Helen must have realized that as well because she let a giggle slip. “You make it sound like Lord Virgil is the one you’re inviting out.”
When it registered that Virgil was of the same mind, Brian gawped at them. “Wha…?! Uh, no! That’s not what I meant!”
“No need to worry,” Virgil assured him. “I understood your intentions.”
“Thank goodness.” Brian let out a sigh of relief. “Uh, well then, if you’ll both excuse me…”
Virgil grunted at him. “Just know that you’ll have no second chances if Helen complains to me about your behavior.”
Brian nodded. “Yes. I know how to be a proper gentleman. I wouldn’t want to upset her anyway.”
“Good.” If Brian was as sincere as he sounded, then Virgil wouldn’t have to worry about him harassing Helen. Besides, he had earned Claudia’s favor, and Helen respected her mistress’s views. Brian wouldn’t have gotten this far without earning Claudia’s explicit approval time and time again.
Helen is too important to Dee for her to allow this behavior if she didn’t think Brian was good enough.
Once Brian left, Virgil turned to face Helen.
“Thank you for stepping in,” she said, bowing her head low.
“I think my intervention was unnecessary.” Considering how assertive she had been in her refusal, she clearly hadn’t needed Virgil’s protection. He was worried she might take his actions the wrong way, so he quickly added, “To be clear, I didn’t do it because I thought you were incapable. I just felt the need to protect you.”
“Of course,” she answered with a nod.
He was relieved she hadn’t misinterpreted him. Now was the perfect moment for him to address what had happened earlier.
“About earlier, I…” He hesitated. “It was thoughtless of me to touch you like that. It was my fault for causing a potential misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding…” Helen’s whole body stiffened. “I should be the one apologizing for getting so flustered.”
The way she froze was as good an indication as any that his actions had bothered her.
“I would never do it to anyone else,” Virgil added in a panic. “I reflected on what I did and realized that I don’t have my guard up when I’m with you. That isn’t to say I blame you. It’s through no fault of your own, and the issue lies entirely with me. I think I tend to relax when you’re around, and—”
“Um, Lord Virgil, you don’t want me to misunderstand, right?”
“Correct. A man shouldn’t so casually put his hands on a woman of marriageable age. I realize my mistake.”
Helen nodded slowly. “Yes, I understand that part. You are a gentleman through and through. I know that.”
What a relief. He didn’t want her thinking he went around doing that with every woman he encountered.
“Apologies for taking up your time. I wanted you to know that I don’t act like that with other women.”
“Right.”
“You’re the only woman I’ve given a present to as well,” Virgil went on. “Any other gifts I have sent to others were purely out of politeness.”
“Understood.”
“You’re the only one,” Virgil reiterated. “You’re special to me. I don’t mean to push those feelings on you, I—”
“Um, Lord Virgil, please calm down a little!”
Virgil stared at her. “I am perfectly calm.” He was so relieved to have cleared things up with her that he’d started rambling. Though now that he got a good look at her, her whole face was bright red. “Apologies! I didn’t realize you were ill! Someone, call a doctor!”
“It’s fine!” she squeaked at him. “I’ll be perfectly fine!”
“You shouldn’t push yourself! I would hate for anything to happen to you.”
“I realize how impertinent this is, Lord Virgil, but could you please close your mouth?”
“A-all right,” he stammered, uncertain.
Helen seemed to have difficulty even speaking to him at this point. He was about to march off to summon a doctor himself, but she stopped him.
“I’m really all right,” she insisted. “You’re getting ready to head out to the castle, aren’t you? Then don’t worry about me. There’s no need to delay your departure.”
Her words reminded him that he had a carriage waiting outside, but he couldn’t simply abandon Helen if she was ill. He studied her face. Her eyes were misty, and the color in her cheeks suggested a possible fever. Thank goodness Brian had already left. Virgil didn’t want him to see Helen in this state. No, he didn’t want any man to see her like this.
“I must apologize for this in advance,” said Virgil.
“Huh? Lord Virgil, what are you—”
Virgil realized he was betraying his own earlier apology, but he had to do something. His own concern for her superseded any desire for propriety. He wanted to take her somewhere private where she could rest, so he slipped his arms around her, lifted her like a bride, and carried her to an empty room.
“I’ll call Martha. You will feel more comfortable with her looking after you, I’m sure.”
“Y-yes!”
He gently set her down on a sofa, inquiring about her comfort before he left to summon Martha. While he would have preferred to summon a doctor immediately, Helen wouldn’t let him. Instead, he opted to leave the final decision to Martha. There were health issues a woman could only discuss with other women. As much as it pained him, he knew that as a man, there were some problems he could not solve. Before he left, he commanded Martha to keep him updated.
He was relieved when word later came to the castle that Helen was all right.