“No!” Graham barked, catching Simon’s arms.
“Listen to your friend, Your Grace. You don’t want to move on me when I can do so much damage, do you?” her uncle said with another of his satisfied sneers.
Simon relaxed back, eyes still narrowed. Meg slipped up beside him and took his arm. He looked down at her, and for a moment they just held stares. Then he let out his breath and shook his head.
“He doesn’t deserve anyone’s protection,” Crestwood muttered.
“I said we needed a moment,” Helena said, locking eyes with her cousin. “Can you not give us that when you plan to take everything else?”
“You don’t need a moment,” Charity said, and moved toward Helena slowly. “You asked me yesterday why I hated you. I never hated you.”
Helena lifted both brows. “That is hard to believe when you are doing this.”
“I’m not,” Charity insisted. “I will admit I have been jealous of you. Who could not be? You’re so pretty. And everyone likes you right away. It’s always been that way. When you fell, I thought—but I never hated you. I even convinced my father to bring you with us. I thought it might…help.”
Helena watched her cousin’s face closely. She’d known Charity all her life. Helena knew when she was lying. When she was manipulating. Right now it didn’t seem like she was.
“Well, I suppose I’m happy you do not despise me,” she said. “But that changes nothing. Your father is going to force Baldwin into a choice that he’ll regret, no matter what it is.”
Now Charity turned to her father. Uncle Peter had been watching them like a hawk and he glared at his daughter. “What are you looking at?”
“You’re not going to force anyone into anything.” Charity’s voice was very calm, though her hands shook despite the strong front she was putting on. “I will not marry the Duke of Sheffield. I will not take part in your scheme.”
He lunged forward, face purple. Helena had no idea if he meant to simply menace or actually harm. He got to do neither, for Graham stepped forward, caught Peter by the throat and backed him hard against the wall behind him. His face was hard as steel as he said, “Not a finger against that woman or I will rip you to shreds.”
Peter glanced up at him. Up and up, and then he held up his hands. “I wouldn’t touch my daughter.”
“No. You won’t.” Graham backed away and reached for Adelaide. She took his hand, and together they glared at Peter along with the rest.
Charity was very pale, but she lifted her chin. “I will, however, marry the Earl of Grifford.”
Her father tilted his head. “Grifford?”
She nodded. “He asked me two nights ago. I’ve been dangling him on a string ever since. But I will accept his offer. He’s powerful enough for you, I think. And he adores me, so I know that I can make sure you have all the access you’ll ever want. In exchange for my own demands.”
Shephard folded his arms. “You have demands?”
She nodded. “You will forgive his debts.” She pointed at Baldwin. “And you will gift Helena with a ten thousand pound dowry.”
The entire room let out a collective gasp, but none more loud and forceful than Helena. She staggered, gripping Baldwin’s arm as she stared at Charity.
Her cousin smiled at her. “See? I told you I didn’t hate you.”
Helena could find no words, but Charity didn’t seem to need them. She glared at her father. “That is the only way you get anything you want.”
“I’m not going to give that whore ten thousand pounds!” Peter roared.
“Shut your damned mouth!” Baldwin bellowed, and it was loud enough that Peter flinched. “Talk about her that way again and I will be the one to rip you to shreds and no one will stop me.”
The other men in the room were nodding, and Peter shifted. “Talk about her or not, I’m still not giving her a farthing.”
Charity let out a snort. “Please. Ten thousand is a mere drop in the vast bucket of your fortune. If you don’t think I know your worth down to the last hay penny, you are sorely mistaken. You can afford the cost. And you will.”
She smiled, and Helena recognized the expression well. It was the spoiled sneer that Charity always got when she knew she would get what she wanted. For the first time, Helena found herself rooting for her cousin.
“And if I don’t?” Peter asked, but he sounded far less certain than he had a moment before.
Charity shrugged. “I suppose I could marry a handsome chimney sweep. Or run off to join the circus.”
