A footman opened the carriage door, and Samuel stepped down, the look on his face as exuberant as Helen felt. From the corner of her eye, she watched Grace’s hopeful gaze travel past him.
When the footman shut the door behind Samuel and put up the step, it was all Helen could do not to put her arms around Grace in comfort. Just a few minutes more, dear sister. She did not understand why Lord Sutherland had insisted upon doing things this way — it seemed cruel — but Samuel had said they must not interfere.
Any more than we already have, Helen thought, her smile growing broader as they hurried down the walk toward him.
He met them halfway. “Helen.” He spoke her name with a joy that matched her own, then took her hands and leaned forward to kiss her cheek.
“Samuel!” Helen felt a blush heating her face and remembered how he had complimented her on it before. “You mustn’t kiss me in front of Grace.”
Grace laughed. “On the contrary, I think he must.” She held her hand out to him.
He kissed the back of it, and Helen watched as the look in his eyes changed to brotherly concern. She had known it would be so but felt relieved to see it, just the same.
“How are you?” Samuel asked Grace. “How have you been?”
“Well,” Grace said, withdrawing her hand. “The country is every bit as peaceful as we hoped.”
“I am glad to hear it,” Samuel said. “Nicholas said to give you his regards. He hopes you are well and eagerly awaits news of your family.”
“How is he? And how is it you came to be driving in his coach today?” Grace blinked and turned aside, pretending a sneeze.
Helen and Samuel exchanged sympathetic looks.
“Ah.” Samuel turned his pointed gaze upon Grace before glancing at the carriage. “You thought —”
“No.” Grace shook her head. “I would never expect a visit.” She took a deep breath and looked at Helen. “You two have much to discuss, I expect. And owing to the compact nature of our cottage, you do not have much place to do it. May I suggest a walk down the lane to the swing in the old oak?”
“Yes, let’s. Please.” Helen linked her arm through Samuel’s and wished they were near another swing, at a place she held dear.
“I’ll search out Christopher, and we’ll see you at tea,” Grace said. “We can catch up then, and you can tell me all of your plans.” She turned away, walking in the opposite direction.
“You shall be telling us of your plans,” Helen said too softly for Grace to hear.
“While Helen and I shall be keeping silent about ours, which have led to this happy reunion,” Samuel added. He leaned forward, kissing the top of her nose.
“What was that for?” she asked, secretly pleased at the display of affection when no one was near to observe it.
“I am kissing away your worries,” he said. “Your nose wrinkles whenever something is bothering you. It is quite endearing.”
“I did not realize,” Helen said, touched that he had noticed something like that.
“What is troubling you?” Samuel’s own brow wrinkled. “I hope you are not worried about the way Nicholas plans to greet your sister. He loves Grace deeply and spoke of nothing throughout the entire ride but how he might please her — and that with Beth seated beside him.”
“Beth has come?” Helen looked over her shoulder, wondering where the precocious child could be. Certainly she wouldn’t have stayed in the carriage. She would have insisted upon seeing me — wouldn’t she? “Such a long journey for her. I did not expect —”
“Yes, well. I thought it might be good if she accompanied me.” Samuel increased his pace and ceased looking at Helen. “Let’s walk quickly. I would like to have a few moments alone before Grace and Nicholas arrive.”
Alone. Helen felt a bit dizzy in an entirely pleasant way as she hurried to keep up with Samuel’s brisk steps. “I should think we will have several minutes. Grace and Lord Sutherland have been apart for so long they will have much to discuss.”
“I daresay you’re right,” Samuel said. “But they may have to talk later. Everyone else is already at the church — including Beth, who is probably busy throwing flower petals about or extinguishing candles, and generally driving her grandmother mad.” He grinned, as if pleased with his daughter’s mischief.
“Nothing more than Lady Sutherland can handle,” Helen assured him, remembering all too well the dowager’s stern reprimands. She’d nearly forgotten that she would see the woman today.
