Chapter 35

CHAPTER 35

Three Weeks Later

“ O h, I know,” Hanna said with enthusiasm. “I believe we should adorn your hair with jewels, Helen. It would look simply splendid, and when we stroll in the garden, it shall sparkle most beautifully.”

“Indeed! And perhaps we might use the ruby necklace and earrings that Harry gifted to Arabella last week—if she agrees, of course. Will you?” Emma added, casting an eager glance at Arabella.

With a smile, Arabella readily stepped over to retrieve the said jewels from her jewelry box.

Nearly a month had passed since she and Harry had removed Helen from that dreary house in Islington, bringing her instead to Ridlington Manor. Arabella had been rather astonished that Sir Richard had not yet stormed into their residence to demand his daughter’s return, but fortunately, he had departed for the countryside after discovering that his daughter was no longer in the place he had put her up in.

The few loyal servants who had cared for Helen were either granted new positions within Harry and Arabella’s household or were handsomely compensated for their silence. Yet, despite these arrangements, they were far from being out of danger. Sir Richard would eventually uncover the full truth, and when he did, retribution would surely follow. For the time being, however, they had been unable to secure Helen’s relocation to Scotland.

They had been prepared to send her away almost immediately, but a letter had arrived from the family in Scotland, regretfully declining to take her in. No reason was provided, though Harry assured Arabella that such occurrences were not uncommon. The nature of Helen’s situation made it difficult to find someone willing to take in the daughter of a nobleman and hide her away from society.

Undeterred, Harry had set out to find another safe haven for his cousin.

“Here you are,” Arabella said as she handed the ruby earrings to Hanna, who then carefully fixed them on Helen’s ears.

Her sisters had spent much of the past month in Ridlington Manor, something their father was now powerless to prevent.

His reputation had plummeted to new depths once word of his drunken outburst at the manor spread. To the family’s dismay, he had not taken this as a wake-up call, but instead, had sunk deeper into his cups. More and more, stories surfaced in the scandal sheets about the pitiable Earl of Worcester being ejected from clubs and seen frequenting taverns in the more unsavory parts of town.

If not for their position in Society, Hanna and Emma would likely have no suitors at all. As it stood, both were currently courting, though whether any of their courtships would lead to marriage remained uncertain. Thanks to Arabella and Harry, neither of her sisters would be forced into an unhappy marriage—at least not yet. Time was, of course, always of the essence. But for now, they could focus on other matters, such as rekindling the sisterly bond that had frayed due to their previous living arrangements.

Arabella had to admit, she and her sisters had never been closer than they were at this moment. The petty squabbles of youth seemed a distant memory, and since Helen had been relocated to Ridlington Manor, everything had changed.

The young girl had charmed everyone she met, and she was now regarded almost as a fourth sister. Harry, too, had not been this content and at ease in years, and Arabella could not bear the thought of sending the girl away to live in hiding. At least they would be able to visit her frequently, and she would have the freedom to live her days without the rigid schedule her father had imposed.

“What are you thinking about?” Helen asked, pulling Arabella out of her reverie.

“Oh, nothing,” Arabella replied, waving a dismissive hand.

Helen narrowed her eyes at her. “You have that look on your face—the one you get when you’re worried or puzzled.”

Hanna and Emma chuckled in agreement.

“She’s right. You do have a very particular expression when something’s troubling you,” Emma remarked.

Arabella shrugged. “It’s just that I wish it could have always been like this—the four of us, free from the tyrants who kept us bound.”

“Well, we are hardly free,” Emma sighed. “Not until we have husbands. And Helen will always have to be concerned about her so-called father.”

“Let us not speak of him,” Helen interjected firmly. “I hope to never see him again. I know it is a dreadful thing to say of one’s own father, but he has always been so awful to me. And I cannot believe he made Harry think everything was his fault. Harry must have suffered so much all these years. I am so glad you convinced him to tell me the truth.”

Arabella smiled. Harry had been reluctant, but he had recognized that if he wished to truly escape his uncle’s grip, he needed to be honest. Furthermore, he needed to ensure that Helen knew the full extent of her father’s cruelty, for Richard would undoubtedly use his influence to tarnish Harry’s reputation.

Together, they had devised a plan. Emma, Hanna, and Mrs. Hollingsworth took it upon themselves to discreetly share the truth with the ladies of the ton and the servants. Meanwhile, Harry revealed the truth to a select few in the House of Lords, and soon enough, the real reason behind Lady Templeton’s death became known, as did the reason behind Helen’s condition and her sudden disappearance.

