Capturing the Viscount's Heart

by Abby Ayles

  “Cigars?” Captain Standish asked after the meal was over. “We are to the billiard room, Lord Chatleton. Will you join us?”

  “I am sorry, Captain Standish,” Lady Alice said brightly as she got to her feet and swept from her side of the table to his side. “But I have already sequestered Lord Chatleton as my partner for cards. I am afraid I will not release him,” she mused.

  The Captain laughed. “I see you have been captured, Your Lordship.”

  “It would appear so,” Elias chuckled. “Carry on without me. I shall find you whenever I am released.”

  “That is if I choose to release you,” Lady Alice joked.

  They were still laughing when Helena passed by them. She didn’t look to the left nor right, but kept her head high and straight. Elias overheard the comment she gave her cousin. She was going to stay above stairs to care for her sister. He wondered what ailed her.

  “Your Lordship, shall we?” Lady Alice asked. .

  He smiled and gave a nod as he led her from the room.

  Chapter 25

  They were seated in the library of her aunt’s home. Some of the ladies were having tea. Others were working on their needlepoint. Helena had initially tried to read, but Lady Alice’s arrival in the room brought an end to that idea.

  Could sadness cripple you? Helena sincerely wondered at that. Her sister’s heart was broken and she seemed to become more and more despondent as the days to their cousin’s wedding approached. Then, there was Helena herself.

  She had thought she could bear anything as long as she had Elias beside her, but the moment she saw him in the company of Lady Alice Mortimer she questioned that thought.

  Helena had observed them on the balcony, and then as they walked in the garden. She did her best not to, but there was no helping it. Her eyes were drawn to him wherever he went, and when Beatrice noticed him also, there was no avoiding it.

  Her sister had been less than pleased to see him with Lady Alice.

  Our circumstances have changed and he has altered the direction of his attention. He has found another to occupy him, Helena. He no longer needs you.

  Her sister’s words echoed in her mind still, even with the passage of several days. Helena would not believe it of him. Elias believed in their father’s innocence. Didn’t he? Or had that changed?

  Doubt was creeping into her mind like a parasitic vine, weaving its way into the fibers of her thoughts and poisoning as it went. It was only made worse by what she now had to endure.

  “Helena, may we speak?” Lady Alice said as she approached her.

  “Of course,” Helena said as she closed her book and moved around on the small couch to make room for her.

  “How is your sister? I did not see her at breakfast this morning,” Lady Alice inquired politely.

  “She is still not feeling herself and thought it best to stay in bed,” Helena answered.

  Lady Alice smiled. “And are you well today?”

  “Yes, Lady Alice. Quite well. And yourself?”

  "I am always in good health," the other woman said with a smile. It lingered on her face for a moment before slowly vanishing. "I wanted to ask you, since you are well acquainted with Lord Chatleton. Do you know whether he has an attachment?”

  Helena looked at her blankly as thunder boomed in her chest. “Why would you want to know that?”

  “I’m sorry,” Lady Alice said with a smile. “I would never usually presume to ask such a question, but given our familiarity and yours with His Lordship, I thought I could be bold enough to ask. I am sorry if I was wrong to do so.”

  “No,” Helena said softly. “Your question was just unexpected.”

  “Then you will answer it?”

  Helena swallowed the pebble which had formed in her throat. “As far as I am aware, Lord Chatleton has no attachment.”

  The words were bile on her tongue and made her stomach sick to utter them. She wanted to tell Lady Alice that Elias did have an attachment, an attachment to her, but she could not. It would be a lie to say so. The words had never been spoken between them.

  The smile that spread wide across Lady Alice’s face was unmistakable. It was clear she had a fondness for Elias. Why not? He was a man among men, Helena knew it well. Why would she not consider him? Given his position and her status, they were perfectly matched.

  “He is quite a gentleman,” Lady Alice commented.

  Helena nodded. “He is.”

  “I have never met a man such as him before. He is all things good and his heart is so kind, even to a fault,” she said absently. Her gaze was lost, as if she were looking into something far away.

  “You have had a chance to know him better since your arrival?” Helena asked.

  “Yes, we have spoken several times and I feel I know him much better than I ever anticipated. And I dare say I believe he feels the same.” She turned to Helena. “There is a connection there, I think. Hope. Miss Helena, would I be foolish to hope for an attachment between myself and Lord Chatleton?”

  Why was she asking her?

  Helena tried to keep her breath even, and battled in her mind for an answer. “Why would you think yourself foolish to think so? You are both of the nobility. Both of you are quite amiable. I am sure those are as good a foundation for happiness as any other.”

  Lady Alice’s smiled appeared once more. “Then you think it would not be impudent of me to seek a deeper connection with him?”