But any worrying over what Lady Sutherland would find to criticize her about was quickly eclipsed by the anticipation of having a few moments alone with Samuel.
Will he kiss me again? Will we finally speak of our future? Helen lapsed into silence as they walked, but her heart and step were light, filled with happy expectation. She led Samuel to a grassy knoll at the top of the meadow, overlooking the path Lord Sutherland and Grace should shortly be walking.
“They will not be able to see us here.” Helen released her hold on Samuel’s arm and sat on the ground, arranging her skirts modestly around her.
“Alas, we are not close enough to eavesdrop,” Samuel lamented as he dropped to the ground beside her.
“A good thing,” Helen said. “I have had enough of eavesdropping to last a lifetime. We need only be close enough to ascertain that Grace appears happy.”
“I have had enough of fretting over your sister and Nicholas,” Samuel said, rather surprising Helen. “It is you I am concerned for at the moment.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, quietly pleased at his words. “I am perfectly well at this moment — and most others of late.” She pressed her lips together to hold back a flirting smile but gazed up at him from beneath her long lashes.
Samuel took her hand in his but did not bring it to his lips; neither did he appear to return her look with the tender affection she had witnessed from him before. Instead a somber mood seemed to have descended on him during their walk, and he sat somewhat hunched forward, as if he carried a great weight upon his shoulders.
A twinge of worry took hold in Helen’s mind.
“Is something amiss?” she asked, sensing the answer already. What is wrong? She ought to have asked that instead.
“Yes. And there is no easy way to tell you. It is not what I wished to tell you this morning, but I feel I must.” Samuel met her gaze and held it. “It is about Crayton.”
Helen stiffened and instinctively looked around. She did not see the pirate, but Grace and Lord Sutherland appeared on the path, walking together in apparently deep conversation.
“Crayton is nowhere about,” Samuel rushed to assure her. “He does not know where you are. I have had a man following him, just to be sure.”
Helen relaxed the tiniest bit. “You’ve hired someone to watch him? Is that not a bit extreme? It isn’t as if we are in London.”
“And we ought not to go there until the situation is resolved,” Samuel said.
“What situation? If you mean what happened the evening at the theatre, I have determined not to dwell on it. It was an unfortunate incident on an otherwise perfect evening.” She attempted to catch Samuel’s eye, hoping to lighten his mood by reminding him of the pleasantness of that excursion. But instead of looking at her, he stared past her, seemingly lost in thought.
“Why are you are so serious?” Helen asked. “And on this morning when we are supposed to be celebrating?” When I believed we would be speaking of our feelings for each other.
In the meadow below Grace and Lord Sutherland had stopped walking and stood facing one another. He pulled something from his pocket and held it out to her.
Beside Helen, Samuel inhaled deeply, as if gathering courage. “I am serious because the situation demands it. Several months ago your father accepted a payment of £3500 from Sir Crayton.”
Helen gasped. She pulled her hand from Samuel’s and covered her mouth, as if that could contain her horror and the sick feeling washing over her. “A payment — for
me?”
He nodded. “The evidence is not entirely conclusive yet, but it also appears that when your father failed to deliver you he met with foul play.”
Helen’s eyes widened. “You think Crayton had something to do with Father’s death?”
“Yes.” Samuel rubbed the back of his neck, as if the whole business pained him.
As it must. She felt a lurch of fear. Samuel is involved now — and Beth.
“I have made arrangements for Crayton to be paid the £3500,” Samuel said. “And I should like to have it done with as quickly as possible.”
“Such a large sum,” Helen exclaimed. “We shall never be able to repay you.”
“I did not tell you this so you would fret about the money,” he said. “That is the least of my concerns, as it should be yours. I would gladly pay ten times that much to see that you are safe.” He looked at her directly, as if to make certain she understood.
“I thank you.” Still …
“I suspect it was against my better judgment to mention any of this to you at all and cause you more fear and heartache, as I see I have done already.” Samuel stood and brushed the dirt from his trousers, then held his hand out and helped Helen to her feet, studying her face closely. “But I felt you had a right to know, that I ought to be honest and you to be made aware.”