Adelaide let out a laugh. “I could probably help you arrange the second.”
Graham cleared his throat. “Perhaps you should stay out of this, Lydia.”
Helena didn’t understand their joke, but she didn’t care. She was too busy smiling. And when she glanced at Baldwin, she found him smiling, too. In fact everyone in the room was now smiling.
Save for her uncle, who glared at Charity. “You would do this to me. Your own father. When all I’ve tried to do is give you the best. You wouldn’t dare!”
Charity laughed. “Test me. You raised me—do you really think I wouldn’t dare?”
Peter’s nostrils flared as he gaped at his daughter. But it was clear he had no response. “An earl,” he grumbled.
“Yes.” Charity smiled. “A powerful one at that. And just think, when Helena is married to a duke, you’ll be linked to not one but two very powerful men. I’m certain Baldwin will not forget you.”
Baldwin nodded slowly. “Certainly, I will not.”
“It’s your best option, Papa. So I’ll ask you the same thing you asked the Duke of Sheffield a moment ago. What’s your pleasure?”
Helena gaped as Peter’s shoulders sagged. “Fine,” he ground out. “Fine. I’ll make the arrangements for everything.”
He turned heel without another word and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. The moment he was gone, the room let out its collective breath.
“Charity,” Helena whispered as she crossed the room and embraced her cousin as hard as she could. “Thank you so much. You have saved us.”
Charity pulled away and smoothed her dress. Discomfort with the display of affection was clear on her. “Oh, please.”
“No,” Helena insisted. “You are making a sacrifice for me and I shall not forget it ever.”
Charity shrugged. “A sacrifice to be a countess? No. Truth be told, I rather like the Earl of Grifford. He’s dashing. And I’ll outlive him and become a scandalous widow, no doubt.”
“Well, you are certainly welcome in our circles,” Emma said as she came forward. She caught Charity’s hands. “You were so very brave.”
Charity was blushing like a beet now. She fluttered her hands. “Oh, you’re too much. I must follow my father now. Smooth his very ruffled feathers, and leave you to your celebrating.” She smiled at Helena. “You caught a duke, Helena. Good show.”
Charity flounced from the room. When she was gone, there was an eruption of laughter as the group moved forward to hug Helena and slap Baldwin’s back. She watched him as they did so, watched how quiet he was even as he smiled through the congratulations.
“We should have champagne with lunch!” Charlotte gasped. “An engagement announcement should always have champagne associated with it. Mama and I will arrange it all.”
Baldwin nodded. “Of course. There is a great deal to celebrate.”
Charlotte was practically bouncing as she started for the door. “Come, everyone! I will need everyone’s help with the planning, and it will give Helena and Baldwin a moment.”
The others left, too, with the exception of the Duchess of Sheffield. She turned to the couple with a smile. “I wanted to say something to you both.”
Helena tensed, for she knew Baldwin’s mother had worked for a very different outcome for her son. She had no idea if the duchess really accepted her.
“What is it, Mama?” Baldwin asked softly.
“I have only ever wanted t
he happiness of my children,” she said as she squeezed Baldwin’s hand gently. “It kept me up at night to think that you would not have love like your sister has found. This resolution came with a great deal of trouble and worry, but I’m so happy for you both.” She moved to Helena and reached out to touch her cheek. “Welcome to our family, you dear, sweet girl.”
Helena let out her breath in relief as the duchess hugged her briefly. She was brushing away tears when she released Helena with a laugh. “And now I must go make sure you sister doesn’t plan your entire wedding without any input from you.”
She gave a little wave as she left the room and firmly shut the door behind herself. When she was gone, Helena took a deep breath and faced Baldwin again.
“All right, out with it. What is wrong? I can see you are troubled. So tell me. Have you changed your mind already?”
Baldwin stared at Helena. She asked him the question in a light, teasing tone, but he could see the genuine concern slashed across her face.