  “Has he given you any inclination that he would wish such a deepening of your acquaintance?” Helena’s heart was thundering in her ears as she spoke. Words echoed in her mind. Please say no.

  “Not outright,” Lady Alice replied. “But men are not usually so forward about their feelings if they are not given the proper encouragement.”

  Helena studied Lady Alice’s face. She did not know Elias as much as she believed she did. Elias was not a man who hid his heart. He wore it boldly, like a badge of honor. If he had not given Lady Alice explicit confirmation of feeling more for her than a simple acquaintance, this could only mean one thing.

  Elias was not the kind to callously use the feelings of others. Therefore, he had no such feelings, Helena told herself.

  The thought brought some relief to Helena’s mind, but just moderately. People could change. Circumstances often forced one to make choices one never would in the past. She knew it well.

  Could Elias have changed at the prospect of a suitable match? He had always put responsibility and obligation over his heart.

  You are my heart.

  His voice suddenly pierced her mind and momentarily stole her breath. He had always professed her to be his heart, but in all their conversations, his heart was overridden by his duty. Was that their fate?

  “Helena? Are you quite well? You look pale,” Lady Alice’s voice imposed on her thoughts.

  She looked up at her as if she’d forgotten she was there.

  “Yes,” she answered as she forced a smile onto her face. “I’m sorry. My mind wandered for a moment. I was thinking of Beatrice,” Helena lied.

  “You are such a good sister. It was always my wish to have a sister, but alas, I am an only child,” Lady Alice mused. “Were that you were my sister,” she said as she took Helena’s hand. “I think I would be well taken care of.”

  Helena smiled despite the desire to withdraw her hand from Lady Alice’s grasp. She had the only sister she desired.

  “Wouldn’t it be lovely if we could maintain our connection?” Lady Alice continued.

  “In what way?” Helena asked. She was slightly confused as to the direction the other woman was going.

  “You are connected with Lord Chatleton. If my acquaintance matures to something more, then we would be in each other’s company more often. Who knows, perhaps when things have been settled with your father, we could all meet at Balwell Manor.”

  The thought absolutely struck Helena as a slap would to the cheek. What was Lady Alice saying? Was she suggesting that there was s
ome possibility for her and Elias to become man and wife?

  The thought of Lady Alice as the lady of Balwell Manor made Helena feel ill.

  Helena chided herself for her thoughts, but could not help them. Lady Alice was not to be the mistress of Balwell Manor. In truth, Helena could see none but herself in the position. She had long dreamed of it, foolish as it may have been.

  “Helena, I believe your father is wrongly accused,” Lady Alice suddenly stated. The revelation took Helena by surprise.

  “You do?”

  “I do,” Lady Alice continued. “I have never seen anything in his character to suggest he would ever lower himself to steal from a friend, far less a business that has so long been in his family. I hope to one day see him freed of these charges and restored.”

  It was the first thing Lady Alice had said that made Helena’s heart lighter.

  “Thank you,” she said with a small smile.

  “It is nothing,” Lady Alice answered. “I hope that when that day comes, we can all meet together. That is what I meant about Balwell. Lord Chatleton told me that it was a custom of your family to visit him and his father there.”

  Helena swallowed hard. “He told you that?”

  “Yes, on our walk yesterday. I’m afraid I have been monopolizing most of his time since I arrived.”

  “I am sure he would never give what he was unwilling to. If Lord Chatleton has allowed his time to be occupied, it is because he desires it so,” Helena responded sadly.

  “He has been very kind to me since I arrived. I think he speaks to me more than any other lady here,” Lady Alice noted.

  Helena’s heart was dissolving in her chest. Lady Alice’s words were true. Elias had spent most of his time in her company. Helena had seen it for herself, which was why she was beginning to wonder if her doubts about him were based in fact.

  Had Elias really forgotten her and her family and left them to themselves? It had been a long time since his unhappy visit to Sutton Street, and in the time since, she had heard and seen little or nothing of him.

  The door of the library opened, and there stood Elias, dressed for a morning spent shooting birds with the rest of the gentlemen. “Good afternoon, ladies,” he said politely. Helena could see him from around the back of the chair which blocked her from the view of most of the room.

  “Good afternoon, Lord Chatleton,” her companions chorused.

  “Is Lady Alice among you?” he inquired.

  “She is seated with Miss Helena,” a voice informed.

  Helena braced herself as she heard the soft footsteps heading in their direction. Then he appeared above the chair.

  “Ladies,” he said once again. Lady Alice got to her feet.

  “Lord Chatleton. How was the shooting this morning?”

  “It was excellent. We bagged more birds than we expected. The Baronet did say there were plenty, but we never imagined there were so many.”

