Her face heated with the lie. There was probably a special place in Hell for people who lied to a man of the cloth, but she couldn’t allow anyone to link her to her past. Admitting she was searching for her sisters could create all manner of questions she didn’t want to answer, and it could interfere with her mission to bring her youngest sister into her world when she found her. Helena would see Gracie become a lady someday, with all the benefits that position would entail. Tutoring wouldn’t be the same hardship for her young sister as it had been for her. At age fifteen, Helena had had much to learn in a shorter span of time, and her education had been grueling.
Besides, Wickie had gone to a lot of trouble to create a respectable past for Helena, and she had promised no one would ever learn the truth. Some would judge him harshly for his actions. He would be seen as a lewd older man who had seduced a young girl, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Her husband had behaved honorably, and when she reached the appropriate age, he had offered marriage as a well-bred gentleman would. She never wanted anyone to think of her as that poor young girl.
The preacher scratched his head and regarded her. “Forgive me for saying so, milady, but you have most unusual eyes. I feel I have made your acquaintance in the past. Were you also a member of the parish at one time?”
“Oh, no. I’ve only recently arrived from Aberdeenshire.” His features also rang with familiarity, but she hadn’t been to London for many years, and she hadn’t attended church even longer than that. She couldn’t possibly know him. She only remembered one clergyman at St. Saviour’s, the one who had officiated her mother’s funeral service.
Mr. Cooper had been a middle-aged man with thick blond hair and a round, friendly face.
Helena’s heart jumped into her throat. “Mr. Cooper,” she whispered.
His smile widened. “We have met, haven’t we, milady? Please, refresh my memory.”
“I am afraid you are mistaken, sir.” She licked her lips, her gaze flickering toward the aisle.
“But you know my name, and yours is a hairbreadth away.” He rubbed his forehead. “Is it Mary? Margaret?”
Panic surged inside her. He was getting too close at guessing her mother’s name. Marianna. Helena had her mother’s distinctively large blue-green eyes, but she’d never thought anyone would remember her mother after all this time.
“I—I must go.” She began to back away. “I’ve recalled an appointment I cannot miss. Perhaps I can search the registry another day.”
Her elbow bumped the corner of the altar and startled her.
Mr. Cooper’s brow wrinkled in concentration. “Marian? No, that is not quite right. It is on the tip of my tongue.”
She turned and fled.
***
Sebastian grimaced at the entrance to the church. His sister, Eve, crossed her arms and returned his scowl. “Well, are you going to be a gentleman and open the door?”
“There are churches closer to home. Why did you have me carry you across town?”
“I am less likely to see anyone we know. Besides, it isn’t too far and Mr. Cooper is always in on Thursdays.”
“And you fancy Mr. Cooper?”
She burst into laughter and her face lit like a ray of sunshine. These moments had been too rare of late. His foul mood faded as he realized his sister wasn’t as broken by Benjamin Hillary’s betrayal as Sebastian had thought.
She wrinkled her nose, the light sprinkle of freckles and action reminding him of when she was a little girl. “You cannot be that eager to be rid of me, Bastian. Mr. Cooper is at least twice my age.”
“I’m not eager to be rid of you at all, even though you are most vexing at times.” He jerked the south entrance door open, smiling back at Eve when a force slammed into his chest. The impact caught him by surprise and he stumbled back a step, hugging the young woman to save her from falling.
“Oh dear,” she said. “Forgive me. I wasn’t watching where—”
Round, expressive eyes met his and her mouth dropped open. He’d grown accustomed to leaving ladies speechless, but it had been a long time since a real lady had allowed him near her. Pink infused her pale cheeks as she remained in his arms, her perfectly pleasing breasts crushed against his chest.