“You are teaching the people to read and write?”
“Yes, I think everyone should know how to read and write. Don’t you?”
Helen looked startled, like no one had ever asked her opinion before.
“My father taught me, but I think that was because he always wanted a son instead of a daughter. But none of the other girls I know can read or write.”
She ate her stew, taking tiny bites, while Ashley practically shoveled it in. She was starving after being outside and jumping rope.
“Was there something you wanted?”
Helen put down her spoon and burst into tears. “I do not want to marry him. You must help me.”
Stunned, Ashley sat there for a moment trying to figure out what to say. As much as she didn’t want the wedding to go forward, she now knew how important it was for a woman to make a good match in these times, and Christian was as good as they came. He wanted to marry Helen, and so Ashley would do what she could to help, no matter how it shredded her heart to ribbons.
“Why don’t you want to marry him?”
Helen buried her face in her hands, sobbing. Ashley scooted the chair over closer and patted the girl’s hand.
“It can’t be that bad. Why don’t I tell you why he’s a good man?”
Helen looked up and wiped her eyes on her sleeve.
“Lord Winterforth will listen to what you say. He will take care of you and look out for you. He is kind, and he’ll make you laugh.” This was payback for every mean thing she’d said or done, but Ashley took a deep breath and went on. “He’s very strong. Did you know, I fell into a river and would have drowned. He saved me, carried me, and wasn’t even breathing heavily. I know many men who couldn’t have done the same. And have you seen him with a blade? To watch him fight is like a dance.”
Helen had quit crying and was watching Ashley, an inscrutable look on her face.
“He’s smart, and he believes in family above all else.” Ashley took the girl’s hand. She was young—maybe sixteen?
“And, of course, he’s a noble with a title. And from what I understand, he’s very wealthy.”
“I know all this, lady. But I do not wish to wed him.”
While Ashley had been trying to convince Helen, she had also been thinking about why she cared for Christian. How when she had talked about her job, he had asked questions, telling her that he knew she was successful and could run a household or army if she so desired. She knew he was the kind of man who would neverhold her back. He might not always agree, but he’d support her and the choices she made.
She had told him about modern weapons and destruction. Not only guns, but the terrible bombs that were to come. He had wondered how she could live in such a time, and she had said the same to him, agreeing the weaponry of her time was capable of great destruction, but his time was more up close and personal with the violence. Though she thought her world was changing with all the awful things that had been happening lately. There seemed to be a new shooting every week on the news, to the point that she no longer watched, but figured if something really big happened, she’d hear about it.
“Helen, is there someone else?”
It was the only reason Ashley could think of why the girl would not marry him.
Helen shook her head so fast that Ashley thought it would pop off. And she suspected there was a boy somewhere waiting for her.
“I have heard what is said about him. I want children.”
Ashley frowned. “You shouldn’t listen to gossip. I know it is not true. It was made up by someone who was jealous Christian would not wed her.” She refilled their cups. “And unless you have already had sex with a man and know yourself he cannot give you a child, then you would not know until you were married anyway, would you? And for that matter, it could be you that might not be able to give him a child.”
Helen looked horrified. “Do not say such things.”
Helen twisted the cup around in her hands back and forth. “I have not been truthful with you, lady.”
Ashley gently took the cup so Helen would quit scraping it across the table.
“I think, given what you were talking about, that you can call me Ashley. Now tell me what’s really going on.”
Helen burst into tears again. It was a few moments before shecould speak coherently. And when she choked out her story, Ashley sat there, frozen.
“So you see, I cannot marry Lord Winterforth, for I love another.”