Now, when they walked in the park with Helen, they were met with smiles rather than curious stares. On more than one occasion, Arabella had been approached by ladies who commended her for taking Helen in. She sensed they were speaking not just about Sir Richard’s treatment of his daughter but also of her recovery.

This newfound respect was something Arabella was still growing accustomed to. At times, there were lingering looks and whispered remarks that unsettled her, though Helen seemed unbothered. She was simply delighted to have the freedom to visit the park at her leisure, to buy sweets without fretting over the cost, and to roam without the oppressive rules her father had once imposed.

Under Sir Richard’s tyranny, Helen had been allowed out of the house only at certain hours and for a limited time, dictated by when her father believed the streets would be sparsely populated. The more Arabella learned of Helen’s imprisonment, the more grateful she became that it was finally over.

At least, for the time being.

“Indeed,” Emma agreed. “Let us not speak of our fathers. Arabella, do tell us about you and Harry. I’ve seen the two of you sneaking off to an alcove, and I could have sworn I heard the sound of kissing.” She giggled, and Helen and Hanna joined in.

Arabella felt a flush rise to her cheeks. It was true—she and Harry had grown much closer since he had shared the truth with her. Their feelings no longer needed to be hidden, nor was there any fear that they were not reciprocated.

Freed from the chains his uncle had placed upon him, Harry had emerged as a different man. He could still be brooding and introspective, lost in his thoughts, but he was also witty, charming, and romantic. Each day, he would present her with a fresh bouquet from the garden, buy her sweetmeats, and even rub her feet after a long day.

And nearly every night, after Helen had gone to bed, the two of them would retreat to the music room to play the harp and violin or sit before the fire and talk about their families, their hopes, and their future.

It was blissful, more than Arabella had ever dared to dream.

Indeed, she was certain that?—

A shout from downstairs interrupted her thoughts. Hanna and Emma rushed to the window, while Arabella hesitated for a moment. Though Helen could move her own wheelchair, it was sometimes difficult for her, as she was still quite weak.

“Don’t worry,” Emma said, noticing her sister’s hesitation. “I’ll go downstairs and see what it’s about.”

Arabella nodded and hurried to join her sisters at the window.

“It is Sir Richard,” Hanna whispered, glancing nervously at Helen, not wanting her to overhear.

But Helen, sharp-witted as ever, could read their expressions with ease.

“He is here, isn’t he? My father?” she asked quietly.

Arabella sighed. “He is, but do not fret. Stay here, and he shall not harm you.”

She rang the bell and then turned to her sister. “I am going downstairs. I believe Harry will need me. Can you both remain here? I will have Brandon stand guard outside the door.”

“I will go with you,” Hanna said resolutely.

“Very well,” Arabella agreed. She then crouched in front of Helen, taking the young girl’s cold hands in hers and running her thumbs over them soothingly. “Do not worry, all will be well. Brandon will stop anyone who tries to get in here.”

Helen nodded, but Arabella could see the fear etched on her face.

Arabella then took Hanna by the hand, and together they made their way downstairs. Sir Richard had already barged in, and someone had alerted Harry to his presence. The two men were striding toward one another, their steps vigorous and determined, like two bulls readying to lock horns.

“Where is she?” Sir Richard demanded. “Where is my daughter? You have taken her against my wishes, and you will pay for this!”

“Uncle Richard,” Harry replied in a mock-friendly tone, “we have been expecting you. How was Scotland? Did you make some advantageous business arrangements there?”

“Do not mock me, Harry! Where is Helen? The neighbors told me it was you who took her!”

“Oh, so you finally deem her worthy of a visit?” Harry said, crossing his arms. “How long has it been? A year?”

“It is none of your concern, Harry. I thought we had an understanding.” He then turned toward Arabella, pointing a finger at her, his arm outstretched. “It is her, isn’t it? I should have known nothing good could come out of the house of Hayward! Lord Worcester and his family, the lowest of the low!”

“I will not have you speak this way about my wife,” Harry warned, stepping forward. “As for my cousin, I have taken her in, and I will not return her. She does not wish to return, and you have done nothing but mistreat her.”

“She is not yours to take! The law will see me right. I will have her returned post-haste, and you would do well to avoid that, wouldn’t you?”

“The law will not care,” Hanna interjected, and Arabella stared at her sister in surprise. “You abandoned Helen long ago, and there are many witnesses to this. You told everyone your daughter was dead. There is no judge anywhere in the realm who would return her to you.”

“My sister is correct,” Arabella added. “Especially not over the desires of a duke. For you are nothing but a knight, and even that knighthood was ill-gotten, I hear.”

