“And you do not have it.” She searched his gaze, silently urging him to see what was before him. “All you have is me.”
He pressed a kiss to each of her palms. “You are everything I want, Helena.”
His words filled her heart with hope she feared would inevitably be dashed.
Chapter Twenty-Two
We must never give up our fight until we emerge victorious.
—FromLady’s Suffrage Society Times
Helena had formulateda battle plan.
Following breakfast that morning with Huntingdon—their usual polite affair—she arrived at the townhouse of Lady Jo Decker. The hour was unfashionably early, and it was rude for her to pay a call just now, but she was desperate.
Jo was expecting her, for she had sent word ahead.
They settled down over a tray of tea.
“Thank you for seeing me on such short notice,” Helena said.
“It is my pleasure, dearest.” Jo pinned her with a dark, searching gaze. “You know you are welcome here whenever. Is something the matter? You are looking rather Friday-faced.”
Everything was the matter.
Where to begin?
She took a deep breath. “Do you recall Lord Algernon Forsyte?”
Jo’s nose wrinkled in elegant distaste. “Dreadful man. Far too much hair grease.”
Yes. WhathadHelena been thinking in going to his rooms that day?
She frowned. “An excellent description.”
Jo’s brows rose. “What of him?”
“Do you also recall my plan to achieve ruination so I might avoid marriage to the equally odious Lord Hamish?”
“Oh, dearest.” Jo settled her teacup in its saucer. “Pray tell me you did not consider Lord Algernon as one of your options. I do believe you had only mentioned Dorset before.”
“Lord Algernon was prior to Dorset.” Helena sighed. “Both of those plots were foiled by Huntingdon, of course. But Lord Algernon is not as willing to forget my plan as Dorset appears to be.”
“That dog.” Jo sat up straighter. “What has he dared to do? If there is any way I may be of assistance, I would be more than happy to do so.”
“He came to me yesterday and demanded one thousand pounds in exchange for his silence.” She closed her eyes against a sudden onslaught of emotion. Yesterday had left her feeling battered and raw, in more ways than one. “Apparently, he has gambling debts to settle. He has threatened to reveal our connection to the gossipmongers if I refuse or approach Huntingdon with his demands. I am expected to meet with him this afternoon at two o’clock.”
“But that is absurd! It would be your word against his, and all society knows Lord Algernon is a drunken, gambling reprobate. Why should anyone believe him over you?”
Helena took another deep breath, attempting to calm her nerves. “Because he has my pearl-and-emerald necklace. It would be sufficient proof—there is no other means by which Lord Algernon should find himself in possession of a piece of my jewelry. I must have inadvertently lost it when I went to his rooms for the assignation and Huntingdon was there instead.”
“Do you truly believe he would dare?” Jo frowned, her expression hardening with anger on Helena’s behalf.
“I fear he may.” She paused, gathering her tumultuous thoughts. “And the fear of the damage it would inflict upon my husband if word of this scandal were to emerge… Oh, Jo. I do not know what to do but pay the one thousand pounds in exchange for my necklace.”
“That is blackmail.” Jo sounded outraged. “How dare he?”
“It is thoroughly rotten,” she agreed. “But the fault is mine for associating myself with such a scoundrel. Not even my desperation is an apt excuse. I was being careless and imprudent, and now I must pay the price so that my husband does not.”
