”
“My rights?” Helen looked terrified.
“You are the lady of the household and to be frank, I'm getting tired of every meal being what Pearl likes, with total disregard for everyone else in the house. Do you know that Milton has a sensitivity to shellfish? He had such a bad reaction as a child that he nearly died. Of course a little thing like that doesn’t stop her from putting oysters and cockles, mussels, prawns, crab and lobster on the menu every chance she gets. She doesn’t even have the good grace to ask for an alternative to be made, he just has to sit there and watch everyone else eat. Regardless of your start in life, and whether you like it or not, you are Her Grace, the Duchess of Crowham and Mistress of Howard House. It’s time you started dealing with the household issues yourself.”
“But last week Milton said that he didn’t come to dinner because he didn’t like lobster?”
“That’s easier than trying to explain that certain foods could kill him. He had potted meat and bread in his room instead.”
Helen had considered taking over the running of the house from time to time. She knew it was inevitable, but the idea of usurping Pearl and taking over the household had just seemed like too big a task, especially when she had only been here for a week.
Now though, when Milton was being treated so rudely, she could feel her temper becoming inflamed. It didn’t matter how afraid of Pearl she was, she wouldn’t let someone be treated in such a way if she could help it and in this situation, she could help.
“You’re right,” Helen said, her resolve set. “And I don’t care what my so-called family want, they can go to Hell!”
Jane smiled. “Good. Now, let’s go to your room, summon Bessie and choose an outfit that will make you look and feel like a queen.”
Helen nodded; although inside she still dreaded the confrontations in her near future, she was determined to succeed, if not for her own sake, then for Milton’s.
***
Alex strode into his uncle’s office without knocking and tossed the paper down on the desk.
Charles Cavendish didn’t seem particularly perturbed by this but picked the paper up and after adjusting the spectacles on his nose, began to read. His posture froze when it became clear what he was reading and after a few moments, he looked up.
“You are married again?”
“That’s what it says, doesn’t it?” Alex snapped.
Charles went back to reading the document, as though determined to find fault with it and when finished, folded it upon his desk and removed his spectacles.
“And this is a genuine marriage, is it?” Charles asked. Alex felt that he was being entirely too cool about this.
“Define genuine,” Alex demanded.
“Well, I could have a doctor examine your wife.”
Alex’s fist slammed down on the desk, making Charles sit back in his chair.
“Don’t you even think about it! I will never allow you to humiliate my wife in such a fashion. If after a year there are no children, you can try to petition the courts to have my estate returned to your control but until then, you stay away from Helen. Do I make myself clear?”
As Alex stood upright again, Charles did his best to regain his composure. “Quite clear,” he assured his nephew.
“Good. I expect the paperwork to be finished and the estate transferred to my control by the end of the week; I'm anxious to return to my wife.”
“Your birthday isn’t for another two weeks. The Trust comes to you then, not before.”
Alex’s cool gaze took in the man before him.
His lawyer couldn’t say for certain, but he felt that the Will had been altered, from saying he must be married ‘by’ his 30 birthday, to saying that he must be married ‘on’ that date. The lawyer’s office had a break-in approximately six months before his lawyer had re-examined the document and he felt that it could have been altered or exchanged at that time. Then again, if it was a forgery, it was an excellent one. No doubt Charles never expected anyone to look over the Will’s contents again and once Alex’s birthday had passed, he would simply refuse to hand over the Trust.
Thankfully, Alex believed in hiring the best, which is why his lawyers not only do
tted every ‘I’ and crossed every ‘T’, they checked three times that none had been missed.
Charles hadn’t had any dealing with Alex’s lawyer however, and was unaware of just how efficient they were.
Unfortunately all of Alex’s suspicions were just that, suspicions, and he had no proof of his uncle’s duplicity… yet.
“My lawyer and accountants will be going through the Trust in minute detail, Charles, and I expect every penny to be accounted for. If you have squandered even a guinea of my father’s money, there will be hell to pay.”
