Romance: Regency Romance: A Lady's Powerful Duke (A Regency Romance)

by Matilda Hart

  12th of May, 1813

  “Helena! Helena! Are you still daydreaming?”

  Snapping her head up in attention, she turned her gaze from the sunrise to her father. He was currently struggling to load a crate into the carriage. Rushing to help him, she said, “I am sorry, Father!”

  “It’s quite alright, Helena,” the gray-haired man said with a say. “But you really must stop pining over that man. It’s been five years, dear.”

  Helena blushed as she placed another bag of fabric onto the horse’s saddlebags. “I suppose I just can’t help it. After all, Nathaniel did say he would come back for me…”

  While it had been such a long time since his promise, the short memories of his valiant rescue and his smile made it seem as if it had just happened yesterday. Still, Helena knew her father was right. But how could she just forget about it and move on to another man? It may have been foolish, but the hope of his return was still there.

  “You’re a grown woman now, Helena. You cannot afford to keep acting like a doe-eyed girl any longer. Not to mention that the man is a duke, as well as a decorated war hero.”

  Helena nodded silently, remembering her shock as she had discovered his true identity. Soon after the French had been wiped out from Maidstone and the surrounding region, the word about Nathaniel’s continuing bravery had spread rapidly throughout the area.

  Although his fame and nobility status should have discouraged her about his promise to return, it had actually had the opposite effect. A man such as that cannot possibly go back on his word, she thought pensively.

  “It is times like this I wish your mother was still with us,” her father said, placing a hand on her shoulder. With a solemn, longing look in his eyes, Graham added, “She was so much better at explaining such things to you.”

  Her mother’s loss had been hard on everyone, and though Helena had mourned for her greatly, it was Graham that had been the most affected. Not only had he lost the love of his life, he had rarely seen her due to his business at river and sea. And though she would never tell him, Helena knew that her mother had also been pained at his absence.

  “You have been a great father. Mother would have been proud.” Helena stated sincerely, embracing him tightly. If anything, the experience had taught her that treasuring moments with the person you loved was important. And that is why she could not give up on Nathaniel. But Helena supposed that as long as her father thought she was done with him, it would be fine. “And perhaps you are right; I should try to get on with my life.”

  Graham was silent for a moment, as if trying to detect any sort of deceit. With a rare grin he then said, “I knew you were maturing, Helena. And that is precisely why I have asked for a favor from the Marquis Solomon Connolly. You remember him don’t you?”

  Helena tried to place the name to a face, but all she could remember was Selene Connolly, his daughter. Though both girls had been only eight when they first met, Helena recalled that Selene was already eager to accept her future as a seductress within the House of Lords. That and the girl had also managed to insult everything about her from her brown hair to the freckles on her skin.

  Trying to keep a smile on she replied, “Yes. What of him?

  “Well as he’s gotten older, he’s become less trustworthy of the seamstresses within London. He believes they are all out to reveal his secrets or some such. In any case, he has become enamored with your work.”

  My work? she thought. Helena knew her father sometimes sold the dress and embroidery pieces she made in London, but she had never thought that they were adequate enough for anyone to notice. As far as she was concerned, there was still a long way to go to ever reach her mother’s level of skill.

  “And…” her father continued hesitantly. “He’s offered to board you in his home as long as you can assist in creating his outfits and dresses for his daughter.”

  Helena was speechless. “You… you want me to leave home?”

  “It’s not a matter of wanting, Helena. It’s what is best for you. I do not think it is healthy for you to be at home alone while I’m out on business. And to be perfectly honest… I’m not sure how much longer I can work.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked nervously

  “I haven’t told you because I didn’t want you to worry… I’ve… I’ve been getting pains near my heart. And every doctor I’ve talked to have told me to start working near home to relieve the stress.”

