Capturing the Viscount's Heart

by Abby Ayles

  "Save your breath, my dear. These men are of a different sort. They know nothing of compassion, only coin. That we cannot spare.”

  “Perhaps if I speak to Mr. Winslow? I know better accommodations are available for those who can pay.”

  “We cannot pay now,” her father replied. “You know that.”

  Helena swallowed the lump in her throat. There was a way that he could be given a better place to stay. “Would you not let me ask for help? The Earl of Wismoth would happily aid us.”

  “No!” her father said firmly. “And don’t speak of that name to me again.”

  “Father, please? Why not?” Helena insisted.

  “They came to visit me. Talked about having me repay the money. They think I did it. They think I stole from them,” her father stated.

  Helena couldn’t believe her ears. Elias and his father were back in England? Why had they not come to visit them? Why had she no word of this?

  “There must be some mistake. The Earl knows you better than that,” she replied.

  “I thought he did, but clearly I was the one mistaken,” her father insisted. “You should’ve heard them, speaking about ‘if’ I’m innocent. Are those the words of men who believe in you? Of friends?”

  “The Earl said that?” Mrs. Leeson questioned.

  She looked as confused as Beatrice, and both were looking to Helena.

  “What precisely was said?” Helena asked. “I cannot believe they would think you capable of such a thing.”

  “I have told you what they said,” Mr. Leeson replied forcefully. The effort made him cough, and it lasted several seconds. He disappeared from the bars for a moment, and Helena was prepared to seek help. Finally, the coughing stopped, and her father’s face returned to view.

  The physician came to see him regularly, but his reports were never comforting. Her father was a sick man. The longer he was forced to endure such hardships, the more ill he would become. Stress was his greatest enemy after the damp and cold.

  Helena didn’t want to upset him. He was clearly prepared to work himself up over the matter, and the physician had cautioned against such fits of emotion.

  “Don’t upset yourself,” Mrs. Leeson cautioned him.

  “Let us speak of other things,” Beatrice suggested.

  Helena tried her best to engage in the conversation that followed, but her mind could not release her father’s words. Elias and the Earl believed him a thief? It couldn’t be. Why had he not visited them?

  The thoughts plagued her even until the moment they were to say goodbye. They assured her father they would return before the jailer came to escort them out.

  “One last thing,” her father said as they were departing.

  “Yes, Father?” Helena asked as they turned to him.

  His eyes fixed on hers. “None of you are to have anything to do with the Earl and the Viscount. Do you understand? I won’t have you asking help from men who don’t trust me. They are no longer of our acquaintance.”

  Helena was stunned, as was her mother and sister by the expressions on their faces. No one responded, they simply nodded their agreement before once again promising to visit as soon as they could.

  Once in the carriage, all eyes were again upon Helena.

  “Did you know they had returned?” Mrs. Leeson asked.

  “When did they visit? Did Elias say anything to you?” Beatrice questioned.

  “Do you really think they believe this? I mean, they wouldn’t believe it without some proof,” Mrs. Leeson asked shakily.

  Helena looked at their faces, so eager for an answer, but she had none to give. She was as lost as they were.

  “I cannot tell you,” she said sadly, as she turned her face from them and focused on the outside. The world was turning upside down, and she knew not up from down or left from right anymore.

  Chapter 16

  The quest for understanding was proving more complex than Elias had anticipated. His mind was constantly full of thoughts that might explain the theft at Repington’s Goldsmith & Jewellers. He could not and would not reconcile it in his mind that Ambrose Leeson had orchestrated such a betrayal.

  “Perhaps we should’ve announced our visit,” his father questioned as the carriage rolled toward Sutton Street.

  “We have never announced our visit before. Why would we now?” Elias asked.

  “Because it may not be welcomed,” Lord Wismoth cautioned.

  “I am sure Mr. Leeson must’ve calmed by now,” Elias assured. “I am sure we are as welcomed as we have always been. You shall see.”

  His words were meant to assure not only his father but himself as well. Mr. Leeson had warned them to stay away from his family, and Elias had tried to, but for the past two weeks, it had plagued him.

  He wanted to know how Helena was. How was she bearing up under such scrutiny and ridicule? He heard the stories in the streets. The embezzlement had grown considerably from what was the truth, and various other charges now accompanied it.

  Mr. Leeson was accused of everything from solicitation to petty theft. This new scandal had aroused talk of the previous one, and now it too was mingled into the truth of the current situation and twisted with lies. Elias couldn’t stand to hear it.

  People who occupied themselves with talking of others were small-minded. He hadn’t the time for them. They could say what they may, but whatever their beliefs, he knew this in his heart. Ambrose Leeson was innocent.

