Baldwin jolted. “He threatened to send you to America?”
She nodded slowly. “A promise, really, more than a threat.”
The rage he’d felt before, when he’d come upon Peter Shephard berating her in the parlor, lifted again. Only this time he had more tools to protect her.
“I will never let him hurt you again,” he said softly.
She smiled, and it lit up his world in endless color. In that moment, he realized this was how his life would be from now on. The difficulties made easier by this woman’s enormous heart, by the light she carried with her so effortlessly.
He leaned in to kiss her and then stood, drawing her with him. “Come, let’s get this over with, and then we can do nothing but celebrate.”
He could see her lingering hesitation, but she nodded nonetheless and allowed him to lead her to the door.
Chapter Twenty-One
Helena wasn’t certain how it was possible to feel so happy and so terrified all at once. But it was. Inside she was a riot of emotion, such that she could scarcely breathe. She knew how badly this announcement to her family could go. There were a hundred terrible outcomes and so few positive ones, at least in this conversation.
But above all the fear, all the anticipation about how bad it could be, was something else. When she turned to look at Baldwin in this quiet moment they were sharing before Uncle Peter and Charity arrived in the parlor, her heart swelled with joy and happiness she’d never believed she’d experience again.
Baldwin loved her. That had felt like an impossibility since the first moment she met him and he made her heart skip a beat. She hadn’t let herself hope for more than whatever stolen time they were allowed. Resigning herself to the fact that she couldn’t have anything beyond that had been her only way to survive when her love for this man grew with each passing day.
And now…he was hers. He looked at her and she saw in his eyes that the fantasy, the fairytale, was true. And she knew that they could be happy together for the rest of their lives.
He slid his fingers through hers, lacing them together as he lifted her hand to kiss it. “I willalwaysprotect you, Helena.”
It was a powerful statement, made even more so by the years she’d spent having only herself to depend upon. She nodded slowly. “I believe you, Your Grace.”
He smiled as the door opened and her uncle and her cousin entered. All her good feelings fled, and she immediately went on alert. Out of habit, she shook away from Baldwin and took a step from his side. It was foolish, considering what he was about to declare, but judging from her uncle’s angry expression as he saw them standing together, she feared the consequences that her newly minted fiancé didn’t seem to fully grasp.
Uncle Peter was fully capable of mean and ugly pettiness. He would see her engagement as a betrayal, and if he could strike out at her…it was very likely he would do just that.
Baldwin frowned as she bent her head, but then he shifted his attention to the new additions to the room. “Mr. Shephard,” he said, his tone icy cold. “And Miss Shephard. Welcome—I’m glad you were up and could join us for a moment before the rest of the party begins the merrymaking for the day.”
“Have we interrupted something?” her uncle asked, spearing Helena with yet another glare. She felt it burning through her, accusatory.
“No,” Baldwin answered for her. “Helena and I simply wished to share our happy news with you before we make our announcements to the party at large.”
Helena held her breath as she watched for her family’s reaction. Charity went pale, but her uncle lifted both eyebrows in question. He didn’t look upset, although it was obvious what Baldwin was going to say.
“Announcement?” Charity repeated slowly.
“Yes,” Baldwin said, and reached out to retake Helena’s hand. He drew her closer, forcing her from the retreated position she had taken. Her breath shook and she almost screamed out at him not to say it. But the words fell from his mouth regardless. “I will marry Helena. As soon as possible.”
For a moment the room was utterly silent. Then, without warning, her uncle tipped back his head and began to laugh. Helena flinched at the cruel sound of it and the twisted expression on his lips that could in no way be called a smile.
She knew then that he would find some way to make sure this never happened. He would doeverythingin his power and tear down anyone in his way.
Including Helena herself.
But Baldwin didn’t know that. He didn’t know Peter and his cruel, spoiled bent. While she shrank down a fraction, trying to make herself a smaller target, Baldwin straightened and his expression grew hard.
“And just what is so funny, Mr. Shephard?” he asked. “I do not appreciate your mockery.”
“Oh, but there is so much to mock.” Uncle Peter shook his head and said, “Do you think you can just…haveher? No, no, Your Grace. I don’t think so.”
Baldwin released Helena’s hand and took a long step toward her uncle. They stood chest-to-chest as Baldwin hissed, “I wasn’t asking. You can support our union and your niece, or you and your daughter can leave.”
Peter tilted his head, his expression empty and cold. He turned and walked around Baldwin to take a seat on the settee, where he folded his arms and looked up at the duke in defiance.