  Helena bit her lip, feeling unbelievably selfish for stubborn wait for the duke. Taking him in her arms once again, she said, “I’m sorry, father. I’ve been much too concerned with the past that I forgot about the needs of others.” With a deep sigh, she continued, “Please tell the Marquis I would be honored to accept his invitation.”

  A shade of pink brushed over his darkly tanned cheeks as he then said timidly, “I… I have already informed them that you would be coming.”

  For a moment, Helena wanted to be angry at this. Instead, she merely nodded as she went inside to pack her things. All the while, her quiet tears dampened every step she took.

  An hour later, as they began the long journey to London, Helena took one final look back at her home. It was as if she was saying goodbye to her mother again, as well as all the memories of Nathaniel’s rescue. Somehow, she managed to find the courage to look forward the rest of the way. In her heart, Helena was still determined to find him.

  Chapter 2

  15th of May, 1813

  “Why hello, Graham!” the old Marquis greeted as the two entered the doorway.

  Her father smiled as he took his hand. “Good to see you again, old boy. I hope you don’t mind that we came a little earlier than expected.”

  “Oh not at all! I’ve been dying for some wholesome company! You wouldn’t believe how wretched London court society has gotten lately!” The portly man then turned to Helena, a wide grin spreading across his face. “Oh Helena, you turned out so lovely! You look just like the spitting image of your mother!”

  Helena blushed at the compliment as he then ushered them towards the parlor.

  “Dinner will be ready in an hour or so! Meanwhile, I’m sure that Joanna will be happy to help unpack your things, Helena.”

  She sighed, but said nothing as she assisted the maidservant in heaving the bags up the stairs. Her father looked willing to offer, but they both knew that any strain was potentially lethal in his condition.

  As Helena placed her first box of luggage onto the floor of the small room, the situation finally seemed to set in. This was her new home now. No more trips to the town square, no greeting the same friendly neighbors every morning, and as she looked out the window, the river would no longer be outside the window.

  “Are you alright, Miss?” a feminine voice asked.

  Turning, she saw that the maid was still in the room. “Oh yes… I suppose I’m already a bit homesick.”

  “Ah, not to worry. I was the very same when I first came her. In fact, I nearly bawled for two days. Then again, I was only seven,” Joanna stated, her look filled with sympathy. Noticing Helena’s horrified look, she shrugged as she explained, “My family couldn’t afford to be feeding another young one so they sent me here. I actually consider myself fortunate. The Marquis is a very fine gentleman, indeed.”

  “I do hope so,” Helena replied, sitting onto the bed – even it already felt strange.

  “But you’ll see!” Joanna exclaimed cheerily. “Soon enough we’ll both be too busy to be thinking about anything but work. Especially you.”

  “Me?” Helena asked in confusion.

  “Oh yes! Selene will be wanting several new dresses and the like for all the social conventions! Not to mention she’s looking to impress a new beau!” Joanna said, already looking exhausted for her. “The Marquis may need a few pieces as well, but mark my words: Selene will try to run you into the ground.”

  Helena felt her face turn pale at the thought, and was about to ask about Selene’s current temperament when the
tinkling of a bell was heard.

  “That’s the signal for me to help serve dinner! Be sure to get in a new dress before coming down! Selene will throw a fit if she thinks her new seamstress is unkempt!”

  And with that, Helena was left alone to wonder what she had just gotten herself into.

  As she attempted to finish the lavish and indulgent dessert before her, Helena saw Selene shooting daggers at her once again. The young woman seemed to have despised her from the moment she stepped foot into the dining room. She wished that her father was here, but he had needed to tend to business with another client somewhere in the city.

  Joanna had whispered in her ear Selene looked jealous, but Helena could not for the life of her understand why. The Marchioness was breathtakingly beautiful, with her golden curls and sky blue eyes; she was also extremely wealthy and a part of a noble family. What on earth does she have to be jealous of?

  “Selene!” her father said joyfully, “I do hope you and Helena become good friends while I am gone to Oxford! I would hate for my daughter to get lonely.”

