Mary Brendan - Regency Mistresses - A Practical Mistress / The Wanton Bride

But Betty’s next whispered words withered any such hope and sent icy fingers to momentarily squeeze still Helen’s racing heart.

‘The visitor … umm … he … it’s … Sir Jason Hunter, ma’am,’ Betty concluded.

Helen felt a strange mix of dread and defensiveness coiling cramps in her stomach. It was possible Sir Jason had not heard his name mentioned, or discerned the nature of their heated exchange. But certainly he had heard her sounding like a raucous harpy. She darted a glance at George; his expression betrayed a peculiar ruefulness. Jerking her faculties into action, Helen tilted up her chin and instructed clearly, ‘Please show him in, Betty.’

‘So, you think my theory absurd, do you? I wonder what brings him here?’ George peered closely at Helen. ‘Try and make yourself presentable, for Heaven’s sake. You have dirt on your cheek. Hunter will think you a slattern.’

Helen’s fingers spontaneously jumped towards her face. She gave a tut of dismay as she noticed that the very digits she had been about to employ to remove the spot bore evidence that they had caused it. It was likely the dust had come from the scrap of paper the coalman had given her.

Quickly she wiped her stained fingers on her skirt just as she heard George announce, ‘Hunter, fancy seeing you here….’

‘A pleasant surprise, I’m sure….’

It was a wry retaliation to her brother’s sarcasm and made Helen wince. She raised watchful eyes to Jason’s face and again marvelled at features that were both ruggedly masculine yet finely proportioned.

Perhaps aware of her regard, he turned to look at her. Helen proudly tilted her chin and quickly clasped her mucky hands behind her back.

If he was aware that he’d figured in the argument he’d overheard he gave no outward indication. He looked no less cool and composed than he had when last she had seen his sartorially splendid physique stationed in her shabby parlour. And she looked … only slightly better than she had on that occasion, she realised. The bulk of her thick hair was still in a chignon, and her serviceable brown skirt and crisp cotton bodice were an improvement on her faded blue cambric. But on that previous occasion at least her face had been clean. Whilst the two men exchanged a few words Helen casually brought the cuff of a sleeve to her cheek and scrubbed. Her hand dropped back to her side as she heard her name spoken in a husky male voice.

‘I trust I’ve not called at an inconvenient time, Mrs Marlowe.’

It sounded innocent enough, but there was a gleam of amusement in his grey eyes letting Helen know the nicety was ironic. Blood fizzed beneath her skin, but instinctively she sketched a bob in response to his greeting. ‘Unfortunately you have, sir,’ she boldly told him. ‘My brother and I were in the middle of discussing some important domestic issues. I’m sorry to seem inhospitable, but—’

‘Helen! Where are your manners?’ George interrupted with a reproachful tone and an easy smile. ‘There is nothing we were talking about that can’t wait for another time.’ Pulling out a heavy gold watch, he consulted it with a regretful sigh. ‘Look at the time! Much as I would like to tarry and be sociable, I must be on my way. My attorney is expecting me to call on him in Cheapside and after that I have to attend to pressing business in Holborn. Why do you not get Betty to fetch some tea, Helen? I expect Charlotte might soon be back and join you.’ He sauntered to collect his hat and gloves from the table before carrying on towards the door.

‘Perhaps Sir Jason might think you rather impolite,’ Helen sharply addressed her brother’s back. ‘Will you not stay just a short while, George, and keep us company?’

‘Of course I should like to, but I’m late already. Besides, I doubt Jason is come to see me. Anything in particular you must say to me, old chap?’ he asked with affable charm. ‘Not a thing.’

There was again an inflection to her visitor’s tone that made Helen sure the two men were tilting at one another. But her overriding desire was to get her brother to tarry long enough to give her an opportunity to slip away and tidy her appearance.

Having come and violently upset her, George was going to insouciantly depart and leave her to deal with the awkwardness of Jason Hunter’s untimely arrival. The slippery devil was also going to avoid a confrontation with Mr Drover this afternoon. George was once more about to wriggle free of providing the wherewithal for some provisions.

For some moments after George’s slick departure from Westlea House, the only sound in the cool parlour was the rhythmic tick of the mantel clock. Helen managed to subdue her anger at her sly brother for long enough to remember to offer what meagre hospitality was available. ‘Please do sit down if you wish, sir.’

Whilst her visitor was seating himself on the ancient leather chair he had used once before, Helen was finding another reason to despise George. His blithe assumption that she had refreshment to give a guest was a typical example of his careless ignorance over how his sisters existed at Westlea House.

Suddenly she pounced on a useful memory. In the dining room was a decanter half-full of Madeira. George kept it replenished in case he fancied a tipple when dropping in on them. Conscious of grey eyes steadily observing her profile, Helen announced with the aplomb of a competent hostess, ‘If you would like a drink, sir, my maid will be pleased to fetch you a glass of wine …’

‘I thank you, no,’ Jason said with a crooked smile. ‘I shall endeavour not to outstay my welcome.’

Helen again felt blood tingle beneath her cheeks. Perhaps his voice held no humour and she was simply too sensitive to being mocked.

She resisted the urge to press her fingertips to her face where skin felt singed by eyes like charcoal embers. She knew he had noticed the smudges on her face and the knowledge irked enough to make her prickly. ‘Is there a reason for your visit, sir?’

‘Indeed there is. I have come to advise you that I have arranged for a load of fuel to be delivered. Has the coalman already been? You look a little sooty …’

Helen inwardly winced, but nevertheless brought her mucky fingers into view and wiped them, very deliberately, with a handkerchief whipped from a pocket. ‘As you can see, sir, the delivery has indeed just arrived and, being unexpected, was inconvenient.’ She rolled the stained cloth into a ball and hid it in a fist. ‘Whilst not wanting to look a gift horse in the mouth, perhaps you would care to explain why you thought to interfere in something that is not your concern.’

‘But it is my concern, Mrs Marlowe,’ he softly corrected. He leaned back in his chair, lifting a boot to settle at an angle on the other leg. His long lashes screened the expression in his eyes as he said, ‘Maintaining this house is now my responsibility. The structure is damp and I have decided it would benefit from some warmth in the rooms.’

Slowly Helen absorbed the awful significance of what she had heard. ‘Westlea House is now your property?’

‘Yes.’

‘The deal is all done? It is finalised so soon?’ Her voice was little more than a horrified whisper. As though the full force of the news had finally penetrated, Helen allowed a startled glance to flit about the parlour, as if trying to imprint every faded feature on her mind.

‘The sale was finalised a few days ago. I’m surprised that your brother has not already found an opportunity to tell you of it.’ Jason paused, looking thoughtful. ‘Has George said anything at all to you about the terms and conditions we agreed?’

Helen absently shook her head. She cared little for knowing the details of the deal. Besides, she could guess that the terms and conditions to which he referred centred on the speedy ejection from the premises of George’s sisters.