Chapter Twenty-Eight

H elen felt as nervous as a goat in a lion's den. Her heart was palpitating out of her chest and her hands were as clammy as the skin of a snake. Theodosia hissed in her ear and Helen reluctantly laughed. Bringing her Ball Snake to a real ball was probably the most outrageous thing she had ever done. And she had done many outrageous things.

Technically, it wasn't a ball, but an assembly. An Almack's Assembly. The most exclusive club of the ton .

Helen walked into the room with Theodosia curled over her shoulders and arms like a shawl. It didn't take the other members of the beau monde long to realise that it was no ornament. Theodosia, naturally shy, pushed her head into the material of Helen's dress above her thigh. Helen hoped that her sweet snake wouldn't mind being put on display to help the sales of her book.

One of the lords dropped his quizzing glass. ‘By Jove! It's a snake.'

She watched Lady Jersey angle her way through the crowd to the front. ‘Good gracious, Lady Helen, what have you brought into my club?'

Smiling, Helen petted Theodosia's skin and gently urged her snake's head into her hand. ‘This is my pet snake, Theodosia. Theodosia, may I present Lady Jersey?'

The lady laughed. Once she sobered, she held out a gloved hand towards the snake. She was a stout-hearted woman after all. One had to be to rule the ton . ‘It isn't poisonous, is it?'

Helen shook her head, smiling. ‘No. She is a sweet snake. Most snakes are shy creatures that are terribly misunderstood by humans. And I have written a book all about snakes. I am sure that you would find it most illuminating on the subject.'

Lady Jersey tentatively touched the top of Theodosia's head and her snake hissed. The lady jumped back, but laughed. ‘I know that I should be furious with you, Lady Helen. But undoubtedly you have made this assembly the most talked-of night in the Season... Where would one purchase your snake book?'

Helen forced a smile. ‘The publisher Gibbs and Thomas have printed only a few, select copies.'

‘I shall send a footman first thing in the morning to ensure that I get one.'

‘Thank you, Lady Jersey.'

Helen kept her head up and wandered through the room, making sure that every person there saw both her and Theodosia. She heard their loud whispers of ‘She wrote a book' and ‘About snakes' and ‘How very eccentric.'

She wasn't being eccentric now. She would not have forced her shy snake to endure a night of stares for mere eccentricity. No. Helen was advertising her book in the best way she knew how. Instead of hiding who she was, Helen used her status and place in society as the best possible use of advertising. A simple paragraph in the newspaper would be forgotten.

Tonight never would.

After circling the ballroom, nodding and smiling, Helen retired to the refreshments room. Her hands shook as she accepted a glass of punch. She sipped it quickly, hoping that the sugar would calm her frayed nerves. Setting down the empty glass, she accepted another from the footman and drained it.

‘Better not drink too much,' Mark said, from behind her.

She turned over her shoulder to see him. His long black locks were shorn and styled around his face in the Brutus. The white scar that paralleled his hairline was easily seen. He wore a fitted black jacket that showed his strong upper body muscles to perfection. She wondered how in heavens his valet had got him in it and hoped that said valet would be able to get him back out of it again. He leaned gently on a new silver cane. He was impossibly handsome and entirely Mark.

‘Cat got your tongue?'

Helen shook her head and Theodosia retorted by hissing in her ear, causing her to laugh. ‘Oh, no. You're so handsome that you've left me speechless.'

He smiled and what was left of her sense evacuated her brain through her right ear. ‘I suppose you want to touch me now.'

Mark held out his free hand and Helen eagerly placed hers inside it. ‘I always want to touch you.'

‘Shall we waltz?'

‘With Theodosia?'

Her mother cleared her throat.

Trust Mama to be watching her like a vulture. ‘I shall take the snake. I think Theodosia has more than accomplished her purpose tonight. I shall send her home with a footman.'

Mama was not a reptile person. Helen could not think of one time when her mother had ever touched one of her snakes. Yet she was holding her arms out to Theodosia. Helen untwisted her snake from her neck and gently laid her into her mother's arms. Mama's arms sagged a little, for Theodosia was no lightweight, but she did not let go.

‘Thank you, Mama.'

She only nodded.

Mark took her hand again and led her into the ballroom, where couples were already waltzing. He brought her to a corner and leaned his cane against the wall, before sweeping her into his arms. Helen couldn't resist moving closer to him.

She felt Mark laugh against her hair. ‘Are you trying to compromise me?'

Helen lifted her head and shook it slightly. ‘No. I am claiming you.'

Mark's smile made her insides melt. His touch alone was the only thing that was keeping her standing. ‘Lady Helen, would you like to go riding in Hyde Park in the morning?'

They spun around together. ‘Is that a non sequitur?'

He only laughed. ‘You'll have to wait and see.'

It had to be a marriage proposal. Her heartbeat skittered at the thought, but then her brain reminded her that loving Mark meant leaving her home behind. Wings or no, she wasn't ready to fly away from the only place she'd ever belonged. ‘But I can't be a proper countess, Mark. You know this.'

Nodding his head, he pulled her closer to him.