Chapter Nine
“Do you have any news to report?”
Baldwin had been staring into his tea, stirring it aimlessly, but now his mother’s voice broke into his fog and he jerked his head up to look at her. He found her watching him, concern in every line of her face.
“News?” he asked. “Regarding?”
“It’s been a week since your sister’s gathering,” the duchess said, flexing her hands open and shut in a nervous display. “I know you’ve gone to a few parties since then and I haven’t been to all of them. I was simply wondering if you’d enjoyed the company of any of our—our prospects?”
Baldwin paused before responding, for his mind was consumed with only one woman: Helena. Since Charlotte’s party, since their passionate kiss in the garden, all there had been was her. And though he couldn’t explain the full truth to his mother, that was a big part of why he couldn’t concentrate on anyone or anything else.
“You know how the beginning of the Season is,” he explained with a wave of his hand. “A crush, everyone circling. In a few weeks it will calm down and I’ll be able to find more time to approach each lady individually.”
His mother’s lips pursed. “Baldwin, I do worry so.”
Tension flooded him, pleasant thoughts of Helena fading into the background at last. “I know. I’m sorry. I do not have any intention of not doing as you wish.”
“Of course you don’t,” the duchess said, reaching out to touch his arm. “I didn’t mean to imply otherwise.” She paced away, and for a moment Baldwin thought the conversation might be at its end. But then she turned back, determination lining her expression. “I think we ought to have a country party.”
He leaned back. “A country party? Now?”
“Yes,” she said. “A week would be enough time to let the servants out in Sheffield plan. It’s only two-day ride for anyone we would invite in London.”
“And you want to get these prospects alone,” he said, folding his arms and spearing her with a hard glance.
She shook her head. “You needn’t sound so ominous! They wouldn’t be alone. We would invite others. To only invite the prospects would be too obvious. I would invite your married friends.”
“Far less obvious, yes,” he snorted.
She glared at him. “I hear told that the Earl of Grifford is back on the market after his wife’s death. I could invite him. He’s older and he won’t interfere with your goals. And Matthew or Hugh or—well, not Robert. He’ll just ruin all the young ladies he comes in contact with.”
Baldwin stared in shock. She was not incorrect in her assessment of Robert, Duke of Roseford. Aside from being a loyal friend and an incredibly intelligent mind, he was also known as a rake of the highest order. Still, one didn’t expect a lady to acknowledge that fact.
“You mean to invite gentlemen who you don’t believe will intrude upon my various courtships,” he said.
Her lips parted. “I know it all sounds mercenary and I don’t like it any more than you do. Your sister married the love of her life—I’m not immune to the fact that life is demanding you not be allowed to do the same.”
Once again, Baldwin flashed to images of Helena, her arms coming around him as she murmured out a deep sound of pleasure. He cleared his throat. “Most don’t get as lucky as our Charlotte,” he said, trying to sound nonchalant.
“Well, at the very least I want you to see if you could like one of these women. That is a start.” The duchess bent her head. “A country party solves our problems.”
Baldwin could see that she was determined and that doing as she requested would take some amount of pressure off her shoulders. He owed her that. “Very well. Send word to Sheffield and mail your invitations to prospect and friend alike. A week in the country could do us all good.”
She smiled, relief slashing across her face. “Excellent. I’ll invite the prospects and the others we discussed.”
Baldwin hesitated. “Including Miss Shephard?”
Her face fell a fraction. “I realize you’ve spent a bit more time with the Americans than with anyone else. Are you saying you don’t like Charity at all?”
Baldwin swallowed. He hadn’t really paid much attention to Helena’s cousin. Fifty-thousand pounds or no, he could not fathom pursuing her and having Helena close by the entire time. It seemed an exercise in cruelty to them both.
“Have a mind, dear,” the duchess said. “Her father is a bit overbearing, I know. In private, without him interfering and trying to manage any courtship she might have, she could be more…palatable.”
Baldwin searched his mind, trying to find an argument against Charity. But the only one that screamed out at him was Helena. And he couldn’t exactly explain that to his mother. She would be appalled that he had dragged a young lady he could have no true designs upon out to the garden and then kissed her. Yet another item on the list of his bad behaviors.
“Of course you shall invite them,” he said with a sigh. “Though I would not get your hopes up that Charity will be my match.”
She nodded. “I understand. Well, I will be off to write letters and make arrangements. I’ll send you an accounting of everyone who says yes once it is finished.” He moved to escort her back to the hall, and she leaned up to kiss his cheek as Walker called for her carriage. “I know this is hard for you, dearest,” she said softly. “But you’re trying and that’s all anyone can expect.”