  They arrived at the Leeson house at a quarter after ten. Elias and his father exited the carriage to the looks of passers-by. He ignored them and walked straight to the door.

  Mrs. Royce greeted them a few minutes later. The woman seemed shocked to see them. He was surprised to find her answering the door as that was Mr. Maypole’s responsibility.

  “Where is Mr. Maypole? Are you quite well?” Elias asked at her stunned expression.

  “Your Lordships. Mr. Maypole was called by Madam and the Misses. I was just passing by when I heard you knock. And I’m very well, my lord. I just wasn’t expecting you,” she replied. “Does Madam know you were coming?”

  Elias found the remark strange. He’d never been asked such a thing by Mrs. Royce in his entire life. His father looked at him questioningly. Elias knew what he was thinking but refused to believe it.

  “No, Mrs. Royce, she did not. Is the family in?” Elias answered.

  Mrs. Royce nodded. “In the parlor, my lord.” She turned into the house. “Please come in.”

  The housekeeper stepped aside to allow them to enter. She locked the door behind them and then proceeded to lead the way down the corridor to the parlor.

  She knocked on the door and stepped inside. “Lord Wismoth and Lord Chatleton to see you, madam," she said from the other side of the door.

  There was a shuffling sound from within the room before Elias heard Mrs. Leeson’s voice reply. “See them in.”

  Elias and his father walked into the carefully decorated room and was met by obvious tension.

  They bowed as the women curtseyed their greeting.

  “Your Lordships,” Mrs. Leeson replied. “We weren’t expecting you. To what do we owe the pleasure?”

  The entire scene was distressing. This was not the greeting they were accustomed to. What had changed? Had Mr. Leeson been sincere in his words to stay away? Had he shared his sentiment with his family?

  “Forgive us for our tardiness in visiting,” his father replied when Elias found himself at a loss for words. “We have been abroad for some time.”

  “Yes,” Mrs. Leeson replied tensely. “Helena told us of your trip to Italy. How long have you been back?”

  “A fortnight,” the Earl replied. “We have been much engaged since then.”

  “Too engaged to see friends?” Helena asked. There was a note of sadness in her voice.

  The moment Elias’s eyes beheld her, he felt something stir inside him. The words she spoke were almost an accusation.

  “We would’ve come soo
ner if we could,” he replied. His eyes were solely on her.

  “Then why didn’t you?”

  The tension was palpable, and Elias wished he knew what the cause was and how it could be remedied.

  “It was beyond our control,” he replied. “But we are here now.”

  “You found time to visit my husband,” Mrs. Leeson interrupted, and everything became clear. Mr. Leeson had told them of the unfortunate visit they’d had. No doubt he had indeed shared his feelings.

  “Yes, we did,” Elias answered.

  “Then why is he still in prison?” Mrs. Leeson questioned. “Why haven’t you helped him?”

  “Mary, I assure you we are doing our very best,” the Earl replied.

  “And what precisely is that, my lord? Accusing my husband of being a thief? Or wanting him to pay back the money he can’t even earn?” she responded.

  Tears filled her eyes, and her hands shook as she spoke. Beatrice rushed to her mother’s side, as did Helena. They were only seconds beside her before Mary collapsed in hysterics.

  “You see what he must endure? Do you see what that place has done to him? It’s killing him! Oh Lord, it’s killing him.”

  “Mother, calm yourself,” Helena urged. “You’ll make yourself ill.”

  “What is my illness compared to your father’s? How can they stand here so calm and say they were too busy to visit when he is locked away in such a horrible place?"

  “I think you should leave,” Beatrice said suddenly. “You’ve upset my mother and you have already upset my father. He wishes us not to speak to you. Now I can see why. This whole thing is too upsetting.”

  “Beatrice?” Helena interjected.

  “We merely went to get your father’s side of the story. We didn’t mean to upset him. We only wanted to hear from his own lips that this wasn’t of his doing,” Lord Wismoth tried to explain.

  “Then it’s true. You suspected him,” Mrs. Leeson replied sharply.

  “That is not what my father meant,” Elias defended.

  "Then what did he mean?" Beatrice questioned. "To my ears, his meaning was quite clear. You believed these lies. My father is no thief, my lord, and I would have you leave this house if you believe it."

  Helena was on her feet, a bewildered expression on her face. "Beatrice, you have no right to say such things."

  “But I do,” Mrs. Leeson replied. She forced herself to her feet between sniffles and raised her chin high. “I believe your visit is at its end. You can see yourselves out.”

  One moment, Mrs. Leeson was standing before them, and the next her back was retreating out the door. Beatrice soon followed, but Helena lingered. She looked at him with eyes full of questions and hurt.

  "Helena –" he began but was interrupted.