“It is good you have told me.” She folded her arms across her middle and looked out at the meadow, where Grace and Lord Sutherland stood facing one another and holding hands. I hope their romantic moment is going far better than ours.
Helen thought of the kiss she and Samuel had shared in the gazebo and wanted to cry. She had been gone but one week, and now it seemed as if that place and those memories were taken from her, destined to remain only as some magical figment of her imagination.
Sir Crayton has purchased me. The chilling thought worked its way from her mind to her heart, sending a cold numbness spreading through her. “Paying Crayton will not satisfy him,” Helen predicted. “He was put off once before, and it cost Grandfather dearly to get him to go away.” She remembered that time, the guards they had posted to keep her and Grace safe, and the enormous sum of money — far more than £3500 — Grandfather had spent to be rid of Crayton.
“I have heard the story,” Samuel said. “And you are likely correct. He has already put a price on your brother’s head, and he has men searching the city for you. Sooner or later one of them is bound to learn who accompanied you that night at the theatre. Mrs. Ellis had learned of it already, by the time we attended her ball.”
Helen felt herself pale. She turned to Samuel. “You are in danger. Beth too.” That’s why he brought Beth with him today, she realized.
“Shh.” He pulled Helen close, wrapping his arms around her, yet she could take no comfort from his embrace. Every minute she stayed near him was another that might lead Crayton closer.
Oh, Samuel. All of her dreams and hopes seemed swept away in the swift current that was Crayton’s hunt.
Samuel leaned back to look at her but still kept hold of her shoulders. “Listen to me, Helen,” he said, somewhat sternly. “You are safe. My men will alert us if Crayton draws near.”
When, Helen thought. Not if.
“It is probable that his interest will cool somewhat when he receives the anonymous payment, sent with a simple note, telling him you are married to another.” There was nothing romantic in Samuel’s tone or what he was suggesting.
Married. The word she had longed to hear, and now it terrified her.
“The law will be on our side, then, with you as my wife, and with the crown’s good favor Crayton has worked to gain, he would be foolish to go after any of us.”
“You speak as if everything has already been settled.” Helen pulled away from him and folded her arms once more.
“You are right, of course,” Samuel said, sounding and looking at once repentant, as he reached a hand out to her, which she declined to accept.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I knew we would have little time to speak this morning, and I have felt burdened with this knowledge all week. I did not like knowing you were here, and unaware. And I suppose I still have your brother’s practicalities in mind.”
“You have discussed all of this with Christopher?” Helen felt stung, imagining them speaking of her. Of what to do with me, is more like.
“I have,” Samuel admitted.
“And he agrees that the best thing to do to ensure my safety is for you to marry me and thereby put yourself and Beth in danger?” Helen stared at him, waiting for his answer.
“We have Christopher’s blessing, if that is what you are asking.”
She was not surprised. This entire solution seemed so like Christopher. “Indeed. I am surprised he did not suggest it to begin with.”
Samuel did not offer a response to this; neither did he hide the flash of guilt that crossed his face.
“Christopher did suggest that you marry me,” Helen said, reeling backward as if she had been struck. At the moment she was not certain which feeling was worse — her fear of Crayton and her worry for Samuel and Beth, or the hurt and disappointment from realizing Samuel’s feelings were not of the depth she had imagined.
“He only spoke first what I had been contemplating for some time.” Samuel stepped close again. He reached out, touching her face. “How the decision was arrived at does not matter so much as that we are able to marry, and quickly. I want to know you are mine and as much out of harm’s way as possible.”
“While I shall know that our marriage has brought trouble to your doorstep?” Helen turned away from his touch. “I cannot marry you, Samuel,” she said miserably. “If the man has murdered my father as you believe, what is to stop him from pursuing you? I cannot put you and Beth in such danger.”