He caught her hands and drew her close. “Look at me, Helena. I love you and I cannot wait to marry you. Nothing has changed that.”
She sagged in relief for a moment before she tilted her head. “Then what is it that keeps you from being fully happy?”
He pressed his lips together. “I vowed to protect you. But I didn’t. Your cousin did, against all odds.”
Helena seemed to consider that for a moment. “To my utter surprise, Charity did sweep in and take on the role as savior. But I think no less of you. You stood toe-to-toe with my uncle and declared that you would allow him to destroy your world so that you could marry me. Do you truly think I don’t realize you meant it? That you really would have sacrificed everything for me?”
He shrugged one shoulder. “I would have gladly given anything for you, Helena.”
“But you didn’t have to,” she said. “And for that, I’m very grateful. Charity may have helped make that easier, but you saved me.”
He shook his head as he looked down at her, this woman he had come to love so deeply and so powerfully. “No, my love. You saved me. From the moment I found you counting stars, you saved me.”
She lifted up on her tiptoes and brushed her lips to his. “We will compromise and say we saved each other,” she said softly. “And we will promise to do the same every day, every night, for the rest of our lives.”
“The rest of our lives,” he agreed, then claimed her lips once more.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Six Weeks Later
“They actually make a rather happy-looking couple,” James said as he handed over a glass of wine to Helena and then moved to stand beside Baldwin. Together, the three of them watched as Charity took her first turn around the dancefloor with her new husband, the Earl of Grifford.
Helena raised her glass in silent tribute to her cousin. “She’ll probably run the poor man into the ground before five years are up. But yes, she does seem to like him.”
“Then it is a happy ending for all,” Baldwin sighed. “Though I argue you and I made a much happier couple on our wedding day.”
Helena glanced up at him, remembering that beautiful day just two weeks before. “Indeed. The happiest.”
James turned toward them with a smile. “And we are all overjoyed for you. Our little group of dukes has had an interesting year, hasn’t it? Five marriages in just over twelve months.”
“We will all be tamed yet,” Baldwin chuckled.
“I actually wanted to talk to you about something,” James said.
His gaze shifted to Helena, and she glanced at Baldwin. “Should I go?”
“No,” he said. “I’m certain James can share his business with both of us. No more secrets. I’ve learned the hard way how they can destroy.”
She squeezed his hand gently. She knew how hard it had been for Baldwin since all that happened in Sheffield over a month before. When he’d told his entire group of friends about his lack of fortune, about his own actions that had contributed to it, she’d felt his palpable humiliation and heartbreak.
Of course they had been accepting and tried to help. She’d been proud of how gently and kindly Baldwin had turned them down. The ten thousand her uncle had reluctantly allowed her to take into the marriage had helped a great deal, but she knew their life would not be easy.
“Do you see the gentleman standing over there? With the pretty dark-haired lady in blue?” James asked.
Helena and Baldwin followed his gaze, and she nodded. “I recognize the lady. Rosalinde Danford. I met her at one of Charlotte’s teas. She and her sister are lovely.”
“Her husband is Grayson Danford,” James said. “He’s brother to the Earl of Stenfax.”
“I think I’ve crossed paths with him a few times,” Baldwin said as he examined the man from afar. “Seems a decent sort.”
“He is, I think,” James said, looking off at the man. “He’s also a shrewd businessman. I ran into him at White’s last week and we began talking about canals. And steam. And a lot of other things the man is involved in.”
“You’re going to invest?” Baldwin asked.
James speared him with a glance. “Yes. And so are you. Five thousand pounds.”
Helena felt Baldwin stiffen at her side, and she clung harder to his arm so he would feel her strength if his own wavered. “I think I’ve already had a conversation with you about taking your charity. I appreciate everyone’s desire to save me, but if I’m ever to be able to look myself in the mirror again, I need to save myself.”