  “Come away, sister,” Beatrice stated as she stood at the door.

  Helena stepped towards him. “Please forgive my family for this rudeness,” she said softly. “We are very distressed at this time and perhaps your visit was just ill-timed.” Her eyes could scarcely meet his.

  "There is no need to apologize," Elias said comfortingly.

  “Indeed,” Beatrice interjected. “Helena, come away.”

  Her green eyes were dark with sadness at her sister’s words. Elias could see the conflict in them. She had a duty to her family, but her heart was telling her otherwise. He could see it. He knew the feeling, a form of it was coursing through him as well.

  Finally, she curtseyed. “I will see you out.”

  Beatrice turned in a huff and left the room. Helena left after her, and Elias and his father followed in silence. She walked to the door in such stillness that she almost didn’t seem alive.

  He could see the tears in her eyes as they stood on the step. Her hands were clasped in front of her, but he could see how her fingers fidgeted against themselves.

  “I think it best that you…” Helena began, but her words faltered. She didn’t want to say them. He didn’t want to hear them.

  “It’s alright, my dear,” Lord Wismoth replied. “We understand.”

  “Please, do not take offense,” Helena cried briefly. She wiped her cheek quickly with the back of a finger.

  “I assure you that none has been taken,” the Earl continued. He looked at her and then to Elias. “I will wait for you in the carriage.”

  His father left them, and Elias wished the whole world would leave them too. He wanted to reach out and take her hand, to hold her as he had before and comfort her. He couldn’t.

  “We do not blame you for this,” he stated. “It is all a misunderstanding,” he asserted.

  “What happened? What did you say to my father that he would pass such an edict against you?”

  “It was a slip of tongue. My father simply meant that, if he wanted to prove his innocence, we need all of the facts. Your father took it as a question of his innocence, but there is none in our minds. We know he is innocent.”

  A wave of relief flooded Helena’s emotions. “You believe it?”

  “Of course we do. Your father is not the kind of man who would do such a thing. However, the difficulty lies in proving it.”

  “There must be some way. He didn’t do this. I know it.”

  "We believe," Elias assured. "We've been trying these past days to find some means of confirming it."

  “Have you found anything?” Helena asked hopefully. He hated to disappoint her.

  “I’m afraid not. However, our search isn’t at its end, only its beginning. I promised you at Balwell I would do whatever I could to help you and your family. I will keep my word.”

  He would get to the bottom of this no matter how long it took. Someone had to know the truth. It was just a matter of finding out who.

  "Thank you," Helena replied. Her hands moved as if to hold his, but quickly retreated at the sound of voices from the neighboring house.

  “There is no need to thank me,” Elias replied. “I would always help you and your family.”

  “That is why it pains me to say this, but I do not think it wise for you to return here,” Helena replied. “My father has declared we are to have nothing to do with you. You saw the state of my mother. She cannot take this.”

  “I would do nothing to harm her or your father,” Elias answered. “Or you.”

  “I know,” Helena whispered. “Nor I you.”

  He wanted to touch her face and ease away the tears that threatened her eyes. If they were at Balwell, he would’ve. He would’ve dared to touch the cheek of one so dear to him. Now, he could not.

  “Forgive whatever my father might’ve said,” Helena asked. “Forgive what happened here.”

  “It is already forgotten,” Elias answered with a smile. “I cannot imagine what your family is going through.”

  Her head fell. “It has been difficult,” she admitted. “We are doing our best under the circumstances.”

  “Do you need anything?”

  Her eyes flew to his face. Elias could see there was something there, but she didn’t utter it. Instead, she shook her head.

  “No. There is nothing that we need that you can help with,” she replied.

  “If there is anything, anything at all, you will let me know of it,” Elias urged.

  “I cannot,” Helena replied. “I would be defying my father and family to do so. Whatever we face, we must face it on our own.”

  “This isn’t fair. Whoever has done this cannot imagine the pain they’ve caused because of it.”

  “I doubt they care,” Helena replied. “Anyone who would leave the blame for a crime at another man’s feet, has no heart.”

  Elias agreed. “The truth cannot be hidden forever. Sooner or later it will be revealed.”

  “Then I will pray for it to be sooner,” Helena replied. “My father and my family cannot take it much longer.”

  Elias’s hands balled into fists at his sides. “I must leave you now. I will find a way to help you. I promise.”

  Helena nodded. “Goodbye.”r />
  “Until next time,” Elias corrected.

  She smiled. “Until next time.”

  Chapter 17

  Helena visited her father often. In recent weeks, her visits had increased. Her father’s health was steadily declining, and Helena was afraid that there may be a chance of losing him if his innocence wasn’t proven soon.