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Perhaps the article in the paper had sobered him and forced him on a righteous path. Perhaps Helen should have asked him about it. Perhaps she would… next time.

“I had to leave,” she said slowly. “I don’t spend much time out of the house.”

“I noticed.”

Helen raised a brow, her cheeks flushing hot again. He’d noticed her? She took another sip. “I get easily tired. Drinking helps,” she said and raised a glass.

“Hmm…” The deep rumble of his voice made Helen shiver pleasantly. “Perhaps you just need a proper escort.”

She didn’t say that she’d had a proper escort once. Her husband had always been by her side. She slid the thoughts away and produced what she hoped was a charming smile. “Perhaps. I meant to ask you. When you came to visit me today, you probably didn’t have in mind a trip to a women’s shelter.”

He chuckled. “No, I was thinking of a more romantic location.”

Oh. Helen’s body flushed hot.

“Perhaps we can try tomorrow?”

Helen licked her suddenly dry lips.

She did want to experience romance, passion, did she not? She’d even gone so far as visiting a brothel. Now, here stood a handsome man, with glinting eyes and a wicked smile, asking to court her. Or perhaps for a liaison. It was as if the universe was answering her prayers.

Her pulse drummed against her neck as she answered, “I would love that.”

She hoped Greyson would forgive her.

Chapter 9

“Ma’am?”

Helen raised her head from the wooden puzzle that Laney was adamant about solving by herself without Helen’s help.

Helen’s lady’s maid stood on the threshold, twisting her apron. “You said to come to get you at three o’clock.”

Helen swallowed. “Ah, yes. Thank you. Will you please prepare a riding habit for me?”

“Are you going out, ma’am?” The maid’s eyes lit with excitement. “A fine day to do so, too.”

Helen glanced out the window at the clear sky and grimaced. “Perhaps I will require a wide-brimmed bonnet today then.”

“Of course, ma’am.” The maid performed a curtsy and rushed away.

“Done!” Laney exclaimed and tipped her chin up as she always did when she finished a puzzle or any other task that required praise. Her curls bounced around her chubby face, her golden locks glinting merrily in the streaming sun.

Helen chuckled and clapped her hands. “Well done, little one! How about one more time before I leave, huh?”

Helen reorganized the wooden pieces, and Laney eagerly started putting them back together with an adorable frown on her face.

Lavinia’s stepmother, Matilda, had gifted this puzzle to Laney last Christmas for future use. Her husband, Henry, was a toy maker, so Lavinia’s friends all got a few toys and puzzles for every holiday. Matilda was certain that a child would not be able to put this puzzle together until they were at least three. And yet, here Laney was, collecting the nine-piece puzzle and looking quite smug doing it, too.

“Over here—” Helen reached out to correct her, but little Laney pushed her hand away.

“No! Me!” She quickly undid the puzzle piece and put it in the right space. Her signature smug expression followed.

“Well done!” Helen praised with a chuckle.

The nursemaid stood from the corner where she’d been sitting while Helen played with Laney and approached them. “Time to eat, Miss Laney.”

Laney concentrated on the puzzle, her little hands piecing them together. “No!”