277 Helga in Hiding

Things had been bad enough for beautiful young Helga Wensley when her much-loved father died some five years ago, leaving her and her mother in penury. Recently, her ailing mother too has passed away, which means her stepfather Lord Hector Preston is now her guardian. To make matters worse he promises her hand in marriage to a cruel and uncouth man called Bernard Howell – a fate she considers worse than death. As her mother suggested soon before her death, Helga goes for help to her estranged Aunt Millicent, a glamorous actress from the notorious Gaiety Theatre – and her life changes forever. Putting herself forward for a 'role' paying £1000 in which she pretends to be the fiancée of the dashing Hugo, Duke of Rocklington, Helga finds herself with the most sought-after bachelor in the whole of the Social World at his fabulous country seat. And, despite Aunt Millie's firm instructions not to fall in love, Helga is smitten and playing the part of the lovestruck fiancée requires no acting at all. But all that changes when by chance Helga meets the dreaded Bernard Howell, who pursues her brandishing his horse whip and she races home to the Duke for protection –