Page 66 of The Devil and the Heiress
Jacob walked farther into the room, his face a study of serious thought as he sat on the sofa. “I don’t think you can convince someone of that. She either will or she won’t be able to.”
Christian took the sofa opposite his brother. “Very helpful.”
“No, I mean that perhaps you’re coming at this from the wrong angle. You’ve compromised her trust in you. Once trust is lost, you can’t see its return by simply willing it to be so.”
He was right, but it sounded very much as if he meant Christian was to give her up. “Then what do you suggest?” he asked, holding his breath to await the answer.
Jacob sat forward, forearms on his knees, to look him in the eye. “Deeds, brother. When words no longer hold meaning, deeds speak louder. Prove to her that she can trust you.”
Deeds. The guilt and scotch swirled together in his belly, but Jacob’s words burned through them, anincendiary flame that scorched everything but his resolve. Deeds were the only way to have Violet in his arms again. They were the only way to prove to her that she could trust his words. The only way to have her.
He knew exactly what he would have to do.
Chapter 24
The task before him was to convince the woman he loved that he was worth the hand she had given him. He set himself to this task with his whole heart.
V. Lennox,An American and the London Season
SEPTEMBER 1875
I have wonderful news to announce.” Helena raised her voice slightly to be heard over the din of conversation in her drawing room. The board of directors of the orphanage was concluding its monthly meeting. After the usual fiscal report followed by progress made the previous month, the members were discussing the need for a capital campaign to finance the task of procuring a new home and school to house the working mothers and their children.
The London Home for Young Women had begun as a way to fulfill a need Helena had identified from working with the orphanage. Working mothers, usually unmarried women, sometimes wanted to keep their children instead of giving them up but were unable to with the orphanage’s current resources. She had converted a floor in the orphanage for this purpose, but it had grown so much in the past year that it needed its own space separate from theorphanage along with its own board of directors. Violet was in attendance because Helena’s passion for the cause had influenced her to help.
“Well, what is it?” Violet asked, setting her cup and saucer down. “You can’t hold us in suspense any longer.” She hadn’t seen Helena look this excited in the short while she had known her.
Helena’s smile widened. “I received notice from our solicitor that a substantial donation has been made to help take the London Home for Young Women forward. We can begin looking for a building immediately. The donor, however, wishes to remain anonymous.”
“How wonderful,” said one of the women.
Another asked, “But how is this possible, Lady Helena? We haven’t yet begun to solicit donations beyond our families.” The five women all looked to one another as if hoping someone knew the identity of the mysterious donor.
Helena looked at Violet, a very knowing and very appreciative glint in her eye. Thankfully, she glanced away before anyone else could catch her. Violet had no idea what the look meant.
“It was a surprise to me as well. However, it means that we must make finding a space a priority,” Helena continued. “I believe it would be appropriate to form a committee for the purpose. Lady Leigh, would you like to chair this committee?”
Caught completely unaware, Violet opened and closed her mouth several times like a fish out of water. Another woman seconded the motion, and before she knew it, she had been voted chair of the committee to find a new location for the London Home for Young Women. She didn’t mind, not really. The charity had become close to her heart in the months she had been volunteering under Helena’s guidance, but the entire exchange was odd.
The meeting went on for several more minutes after the excitement, but finally the ladies adjourned and made theirway out. Violet stayed behind to speak to Helena alone. As soon as the door closed on the last board member, Helena turned to her. “How are you feeling?”
Violet automatically touched her belly. Her pregnancy wasn’t known yet, but she had shared the information with August, Max, and Helena. All those close to her except Christian. She would have to tell him soon, however, because she didn’t want anyone else beating her to it. Her body had already begun to change in many ways. She wore her corset loosened, her face had grown fuller, as had other parts of her, and she was hungry nearly constantly. It was only days before someone noticed. He would be hurt if he didn’t hear it from her.
She had even begun to feel that fluttering sensation that told her the baby moved and grew inside her. It had happened a few days ago, and her first thought had been to tell Christian, to share it with him, but they hadn’t talked in months now, and she was no longer sure of her reception if she approached him, even though she missed him more and more each day. Their time apart had given her the space she needed to feel comfortable making her own decisions and learn how to trust herself again. It had also made her wonder if his infatuation had faded. He had said that he would always love her, but she still didn’t know how she could trust that when so much of their history was based on lies.
Pushing those thoughts aside, she said, “Much better lately, thank you. My fatigue and nausea seem to have passed.”
“That’s so good to hear.” Helena led the way back to the drawing room. “I hope you don’t mind me recruiting you as I did for the committee. It only seemed right that you take the lead since this was such a very generous contribution. It would have taken us months and months to raise this sort of funding. Why, we’re nearly a year ahead of where I dared hope to be. But if you feel that you may not be up for it, I completely understand.”
“No, of course I don’t mind, Helena. I am happy to help in any way that I can, and I believe we can find something within the next couple months. Certainly, well before the baby is to be born in February. It’s only that I’m afraid I don’t understand. You see, I already donated my portion, and I had Mr. Clark set up an annuity.” Christian’s solicitor had paid her a visit shortly after she had taken up residence at the Belgravia house. They had been in regular contact since to establish how her fortune should be managed. Along with a lump sum donation, she had set up an investment that would see the charity given a fixed amount every year.
“I know that, but my solicitor believes that you arranged it.” Helena frowned.
“Interesting. Why would he think that?” It would not be from her parents, whom she had not spoken to at any length beyond social functions. She intended to speak to them, but it would be much later, once she had finished establishing herself. “Perhaps it was Max?”
Helena colored prettily, and her face softened somehow. “It’s not from him. He already made a pledge. Besides”—she glanced toward the door even though everyone had left them and her aged servants were in the kitchen—“the solicitor mentioned Lord Leigh, though his name shall never appear on any documents. We both assumed that you had appealed to your husband.”
Shock prickled her skin. “No, I haven’t spoken to him yet about it.”
