Chapter One

1820, Islay Manor, London, England.

Although Miss Helena was happy to be attending the ball, her heart was home. She was not entirely comfortable being away from home, given that her father was ill. But he had insisted that she attended the ball in his honour. So, she was left to attend the ball with her brother, Allan. But he also seemed to be in a terrible mood, after she was announced and he was not.

Miss Helena knew that her brother hated having to rely on her before he was granted a pass at events of this magnitude. Although he was respected amongst the ton, despite being born illegitimate, he could not be given a title, and that was why he was never announced at events.

After they had walked through the threshold and made their way down the stairs, he unhooked his hand from hers and sauntered away without glancing back. Helena sighed. She was used to his temper, but today she felt alone without him. She was not acquainted with most ladies of the ton. Although she had heard of a few, having attended so very few balls and catching in on the latest news. Her closest friend Georgina was well acquainted with quite a lot of people as she attended almost all the events arranged. Except this one. Georgina had told Helen that she would not be able to attend because she had certain things she needed to take care of. Now, Helena was left alone.

She walked towards the end of the ballroom in search of new acquaintances to make. As she made her way there, hands clasped and smile unwavering, her gaze met with brown ones. Just across the room, by the table set out for drinks, a tall gentleman stood, a glass raised to his lips and the other hand in the pocket of his breeches. For a moment Helena stalled, captivated by his gaze. She watched as he gradually lowered the cup and turned to fully gaze at her.

Blushing, Helena looked away and walked on. She hoped that no one had seen their exchange. She breathed out and walked ahead. As she walked towards the end of the room, she saw a gathering of ladies who looked about her age.

However, she was halted when she heard someone call out for her. “Excuse me, Helena.”

That was Allan’s voice.

Helena turned to see the man she had locked gazes with only minutes ago, sauntering towards her with a grin, Allan by his side. Helena stilled. She blinked rapidly. Her thoughts were frozen. Perhaps this was because of the way he smiled at her, or the way his gaze never left hers.

His hair was kept longer than usual and it fell softly against his shoulders. Helena swallowed when he stopped in front of her, his smile unwavering.

Allan approached her. He nodded to the man. “His Grace approached me as he had seen us walk in together. He wishes to have a dance with you.”

Helena never took her eyes off His Grace.

Allan cleared his throat. “I shall leave you two.”

And he did. He walked away, leaving them both.

“I saw that you were alone,” were his first words to her. “And I decided that you needed company.”

Helena creased her brows but said nothing in return. The man seemed quite older than her eighteen years of age. She wondered why he had approached her. And most of all, she was beginning to feel people stare at her for far too long. Why were they staring? Was there a problem with her dress? Or her hair? Goodness. Had she done anything inappropriate?

“Miss, did you hear me?”

“I didn’t know that you had seen me with my brother.”

“I made the necessary inquires and found that you had come with him. ”

Helena was pulled back from her racing thoughts by the man before her. He smiled at her when he saw that her focus was now to him. He bowed. “Lord Jeremy Dudley, Duke of Rothesay.”

Helena’s lips parted but no words came forth. He was Lord Rothesay? No wonder she had attracted those gazes from all around her. The Duke’s character preceded him. She had heard of him, but she had never met him.

Lord Rothesay grinned deviously. “Miss Bellingham?”

“Miss Helena Bellingham of Yorkshire,” She let out huskily. His gaze was intense, Helena concluded. She liked the way he stared at her.

Lord Rothesay grinned. Helena knew then why most ladies looked away from him. His grin was charming and he was well aware. But Helena could not help but wonder if all the things that had been said about him were true.

“Why exactly have you approached me?” Helena asked, trying to sound uninterested and unaffected by his presence.

“I figured that you were in need of my company,” he replied smugly.

Helena decided to make him feel less confident. Smiling, she looked behind her, to where the ladies were gathered. “Your company? No. I have the ladies to talk with while the ball draws to an end.”

