Page 15 of Snowbound with the Scoundrel
“Of course, dear.Of course.”
“There is one more thing.Sir Henry told me he would be sending at least one additional agent to watch over Mr.Baxter.This person is unknown to me.Should someone approach you with a similar letter of introduction, I would appreciate it if you could point them out to me so we can coordinate.”
“I most certainly will.And I will tell Toddington to make up a bedchamber for you.Has your trunk been brought in?”
Clarissa cringed.“I fear I departed in such haste, I had to leave my trunk behind.The plan was that my associate would send it on the following day.But with the sudden turn the weather took, I worry it might not arrive for some time.”
“Don’t fret, child.You’re of a size with my Emily.Believe me, she has enough gowns for both of you.I will tell her you were separated from your luggage, and we are working to get it back.”
Clarissa felt tears pricking at the back of her eyes.The countess was being so kind.
After years of being made to feel like a pariah, despised by all good society and mocked behind her back at every turn, she had almost forgotten that there were still good people in the world.
The countess was peering at her with concern.“Is everything all right, child?”
“Yes, I—” Clarissa drew in a shaky breath, rubbing at her eye.“You’re being so tremendously kind about all of this.I appreciate it more than I can say.”
Lady Helmsley was studying her.“The world has not been overly kind to you these past few years.”
Clarissa gave a weak smile.“That is something of an understatement.”
The countess tilted her head, seeming to weigh her words.“I know that the papers printed all manner of awful things about you two years ago.But many people did not believe those articles, dear.”
“Everyone I’ve met in the intervening years seems to have believed them,” Clarissa said, unable to keep the woefulness from her voice.
“I will not ply you with false reassurances by claiming no one listened to those lies.But everyone who knows Rupert understood at once that the letter was a fabrication.I have been saying for years that those rumors were a bunch of rot.I know that Lord Helmsley has been doing the same.I can see why you might have believed yourself to be friendless.But you aren’t, and the truth is, you never were.”
Clarissa nodded tightly, suddenly having trouble forming words.
“Rupert will also be staying through the holidays,” Lady Helmsley noted.“But that will be all right, won’t it?Now that you know he didn’t write that letter, things will not be awkward between the two of you, I hope.”
Clarissa paused.The truth was, she was still struggling to untangle her confused feelings about Rupert Dupree.He insisted that he was innocent, and Lady Helmsley seemed sincere in her conviction that he was telling the truth.
But Clarissa found it difficult to sweep two years of cursing his name aside in one day.Rupert Dupree was the man who had ruined her life and the man who had most probably saved it last night when he prevented her from freezing to death.He was the village idiot, and one of the kindest, most agreeable people she had ever met.
He claimed he was innocent, and part of her wanted to believe him.But was that just a convenient excuse?
Clarissa didn’t know what to think anymore.She was confused—an uncomfortable state for someone who prided herself on being incisive.
Lady Helmsley was awaiting a response.“It is hard for me,” Clarissa finally said.“If you could only know what the last two years have been like…” Her voice cracked, and she trailed off.
Lady Helmsley leaned forward, pressing her hands.“My dear child!”
Clarissa surprised herself by saying, “The worst part was not that my own reputation had been ruined.But they dragged my sisters’ names through the mud as well.”
Lady Helmsley was stroking the back of her hands with her thumbs.“I am sure it must have been terribly distressing.”
Clarissa swallowed.“But I can admit that Mr.Dupree is not the monster I was expecting.I am… open to the possibility that he is innocent in all of this, something I could never imagine saying before today.And I promise that I will not be the cause of any unpleasantness to mar your house party.”
Lady Helmsley squeezed her hands again before sitting back.“Considering all you have been through I think that is more than reasonable.Come,” she said, rising from her seat, “I’m sure you are weary from your journey.I’ll have a footman show you to your room.”
After thanking Lady Helmsley again, Clarissa followed a footman up the stairs.She felt relieved to have made it inside the house party.
But now the real challenge—protecting Oliver Baxter from his would-be assassin—would commence.
As Clarissa shut the door to her rooms behind her, she wondered if she would prove equal to it.
The soft light of a winter afternoon streamed through the windows when Clarissa awoke several hours later.Someone had set out a wrapper and a pair of slippers for her, and she hurried to put them on.Even with a fire roaring in the grate, the room was chilled—unsurprising for December in Yorkshire.
