Were the circumstances slightly different, Helena might have baited her parents that little bit further and forced their hand.
Tomorrow evening, her father and mother are hosting a Seasonal Ball at their estate. It was the first time they had done so in years, and it needed to go well. More than that, it needed to beperfect.
Helena had no desire whatsoever to attend. She was not a fan of balls, finding them pedantic and fake and representative of everything she disliked about the ton.
Her parents’ threat to ban her from the evening should have been music to her ears, the very reason why she acted the way she did. Alas, in this singular instance, things were not that simple.
It was a damn rare situation, one that Helena doubted would ever happen again. But for the first time ever, she wanted to attend the ball that her parents were hosting.
No. Shehadto.
And so it was that she was forced to do something that she rarely did: she apologized.
I just hope they believe it because such things are surely as rare as pigs sprouting wings and learning to fly.
“Mother, Father.” She looked between them, sincerity dripping from her voice in ways that would make even the most accomplished thespian jealous. “I am sorry.”
Her father balked, leaning back as if struck.
Her mother sighed with relief, seemingly thrilled that this most unfortunate situation was reaching its end.
“I admit that my actions today were not…” Helena bowed her head. “I am ashamed by them and wish I had not done as I did. Truly, I was not thinking. Were I able to do so, I would take them back. Please know that I never meant to embarrass either of you. Or myself, for that matter.”
“Oh, Helena, you did not embarrass us.” Her mother put an arm around her. “We just wish you would try harder sometimes. To think before acting.”
“And I will,” Helena assured them both, still lathered in sincerity. “Starting tomorrow evening, I will…” She had to work hard to hold back her disgust, which threatened to take over her visage. “I will endeavor to be more like my sister.”
Her mother bought the apology without question, her arm tightening around her shoulders.
Her father narrowed his eyes at her because he knew her well enough to know that she had to be leading them on. “I hope foryour sake that you are telling the truth, Helena. I would hate to think you are just saying what you think we need to hear.”
“I am, Father,” she said. “I promise.”
In hindsight, even Helena was willing to admit that she had made a fool of herself today.
Not something she would ordinarily care about, but considering how desperate she was to attend the ball tomorrow evening while not being watched closely by her parents as if she might humiliate them, she really should have controlled her impulses a little better.
The benefit of hindsight, I suppose. If only there were a way for hindsight to exist before something happened… it might save us all the headache.
As to what she had done exactly…
Truly, it wasn’t nearly as big a deal as her parents were making it out to be. At least not as far as she was concerned.
She attended a luncheon with her mother and father, had a few too many drinks out of boredom, and then found herself arguing loudly with the host… in front of everyone.
Such a silly argument, too, about the aspirations of women in society. This particular lord seemed to think that a woman’s role was to marry and breed, and Helena thought differently. Whichshe was happy to tell him,loudly, as her parents watched on with embarrassment.
It was not the first time Helena had embarrassed her parents in this way. Nor the second. Nor the third. It had become common, a natural consequence of her bold personality and rather controversial views.
Needless to say, her parents were reaching their limit. And while Helena would not usually care…
Again, that she was allowed to attend the ball tomorrow evening was paramount to everything she had been working toward for as long as she could remember.
“We are so glad to hear you say it.” Her mother rose and walked to join her father. She took his hand and raised an eyebrow at him in warning. “Aren’t we, dear?”
“Yes…” Her father continued to eye her skeptically. “Tomorrow evening, Helena. If you put one foot out of place…”
“Both my feet will remain firmly in place,” Helena assured them. “You have my word.” And then, a smile of apology, to seal the deal and see an end to this conversation.
