"Mary?" echoed Helena. "Did you say... Mary?"

Down in the entrance hall, Miss Thorpe flinched at the sound of Helena's voice, as though she had been physically struck. Turning slowly to gaze up at Helena, the young woman seemed to be positively cowering - which was rather an excessive reaction, even if Helena did make an imposing figure up on the landing overlooking the entrance hall.

After a lengthy silence, it became clear that Miss Thorpe was not going to speak. Helena sighed; clearly the girl was still terrified after Helena's angry outburst the last time they'd been together. Really, it had been very wrong of Helena to address Miss Thorpe and Lord Carningsby in such a manner – but, through the burning pain of her scalded legs, how else could she have been expected to react?

"Your name is Margaret, is it not?" puzzled Helena now. "Miss Margaret Thorpe."

For a moment, it appeared yet again Miss Thorpe would remain silent – but suddenly, the briefest flicker of a peculiar expression passed across her face, disappearing so quickly Helena wondered if perhaps she had imagined it.

"My name is Mary, Lady Helena," Miss Thorpe replied slowly, "as it has been since the day my parents christened me so."

Helena pursed her lips, dissatisfied. She'd been certain her guest's name was Margaret; Helena was not the sort of person to make a mistake with this sort of thing. Frustrated, she attempted to cast her mind back to any mention of Miss Thorpe's Christian name from Lord Alverton, to no avail. There was a nagging sort of feeling at the back of Helena's mind, though - one which told her Miss Thorpe was not being truthful.

"But then – why have you not corrected my father and me when we have addressed you by the wrong name?" said Helena suddenly, mortified. If Miss Thorpe was telling the truth, then Helena had been addressing her incorrectly this whole time. How embarrassing!

"I think you will find that you have only ever addressed me as Miss Thorpe," she replied.

Helena's lips had by now disappeared into a very thin line, a slight flush creeping up her neck. This would not do; Miss Thorpe was making her look dim in front of her cousin...

Her cousin!

It was only now that Helena realised, with complete horror, that she still had not greeted their guest. Hurrying instantly down the stairs without a second thought, Helena bobbed a rather flustered curtsey in greeting to Sir Edmund, simultaneously apologising profusely for the poor welcome.

"Quite the contrary, Lady Helena – for Miss Thorpe was here to welcome me most warmly," he told her, with a beaming smile for that lady.

Much to Helena's displeasure, Miss Thorpe blushed at Sir Edmund's words. Oh, yes, now Miss Thorpe chose to act like a lady, thought Helena exasperatedly. Judging by her mooning expression, Miss Thorpe was clearly quite smitten with the heir to Alverton Hall already.

"I shall go and alert Papa of your arrival," said Helena now.

"Oh, do not trouble yourself – the butler is already on his way to do so."

An awkward pause.

"Well, ah – how about we make our way up to the drawing room? I will arrange for some refreshments to be brought up."

It was not that Helena disliked Sir Edmund; with his easy, friendly nature, he was very much a likeable young man. No, it was simply that the arrival of Helena's cousin for his annual Christmas visit to Alverton Hall brought back several unpleasant memories of Christmases gone by, involving Helena and Sir Edmund forced together in a mutual attempt by both sets of parents to form an attachment between them.

Lord Alverton, in particular, had made his feelings on the matter known – it had been a deep desire of his that the earldom of Alverton should still contain Rowley blood. Now that Helena had met Lord Carningsby, however, Lord Alverton had rapidly changed his mind - taken in by the young baron's charms just as much as Helena had been. This Christmas would, Helena realised, be the first she could remember without her father pressurising her to make a good impression on her cousin.

Still, it was as important as ever to ensure that Sir Edmund had a pleasant stay at Alverton Hall – starting with the annual Christmas ball, which was to be held in his honour this coming weekend. It would be the first year since Helena had been out in society that she would not be expected to honour Sir Edmund with her hand in the opening dance – this time, her obligation would of course be to Lord Carningsby.

With a sinking heart, Helena realised that she hadn't seen Lord Carningsby since the morning Miss Thorpe had scalded her. Even more terrifying was the recollection that Lord Carningsby had clearly intended to propose that day. Would he, then, view the ball as a fresh attempt to make his addresses?

Surely not! The ballroom would be teeming with just about every esteemed person of Helena's acquaintance; surely Lord Carningsby would not dare to create such a spectacle? Imagine being proposed to in front of all those people!

Of course, the idea would not have seemed half so abhorrent to Helena if she actually wanted to marry the man...

But it was not Helena's desire to accept Lord Carningsby's proposal - because, deep down, she was still a hopelessly naïve young girl, refusing to lose faith in her firm belief that the man she loved would return home.

