Helen kept her head inclined. “There is no point in risking your own good name. Papa and I will return to Winterbrook. There will always be a hint of scandal associated with me. No intelligent gentleman would consider me worth the risk. The few connections Papa and I might have gained will refuse to receive us. It is useless.”
She had her life and her family. For this, she was grateful.
Mr. Marcellus’s face had turned a shade of scarlet. His jaw clenched and his shoulders were riddled with tension.
“Helen—” Aunt Sarah began.
She shook her head. “Do not pity me. This is the hand life has dealt me and I shall accept it. The Holbrooks mentioned that I might be taken on as a companion to Miss Holbrooks. Their estate is close enough that I could still visit Papa daily. I’ll find happiness watching Lucy and Mary grow into beautiful young ladies in their own right.”
A knock sounded at the door. Papa and Uncle William entered, laughing jovially. Their mood, however, abruptly shifted upon their seeing the destitute expressions of the room’s occupants.
“Goodness me! What’s happened now?” Helen’s father exclaimed.
A stray tear escaped down Helen’s cheek. No longer able to control her emotions, she jumped out of her seat and rushed over to her father. “Papa. I am as good as ruined. May we return to Winterbrook tonight? I never wish to see London again.”
Papa embraced her. She rested her head against the rough cotton of his tailcoat and cried into it.
“Of course, my love. Whatever you wish.”
Uncle William cleared his throat. “Mr. Marcellus. Does any of what’s happening have to do with why you’ve standing here as if you wish to break all of the trinkets on my mantelpiece?”
“Yes, sir.”
Aunt Sarah clapped her hands together. All of the occupants in the roomed turned their attention to her.
“All of you are overreacting to the situation. Mr. Marcellus, my husband and Mr. Davenport will see you in the study. You will engage in a stiff drink and explain to them the news you have revealed to us.”
Aunt Sarah stood and gently placed her hands upon Helen’s shoulders and pulled her away from her father.
“Go,” she said softly. “Leave her to me. Helen is in shock and has had quite enough excitement for one day. I will see that she calms down and is put to bed. I will join you three in the study shortly to plot our next move.”
Knowing better than to try and negotiate with the lady of the house, the men agreed and fled the drawing room.
Mr. Marcellus, however, lingered in the doorway. His voice came out raw. “Miss Davenport, have courage. I will set things right.”
He closed the door, and his footsteps echoed against the wooden floors as he walked away.
“Come, Helen. To bed.” As if she were a child once again with her governess, Aunt Sarah held Helen’s hand and guided her up to her room.
Six
Chapter 6
Helen could not help but appreciate the fine form Mr. Marcellus cut as he alighted from the Greenly carriage at dusk the next evening. His clothing, crafted from the highest quality materials, revealed a physique that might have passed for a Greek statue.
He is Apollo incarnate, indeed.
Papa, Aunt Sarah, and Uncle William exited the carriage. When it was her turn, Helen breathed deeply. Mr. Marcellus extended a gloved hand to hers. Their gazes locked as he assisted her down from the steps, his deep pools of turquoise boring into her.
“Miss Davenport,” he acknowledged.
Heat rushed through her body. The pitter-patter of her racing pulse resounded in her ears. How had her body found a way to react to him so quickly?
“Thank you, sir.” Her cheeks warmed. She smoothed out her skirt. “It has been quite a long time since either Papa or I have had the honor of attending the opera. I am in your debt for extending an invitation to us this evening.”
“Please think nothing of it, Miss Davenport. It is I who should be thanking you and your excellent family for agreeing to attend with me on such short notice. For too long my box has sat empty.”
He offered his arm to her and led the party up a set of white marble steps to the entrance to the opera house. Papa, Aunt Sarah, and Uncle William trailed them at a discreet distance, speaking amongst themselves.