“The ball has only just begun, Miss Helena.” His confidence had not wavered even when she indirectly told him that he was not needed.

Helena felt her cheeks growing hot. He was handsome, she must admit, and the way he stared at her made her insides grow hot. It seemed outrageous because she had only just met him. How could she be feeling so much intensity inside. And of course, she knew of him. That thought made her face him squarely.

“You are indeed right. The ball has only begun.”

“I do not think that I have seen you at any ball, have I?”

“I rarely attend balls.”

Helena had done her debut two years prior, but her mother had dies shortly after and her father had fallen ill not long from then. She never had enough time to attend balls since then.

“Then, pray tell, what you love to do?”

Helena sighed. “Considerably a lot of things, reading poetry, horseback riding, seeing a play at the theatre… At some point, I may have tried to write a few plays, you see.”

“At some point? Why then did you stop?”

Helena was not about to tell him of her mother’s passing and how greatly it had affected her. He was a stranger to her. So instead she shrugged and told him half the truth. “I began to lose interest.”

“I see… But tell me, what was it you wrote about in your plays?” he asked with genuine interest.

Helena had never had anyone ask her that. Even when her mother passed, no one cared to know why she had stopped writing her plays. Although very few people were aware of this talent of hers. This included her mother, Georgina, her closest friend, and perhaps, Allan. He did pick up her writing sometime.

“Well, I wrote about love.”  Helena had always, since she was a lass, wished to understand love better. And she thought that by writing it, it would help her. “I had wished to understand this word and what it meant. And somehow, creating imaginary characters seemed to be the best way to go about it. It seemed to me that I was learning from myself but from different perspective all at once.”

Lord Rothesay chuckled. “You are quite a witty one. I daresay I would have loved to see a few plays you have written. Must be splendid. Tell me, and did the plays help you understand better?”

Helena frowned. “No. But it did give me an insight.”

“You amaze me. You speak like one who has had a lot of experience.”

“I assure you that I have had none.”

“Perhaps it is better that way, for now.”

“Experience helps people understand everything around them better.”

Lord Rothesay seemed taken aback. “Why do you say so?”

“It puts you on the right path. When you have an experience of a situation, you do not take the same route again. You find something new. You grow.”

Helena’s eyes met with Lord Rothesay. He stared at her with a smile. Helena found herself blushing. She had always been one to speak her mind, and she was often shunned for it. Allan had once told her that it was not a lady’s place to speak all that they were thinking. But Lord Rothesay did not say that to her. He instead seemed, thrilled, and interested in more things she had to say. This made her smile.

“I had come here thinking that you needed my company, but I realize now that I am in need of yours as well.”

“I am great company. I am not surprised that you enjoy my company. Can I say the same for you?” she teased.

Lord Rothesay guffawed. He bowed and stretched out his right hand. “I propose that we share a dance, miss. Then it shall be decided whether truly, I am good company. I have heard many a time of what a splendid dancer I am.”

Helena smirked. “Are you certain that your company shall be needed after the dance? I might have to dance with another gentleman.”

“Believe me, you shan’t want to after you have had one with me.”

Helena stared at his hand. After a while, she placed hers on top. As she did this, something strange coursed through her. It was sizzling and it made her knees quiver. It brought excitement inside her and she found herself staring at Lord Rothesay intently. He stared at her in a similar way as well. She wanted to ask him if he felt what she had? If his knees quivered just as hers.

But she did not ask him. Instead, she let him walk her to the center of the ballroom, where the dance had begun. It would be foolish of her to ask such a question. He had been with so many women (at least that was what she had heard) so surely he must have had the same feeling from holding so many of them.

“You are quite a dancer.” Lord Rothesay laughed when she twirled with ease and landed in his arms.

She moved back, dancing just as she liked to, with her heart and with a passion. She could not however, get over the heat that sizzled inside her each time she drew near him. His eyes seemed to sensitize her. And the way his gaze often ran through her. Helena found herself shivering in his arms.