In Helena's mind, Christmas Day had always been the deadline. Joseph had probably only stated it as a vague estimate for his return; yet Helena had taken that date and planted it firmly in her mind. To her, everything rested upon that date. If Lord Carningsby proposed before the 25th December, Helena knew she would find it very difficult to accept – not knowing that there was still a possibility of Joseph returning home, no matter how slim that may be.

If the worst happened, though – if Joseph did not make an appearance just in time for Christmas, as Helena so desperately hoped he would – she had resolved to go ahead with the betrothal to Lord Carningsby. She could not spend the rest of her life idly waiting; she wanted to marry, and start a family. Her father, too, would be greatly relieved to see her settled, especially to a young man he liked so well.

But there was no use in thinking such things; not yet. For the time being, Helena's hopes for Joseph's return remained alive, as they would until the clock struck midnight on Christmas Day.

Between ensuring Sir Edmund was well looked after, and fending off Lord Carningsby's potential advances, it was set to be a busy couple of weeks. And on top of all that, there was still the unsolved mystery of Miss Thorpe. The bold young woman clearly thought she could deceive Helena, but she would find herself sadly mistaken. There was something Miss Thorpe was concealing from her – of that much Helena was certain by now – and Helena simply would not rest until she uncovered the truth.

Yes, it was set to be a very interesting festive period indeed.

***

Helena managed her stress over the following week the only way she knew how: by throwing herself headfirst into planning for the festive period. By the time the day of the ball dawned, Helena ensured no nook or cranny of Alverton Hall remained unadorned with holly, or ivy – and the ballroom had received special attention in preparation for the big event. As Helena stood in the centre of the dancefloor, twirling slowly as she admired her handiwork, she found her anxieties melting away as she allowed herself to enter into the Christmas spirit.

A large garland of mistletoe took centre place, suspended from the ceiling directly above her. Streams of gold paper hung along the lengths of the walls, while a more brightly-coloured streamer adorned the platform where the musicians would take their seats. To compliment the festive decoration, upon entering the dining room adjacent to the ballroom the guests would find themselves treated to an assortment of lavish Christmas food. It was set to be a truly splendid evening.

"It all looks wonderful, Lady Helena," came a voice from behind her suddenly. "You have truly outdone yourself this year."

Helena turned to face Sir Edmund with a smile.

"Thank you – nothing gives me greater pleasure than to offer our guests a magical festive experience."

"Indeed, no one can put on a Christmas ball half as well as you," commented Sir Edmund. "I am very much looking forward to this evening."

A silence fell between them, during which Sir Edmund gazed admiringly about the room once more, before turning to Helena with a sincere look in his eyes.

"I must say, Lady Helena, how much I truly admire you for your bravery in allowing your heart to choose for itself who it is you wish to be with."

Helena started, taken completely by surprise. She had expected, upon seeing Sir Edmund entering the ballroom, to be having a rather uncomfortable conversation about why she could not honour him with the first dance – but the conversation seemed to have taken rather a dramatic turn in quite another direction.

"I cannot thank you enough," continued Sir Edmund, upon realising Helena was not about to reply. "I have heard from Lord Alverton of your courtship with Baron Carningsby, and I rejoice in the happy news. For in boldly following your heart and pursuing courtship with your baron, you have also granted me the opportunity to find love.

"Ah, Lady Helena – how many times have we danced the first dance at this very ball together, secretly wishing it did not have to be so? Now that we are finally free from our parents' ancient contract, I do hope that we can be friends. In fact, I should like that very much, Lady Helena, for I shall be forever indebted to you, for setting us both free to love whomever we please."

"Sir Edmund..."

Helena was not quite sure how to reply. Sir Edmund clearly thought her his saviour; a bold, valiant young woman who was not afraid to follow her own desires. Little did Sir Edmund know that the very reason Helena had agreed to marry Lord Carningsby was that her father had decided he was a more suitable match than Sir Edmund.

Unfortunately, Helena was not the person Sir Edmund believed her to be. Far from being a strong woman who knew her own mind, she was in fact a meek young maiden, desperately doing whatever possible to make others happy at the expense of pursuing what she truly wanted. To think that Sir Edmund believed her capable of deciding her own fate!

"I would like very much to be friends, Sir Edmund," replied Helena eventually, swallowing the painful lump in her throat. "Now, if you will excuse me, I had better begin getting ready for this evening."

And with that Helena made her exit, Sir Edmund's words swirling uncomfortably around in her head.

***

Upon re-entering the ballroom several hours later, Helena found the vast room completely transformed. Almost every inch of polished wooden floor was now covered in dainty slippers and gleaming boots, as the finely-dressed guests mingled and eagerly awaited the start of the dancing. Bobbing curtseys here and there to her guests as she rustled through the throng in her pale blue satin gown, Helena beamed with pride as she noticed people gazing admiringly at the streamers and evergreens she and her staff had meticulously placed.

