Page 47 of The Duke on Her List
“Is that what you did?” Helena asked shrewdly. “Because it’s possible to wait too long, isn’t it?”
“That’s not what happened in my case,” Agnes told her. “I wasn’t keeping my opinions open. My situation was different. I never wanted to marry anyone at all, and that’s why I’ve remained a spinster. You shouldn’t look at my life and decide to marry the very first man who catches your eye just to avoid my fate. You are very young, Helena, and very beautiful,, and full of wit and charm. There will be plenty of men who take an interest, I promise you that. You will be able to have your pick of them.”
Helena gritted her teeth. “I wasn’t expecting you to agree with my uncle,” she said. “I thought you and he saw things differently.”
“We see many things differently, but not all things,” Agnes said. “There are times when I agree with him. Times when I know him to be correct. And on those occasions, yes, I will agree with what he tells you. You would be wise to make note of those moments, because when he and I are in agreement, you might consider it strong evidence that the matter we are agreeing on is correct.”
Helena sighed. “I suppose it makes sense,” she said. “I suppose if you are on the same side, it means that you must understand something I don’t.”
“You’re young,” Agnes said gently. “You’re very young, and you’re very inexperienced, and that’s all right. You’re learning all these things for the first time. Your uncle cares for you very much and just wants to ensure your happiness.”
Helena bit her lip. “Do you think I could stay here with you tonight?”
“What?” Agnes frowned. “Your uncle will certainly worry if you do.”
“I just don’t know if I can face him,” Helena admitted. “We had a big argument before I left home. I told him he was too controlling, and that he didn’t want me to be happy. I see now that I shouldn’t have said those things, but I’m going to have to tell him that when I see him…and I’m just so embarrassed, Agnes. If I could take a night to rest and put some distance between us and our fight, I think I would be able to own up to things in the morning.”
Agnes sighed. She could understand how Helena was feeling. “You may stay,” she said. “I’ll show you to a room where you can sleep. But for one night only. First thing in the morning, you must go back to your uncle.”
Helena nodded. “I promise.”
But after Helena had gone to bed, Agnes penned a quick letter.
Gabriel - Helena is here with me tonight. I don’t want you to worry. I told her she could stay the nightand that she would have to go home in the morning. She’s well, just a little distressed.
She gave the note to one of her footmen and asked for it to be delivered as quickly as possible, knowing that Gabriel would worry when Helena didn’t come home. She didn’t want him to be stuck in that situation, not knowing what had happened to his niece.
But she had to admit, she was very glad that Helena had felt there was somewhere she could go when she was having trouble at home—and very flattered to have been the person Helena had turned to when she was in need.
CHAPTER 22
“You’re telling me she’s been here all night?” Reeves asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I’m sure Gabriel will understand,” Agnes said.
“I wouldn’t be so sure. If you had done something like this when you were growing up, I would have been fit to be tied. If you ask me, he’s very likely to be angry with you for not sending her home right away. I can’t believe you let her stay here.”
“Well, what else could I do?” Agnes asked. “If I had told her she had to leave, I would have no guarantee that she planned to go home at all.”
“You should have escorted her home, of course,” Reeves said.
“Should I?” Agnes raised an eyebrow. “And then what would have happened the next time she got into a fight with her uncle?”
“Maybe she wouldn’t have run away.”
“Or maybe shewouldand she would have gone somewhere else. To someone who was less reliable than I am.” Agnes folded her arms. “You may disagree with my choice, Reeves, but I stand by it. I kept her safe when she didn’t have anywhere else to go, and that’s all that really matters. If Gabriel is angry about it, well, that’s his right, but I don’t think I could have done anything differently than I did and still felt like I was handling the matter responsibly.”
“All right,” Reeves said. “Well, do you think she’ll be down to breakfast soon? We should see about getting her returned to her home as quickly as we can, before…”
There was a knock at the door, sharp and insistent.
“Ah,” Reeves said. “Beforethat.”
“You think it’s him?” Agnes was alarmed. It was so early.
“Of course it’s him,” Reeves said. “I would brace for displeasure if I were you, Agnes. I don’t imagine he’s very happy about this.
She went to the door, determined to answer it and face whatever Gabriel had to say herself. After all, she had been the one to make the decision to let Helena stay here, and she couldn’t very well sit back and tell her brother she had the courage of her convictions if she couldn’t even face what she’d done.
