Chapter Twenty-Two
Lachlan awoke to the sound of birdsong. Dawn’s soft light filtered through the church entrance and window slits.
He gazed down at Helene sleeping on her side, sated, soft, warm, and peacefully languid in his arms. He studied the long sweep of eyelashes against her sun-kissed cheek and marvelled at the stark contrast of midnight-coloured hair spilling over her pale-skinned shoulder and down her back.
One small hand rested on his chest, and a long, lithe leg lay across his thigh.
The lass was nothing short of womanly perfection.
Their intimacy had been prodigious and to the point of stealing Lachlan’s breath, as it did even now just thinking about it.
He’d made her body sing, responsive to his every kiss, touch, and caress, and when they’d both left this mortal plane in a sunburst of ecstasy, it was, for him, an experience comparable to no other.
He craved so much more for her, and from her. Sexual pleasures to be enjoyed were boundless, and he yearned to be her only tutor. He wanted her for the rest of his life, to explore and discover together limitless passion.
She stirred in his arms, sighed, and nuzzled her cheek against his chest. Her hand shifted, with delicate fingers splayed over his beating heart.
So subtle and simple were her soft sounds and movements that they shook Lachlan to the core. Emotion gripped him and galvanised the true depth of what it was he felt for Helene. In that moment of clear mindful focus, he acknowledged it for what it was.
He hadn’t realised it at the time, but it was while making love to her that he’d acknowledged his love for her. He was in love with Lady Helene Beckett, and by God, he’d do whatever was necessary to prove himself worthy of her and to win her hand in marriage.
And yet, her life was complex enough without him complicating it further. Declaring his true feelings for Helene and wishing to whisk her away to the Highlands must wait. There was no point professing his love for her until they reached London and matters were resolved with her father and sister.
By way of courtesy and respect, he resolved to do the right thing by her father and ask the earl’s permission to marry Helene.
Ultimately, it would be her decision. He’d extend the invitation to have Prudence cared for and live with the MacLanochs at Drumocher.
It would be cruel to separate the sisters either side of the border.
Lachlan didn’t anticipate any objections on the earl’s behalf, given the man was intent on sequestering Prudence away from gossip-mongers, believing they’d smite his reputation and social standing.
Quiet reflection in the wee hours of the morning clarified for Lachlan the whys and wherefores of Helene’s actions and opinions during her stay in the Highlands.
He recalled her overprotective instincts in the way she’d stepped in to champion Donnie, thinking him helpless and unsupported by his family and the clan; her cynical views on the institution of marriage and why she’d spurned multiple suitors, insisting she had no need of a husband and bairns; her offhand comment after she nearly drowned, saying her father would have one less female to worry about.
She’d told Cuthbert she was spoken for. By that, Lachlan could only assume she’d meant her life and future belonged to Prudence. Now it all made sense.
Christ! The lass was sabotaging and sacrificing her own happiness and prospects in favour of her sister’s. She was looking to atone for ruining her sister’s life.
Lachlan suddenly felt the pull of Helene’s gaze upon him, and he glanced down to see sadness in her eyes. His heart sank, fearing the worst.
‘What is it, lass?’ When she didn’t respond, he asked, ‘Do ye have regrets about last night?’
She sat bolt upright. ‘No!’ The blanket fell to pool about her waist, exposing creamy breasts.
‘No. What we shared . . . What you did for me, to me, made me feel . . .’ Her cheeks coloured and she averted her gaze.
The deep rosy blush was enough to have Lachlan believe she’d enjoyed their union, as had he.
‘What then?’ he gently prompted.
‘Last night, before we . . . I tried to . . . There’s more I must tell you.’
‘Go on.’
She hesitated before pulling the blanket up to cover her nakedness.
‘I’m sorry. I’m so very sorry, Lachlan. I’ve used and deceived you and your family to my own end.
In being completely forthcoming with the truth, I must mention your cousin Cuthbert.
You see, he and I . . . we . . .’ Again, she looked away and swallowed.
It pained Lachlan to see on her face and hear in her voice deep despair. He didn’t doubt for one moment her genuine remorse. He took her chin gently between his thumb and forefinger and coaxed her to look at him. ‘Lass, I ken about ye and Cuthbert.’
Her eyebrows rose above wide-opened eyes. ‘You do?’
‘Aye.’
‘How?’