Suddenly Helena spotted Miss Thorpe and Sir Edmund conversing merrily together. Making her way over to her houseguests, Helena marvelled at how very well Miss Thorpe looked. Dressed in a simple white gown with a green sash at the waist exactly matching her eyes, the young girl appeared to have a rosy glow to her usually pale complexion. Perhaps it was something about the spirit of Christmas, but Helena found herself smiling at Miss Thorpe's wild gesticulations as she spoke, rather than becoming sniffy and disapproving as she normally would.

The smile was soon wiped from Helena's face, however. Before she could reach Miss Thorpe and Sir Edmund, she found herself face to face with Lord Carningsby, looking very much the proper gentleman in his fashionably-cut navy tailcoat.

"My dear Lady Helena, it is such a relief to see you well again," he greeted her, pressing a rather enthusiastic kiss upon her gloved hand. "I have been so terribly worried about you after that nasty accident."

Helena coloured slightly, remembering how she had snapped at Lord Carningsby before begging Dorothy to send him away.

"I thank you for your concern," she replied lamely, cringing slightly at her rather pathetic response. This was, after all, the man she would likely be married to for the rest of her life.

But not if Joseph appeared...

No, Helena had not yet given up on the possibility that Joseph might put in an appearance at the ball this evening. Foolish though it might be to rest her hopes on such a remote chance, Helena could not stop thinking how just like Joseph it would be to announce his return in such a perfect way. Having thoroughly scoured each corner of the ballroom by now, however, Helena had caught no sight of his familiar face amongst the finely dressed young gentlemen in the room. Then again, there was no sign of Joseph's brother and sister-in-law, either – perhaps the family were simply delayed.

"I believe the dancing is about to commence," commented Lord Carningsby, bringing Helena firmly back to reality as he gestured up to the platform where the musicians were assembling.

"Would you do me the honour of partnering me for the first two dances, Lady Helena? It is only right that the hostess open the ball with the most eligible young bachelor in attendance."

Stomach churning at Lord Carningsby's roguish grin, Helena struggled to hide her expression of disgust as she reluctantly took the offered hand of her 'beau'. Reminding herself firmly of the obligation she owed Lord Carningsby as her suitor, Helena allowed herself to be steered towards the head of a set, closely followed by Sir Edmund and Miss Thorpe, the latter of whom looked almost as uncomfortable as Helena felt.

Once the musicians struck their first chord, Helena's frustrations melted away as she focused on remembering the steps drilled into her by years of dancing lessons from her youth. Though perhaps not the most elegant of dancers, Helena prided herself on her ability to perform each step neatly and correctly – and to his credit, Lord Carningsby made an agreeable partner.

Were she not so wrapped up in what her own feet were doing, Helena might have noticed that Miss Thorpe behind her was in fact experiencing a great deal of difficulty. Managing to stumble over both her own toes and those of Sir Edmund as she blundered helplessly about the dancefloor, Miss Thorpe looked most out of place, clearly unable to remember a single step. The embarrassing sight had captured the attention of several guests lining the walls, many of whom had begun to openly stare and mutter amongst themselves – but Helena remained blissfully ignorant throughout the dance.

By the time the first two dances came to an end, Helena was hoping she might be asked by another young gentleman to dance the next two – but unfortunately, it seemed Lord Carningsby had other ideas. One glance at the intense, almost hungry expression on the baron's face as he swept her off the dancefloor filled Helena's stomach with dread.

"Now that our obligations have been performed, I think it is about time we had a very important conversation."

If Lord Carningsby had been attempting to appear alluring, he was sadly mistaken; Helena found the colour draining from her face as she repressed a cringe of revulsion.

"Shall we find somewhere a little quieter?" he suggested.

Desperately Helena glanced about the room, searching in vain for someone to rescue her from the inevitable. She had known all along that Lord Carningsby might decide to propose at the ball; here was her very worst nightmare becoming reality, with no chance of escape. Sir Edmund, it seemed, was otherwise engaged, while Miss Thorpe was nowhere to be seen - and her father, who had not the energy for balls these days, was tucked away in bed, unaware that his daughter was about to fulfil his dearest wish.

There was nothing left for Helena to do but accept her fate, like the meek, people-pleasing woman without a mind of her own she always had been, and always would be.

"Yes – let us take our leave," replied Helena, truly feeling as though her heart were on the verge of breaking.

But they were not to make their exit – for Helena and Lord Carningsby had not taken two steps towards the doorway when all of a sudden a sudden yelp rang out across the ballroom, followed by a dull, heavy thud.

And then everything went quiet.

----------

A/N: Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you enjoyed this little bit of festive cheer, especially if, like me, you were back to work today and feeling the January blues!

There doesn't seem to be much festive cheer for poor Helena, though :( Will she finally have to face up to Lord Carningsby's proposal, or do you think she might be saved by whatever commotion has just taken place? Let me know what you think, and please vote if you enjoyed :)