He smiled as her vehicle was brought round. “Good afternoon, Mama. Thank you again for all your help.”
She left, and he watched as she was helped into her carriage. But as he waved her away, his mind kept returning to Helena Monroe. In truth, he would not be sorry to have a little time with her in the country. She was the only person in the world to know the full extent of his secret. Assuming she had not become disgusted with him the more she thought of what he’d done, it might be nice to have a friend who truly understood his position.
Although when he thought of her, lovely Helena, friendship was not what was on his mind. Which meant he’d have to change it. As quickly as possible.
Helena stared at her uneaten plate of supper and tried to force her mind to think of anything other than the topic that dominated it. Baldwin. He had been her only focus, her only thought, her only dream for seven long days. Since Charlotte’s party. Since Baldwin’s searing kiss and devastating confession.
“An invitation has arrived, sir,” Aniston said as he entered the room, a folded envelope on a silver platter.
Her uncle glanced up and his eyes went wide at the seal on the front of the paper: an S with a riot of wheat around it. Helena gripped her fork tighter, for she had memorized that same seal and even drawn it out, in the secret pages of her journal.
Sheffield.
Uncle Peter rudely waved Aniston off and unfolded the paper with a sharp glance for Charity. “Here, girl, something to celebrate. I’ll read it out loud. ‘Your presence is requested at the country gathering of the Duke of Sheffield. Guests will gather for a week staring Sunday next.’” His eyes glittered. “And there’s more, but that’s the important part.”
Charity slid her fork along her empty plate. “I don’t know why I’d celebrate. The Duke of Sheffield showed no interest in me at his sister’s party last week. And his friend Tyndale is quite handsome, but he seemed more enamored of Helena.”
Helena jolted at the very unfair accusation. “I promise you, Charity, Tyndale was only being polite to me. He has no interest whatsoever.”
Her uncle glared at her. “Charity is correct, though, that you did draw the attention of the Duke of Tyndale for far too long. We shall go, Charity, for Sheffield is too important to turn down, and who knows who else shall be there for you to exhibit to.”
Helena’s heart leapt. Go to Baldwin’s country estate? A week in his company? The thought was both thrilling and heartbreaking after their last encounter. And yet she longed to see him. They had not been at any of the same events in the seven days since their kiss, and she wanted to reach out to him. To ask him if he regretted his confession to her in the garden. To find out if she could help him in any way, even if she could never have anything more than a friendship with him.
“Helena, you shall not attend,” her uncle said, his harsh tone interrupting her thoughts.
She jerked her gaze to him in shock. “What? Uncle, you cannot mean that! I’m Charity’s companion, this is why you brought—”
“Yes, but in the time we’ve been here you have only proven your own mother and father correct. You are becoming a liability, and I think you must be sent home before you ruin things for Charity as you ruined them for yourself.”
Helena shoved her hands into her lap, praying that the hot tears that stung her eyes would not fall. Her uncle was so wrong about his accusations on her character, but it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered except that he had decided she was unworthy and that was the end of it.
“Papa!” Charity said, shaking her head. “You cannot send Helena home.”
Helena glanced at her in surprise. Charity, defending her? That would be something new.
“And why not?” Uncle Peter blustered.
Charity folded her arms. “Ladies of style and grace need a companion. How humiliating would it be for me to have to explain we sent mine home? You don’t want me to look a fool do you? Helena will behave, especially now that she knows how serious you are.”
Helena’s cheeks burned, but she said nothing as Uncle Peter pondered Charity’s words. Finally he nodded. “Paying a companion would be a waste of money at any rate. Fine, Helena, you shall stay and attend with us. But you will keep your mind focused on your duties. Is that clear?”
Helena pushed at the stubborn streak in her. The one that wanted to scream at her uncle about what had really happened to cause her fall. About her value as a person. But she couldn’t do those things. Anything she said would fall on deaf ears anyway. He cared nothing for her.
She straightened her shoulders and swallowed her pride. “Of course. I…apologize for anything untoward you think I’ve done. My focus is entirely on Charity. I will behave as you expect me to do.”
He nodded and then turned to Charity to talk about landing dukes. Helena settled back in her chair with a deep sigh. Her uncle and cousin had no idea exactly how right she had to make her mind if she were going into Baldwin’s space.
It would be a challenge like no other. One she had to pass in order to survive.