And as the dance came to an end, he pulled her close and whispered in her ears. “Meet me at the library.”

With those words, he let her go just as everyone began to applaud. Helena swallowed as she watched him leave. So, he had indeed felt what she had felt. And now he wanted her to meet him in private. In the library. Her heart clunked with excitement. But she thought about everything Georgina had said about him. She wondered if it was right to… go with him. He seemed a lot older, quite experienced — a smile lit her face as that realization resonated in her head. He had a lot of experience. Perhaps she could use this to her advantage. He could make her feel for the moment, so that she could know a bit of what it was like to feel strongly for a man.

Helena narrowed her eyes as she came to a conclusion. She would go. After all, she was to meet him in private. No one would know about it. Smiling, she followed suit. He was long gone now, but she did know what way he followed out.

When she walked out through the door, she walked into an empty dimly lit hallway. There were three doors, one at the very end, one by her right and one opposite it. She wondered which room was the library. Deciding to try her luck, she walked over to the first door and opened it. To her relief, it was the library.

Lord Rothesay stood by the shelf, hands crossed over his chest. Although Helena felt nervous on the inside, she did not want to show Lord Rothesay that. So instead, she shut the door and met his gaze squarely.

“You found me,” he said.

“Only by luck. There were three doors.”

Lord Rothesay moved away from the shelf and strode to her. “Then I must say that fate wanted you to find me.”

Helena sucked in her breath when he stood before her. He raised his hand and touched her face. Helena’s cheeks warmed. She closed her eyes and welcomed his touch. As she did this, she felt his breath close to her. She knew what was about to happen next. So, she leaned in and pressed her lips against his. His other hand then moved around her waist and held her close. Helena melted in his touch. She found herself yearning for more. She let him devour her with his kiss.

She had never done this before. It was the first time anyone had kissed her. She did not know what to do so she let him lead the way. It was evident that he had a lot of experience with this.

It seemed as though her body were on fire, burning in flames of passion. The kiss ignited emotions she never knew that she felt. And suddenly she wanted more. She raised her hands and touched his face, her lips not leaving his. His hands roamed her back, pulling her closer, so that her chest was pressed against his. She moaned.

Helena was not able to know what would have happened if those desires grew, because the next moment, the door opened. They were not able to jerk away fully before the person who had interrupted spoke.

“Helena?”

Helena froze at sound of that very familiar voice. She refused to turn. Her cheeks reddened and she bowed her head in detriment.

“Helena!” he called again, sternly this time.

Lord Rothesay’s arms fell to his sides and Helena turned to face her brother. He stood by the door, his eyes wide, his hands in a fist. Upon seeing her face, he shut the door behind him and walked in fully.

“Have you completely lost your mind? How can you let this man fool you?!” Allan boomed. Helena was terrified of what her brother would do. But she stood her ground.

“We should leave,” she announced.

Allan laughed humorlessly. “Leave? We shall go nowhere until this is settled.” He turned to Lord Rothesay and advanced towards him. “You bastard, you have all the ladies after you, and yet you wish to destroy the life of a young maiden such as my sister?  When you approached me for permission to dance with her, I thought that you were making a genuine gesture. And now you deceive me?”

“Be mindful of what you say to me. Nothing of sorts occurred. If we all leave here as though nothing occurred, then none of this would get out and your sister’s reputation would be saved.”

“And you believe that it shall be so easy? All the women you have bedded have no surviving reputation.”

“No one is aware of this meeting.”

“Are you certain? Because I am aware. I followed Helena out here. How certain are you that no one else was aware?”

Helena and Lord Rothesay exchanged glances. Helena’s clenched her teeth. Allan was beginning to exaggerate the entire situation.

As though trying to sooth her, Lord Rothesay said. “No one is aware of this. You came here because you were aware that we were together in the first place.”

“And you think no one was aware?”

Helena’s heart pounded. Lord Rothesay was right. “Allan.” She walked and stood before him, right before he approached Lord Rothesay who was now seating on the mahogany table, arms crossed, and gaze narrowed. He seemed quite relaxed and Helena knew that her brother was more enraged by his display. He seemed almost nonchalant.