Lachlan’s hand fell from her chin to settle reassuringly on her arm. ‘It was Cuthbert who told me, but only after I forced the truth, his truth, from him.’
‘When?’ she stammered. ‘How long have you known?’
‘Late that night when we returned from the shielings, I saw Cuthbert at yer bedchamber door.’
Rage and intense jealousy surged with the memory of that moment, then died just as quickly in knowing Cuthbert was neither a threat nor a rival in Lachlan’s hopeful pursuit of Helene. He kept his emotions at bay and voiced only the facts.
‘I saw something pass from his hands to yers. Naturally, I was disturbed by the mysterious and improper timing of yer encounter. I had Cuthbert meet me by the loch early the next morning, whereupon I called him out on the matter. At first, he refused to engage, but when I threatened to confront and interrogate ye, he changed his tune to spare ye any embarrassment.’
She looked sheepish. ‘What did he tell you?’
‘That ye both struck a deal with me as yer pawn, each with yer own personal agenda.’
‘Did he say what he’d hoped to achieve by entering the bargain?’
‘Aye.’
‘And?’
Lachlan watched her gently bite her lower lip, and something akin to hope brightened the hue of her emerald eyes. ‘His revelations earned him a fist to his face.’
Her chin dipped to her chest. Curiously, Lachlan caught the hint of a bitter smile.
She met his gaze. ‘It was you who struck Cuthbert? Not one of the two clansmen with whom you met to settle an apparent grievance?’
Lachlan raised a brow, and it took a few moments before understanding dawned in Helene’s eyes.
‘I see,’ she said. ‘You and Cuthbert were the two clansmen.’
‘Aye. ’Twas a heated discussion between us, and I lost my temper. All is now amicably resolved.’
‘Then you know about the promissory note?’
Lachlan sat up beside her. ‘Aye, lass. A sum to equal yer dowry, nae doubt. Cuthbert revealed his truth; now trust me enough to tell me yers.’
Shamefaced, she said, ‘I have no money of my own, so what I did, I did for Prudence. My intention was to bribe one of the asylum wardens with a handsome amount of coin so that he’d turn a blind eye long enough for me to escape with my sister.
I was going to have a carriage waiting to take us to a little rented cottage deep in the country where we could live a simple life. A safe life. A happy life.’
Lachlan heard fierce determination in her voice, and her admission about the reason for the promissory note slid the final piece of the puzzle into place.
It took courage and temerity to devise and want to execute such a plan, and to hold blind faith in the hope of seeing it through to the end.
Deception aside, Lachlan loved Helene even more for her selfless intentions.
‘So ye planned to run away?’
She bowed her head. ‘Yes, I suppose I did.’
‘It wouldnae have taken long for yer father to track ye down.’
‘I know, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and I cannot leave my sister to the mercy of sadistic doctors who might subject her to all kinds of inhumane treatment. She is not mad. She is not a lunatic. When Cuthbert came to me with his proposal, I saw an opportunity and I named my price. I am not proud of what I’ve done to you and your family, and I pray Agnes remains in the dark about it all. She is my one true and trusted friend.’
Lachlan took both her hands in his and paused for a moment. ‘Helene, I must ask, if yer plan was to succeed, who would ye turn to when the money runs out? Yer father? Yer brother? Or given what ye’ve discovered of Cuthbert’s intimate personal affairs, would ye again use the threat of blackmail?’
Her head snapped up, and Lachlan clasped her hands tight when she tried to pull free of him. ‘I’m verra sorry, Helene, but Cuthbert is family, so ye’ll understand why I asked the latter.’
She raised her chin a fraction. ‘I suffer the shame of having taken advantage of you and your family, and for coercing Cuthbert to hand over the promissory note. I did what I had to, but I swear to you I’d find another way to support Prudence and myself before I’d extort money from Cuthbert or anyone known to him. ’
It distressed Lachlan to consider, if push came to shove, just what extreme Helene was prepared to go to if she did have to keep herself and Prudence safe and financially secure.
He dismissed the concern, for he’d gladly settle on being their benefactor, anonymous or otherwise, if his plans for the sisters went awry.
‘Thank ye, Helene. Unmasking Cuthbert could send him to prison or the gallows. If ye were responsible for that, I couldnae forgive ye, but I do forgive ye, and I understand why ye and Cuthbert did what ye did. Yers and his scheming was not born of malicious intent, but rather a need to do what ye thought best for someone else.’
