In Bed with a Rogue (22 page)

“Of course, and I want to see her,” Miss Kendrick said, “but that is impossible. She can’t be seen with me. Not if she is a lady. Perhaps you could deliver a message to her instead.”

Sebastian agreed it was important to protect Helena’s reputation, but he couldn’t agree with keeping her away from her only family. “Perhaps an inconspicuous meeting place would suffice. It is easy to find privacy in the pleasure gardens. I could bring her there tonight.”

“No, it’s too risky. I could be recognized by any number of gentlemen.”

“She would never agree to stay away, Miss Kendrick. She has been searching for you for weeks.”

“I know you are right. There are many things I remember about my sister, and her stubbornness is among them.” Her smile was affectionate as she stood and moved to a small desk in the corner. “If you brought her here after dark, it would be safer than the gardens. St. Ambrose comes tonight, but I will tell him he must postpone his visit.”

Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “And he will heed your wishes?”

Miss Kendrick stopped writing and glanced over her shoulder. “The marquess cares for me, Lord Thorne. Don’t you heed the wishes of the woman you love?”

He smiled sheepishly. “I wouldn’t be here ifI didn’t.”

Nineteen

Helena heard Sebastian’s carriage drive up to her town house and her heart beat a little faster. She had been pleased to receive word that he would be joining her and Eve this evening. The empty ache inside her eased for the moment, but it would return soon enough, and she feared it might swallow her whole.

She didn’t want to contemplate never seeing him or Eve again, and yet that was exactly what she was going to recommend to him tonight. He needed to protect his sister by putting distance between her and Helena.

Perhaps he could recommend a reliable investigator to assist her in finding her family. She couldn’t be selfish any longer by accepting his help.

A knock on the door was followed by Fergus’s gruff reception. Sebastian’s murmured reply didn’t quite reach the drawing room.

“Crivvens!” Fergus’s exclamation startled Helena.

“Shh…”

When a hushed conversation ensued, Helena’s curiosity drew her toward the foyer. “What is all the whispering about?”

Fergus’s grin stretched ear to ear. “Just last week you accused me of not knowing the meaning of a whisper, lass. You said my voice could wake the dead.”

She pursed her lips in mock disapproval. “I was referring to Lord Thorne.”

“I will tell you in the carriage,” Sebastian said as he came forward to collect her. After assisting her with her wrap, he placed a protective hand on the small of her back. “It’s a surprise, and you are trying to ruin my moment.”

She couldn’t help basking in his attention, turning her face toward him. He smiled and pulled her closer. “I will bring her home safely, Fergus.”

“If you value your life, you will.” Even though Fergus grumbled, his smile didn’t leave his face.

Sebastian chuckled as he escorted her to the carriage. His footman assisted her inside and she froze in the doorway. “Where is Eve?”

“Have a seat, Helena.” Sebastian came up the steps and she scrambled to move out of his path.

She plopped on the bench with a soft grunt. He closed the door, then instead of taking the opposite seat, he sat beside her and pulled her into his arms.

“Seba—”

His lips found hers before she could finish her protest.

She moaned into his mouth. He was going to make this difficult. How was she to end their association when he created such a lovely buzz in her head and delicious tingles all the way to her toes? His fingers glided along the back of her neck and goose bumps traveled in a wave down her back, arms, and legs. She clutched his jacket and pulled him to her, deepening the kiss. His tongue flirted with hers until her breath left her in rapid gasps. He paused, his lips still so close if she shifted, she could have him.

He smiled. “I think you missed me.”

She blew out a breath and flopped against the seatback. “Yes.” Denying it would be pointless. Her body had spoken the truth already.

The carriage wheel hit a rut and tossed her against his side. She hadn’t realized they had left her town house, but Sebastian had a way of distracting her. He put his arm around her shoulders.

“I missed you too, sweetheart.” Before she could gather her wits, he was kissing her again. His hand cupped her breast, his touch so light, she hungered for more and pressed against him. He pulled back with a smile, then placed a kiss on the swell of her breast peeking above her neckline, his breath tickling her flesh. “Tonight these little beauties will receive the attention they deserve.”