“So you intend to offer yourself up to him instead?” Samuel shook his head as if disbelieving. “Or do you plan a life of solitary hiding? Or maybe you wish to travel abroad with Christopher.”
“Abroad —” I should have known he would want to do something rash like that. But now was not the time to worry about Christopher. She would think on that later.
“Marry me, Helen, and let me take care of you,” Samuel pled, his voice softer.
It was not the proposal she had hoped to hear. But even through her keen disappointment she berated herself for feeling hurt. A trite matter considering our far-more-serious problem. But it seemed she could not forget Samuel’s proposal to Grace, how he had knelt on bended knee and proclaimed he would spend the rest of his life in the pursuit of her happiness. That is what I wish, not to have him bound to paying for my safety — and his and Beth’s — for the rest of his life.
A joyous shout came from the meadow below, and Helen and Samuel watched Lord Sutherland gather Grace in his arms and swing her around. Grace’s gentle laughter echoed across the valley, and a moment later the couple stopped turning about and kissed.
A well of sorrow pushed its way through Helen’s numbness to the surface, and tears sprang to her eyes. Lord Sutherland is not marrying Grace to protect her. He adores her.
“Helen?” Samuel asked, calling her from her troubled thoughts. She looked at him and found his expression as tender as it had been that evening at the gazebo. And so many other occasions. “I promise Crayton will not hurt us. Not any of us. I’ll hire as many guards as necessary. Nicholas will want to be involved too. We will find a way to be rid of Crayton and to live undisturbed. You will be safe.”
“Safe or happy?” Helen said, hating herself for the cutting edge to her voice. “They are not synonymous.” Love me, Samuel. It is more than feeling compelled to offer your protection.
“Can it not be both?” Samuel asked, sounding hurt.
Yes, she wanted to answer, though her heart still ached. She loved him enough that she felt willing to accept whatever affection he could offer. But she could not forget the night Christopher had first suggested they pretend engagement and Samuel had been so adamant that
nothing be done that would hurt Beth.
Marrying him could hurt them both.
“I am sorry,” Helen whispered. I have never been more sorry in my life. The exact words Grace had used when she rejected him. “But I cannot marry you.”
Helen had been inside the small chapel only once before, just a few days earlier for Sunday services. Today the room looked remarkably different, and a quick glance at the front of the chapel explained why. Lady Sutherland was practically running to and fro, instructing a small army of servants, who were busy placing flowers and ribbon, adorning the simple church in finery, the likes of which it had probably never seen and never would again. It was a wonder that the dowager had agreed to her son being married in such a place at all.
But somehow she had, and here they were, Helen and Grace, standing in a side room at the back of the chapel, dressed in the gowns Grandfather had bought them shortly before his death. Grace looked splendid in hers, the pearls at her neck matching the ivory gown perfectly.
Helen did not own pearls but loved the ruby comb and necklace Grandfather had given her every bit as much. They had been locked safely away, so Father might not gain access to them, until their shortened visit to London, when Christopher had retrieved them from the bank box, believing that she needed a bolster of courage after the incident with Sir Crayton.
It did seem that whenever she wore them, she felt that courage. The night of the Ellises’ country ball, she had worn the rubies, and she had not been at all frightened the entire evening, though she had danced with several men she had not previously met. Now, as she stood at the brink of Grace’s happiness and her own uncertain future, Helen recalled Grandfather’s words once more, desperate for their calm reassurance.
There is magic in the ruby that few know of. Outwardly, it is remarkable, a stunning blood-red stone and one of the hardest gems, able to withstand great pressure, much as you have, my dear Helen. But it is the inner fire of the ruby that allows this protection and where its real value lies. Seen only by a few who pause to examine it closely, the ruby’s center emits a light of its own, bringing much joy and happiness to those who take time to appreciate its value. You have that inner fire. It burns strong. Use it wisely. Take courage from it.
Loving Helen (A Hearthfire Romance Book 2) Page 21
