Suspicion slithered in Cynthia’s mind like a poisonous snake. Because she knew exactly who sired the babe.
Hubert, you bastard.
Nausea washed through her.
18
Helena put her hand on the small of Cynthia’s back, pushing her into the dingy room that served as parlour, dining room, and bedroom for at least two of George Lippert’s many children.
No wonder Sinclair thought of him when he was listing men who might have murdered Hubert Burrows. Cynthia’s husband was becoming more monstrous by the moment. Whether he forced his attentions on the girl or used her innocence as a weapon of uninvited seduction, there was no doubt Hubert had abused Lily most grievously. Then terminated her employment and sent her scuttling back to Cheapside with nothing. Helena would be more surprised if Lipperthadn’ttried to kill Hubert.
‘You must be George Lippert. We’re here on a very important matter regarding Lily.’ Nothing about their mission had changed. They still needed to determine if George had killed Hubert.
Helena shifted to the left, keeping her gaze on the man as his daughter watched Cynthia.
‘I’m so sorry, Lady Burrows. I didn’t know how to tell ye.’
‘You owe this bitch nothing!’ Lippert spat the words at Cynthia.
Helena felt her power swell. She dropped her hand from Cynthia’s waist but kept it behind her back as she pulled water from the air to form a sphere in her palm. With one thought, that sphere could turn into a spear of water that would cleave Lippert in two. She might sympathise with him for the fate of his child, but she wouldn’t let him hurt Cynthia.
She knew her eyes would be changing from grey to silver. Even in the dimness of the poorly lit room, they would see the power glowing in her gaze. But she cared not. She would kill George Lippert before she let him put a hand on her woman.
Helena blinked.
Do no harm. I made an oath. And she isn’t my woman.
But that didn’t stop her from stepping forward. ‘You will remember you are speaking to a marchioness, or I will be forced to remind you of your manners.’ Steel infused her voice.
Lippert flicked his gaze to Helena and froze. No doubt he saw the power pulsing through her.
Good. Be afraid.
‘Father, sit down.’ Lily frowned at Lippert, her small frame hardening as she gripped his arm. ‘Lady Burrows has been nothing but kind to me since I got my post. What happened was none of her doing.’
‘It was ’er husband what put that babe in yer belly. She stood by and let ’im abuse you like a common whore.’
Cynthia’s face had grown deathly pale. Helena took another step closer, intent on throwing a water spear right through George Lippert’s heart. Before she could punish the man for his cruel words, Cynthia reached out and gripped her arm, pulling her back.
‘Don’t.’ She exhaled a shaky breath. ‘He’s right.’ The anguish in her eyes as her shoulders slumped forward almost destroyed Helena.
‘You didn’t do this,’ she hissed, willing Cynthia to listen to reason.
‘Nor did I stop it.’ A bitter laugh shook Cynthia’s chest. ‘Or even see what was right under my nose the whole ten bloody years I was married to such an evil creature.’ She dropped Helena’s arm and walked over to Lily, gripping both of her hands. ‘Please forgive me. I should have known. I should have stopped him.’
‘’e should ’ave stopped ’imself.’ Lily’s lips trembled, but her voice was strong.
Helena wanted to hug the girl for such an honest defence of Cynthia. And she didn’t hug.
‘You can’t shoulder the blame of yer ’usband’s choices. They were ’is to make, and ’is to pay for. I made choices too. Not that I weren’t scared if I didn’t, I’d lose me job.’ Her dry laugh held no joy. ‘Fool that I am. I lost it anyway.’
Cynthia shook her head. ‘You are no fool. Hubert is a bastard and a scoundrel. He hurt you most grievously.’
Lily’s chin wobbled, her eyes filled, but she pressed her lips into a tight line. Not one tear drop fell. ‘Aye. ’e did that. But I’m not the first, nor will I be the last girl from Cheapside ’oo finds ’erself in a bind because of men like Lord Burrows.’
‘’e’s no man, and ’e doesn’t deserve a single one of yer tears,’ her father growled.
Helena understood his rage. If Hubert had still lived, it wouldn’t have been for long.