Her body heated at his playful teasing. If only she could forget about everything and become lost with him… But she couldn’t allow him to distract her further or she would never do the right thing.

Easing from his embrace, she folded her trembling hands in her lap. “I had hoped for a moment alone with you tonight.” His grin widened and she added, “To talk.”

He opened the curtain more on his side to allow light from the carriage lamp to spill into the interior. “Our wishes are in perfect alignment. I want to talk to you, too, but ladies first.” He winked. “Later, we can continue what we started.”

She frowned. There wouldn’t be a later for them. “I’ve something to tell you, but I don’t know where to begin.”

He turned toward her and folded his hands in his lap, imitating her. His playfulness disappeared. “You can tell me anything, angel.”

She blinked against the burn of impending tears. “I am no angel.” This felt like the only truth she had ever told him. “I am a nobody. A blacksmith’s daughter.”

His brows twitched, but otherwise his expression remained neutral. She rushed on before she lost courage.

“My father was a gambler, and a very poor one at that. He lost everything. Every shilling he made. His tools, so he couldn’t earn anything. Our home. If not for Mama, we would have been tossed on the streets, but she arranged with the new deed-holder to allow us to stay. She took in sewing, cleaned for our neighbors. Anything to keep a roof over our heads. I’m certain we would have starved, but she was a good provider.”

A dark frown marred his face, but he didn’t speak.

She moistened her dry lips. “W-we were managing well enough while Mama was alive. I helped by caring for my younger siblings and keeping up our house. We had a maid for a time when I was much younger, but Mama let her go when we didn’t have the funds to pay her. I don’t think Father ever noticed Betsy was gone.”

“How many siblings?”

She started. “There are five of us. Mama didn’t live long after Gracie was born. She died of childbed fever. I did my best to take her place. She had taught me to sew and I knew how to budget. I was making a decent go of it, too, until—”

Her voice broke as memories of that day she left her family flooded her. Sebastian wrapped his arms around her and tears slipped from her tightly closed eyes. “Dear God, Helena. This is much worse than I imagined.”

“I know. I’m so sorry I let you believe I was a lady. I understand why you can’t have anything more to do with me. If someone finds out…”

He tipped her chin up so she had to look at him. “Your past doesn’t concern me, sweetheart, and you
are
a lady. You married a lord and nothing can change the fact you are Viscountess Prestwick.”

“But my father—”

“Is a blackguard and I will meet him with more than a leather glove if we ever cross paths.”

“You won’t cross paths. Fergus and I returned to my home when we first arrived to Town. A neighbor’s elderly mother remembered my family and said my father died. She didn’t know what had become of my sisters, but her son pulled me aside and said he’d heard talk that Lavinia moved to Whitechapel.” His image blurred as tears filled her eyes. “Lavinia is my sister. My sister is a whore.”

The word filled her with shame. She should have fought to stay instead of begging for Prestwick’s mercy. Her pleas had meant nothing to him.

Say
your
good-byes, Miss Kendrick. We’ve a long day of travel ahead.

Her sister Cora had charged him.
You
can’t have my sister.
Her child’s fists pounded against him, likely hurting herself more than him.

He’d held Cora at arm’s length.
I
promise
to
take
good
care
of
your
sister, little one, but she is not safe here.

Lord Prestwick’s glare had skewered their father. Father had ducked his head and grabbed for Cora, his fingers digging into her shoulders as she struggled to break free. A storm had brewed in their father’s eyes, causing Helena to hold her breath, silently pleading with him not to hurt Cora again.

Go
with
him
, Father had barked
. He owns you, girl.

Helena had held her hands out in surrender.
I’ll go, but please, release Cora. She did nothing wrong.

Lord Prestwick had nodded sharply, and their father complied. Cora ran to toss her arms around Helena’s waist.
Don’t go. Please, Helena. Don’t leave me.

“I failed them.” Helena met Sebastian’s serious eyes and burst into tears.