He wasn’t imagining the cold sweat on his uncle’s forehead, nor the nervous gulp as he nodded his understanding.
Alex grabbed the marriage certificate off the desk and left the office without further delay, slamming the door firmly behind him. With any luck, he hoped that this would finally get this vile man out of his life forever.
Chapter Eleven
Helen was dressed in a beautiful, dark purple gown, with more petticoats under her skirt than she could ever remember wearing and her hair styled with so many pins, that her head actually felt heavier than usual. She felt as though her cheeks had been pinched to within an inch of their life to bring a bit of colour to them, and Bessie had even used a little powder to tone down the freckles on her face.
However, she may look like a queen but she still didn’t feel like one. It was only her anger at her family’s presumption and another few sips from Jane’s hip flask, that enabled her to keep her head held high as she entered the green room, where the pre-dinner drinks were being served this evening. Pearl had changed the location in honour of their guests and it was a larger and slightly nicer room than the one they usually met in.
Helen had almost argued with Pearl about it when she found out but as green was one of the colours she liked, she didn’t for now. Tomorrow was soon enough to begin asserting her authority to her mother-in-law.
“There you are.” Jane smiled as Helen came in, got to her feet and came over to greet her with a kiss on each cheek, a show of solidarity that Helen appreciated. “You look magnificent, are you using a new hair tonic?”
Pearl sniffed.
“Actually it’s Bessie’s own secret recipe; she uses rosemary, burdock root and catnip, among other things, which leaves the hair lovely and sleek.”
“Then I must see if I can bribe the recipe from her.”
Helen realised what Jane was doing, letting their guests know that her beauty (such as it was) wasn’t because of her fine gown.
Jane stepped away only to be replaced by Milton, who took her hand. “My sister is correct; you do indeed look radiant this evening.” He bent over to kiss the back of her hand and when he stepped away, Clarence was there.
“You are indeed a vision of loveliness tonight.” He too kissed her hand, then with an arm around her shoulder, he guided her further into the room. “We’ve just been becoming better acquainted with your family, Delilah, Iris, Cassandra and Paris Stuart. Do I assume your father was an admirer of Homer?”
“He was indeed,” Helen smiled at him, then turned to her family.
The only name not from Homer’s works and whom she didn’t know, was Delilah. She stepped towards her family who got to their feet, but Helen faced the stranger among them.
“You’re Delilah, I assume?” She smiled and curtseyed. “Very nice to meet you, my dear.”
“I am, Your Grace, I married your brother last year.”
“Then I apologise for the informal greeting, Lady Stuart, but my family hadn’t informed me of the marriage.”
“No apology necessary, Your Grace.”
Paris opened his mouth but Helen spoke over him.
“Please, no need for such formality, call me Helen. May I call you Delilah?”
“Most people call me Lilah.”
“Lilah it is then. Have you been given a drink?”
“Oh yes, Ma’am.”
Helen smiled at Graves, who she could see already had her glass of wine waiting on his tray.
“It’s Helen, and come, we must get to know one another,” she said, taking Lilah’s arm and guiding her away from her family, to two wing-backed armchairs that sat either side of an ornamental table.
Her family, still standing, looked at each other, dumbfounded.
“So,” Helen asked in a low voice. “Do I offer you my congratulations on your marriage, or my commiserations?”
Lilah blushed. “Marriage is… not all that I expected, but Paris is a fine man.”
Helen didn’t doubt it, except when he was crossed or had someone weaker to pick on. That was when you saw a person’s true colours.
Their conversation was cut short after her family had conferred and decided to send Paris over.
“Helen, it is good to see you again.”
Helen slowly turned to him and stared, offering no reply.
“Please,” Paris continued. “Can we not let bygones be bygones, sister?”
“Did you bring the portrait of my father which you denied me when you threw me out onto the streets?”
Paris’s face fell. “Wa- what portrait?”
“It was a four inch high miniature, one of two that Father had painted when we were children. We all had them made, remember?”