Lachlan took her face gently between the palms of his hands and pressed a kiss on her lips. ‘Ye’re one remarkable woman, ye ken?’ She smiled and his heart flipped.
‘A woman, after last night, yes, but remarkable? I hardly think so.’
Her lips compressed together in an expression of holding something back. Lachlan debated over whether to suggest she speak her mind, deciding against it when she abruptly rose to her feet, gathered up her clothes, and dressed.
He followed her cue, mindful of her agitated brush strokes before she plaited her long hair and hid it beneath her woollen bonnet.
‘Helene, we’ll soon be encountering other travellers, so I’ll need to replace our bonnets for English civilian hat wear.
I’ll situate ye in a safe place before we leave the cover of the woodland, and I’ll make a trip into a local village to acquire us each a cocked hat.
I’ll purchase food supplies to last us the next two days until we reach London. ’
She nodded her thanks and set about packing away their bedding.
Lachlan extinguished what was left of the fire’s smouldering embers and cleared the ground of debris. Together, they left the abandoned church, belongings in hand, and Lachlan saddled and readied the horses for the day’s journey. ‘I’ll go and refill the waterskins. Would ye like to come with me?’
‘No, I’ll stay with the horses. I’ll be safe enough here.’
‘Aye, well, I willnae be long, then.’
Lachlan made haste with fetching water. Just before he stepped clear of the woodland, he caught sight of Helene holding and staring down at a sheet of parchment.
He waited, watching her fold and wrap the parchment in a square of thin leather.
She then placed it in a pocket inside her coat and secured the buttons.
What he’d witnessed, and recognised, gave Lachlan pause.
Did Helene still intend cashing in the promissory note?
Perhaps she didn’t think him sincere when he’d offered her and Prudence sanctuary at Drumocher?
She’d have no need of Cuthbert’s money, unless her intent was to stick to her original plan.
Lachlan’s heart felt as if it were shrinking.
He walked free of the clearing. By the time he reached Helene, she’d pulled from her outer coat pocket a small, familiar-looking woven bag.
She loosened the drawstring and took a whiff of its contents.
Lachlan tied the waterskins to each saddle. ‘What do ye have there?’
‘Herbs with which to make tea in the hope of remedying anxiety. Mairi gave them to me.’
‘For ye?’
‘Prudence.’
Her answer took him by surprise. ‘Ye told her about yer sister?’
‘No. When I realised Mairi was so knowledgeable with herbal medicine, I spoke to her of a friend in need.’
‘I see. That friend being Prudence.’
‘Yes.’
Lachlan couldn’t bear seeing Helene looking so forlorn. ‘Lass, if ye dinnae mind, I’d like to suggest we go directly to my uncle’s house and—’
‘You mean Viscount Sutton?’
‘Aye.’
Lachlan’s hand rasped over the stubble on his chin.
He hadn’t shaved in two days, having used the last of his soap.
‘It would give us the opportunity to bathe and dress in fresh clothes. Ye’re about the same size as Agnes, so ye can help yersel’ to her garments.
Her maids will attend ye. I’ll attire myself from Cuthbert’s wardrobe.
Depending on our arrival time, we could then go directly to Bethlem.
I’ll deal with the administrators and get Prudence discharged.
We can either take yer sister to the safety of my uncle’s house, or we can return to yer home and to yer father. ’
Helene’s eyebrows drew together, and she shook her head. ‘I know you mean well, and I thank you, but no.’
‘Why not, lass?’
‘Any association with my sister and her controversial illness is enough to damage your uncle, his family, and his family’s good name.
I will not be party to that. To do so would destroy Agnes’s future, and Cuthbert’s.
I’ve destroyed one life. That’s enough. It’s best I go straight to my father to find out why he sent for me.
Afterwards, I’ll freshen up and deliver on my promise to free Prudence from that madhouse. ’
‘And if yer father forbids it?’
Helene raised her chin in defiance. ‘Then I won’t just threaten Father with exposing our family secret, I’ll see it through.’ She turned from Lachlan, slid a foot in the stirrup, and mounted up.
‘I dinnae ken the full extent of what yer father is capable of, but if ye threaten him with that, he has the power to consign ye to Bethlem too.’
Lachlan’s words caused Helene to visibly shudder. He rested his hand over hers holding the reins. ‘For that reason, I’ll face yer father with ye and not leave yer side, unless safe to do so.’