  “I am glad you had such success. I suppose we will be having a feast thanks to you,” Lady Alice mused.

  Helena wanted to leave but it would’ve been too apparent.

  “What brings you in search of me?” Lady Alice asked.

  “I wanted to speak with you on the matter that has been occupying our thoughts of late,” Elias replied. “Do you have time now?”

  Helena could feel Elias’s eyes drift toward her. She did her best not to look up at him. He would see her sadness as easily as he saw a sunset.

  “Indeed. I have received a response to our query only this morning. It is in my room, I will fetch it for you,” Lady Alice replied. She turned to Helena. “Would you excuse me?”

  “Of course,” Helena said as she forced down the contents of her stomach in order to watch Lady Alice leave the room with Elias behind her.

  It was true. It had to be. What response was this that they were seeking? Why was it of such importance to Elias? She could stay there no longer.

  Helena allowed her feet to carry her away from the room.

  When she looked up again, she found herself in the garden, and the midst of the maze. She was lost, just like in her life. Elias was taken from her, and her heart was aching to watch him pull further and further away.

  She knew there was only one choice, to chase him out of her mind and heart forever, but it was a choice she did not wish to make.

  Elias had been the only man in her heart since she was a girl. The only man in whose eyes she could see her future. The only man she wanted to call hers.

  She wept as she wondered. Would she ever find her way out?

  Chapter 26

  Elias mused as he ate his slice of roast beef and potatoes. Dinner at Dunlily was a treat, though not quite up to the standards of Balwell. Mrs. Ruskin was a dictator and Cook was exceptional, still, the food at Dunlily was rather good.

  Lady Alice was proving quite valuable. Her ability to move amongst society and gather information was quite adept. So far, she had spoken to several of the people from Elias’s list, and he found them much more agreeable to speak with her than him.

  It must be her winning smile that charmed them, but whatever the cause, it was working.

  Elias was sure that he was getting closer to the truth daily. So far, he had eliminated several potential suspects from his list, but they were still several to go. He wished the culprit was already revealed so that his life could return to normal and Helena could once again be at his side.

  It pained him to see her become more and more isolated and melancholy. The afternoon in the library when he’d found her sitting with Lady Alice, he had wished in his mind that she would look at him. He wanted to ease the creases of worry from her brow and assure her that all would be well. He believed it would be, and was determined to make it so.

  Beatrice was another matter. The woman was seldom seen, and when she was, she did not have a decent look to give him. She was so angry. Elias was convinced it was more than her father’s current situation, but for all his intellect he could not think of what it could be.

  “I have an announcement of the most pleasant sort,” the Baronet declared as he rose to his feet and clanked a dinner fork against his raised glass. All eyes turned to him. “As you know, my daughter’s wedding is only a few days away. The last of our guests are arriving tomorrow, and to celebrate, we will all be going on a picnic.”

  The announcement was met with a murmur of excitement. Dunlily had some of the prettiest areas for picnic in the county. The strawberries were also in season, giving extra encouragement to the idea of a picnic.

  Elias smiled appreciatively at the suggestion, but was unsure whether he would attend.

  “You will be sure to join us,” Lady Alice whispered to him.

  She had asked to be seated beside him, and Elias had not objected. They still had many things to speak of and limited time. When the wedding was over, so would be the ease of their communication. Whatever happened, it had to happen within what remaining days they had left.

  “I am not sure,” Elias answered. “I will consider it.”

  “You cannot be all about mysteries,” Lady Alice mused. “We have come to a wedding. It is a time of celebrating. You must remember that.”

  He smiled at her. “You are quite right. I will do my utmost to remember that from here on.”

  Lady Alice turned back to her plate. When Elias did the same, he found his eyes involuntarily wandered to the far end of the table, where they were met by deep green. Helena was watching him. He gave a small smirk to encourage her, but she only turned away from him.

  Why? Why was she avoiding him so? Was her sister’s disposition wearing on her? Did she now think as Beatrice did?

  It seemed as if his life was a never-ending stream of unanswered questions. He was fatigued with it all. He wanted the truth.

  After dinner, the party gathered in the parlor for music and games. The ladies took turns playing music for them to dance to, while others played games of cards or chatted animatedly.

  Mr.
White seemed particularly pleased that evening as he danced with Miss Morton. Then his eyes fell upon Helena’s unhappy state and all changed. Whenever his eyes drifted to her, a sad look appeared on his face.

  Elias sat quietly, observing the guests. Everyone seemed so occupied with enjoyment, all but Helena and Beatrice, who seemed set apart. Though the other guests mingled and conversed, no effort was made to speak to either of the Leeson ladies. Had Agatha’s poisonous tongue done its working in turning the guests against them?