Memoirs of Lady Montrose by Virginnia DeParte

Chapter One
     
     
     
    “Good evening, Mrs Brown,” someone murmured behind her. 
    Helen’s stomach lurched. Her heart leapt and pounded at speed. Fear fizzed down her spine and twisted in her throat. Only a small group of people knew her as Mrs Brown and those people would not mix with, or be known to the present company. The cream of London’s society eddied around her, dressed to impress for their night at the Albert Hall—the interval afforded an opportunity to be seen and husbands attended with no interest in the musical recitals of Mozart and Chopin, let alone Beethoven’s Pastoral pieces.
    She turned around, her gaze searching the moving crowd. Three men walked away through the theatre patrons, one younger than the others. From the rear, he looked well built, with wide shoulders, dressed in formal attire and walking with a slight swagger. The voice she’d heard had sounded young. Could it be him? Even if she could see his face she wouldn’t recognise him. When in the persona of ‘Mrs Brown’, she always requested a blindfold. If she had enjoyed his company, she wouldn’t know.
    “Helen.” Charlotte touched her arm to attract her attention and she turned back to concentrate on the moment and get her nerves under control.
    “Sorry, Lottie, sorry.”
    “Lady Helen, may I introduce the Honourable Stuart Whitmore, Member of Parliament for Minderhurst.” Charlotte indicated the gentleman who’d arrived while her gaze had been fixed elsewhere. “Mr Stuart Whitmore, may I introduce you to Lady Helen Montrose.”
    “I’m sorry, I can’t talk at the moment. Excuse me.” She inclined her head towards the fawning Member of Parliament and gave Charlotte a quick smile. “I must go, Charlotte. I’m worried about Henry. He was a little poorly when I left this evening.”
    “But the programme is only halfway through.”
    “I must go, Lottie. I’ve a feeling something is terribly wrong.”
    “I’ll walk with you.”
    They abandoned Mr Whitmore MP in the crowd. He would no doubt turn and inveigle his way into another group. More important things weighed on Helen’s mind than the ladder-climbing hopes of a back bencher. Lottie accompanied her through the throng that filled the foyer. The combined conversations hummed like a nest of wasps. They nodded politely to those who moved forward, hurrying past until they reached the entrance to wait for an available taxi.
    “Helen, you’re quite pale. Are you ill?”
    Charlotte had known her for many years but this was one secret Lady Helen could not share, even with her best friend. The nausea held its place, churning her insides and she couldn’t explain her pallor to Charlotte, no matter how desperate her need to spread the burden. Only to Henry could she talk. “Are you sure it isn’t you who is feeling unwell?”
    “I’m fine, Charlotte, just tired. I’ll be happy to get home.”
    The driver waited, holding the door open.
    “Thank you for your company this evening.” Helen gave Charlotte a quick kiss on her soft powdered cheek then climbed into the back of the black taxicab. Her heartbeat had slowed since the man had called her Mrs Brown, but the lump in her throat still hurt. The sour taste of distress filled her mouth and her breath came in fast gasps as if she were panting. She leant back against the upholstery and inhaled several deep, slow breaths in an effort to calm her apprehension. Thank God Henry would still be awake when she got home. She needed his wise counsel, his old frail arms around her, his liver-spotted hands stroking her hair.
    She pushed notes into the driver’s hand then opened the taxi’s door. Her relief to be home made her ignore the cabbie’s call about her change. In her haste to reach Henry’s side, she slammed their front door, the heavy oak connecting with a thud, then ran up the staircase to their bedroom.
    Friends of Henry’s considered her a ‘decoration on Henry’s arm’ and said as much behind her back, not