Page 66 of The Lady Tempts an Heir
“Nothing.” At Helena’s imploring expression, she sighed. “After Max went off alone last night, Christian went to look for him, and he wasn’t in his room. I had thought... well, hoped... that perhaps he was with you?”
“I...”You only have to say you don’t know anything.But the words wouldn’t come. They stuck in her throat like a wad of cotton.
Violet seized on the hesitation. Her eyes went wide, and she looked around to make certain that no one could hear. “I knew it!” she whispered.
“Violet, please, it’s not as you think.” Even though it very much was, only they would not have the happily-ever-after Violet had already written for them in her head.
Violet frowned and pressed a gentle hand to Helena’s arm. “You like him, don’t you?”
“I like him very much, but there are things you don’t understand, that I cannot—” She couldn’t even say the words, and she closed her eyes.
Violet embraced her, almost moving her to tears. Why was she so emotional this morning? She was behaving in a very unseemly manner, unable to gather her dignity around her.
“I didn’t come to talk about that at any rate,” Violet said as they parted. “I came to warn you if you don’t already know.”
“Know what?” This had to be what the silent tension was all about.
“The men and August are ensconced in the library. The doors are firmly closed, and there have been loud voices.”
“Is this about Max going missing?”
“No, it’s Crenshaw business, I think.”
Relief made her shoulders sag. She’d been so caught up in what had passed between them last night that she had completely forgotten what had preceded their portion of the evening. “This is about the argument after dinner?”
Violet nodded. “I believe so.”
Helena had spent the morning dreading the talk she knew she must have with Max and not thinking of the very real hell he must be facing now. “I’m going to go inside. I won’t have Papa browbeating him.”
Her sense of pride in Max holding his ground last night, as well as her own sense of upholding what was right, held her in good stead until she stood facing the group in the library a few moments later. All the men rose when she entered, but only Max appeared happy to see her. Six pairs of eyes watched him cross over to her and take her hands.
“Good morning, Helena,” he said as if the room hadn’t been full of harsh discussion up until the moment they all saw her.
“I’ve come to make certain that Papa is treating you well.” She gave a pointed look to her father, who glared back at her.
“You have no business here, Helena,” Papa said. “This is about Crenshaw Iron and our railroad in India.”
“Good. Then I trust you are not attempting to intimidate Maxwell by threatening to withdraw your support of our marriage. Because itwouldbe my concern should you attempt to sway my betrothed.”
Papa clenched his jaw as his gaze darted between the two of them. “It would be premature to call him your betrothed when there is no betrothal contract.”
“Whether Maxwell and I have a contract is between us. It doesn’t require your signature.” One of the advantages of being a widow was that she had miraculously acquired personhood with the death of her husband. It was a benefit she was loath to give up.
“So it doesn’t.” Papa relented, and she felt a minor jolt of victory. “I expect to see it regardless. I am your father.”
“Of course,” she said, seizing on this unforeseen bargaining chip. “I will send it over the moment it has been negotiated to my satisfaction.”
Papa’s gaze darted to Max at the reminder that his actions here could make those negotiations more difficult.
“Well.” Helena gave a casual shrug. “I am glad to see that all is satisfactory. We do possess the ability to separate business and family, do we not?”
Papa hesitated, but he eventually inclined his head. “We are civilized.”
“Good.”
Max hid his grin until he tucked her hand into his arm and walked with her toward the door. Leaning his headtoward hers, he said, “Your interference is very timely. He was doing just that when you walked in.”
“I’m happy I could help.”