Though Arabella had heard no such thing, she could easily imagine it, given the man’s character. And evidently, she was not entirely wrong, for Sir Richard paled at her words.

“Harry, do you allow women to speak this way to your relatives? How far have you fallen? It is a disgrace! Where is my daughter? Give her to me at once, or I will tell the entire ton what you have done. I am not the only one who has been keeping secrets!”

“What was that?” Harry asked sarcastically, clicking his fingers. “I supposedly caused the accident that killed my aunt and Helen? Something I have since discovered was not true at all. I wasn’t even there. Did you bribe the coachman to keep up the lie, or did you threaten him? It was the latter, wasn’t it? You threatened to ruin him if he ever told the truth.”

“What truth?” his uncle spat.

Arabella watched the exchange as if she were captivated by a thrilling game of shuttlecock.

“That it was you who was responsible for my aunt’s death. That it was you who forced her and Helen to ride with a drunk coachman. And for what? To teach her a lesson? Yes, that would be just like you, always working on teaching lessons, weren’t you? You blamed me—a child! You are pitiful. Pitiful!”

“You do not know what you are talking about,” Sir Richard seethed. “I will not let you spread lies about me.”

“But they are not lies, are they?” Arabella asked, her voice strong and unwavering. “It is the truth—all of it. You hid behind a drunken coachman and a young boy to alleviate your guilt.”

The power of speaking out was intoxicating, and as she continued, she realized she was not just addressing Sir Richard, but also her own father—men who had caused so much misery. With every word, she felt her anger rise, fueled by the injustices both men had inflicted on those they claimed to care for.

“How dare you speak to me like this!” Sir Richard bellowed.

Harry swiftly stepped beside Arabella, positioning himself next to her—not in front of her—something she deeply appreciated. He was close enough to protect her physically but allowed her the autonomy to stand up for herself, for him, and for Helen.

“My wife will speak her mind in her own home,” Harry said firmly. “I have already told you this. Go ahead, tell all of the ton that you’ve been blaming a child for an accident and that you’ve been holding it over me all this time. Go ahead and see what they say. You may find yourself surprised that they already know, for I have shared the news. I have also shared the truth that it was your responsibility and that you were merely hiding.”

“Speaking of hiding,” Arabella piped up, “everyone knows what you did to Helen. Everyone .”

She could see the man falter, his hands clenching and unclenching as though he were a trapped animal with no escape.

“I will tell Helen the truth—the real truth,” he threatened, but the wobble in his voice betrayed him. He knew it was an empty threat.

“I know the truth,” came Helen’s voice from above.

Arabella, her sisters, and Harry all turned around, as did their unwelcome guest. There was Helen, cradled in Brandon’s arms.

“Arabella, I know you told me to stay in your chamber, but I cannot. I must see my father’s face. He threatens to tell me the truth? Go on, then. Tell me. But do not expect I will believe a word of it. You have mistreated me all my life. I believe nothing you say.”

“You wretched girl!” Sir Richard hissed. “How I wish it had been you who died that day and not my wife! It should have been you—useless as you are to me now.”

“Helen is worth fifty of you,” Arabella snapped.

“A hundred,” Emma corrected.

“A thousand!” Hanna shouted from the top of the stairs.

Harry chuckled beside Arabella. “Well, we can agree that she is worth a multitude of you, Uncle Richard. I like to think that time was on our side, and your trip to Scotland gave us the opportunity to do our work. You will find you have been removed from anything connecting you to the estate. All of my business partners know that I am their contact, not you. You will find that when you return to Society, you will no longer be welcomed. You do not have the Duke of Sheffield behind you, and your transgressions against my cousin are known to the world.”

“This will not stand! I will make sure all of you are ruined!” Sir Richard shouted, his face red with fury.

Arabella could hardly believe it—he looked so much like her own father. Both men were driven by rage, so pitiful in their impotent anger.

“I know the Hennesseys,” he said then, pointing from Emma to Hanna and back again, clearly unsure which sister was which. “I will make sure their courtships end, and whatever matches you have hoped to make, I will ruin them all. Mark my words.”

“You would not dare!” Arabella barked, but Harry placed a hand on the small of her back.

“Try as you might,” he said calmly. “You will find you no longer have any power in this town. As for Helen, she will stay with me. You will never get your hands on her.”

“We shall see,” Sir Richard spat. “The law is on my side, as I said. She will be mine. I have my ways.” He looked up at Helen. “Wherever you go, I will be a shadow breathing down your neck until I have you under my control again, and then you will all be sorry.”

He slammed the door shut, leaving them behind shaken yet oddly relieved.