If Allan got close enough to him, it was likely that a fight would ensue. Helena wanted to make sure that none of such happened.

“Allan.”

“Keep quiet, Helena. You’ve brought shame to our family.”

Her cheeks flushed. “I have done none of that! It is your action that is about to bring shame to us. We should leave.”

“No.” Allan gripped her wrist. His grip was firm, but it brought no harm to her. He turned until they were both facing Lord Rothesay. “We shan’t be leaving here until Lord Rothesay agrees to come ask for your hand in marriage.”

If Helena had been scared before, she was definitely terrified now, amongst other things. She was astonished and terrified. She did not expect her brother to say such a thing, but she knew that he definitely meant it.

Chapter Two

“Surely this must be some sort of joke?”

As Lord Jeremy Dudley, the Duke of Rothesay, uttered those words, he rose from the table and stared head on at Miss Helena’s brother, Allan. He had heard her call him Allan. Jeremy had been quite relaxed prior to that absurd announcement. Surely he was joking. There was certainly no way he could say such. Jeremy had not courted Miss Helena and he sure had no plans to be wed yet.

“I am afraid not.”

“You wish for me to wed a lady I share nothing in common with? Whom I’ve only just been acquainted to?”

“You should have thought of that before you decided to defile her!”

Jeremy was getting frustrated towards the sudden turn of events. When he had laid eyes on the lady, he had been quite swept off his feet. And the way she gazed at him made him more inquisitive. Finally, when he got to talk to her, he realized that there was more to her than met the eye. Of course, her brother was indeed right. She was younger and he should have thought about that before inviting her to the library, however, she was willing. And Jeremy never forced anyone to do anything they did not wish to. He was also never one to tell if something had occurred between he and any lady. The reason why such rumors spread like wildfire was because the women did not know how to keep to themselves. They went around spreading the story.

However, that was not the case now. The case he found himself in was very different. He had been caught. He groaned. He had left before Miss Helena because he felt that way they would be unseen. And she had not come immediately, had she? She had taken little time before her arrival.

Jeremy chuckled humorlessly and shook his head. There was no way he would agree to wed her. Her brother would have to leave with her. Jeremy had had enough of all the drama.

“I see that we have taken this little situation out of proportion,” Jeremy said.

Helena stood before her brother, just before he growled. Jeremy narrowed his eyes but went on. “Now no one is aware of what occurred here. And if we all agree that it be kept that way, then Miss Helena’s reputation is not at risk. I am not one to tell of my ventures, so I guarantee that no slip will come from me. If you both give your word, then this is settled.”

“Yes!” Helena said in a high-pitched tone. She seemed disturbed, just as much as he was.

“Enough of all this nonsense,” Allan said. He seemed more annoyed than before.

Jeremy stilled. Allan looked between he and Miss Helena. “If you do not make your intentions to wed my sister in seven days, I shall make sure to tell the ton that you had tried to force yourself on an innocent maiden. Let’s see whose reputation would be ruined.”

Miss Helena gasped, and so did Jeremy. That was a dreadful threat. If he did go ahead with doing such, Jeremy would never be able to show himself in public. He would lose the respect he had and his reputation would be soiled. His heart pounded as he stared at Allan in shock. How could he threaten him with such a thing?

Miss Helena on the other hand seemed distraught. “Allan stop this. If we leave now –”

Allan set his gaze on Jeremy. “You better think about this.”

Jeremy, who had been quiet for a while began to put the pieces together. This was all a plan. He had been set up and he had been foolish enough to fall for it. Never had he been in such a situation. Miss Helena had apparently given her brother the signal to follow them. Jeremy could feel himself getting angry as realization hit him hard.

“This was well plotted, was it not?” he blurted.

Miss Helena looked at him. “What?”