James nodded. “I know. That’s why this isn’t a gift. It’s a loan. I’ll even charge you interest. But I’m telling you that the opportunities Danford is talking about here…they could pay back tenfold. Twenty-fold.”
Helena glanced up at Baldwin. “Twenty-fold? That would be a hundred thousand. Enough to…”
“Yes,” Baldwin breathed, shock lacing his tone.
She could see he was still uncertain. Apparently so could James. He clapped a hand on Baldwin’s shoulder. “Life is not a straight line, my friend. And it isn’t always fair. I think we all know that very well. We can rebuild, though, if we aren’t too stubborn not to take the opportunity.”
Baldwin looked down at Helena and she smiled back at him. He nodded slowly. “Very well. I would appreciate the opportunity to rebuild.”
James’s expression softened. “Excellent. Come by the house tomorrow and I’ll have my man draw up paperwork. We can call on Danford together and you’ll see what I mean. But for now, I’m off to dance with my wife before she expires from waiting. Helena.”
She smiled. “James.”
When he was gone, she turned to Baldwin, searching for a hint of humiliation or anger or upset. She found none. Just a real excitement in his eyes.
“You don’t mind, do you? That I agreed to take on yet another debt?”
“It sounds like an exciting venture,” she said. “I think it was a good bargain to make.”
He let out a long breath of relief and then his gaze became focused only on her. “Whatever happens, I want you to know…the real rebuilding of my life began and will end with you.”
She smiled at him, overjoyed with the present, excited for the future. And when he bent to kiss her, she lost herself in the moment and in him. Because he was where she belonged.
Enjoy an exciting excerpt from
The Undercover Duke,
out March 2018
Lucas shifted as the carriage turned and he was rocked against the wall. Every muscle in his body protested with screaming pain and he gripped his fists against the leather carriage seat to keep from crying out.
How he hated being injured. Being weak. How he hated that it all felt so commonplace to him now. Pain was just part of life.
The carriage came to a stop and he looked out the window as the servants began to move to help him. It was a small cottage that they’d come to. One that looked like every other cottage in Garygreen, a part of London he’d never been to befo
re. He knew all the worst parts through his job, and the best thanks to his upbringing.
He hated them both equally. But this place was suspended somewhere in between. Not too high and mighty, but neat and tidy, well maintained. Anonymous.
The door opened and the men Stalwood had tasked with helping him appeared. Their faces were grim as one said, “Ready, Your Grace?”
Lucas winced at both the recognition of the pain about to come and the title that was used to address him. “Yes,” he ground out, his voice rough as he reached out to steady himself on waiting arms. He staggered forward, trying in vain to keep his grunts of agony in as he was helped down.
The men looked away as they guided him up the stairs to the cottage door. They were spies, like he was, sent to do this menial task because they were the only ones to be trusted with the secret of his location. He knew what they saw when they looked at him: their future. And it wasn’t one they wanted, so they distanced themselves.
The door to the cottage was already open and the men helped him in. They didn’t hesitate as they all but carried him up another short flight of stairs and down a hall to an open door. Lucas had to believe this had all been prearranged. He did not yet even know who it was who would be taking care of him during his time here. Stalwood had said a healer, but nothing more.
A healer. He all but scoffed. He’d been poked and prodded and tortured by many a man who called himself that. The amount of healing that had followed was laughable. He was broken, perhaps irretrievably, and that sent a wash of rage and pain through him more powerful than any caused by the physical.
“Let me go,” he snapped, staggering from the arms of those helping him and all but collapsing against the edge of the bed.
The men seemed unmoved by his ill humor. All but one left him there. The last was named Simmons. Lucas glared at him. He’d trained this particular pup years ago, and now the boy stared at him like he was a dotard, lost to his youth and usefulness.
“Is there anything I can do?” Simmons asked, all that pity heavy in his mournful tone.
The Duke of Nothing (The 1797 Club Book 5) Page 20
