She shook her head and smiled at the kindhearted man across from her. He was trying to distract her, perhaps sensing her nerves. Or maybe he thought she was angry with him for taking Sebastian’s side last night. She didn’t understand what had made him champion Sebastian’s cause, but she knew he meant well.
Fergus looked at the shop windows as they passed. “I think we have arrived, lass.”
The hack began to slow and stopped in front of a brick building with a large display window filled with sausages and hams. A sign above the door read White’s Butcher Shoppe.
Fergus clambered from the carriage before assisting Helena. