Page 13 of Seduced by an Irresistible Lady

“I know that. So tell me, what is it?”

“I got robbed.”

Helena had to consciously drag her lower jaw back up.

“When did this happen? And how is it affecting your health? Did you get beaten or injured?”

“Do you remember when I travelled to London two weeks ago? I said I went to meet the Duke of Wellington. Well, that was just half of the trip. The other half involved me taking all the funds of the barony, our saved money, and all the taxes and levies for the last six months in a box in my coach. No one was meant to know of this, only I and the driver, Mr Booth.”

“Well, what happened?” Helena asked.

“We were just outside Strabolgi, in the field on the outskirts when a group of about five riders stopped our carriage. Mr Booth was dragged off his seat and thoroughly beaten before the door of the coach was forced open and the box carried away. I had a gun, but all of them had guns. Even if I was quick enough to kill two, the rest of them would have gunned me down like game on the plains.”

Helena covered her mouth with her right hand. She looked to the Duchess, but her mother had her eyes down.

“So now the barony is broke. That is not a secret that can be hidden for long,” Helena said.

“Hence my worry,” her father said.

“I made Mr Booth promise not to speak of it. I had hired a new tiger a week before. I made him promise not to speak of it too, but I don’t trust him. I suspect he came to know about the money somehow and invited the thieves,” he continued.

“You cannot afford the news getting out because the King will surely use it as an excuse to trigger your removal. Is that why you worry yourself till your body breaks down?” Helena asked.

“Isn’t it worth being worried over?” her father replied.

His fingers moved through his hair, tangling the already scattered pattern. Worry returned to his eyes. Suddenly he looked haunted.

“Do you not know anyone you could get the money from? If just to borrow,” Helena asked.

“There’s no one I trust so much that has so much money. I would have gone to my friend, Mr Pardew, but he isn’t so wealthy. This is just a frigging mess. Barony officials will need to be paid, Helena. The barony is without funds, and only I can be held responsible.”

Helena didn’t know what to say. Her father was right on every count. This was not news that they could afford to let out, but even then, the clock was ticking. Sooner rather than later, it’d get out.

“So what is the plan, Father?” Helena asked.

“I don’t know, Helena. That fact takes away my sleep every night,” her father replied.

“Except last night,” said Helena.

“The young doctor gave me a concoction to use. It turned out to be pretty effective,” the Baron said.

Dr Frederick with the piercing eyes.

Helena placed her head between her hands. She was thinking of ways through which to get her father out of the mess he was in, but nothing came to mind. Helena walked to the other door in her father’s bedroom. He had a private connecting door to the balcony. She opened the door to the balcony and stared out to the picturesque view of Strabolgi just waking up. There were two carriages on the road in front of their house. The first one was in a hurry and overtook the other at an awkward turn. She could hear apologies screamed out by the erring driver.

Everything would change if this got out. She tried to imagine her life outside being a Baron’s daughter. The challenge was tempting, a totally new view of the world, a totally new class. But she doubted if even with her rotund knowledge of the world, that she was properly equipped to face that new life.

What about the shame of being ejected?

Helena thought about her sisters and her young brothers schooling at Portsmouth. She doubted her parents would have the funds or clout to keep her brother there if they were removed. And her father was worried sick now that the King hadn’t gotten to know, what would happen when he did?

“Where is Mr Booth now?” Helena asked her father without looking back.

“I should see him today. He promised to visit.”

Helena turned back to face him.

“And the tiger?”