  “I sincerely hope so,” Selene answered in a sickly sweet tone. Though as her cat-like eyes met hers, Helena doubted this would be the case.

  Jokingly he then added, “Just try not to work her too hard, dear!”

  “I’ll try my best not to,” Selene replied with a smirk. “But it will be mighty tempting considering your skill, Helena.”

  “I will strive to please you,” Helena stated, her stomach fluttering with butterflies.

  “Ha! What an honorable girl! Already ready to go hard at work!” Marquis Solomon exclaimed with hearty laugh. “In that case, you may want to tell her who the dresses will be for, Selene! That name will be sure to get even the most slack-jawed fellow to succeed!”

  Selene twirled a lock of her hair in amusement as she then said, “Why it’s Duke Nathaniel Beaumont.” The expression on her face then seemed to savor in the torture that was on Helena’s.

  “I hate to be rude, Marquis Connolly,” she said robotically. “But may I please be excused? I feel as if I need a bit of fresh air.”

  “Go on ahead, dear!” he replied. “I was just about to suggest it myself! You look dangerously pale!”

  Chapter 3

  16th of May, 1813

  Joanna gave the near catatonic Helena a hot cup of tea. “My word,” she said, incredulous at the new information. “I would have never guessed that you… and… he….”

  After displaying the nervous symptoms at dinner, it was not long before Joanna had tried to coax the problem out of her. Though Helena had tried to deny any trouble, the willful maid had refused to accept anything less than the truth. The result was a conversation lasting long into the night about her rescue by the duke all those years ago. Joanna was surprisingly very enthusiastic about it; she was sure that anyone else would have told her to forget about it – as her father had.

  Helena shook her head as she took a sip. “I should have known that he would fall into the hands of another girl. If he’s just as handsome, brave, and gentle as I remember him to be… well… I couldn’t expect him to come back for a girl of my lowly status.”

  The short girl placed her hands on her hips. “Now, now you cannot speak like that! You are no worse than Selene! All she did was get born into money! But you… well you have actual talent! I’ve seen your work! Even Selene admitted it herself.”

  The young woman could not help at smile at her newfound friend’s persistence. “I am not that skilled. My mother… now that was a talented woman.”

  “What did your mother say? About you and Duke Beaumont, I mean,” Joanna asked curiously.

  As she thought about it, Beatrice had been rather supportive of her love for Nathaniel as well. Well, she had told her that anything was possible when it came to love. Though her mother had also warned her that its road was often treacherous, and that the stronger a bond between two people was the stronger were the obstacles that tried to destroy it. Not entirely an optimistic viewpoint.

  Joanna looked further excited as Helena told her this. “How poetic. And how very true. And if there is one large obstacle in your path, it is Selene.”

  Helena’s heart sank a bit as she recalled Selene’s vow to impress him. And with her own handiwork no less. “Do you think that he will fall hard for Selene? I know he’s not like other men… concerned with superficiality and whatnot…”

  Her friend’s gaze skirted nervously as she shyly said, “Well…”

  “What?” Helena asked. “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m sure that you may have heard… rumors about him. And as much as I hate to say it, the duke has not been in the company of the most upstanding of citizens as of late. His reputation has not been doing very well either.”

  “Oh, that!” Helena said with a dismissive hand. “I’m sure that it is nothing... Right?”

  Joanna twiddled her thumbs as she added, “And –although I do not believe it for one moment – Duke Beaumont has been rumored to be in talk with French sympathizers as well.”

  At this point, Helena stood up shaking her head. “No! That can’t be true!” As she pictured his handsome face and the way he had saved her from those French soldiers, there was no way that she could ever accept it.

  “Calm down, Miss!” Joanna whispered, patting her on the back. “Of course it isn’t true! Oh that’s what I hate about this city! Every good person gets a laundry list of accusations!”

