Chapter 19
Chapter
Nineteen
Over the next week, Clementine buried herself in her work at The Haven.
It helped her keep her mind off William’s brother and his actions toward her.
Why or how anyone could be so cruel as to first lace one’s drink, as William believed, but then to force themselves upon someone who did not want what they did was beyond her.
Even now, the memory of that night made her stomach twist, her skin prickle with unease, and she forced herself to focus on anything else—anything that would quiet the lingering fear.
She hoped she never had to set eyes upon him ever again.
The mere thought of doing so made her chest tighten.
As for William, she had not seen him since that night.
It seemed odd to not have had him call, to see how she was these past days.
Still, she had put it down to being busy with his club and preparing their home.
Maybe she would see him tonight at the Kenworthy ball.
The Haven had several women upstairs, recuperating in their rooms, while others sat in the back gardens, learning how to grow vegetables, harvest, and gain skills that may help them if they were ever to gain employment as a kitchen assistant or cook.
The soft murmur of conversation drifted in through the open door, mingling with the earthy scent of soil and herbs from the garden beyond.
The door of the shelter opened, and Miss Elizabeth Masters bustled inside, a woman beside her whom Clementine did not recognize. “Miss Masters, how lovely to see you again.”
“And I you,” she said in return, coming to stand before her.
“It has been some days since we had the pleasure of working together. I’ve been so busy with organizing the wedding that I’ve not been able to volunteer as much as I’d like, but I’ve come to remedy that.
” She gestured to the woman standing at her side.
“This is Miss Helena, she lives on the same street as my father and is looking to be of help.”
Clementine reached out her hand to clasp Miss Helena’s. She was caught off guard at the overwhelming feeling that she’d met her before. She looked strikingly like Evangeline, with the same eyes and hair color. The resemblance struck her like a physical blow, stealing her breath for a moment.
How extraordinary…
“Are you well, Lady Clementine? You look as if you’ve seen a ghost,” Miss Masters said with a laugh.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Clementine,” Miss Helena said, with a wobbly, uncertain smile.
“Oh, my, I’m so sorry, Helena, this is Lady Clementine Ravensmere, she’s a duke’s daughter, if you can believe our good fortune here. She’s been such a help and is the sweetest person you'll ever meet.”
“You are too kind,” Clementine said with a chuckle, though her gaze remained fixed on Helena. The resemblance to her sister was quite extraordinary.
Yet, it was Miss Helena’s turn to look as if she’d seen a ghost. Clementine reached out to clasp the woman’s arm, fearful she would topple over. “Are you well, Miss Helena?” she asked.
The woman nodded, but started to back away toward the door. “I’m perfectly well, thank you. But I don’t think I will be able to volunteer here after all, Miss Masters. I’m so very sorry.”
“Of course you can,” Miss Masters argued, reaching out and taking the young woman’s arm. “I promise we’re all very kind here, and we do charitable work that we believe is making a difference to women’s lives. You must stay and help.”
“I, ah…” Miss Helena said, her eyes wide and staring at Clementine with alarm.
There was fear there, unmistakable and deeply rooted.
Clementine took pity on her. “Maybe a cup of tea where we can sit down and get to know each other better.” She turned to Miss Masters.
“Would you mind going down to the kitchens and getting a hot pot of tea and bringing it up to the back parlor? I will prepare the cups.”
“Of course,” Miss Masters said, striding off toward the kitchens.
Clementine turned and started for the back parlor, which in truth was a room that looked out over the gardens with windows that did not allow much light, nor a good view; still, it was a pleasant space for one to sit and have a moment to themselves.
The room held a quiet calm, the kind that invited confidences.
She heard Miss Helena following her, and she took a deep, fortifying breath.
She’d heard the rumors of her father, and her sisters themselves had spoken of the children they were certain lived elsewhere in London.
That she was now standing before one of them was a coincidence that could not be ignored.
Or perhaps not a coincidence at all, but fate.
She gestured for Miss Helena to sit and joined her, setting up three cups. “Would you like sugar?” she asked.
“No, thank you,” Miss Helena said, folding her hands in her lap and saying nothing else.
Clementine sat back on the settee and met the young woman’s eye. “If you believe that I don’t recognize you, that I’m not aware that you are a walking twin to my sister Evangeline, you are mistaken, Miss Helena.” She paused. “You are a Ravensmere, through and through, are you not?”
Miss Helena’s eyes flew wide, and her mouth worked as if to say words, and yet none came out for several heartbeats. “An illegitimate Ravensmere, yes.”
Clementine had always hated that term given to children through no fault of their own, but that of their parents.
Their father, in this case. “I was never certain before today if you were real or merely a rumor society had made up about my father. He was a scandalous man, certainly did not show my sisters or me any affection, and left us to rot in the country, so it does not surprise me to learn you are indeed a real living, breathing being just like us.”
And perhaps just as alone in the world as they had once been.
“I’m so very sorry, Lady Clementine. Had I known that you volunteered here, I would never have presumed to intrude. I know we’re not to meet and spend time with each other.”
“Are we not?” Clementine frowned. “Who stated such rules?”
“The current duke came and visited us some years ago, and he’s been giving us an allowance to keep us from financial ruin.
In return, we were to stay out of society, not cause trouble for the Ravensmere girls coming to London to debut.
I did not mean to break that agreement today and shall leave after tea.
We cannot survive in London without the patronage of the duke. ”
Clementine gaped as anger coiled inside her. “As much as I love my brother-in-law, he had no right to keep you from us.”
The injustice of it burned hot and sharp within her chest.
Miss Helena smiled, but shook her head. “You are kind. That you work here is a testament to that, but you know meeting us in any social event was always impossible, regardless of what Ravensmere bartered some years ago.”
That may be true, she conceded, but still, she would have a word with Ravensmere when she returned home. “It is fate, I’m certain, that you are here. How else could it be that you’ve walked into the same shelter as the one where I volunteer?”
“Oh, that is easy to answer,” Miss Helena stated, looking around as if to ensure privacy.
“A gentleman that I’ve been stepping out with, a man whom I believe may wish to marry me, mentioned the charity.
I attended an afternoon tea at Miss Master’s soon after and discussed my request to help others, women who find themselves in unfortunate circumstances, women like my mother, and she mentioned she also volunteered here and would give me an introduction, and so here I am. ”
“Well, I still think it’s fate, and I would so love to get to know you better and your sisters. I believe you have two.”
“I do, twins, Anne and Alice. They are younger than I am.”
“I cannot wait to meet them,” she said. Three more sisters. The thought filled her with a strange, unexpected sense of completeness.
What her family had to say about those matters could be a problem for another day. This day was for getting to know her sibling.