Even when he knew that she was being deceptive, he could not deny how beautiful her eyes were as he gazed at them. Jeremy narrowed his eyes at her. She knew fully well that she was beautiful and could get men chasing after her, seeking her hand. And that was why she had made him her prey. He had fallen into a trap that many had escaped, he was certain of that.

“You both have this planned out. To trap me and trick me into marrying you,” Jeremy said. “You do this because you wish to be wed to a rich nobleman, yes?”

Miss Helena shook her head. “What do you speak of?”

“You may be young, but certainly you are not naive. You do understand what I speak of.”

“Wha –”

Allan walked forward, pulling Miss Helena back before he spoke. “You need not argue with this man, Helena. I have said what I needed to.”

Jeremy nodded. “You indeed have.”

“I do not care what you think, Lord Rothesay. Your reputation precedes you and I shall not let my sister be another one of those ladies. So, if you care very much about your reputation, I believe you now the right thing to do.”

Unable to hold his rage, Jeremy snapped. “You listen to me. Nothing of sorts will happen. Do not think that you can walk in here and lay threats to me, believing that I shall be easily shaken.”

Allan groaned. He pushed his sister out of his way and lounged for him. Allan gripped Jeremy’s neck and held him against the wall. Jeremy was not willing to have a fight with the man. He certainly did not want to ruin the ball that his old friend, Lord Hargreaves had put together.

“You do not want to do this,” Jeremy warned.

Allan stared at him with hard eyes. Jeremy stared at him in return. He would not be intimidated by his gaze. For a brief moment, Jeremy’s gaze wandered, seeking Miss Helena. She stood by, her eyes wide with panic.

“Allan, let go of him.”

“Stay away from this, Helena! Do you think that father would be proud of the disgusting thing that you have done?”

“But no one need know about this. Lord Rothesay would never say anything.”

Allan let go of Jeremy and turned to Helena. “And you believe every word that he utters? Have you not heard of his past conquests?”

Jeremy watched as the lady swallowed while staring between him and her brother.

“I do not wish to be wed to Lord Rothesay.”

Allan groaned. He turned back to Jeremy and glared at him. “A week is all you have, Lord Rothesay. Watch and see what happens when you decide to do things your own way.”

Miss Helena wanted to speak but her brother gripped her and led her out of the library. Jeremy stared after them, his mind racing. His heart pounding. All he wondered was what sort of trouble he had gotten himself in to. He had been a fool. How could he let himself be deceived by them? He had been careless and now he was going to pay the consequence. From the look of things, the Lady and her brother would go any mile to bring is reputation down if he was unable to act on what had been requested of him.

Groaning, he pounded the top of the table and stayed there for a while. No longer feeling in the mood for festivities, he decided that it was best he left, rather than show his friend, who had invited him, that his mood had dampened. Jeremy shut the library door behind him quietly when he exited, and headed out through the garden.

When the carriage halted in his estate, he alighted and rushed inside. He needed to think of something he’d do about those two siblings who were simply after his money, he was certain.

Mr Randolf, his butler must have noticed that he was in a terrible mood, because the moment he walked in, he said. “Is everything alright, Your Grace?”

Jeremy sighed and walked past him. He should have controlled himself from her beauty, he thought. But he had been drawn to not just her beauty but her exuberance as well. Her confidence, the way she spoke and challenged him. He liked a challenge. He walked into his study and shut the door behind him. He took out a drink from beneath the mahogany table and poured himself. He took a sip of the drink and pulled his hand through his hair.

It had been so long since anyone rattled him the way those two siblings did today. He had been a fool, letting himself be used. Well, there was no way he was falling for such a trap. He was smarter than that. If Allan thought that he could trap Jeremy by such a threat, then he was not at all smart. Because it would also affect his sister. Having these thoughts made him relax. He took a seat and sucked in a breath. No one would coerce him into a marriage. He was not ready to take that step, and he was not certain that he would ever be ready. Those siblings could threaten him all they wanted, but he knew that he would never wed Miss Helena. Never.

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