He held her tighter, his embrace a haven from the memories she wanted to forget. He whispered soothing words as her tears came, washing away some of the pain she held inside. He smoothed his hands over her back. Even when her tears subsided, he held her as if she were precious.

His lips caressed her temple. “You didn’t fail them, my love. You were just a child. Your father is to blame. He was a piece of rubbish for wagering you in a card game.”

She gasped and sat up, breaking his hold. “How do you know about that?”

He reached into his jacket and withdrew a handkerchief. She took it and dabbed at her eyes. “Do you recall I said I had a surprise? I’ve found your sister Lavinia. We are on our way to see her now.”

Her heart dropped into her gut. “You found her? Is she well? Where has she been? How did she end up in a brothel?”

“Slow down.” He held up a hand as the carriage rolled to a stop in front of a charming little town house. “You may ask her anything you like. I promise we won’t leave until you are satisfied, but we have arrived.”

“Lavinia is here?” Fear sliced through her and left her trembling. She’d thought once Sebastian found Lavinia she would have time to prepare. They hadn’t seen each other for nine years, and she was struck with the thought that maybe they would have nothing to say to each other. “I—I am uncertain this is a wise plan.”

“Your sister wants to see you, Helena. But if you want to leave, we will.”

She glanced at the town house as the carriage door opened. Lavinia was inside, only several steps away. She shook her head. “I don’t want to leave.”

Sebastian gently took her arm to help her from the bench. “We should move quickly. It’s dark, but we still don’t want to draw attention.”

He guided her to the carriage steps and the footman offered her a hand down.

It was a short walk to the town house’s front door. “But Sebastian.” Helena clutched his arm before he grabbed the knocker.

His brow wrinkled as he turned his dark eyes on her. “What is wrong? I thought you wished to find her.”

She nodded, a scratchiness beginning in her throat. “What if my sister hates me for not trying to find her sooner? Look what happened to her.”

He smoothed a hand over her hair, his eyes glittering from the light of the carriage lamp. “Miss Kendrick doesn’t hate you. She only learned today that you are still alive.”

Helena’s hand fell from his arm and her lips parted. She should have sent word the moment she could, but her sister wouldn’t have gotten it, would she?

The door creaked open and a young woman who looked remarkably like their mother stared back at her.

“Lavinia?”

A large smile broke across the other woman’s face, and she reached for Helena’s hands to draw her across the threshold. “Come inside, Helena. It is me, your sister.”

They hugged, both of them laughing. When Lavinia pulled away, she frowned. “You’ve been crying.”

“She had to endure my company from the other side of town, Miss Kendrick. Can you blame her for crying?” Sebastian winked at Helena.

Lavinia accepted his answer with a brief smile, then invited them to join her for refreshment. The foyer was long and narrow so they had to trail behind Lavinia in a single-file line to a cozy parlor. Hand-painted gold leaves on green graced the walls, and a grand walnut grandfather clock stood sentry at the door. Helena allowed her gaze to travel the room, taking in the plush velvet sofa and thick carpet cushioning her steps. How was it her sister could live in such luxury? Unless… Her stomach turned over. Her sister was a courtesan.

Lavinia gestured toward the sofa. “Edith will bring refreshments in a moment. Won’t you have a seat?”

They moved through the motions of civility as if it gave them an anchor in this unknown sea. Helena and Sebastian sat on the sofa.

“Are you certain you want me here?” he asked.

She grabbed his hand and pleaded with her eyes for him to stay. He nodded, offering an encouraging smile.

Lavinia sat adjacent to Helena and arranged her skirts. Helena eyed her sister’s modest gown, confused by the picture she presented. She hadn’t known what to expect when she finally found Lavinia, but it wasn’t this self-possessed young woman who could be mistaken for a lady. In fact, she was more convincing than Helena had ever felt herself to be.

Pink raced up Lavinia’s face and disappeared into her hairline. Helena broke out of her trance. She had been staring.

“Lord Thorne told me you know about Madam Montgomery and Whitechapel. You shouldn’t even be in the same house with me, much less—”

“How did it happen?” Helena dreaded her sister’s next words, but she had to know if their father had wagered away Lavinia’s freedom too.