“I uh…”
“When you threw me out, five hours after my father passed away, I didn’t beg to stay or for money to support me. I accepted that you would only let me take one trunk and in that, nothing of value, not even gifts that I had been given, but I begged you, on my knees and in tears, to allow me to have that one memento of my father, and you refused. Bringing it wouldn’t have made me forgive your cruelty, Paris, but it would have gone some way to proving that you truly are here to mend bridges.”
All eyes were on them and in the resulting silence, you could have heard a pin drop. Only Pearl broke that silence with a haughty sniff.
Paris looked to his family for help but they didn’t have any answers for him.
“Helen, please. I truly am sorry for how we parted ways. Can we not at least try to get along? We are your only family.”
“Actually, I'm building myself a new family and if you really do care for me so very much, where were you when I broke my leg? I swallowed what little pride I had left to write to you asking for your assistance, but you never even replied, let alone helped me.”
“I- I- I didn’t receive a letter.”
“I’m sure,” Helen remarked coolly.
Delilah was looking in shock at her husband when finally, his sister, Cassandra came to his aid by joining them.
“Helen, come on, we did have some good times as children, didn’t we? Playing by the streams and riding horses.”
“I remember you put a stone under my pony’s saddle, causing him to throw me and break a leg. I adored that pony.”
“Father bought you a new one!”
“And I loved her also, but that didn’t diminish the horror of watching Agamemnon be shot.” Helen decided to bring this charade to an end and got to her feet. “You may remember your childhoods as fun and happy times however, I remember dreading to be anywhere Father wasn’t, for fear of what you would do and say to me next. You are here not because you care for me, but because my husband is a duke and you wish to be associated with him.”
She paused for breath and Pearl gave a sniff of disapproval.
“You have travelled a long way so you may remain here overnight, but I expect you to leave in the morning. Perhaps this will be a lesson to you to treat all people well, not only your equals and superiors, because you never know when one of them might gain a position above you. Now, as I understand it, the kitchen has catered for you this evening, even although you didn’t see fit to warn anyone of your arrival, so you may eat dinner with us but please, do not attempt any further reconciliations.”
“But you invited us!” Iris, her step-mother said. She was getting on now and made her way over to them with the aid of a walking stick. “You sent us your wedding annou
ncement.”
“I did no such thing and even if I had, why would you assume that it was an invitation?”
“Look, Helen,” Paris began but stopped as she glared at him. “Your Grace, we have travelled all the way from Norfolk and as you can see, our- my mother is very frail these days. If we subject her to another carriage ride, she will surely suffer terribly for it.”
Iris was indeed looking frail, not only needing a stick to walk but also slightly hunched in the back, although she did her best to remain upright.
“I will agree to two nights,” Helen said. “Any longer will depend on how you behave. I’m not a little girl any more, Paris, and I don’t have to put up with your bullying or spiteful remarks.”
“I understand,” he said with a curt nod, and she could see his pride warring with his aspiration in his expression.
Graves announced dinner then; he was early but she was grateful that this ordeal wouldn’t be drawn out any longer than necessary. Dinner was a tense affair, with little conversation and frequent sniffs from Pearl.
Delilah still seemed shocked by what she had heard earlier and kept looking at her husband when she thought he wouldn’t notice, as if questioning if he was indeed the man she thought she knew. Finally the dessert plates were cleared and Helen excused herself. Jane and Clarence did as well and all three left together.
Once on the first floor landing Jane hugged Helen.
“I'm proud of you,” she said, which brought tears to Helen’s eyes.
“I'm sorry,” Helen said as she pulled away, fumbling for a handkerchief that she hadn’t thought to include when she dressed.
“Here,” Clarence handed her his and she used it to dab at her eyes.
“Thank you.”
“No thanks necessary, and don’t apologise.” Clarence said. “I attracted a rather nasty group of bullies at school. You may learn to live with those memories but they never fade.”
“Thank you, Clarence.” She smiled warmly at him.
Moments later Rose and Milton joined them.
“Are you all right, my dear?” Milton enquired. For the first time he wasn’t flirting, or even overly solicitous and she smiled at him.
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