Page 2 of The Haunted Duke

“It is nothing for you to worry about. We just have a few matters to discuss regarding his… financial assistance. Go on now. You will be late if you tarry much longer,” she said, her tone suddenly cold.

Helena pressed her lips together, torn between joining her friends and staying with her mother.

“I said go now,” Mary-Anne whispered sharply, forcing Helena to turn around. She gave her a gentle push, urging her toward the door.

“But, Mama—”

“Miss?” Aggie’s voice called once again through her door. “Your companions have arrived.”

Though still hesitant about her mother’s sudden change in nature, Helena opened the door and headed toward the stairs. Her stomach did an odd flip as she spotted Lord Ingram waiting in the corridor. He used to be her father’s business partner, the very man who had come to their door four years ago, to tell them that the Meridian had gone down, and that there was nothing left to recover, not even a body to bury. He had taken it upon himself to aid them ever since, though why he needed to visit so often, and so late, was beyond her.

His gaze was unsettlingly intense as he watched her go by.

“Why, Miss Robinson, you grow prettier every day,” he murmured.

Helena’s cheeks flushed. Lost for words, she simply gave him a firm smile over her shoulder and hurried away from the house. Her chest felt constricted as she took a deep breath of the cool fall night air, trying to steady her frazzled nerves.

What does he want with these visits?

In the carriage, her friends, Mr. Jeremy Winterbourne and Miss Letty Weston, greeted her cheerily. Helena quickly welcomed the distraction her friends provided as they rode toward the opera house and, as usual, shifted easily into their discussion.

“You are wearing the pink gown again, how lovely!” Letty praised. “Oh, how I do admire your ability to take old fashions and make them look new.”

“Thank you, Letty, what a lovely thing to say,” Helena replied sweetly, ignoring the subtle hint of condescension in her friend’s tone.

“Look at the three of us, darlings!” Jeremy said, glancing between Letty and Helena with a grin. “Have you ever seen a more dashing trio? The whole house shall be staring at our box, mark my words. Though I confess I am rather more interested in who shall be looking at me.”

Both women laughed, Letty preening a little at the compliment while Helena shook her head at his theatrics.

At the opera house, the three of them settled into the box Jeremy had secured for them. While Letty engaged in conversation with the rest of their friends, Lady and Lord Brooks, Jeremy turned his attention to Helena, his usually cheerful demeanor shifting to one of panic.

“You do not truly care about the opera, do you?” he whispered vehemently.

Helena raised a curious brow as her gaze flicked to the stage and then back to him.

“Not really,” she confessed. “I just wanted to spend some time out.”

Jeremy’s relief was evident as he reached out and clutched her hand.

“Thank goodness, Helena dearest, because I did not come here to listen to this caterwauling. In truth… I have a hidden agenda,” he confessed.

“Intrigue,” she said giddily, shimmying her shoulders. “Well, do not leave me in suspense! Tell, tell!”

As the oil lamps dimmed, the two of them ducked their heads together.

“It is my grandmama again,” he whispered.

Helena gave him a pitying look. His grandmother had been after him to marry since the day he had returned from his Grand Tour two years ago, and only his brother’s babies had bought him any reprieve. Now, it seemed, his luck had run out.

“Is she pestering you about marriage again?” Helena whispered.

“Not pestering, demanding,” Jeremy muttered. “She claims her health is finally slipping away, and she needs to see me wed before she takes her last breath. Rather melodramatic, in my opinion, but a demand no less.”

Helena bit her lip, trying to suppress her giggle as Jeremy made a face of mock horror.

“Perhaps marriage would not be so bad,” Helena offered, trying to be helpful. “Besides, you are a man. You can marry any woman you like. It is not as if you had to drop out of your debut Season and fear the life of a spinster.”

This time, it was Jeremy who gave her a pitying look, knowing that she was referring to her own woes. She had barely been out a month when her father was lost at sea, and with the troubles that swiftly followed with his loss, she had had no choice but to step away from society.