Page 49 of A Wicked Business

“I’m afraid I am,” Belinda said, noticing Lady Helena's delighted eyes and feeling, for once, that this might not be seen as such a crime.

“Nothing to be afraid of. Not in this house. I can’t be doing with a meek little say-nothing mouse. That would do Felix here no good at all. He needs a woman who can stand up to him and tell him when he’s being an idiot.”

“Oh, she’ll do that, I promise, Mama,” Felix said dryly. “She’s already put in a fair bit of practice.”

“Excellent!” Helena clapped her hands together and hurried to the bell pull. “Never mind the tea, this calls for champagne.”

Once this had been ordered and all of them supplied with sparkling glasses of wine and a delicious selection of pastries, both savoury and sweet, the three of them toasted to Felix and Belinda’s futures.

“Now, then,” Helena said, popping a sweet tart into her mouth and chewing thoughtfully. “We shall need to be careful how we handle your father, my dear.”

“Do you think you can handle him?” Felix asked with some trepidation.

His mother sent him a scathing look. “When have I ever not done so?” she asked scornfully, before giving Belinda a reassuring smile. “Don’t look so frightened, my dear. Gabe is all bark and no bite, and it isn’t you in the least he will object to, not really. But your papa—” She sighed and shook her head.

“Believe me, Lady Helena, you do not need to explain to me,” Belinda said quietly. “My father’s opinions are not my own, and I can only condemn the things he has said and done and beg your forgiveness on his behalf.”

Lady Helena waved this away. “His forgiveness is not for you to ask for, nor his opinions for you to pay for, and do call me Helena, Belinda dear, or do you prefer Belle?”

“Belle would be perfect, if you do not mind it?”

“Belle it is,” Helena replied, before remarking. “However, call me Helle at your peril.”

She then went off into peals of laughter over her own witticism. Felix rolled his eyes, but Belinda found herself utterly charmed and vastly relieved to discover his mama so easy to like.

“So, what do you think is the best approach to take with Father?” Felix asked, looking a little pale.

Belinda hoped he was not already regretting their betrothal.

“Oh, a direct one, I should think. He cannot abide secrecy and, if he thinks I’m trying to manage him, he’ll get cross. Of course, I manage him constantly, but he doesn’t mind, so long as it isn’t too obvious,” Helena said, helping herself to another pastry and encouraging Belinda to do the same.

“The thing is, Mama, we need to keep it a secret for the time being. At least until we are married and Keston can’t stick his oar in. Ashburton is helping us. He’s going to pretend to be engaged to Belinda until the deed is done, to give us a bit of breathing space.”

“Oh dear,” Helena said with a sigh. “I might have known it would be complicated. I suppose that means I can’t arrange a beautiful wedding?”

“Not unless you can do it without telling anyone,” Felix replied with a shrug.

“Guests tend to need to know they are invited dear, but I take your point. Nevermind, I shall view it as a challenge,” the imperturbable lady said with a smile and then her expression faltered. “Lud. That sounded like the front door. I didn’t expect your father home for hours yet. Isn’t that just like the contrary devil to take me by surprise on such a day!” she exclaimed, jumping to her feet and running from the room.

Belinda clutched at Felix’s hand, suddenly feeling rather ill. “Felix,” she said, hoping for reassurance, but Felix looked a little green too.

He held onto her hand, though, giving it a bracing squeeze as he got to his feet. “Stand up to him, Belinda, my love. I know you can. He’s really not such a dragon. He just bellows a lot, and he’ll admire you for it, I promise.”

They heard footsteps approaching the door and Belinda held her breath as snatches of conversation reached them.

“Well, that’s so sweet of you, darling, and the flowers are gorgeous. Thank you. But we cannot take a little, er… lie down just at present, for we have guests. No, I didn’t expect them either... No, we can’t get rid of them. Oh, Gabe… stop…. No, stop that, I mean it. We must greet them, for I have the most delightful news.”

Helena rushed back into the room, a little flustered, with her hair somewhat disarranged, and her husband stalked into the room after her, looking impatient to get rid of whoever had come to disturb his peace.

“What news?” he asked gruffly, and then his eyes settled on Felix and Belinda. He frowned, noticing their clasped hands. “Devil take it,” he muttered, glaring at Felix.

“Sir, I beg you will hear me out before you say another word,” Felix said, his voice firm.

“What’s there to say?” his father demanded. “I suppose you’ve proposed, and she’s accepted. Well, what do you want me to do about it? You’re a man grown and you must make your bed, but if that bas—”

“Gabe! Ladies present,” Helena scolded him.

Gabriel Knight checked himself with obvious effort. “If that devil causes me even more trouble because you’ve wed his daughter, I’ll wring your blasted neck! Do you know he’s the only man left blackballing us from joining Whites? The only bloody one!” he said in obvious frustration. “I’ve been trying to gain entry for decades and Keston alone is keeping me, and now you, out. I could murder him.”