  Internally, Joanna was not entirely sure that the whole thing was a farce. Though she did believe that Helena had been correct about his bravery – his numerous accolades in the war proved that – the maid also knew a thing or two about human nature. Everyone had at least one or two vices. And in the elite of London, those vices tended to be grown larger; like weeds in good soil.

  And although Helena had just made a fuss about her non-belief as she lay there in the strange bed, deep in her heart she knew that it just may be true. Remembering the extent of her father’s cynical nature about the matter, Helena realized that in his travels he often went to London. He had always denied ever hearing a word about him, yet was always skeptical about the virtues Helena had impressed upon him. She had taken for granted that it was simply due to his practical mind and nature.

  Had he been lying the entire time? she thought, hugging the sheets closer to her body. Had he known the truth about Nathaniel all along and refused to tell me?

  While her weary eyes began to close, she suddenly recalled yet another conversation with her mother.

  Helena had been standing at the kitchen window, looking out at the river.

  “Daydreaming about him again?” Beatrice asked, giving a week smile.

  “Sorry! I know it’s foolish of me… I just can’t help it.”

  “Don’t be, darling,” she replied, giving her a kiss on the forehead. “You know, I hope you do meet again one day. He’d be lucky to have a light like you to guide him.”

  Her daughter had been slightly confused by the comment. “I would guide him? But he’s so much more… noble… than me.”

  Beatrice had given her an odd smile then, both happy and sad. Bringing her into her own thin arms, she then said, “Trust me, dear, there is no one that is too noble for a light to guide them to a better place.”

  The words continued to wring in her ears as Helena drifted into a deep sleep. Barely audible to her own ears, she whispered, “Mother… did you know, too?” And if she had, was it up to Helena to bring Nathaniel back towards the light?

  Chapter 4

  17th of May, 1813

  Helena was rather sad as she saw the eccentric Marquis’ carriage leave the house. Though a bit odder than she had expected, the man was still very much good company. And during breakfast, Helena could already sense that Selene was tired of having to be civil towards her.

  Not five minutes after Solomon left the premises, Selene ordered her to bring her a cup of tea to her quarters. Her father and the Marquis had made it clear beforehand
that she was not a servant, but a seamstress and a guest. And although Helena did not mind completing the task, it was still rather insulting; at least in the opinion of Joanna.

  “I can’t believe she made you do this, Miss Rowe” the maid said incredulously, checking to make sure the kitchen was free of listening ears. “The nerve of that woman!”

  “It’s quite alright, Joanna,” Helena said, placing the contents of the small, silver tray to the sink. “I just want to keep the peace.” The last thing she needed was to be trapped in a house alone with a vicious young socialite. “Although…”

  “What is it?”

  “Do you think…” she began hesitantly. “Do you think you she knows about me and the duke?”

  Joanna was silent as she contemplated this possibility. “It would explain why she appears to hate you… But I don’t see how she could have ever found out about it. No offense, Helena, but I doubt that Duke Beaumont would mention a thing like that to her.”

  “Or to anyone,” Helena said, nodding in agreement. “I doubt I was the only person he saved that day…”

  Putting a hand on hers, Joanna said, “Don’t be so heartbroken, Helena. I’m sure that he remembers you. He’s probably just gotten caught up in all of this noble business.”

  Helena started to argue, but they were both interrupted as the loud, bell system began to ring. The dumbwaiter also opened to reveal a note.

  Her eyes scanning it quickly, Joanna said, “It’s Selene. She wants us both up to her room.”

  The two arrived at Selene’s quarters and were shocked as they saw the destruction. Pieces of furniture had been overturned, a vase shattered, and nearly all the contents of her wardrobe were now spilt onto the floor.

  “Y-you called for us, Miss Connolly?” Joanna asked, taken aback at the chaos.

  The woman turned around to face them with an enraged expression. “That’s MARCHIONESS Connolly, too you Gibbs! And you may begin to clean up this mess immediately!” she snapped, throwing a brassiere to the ground.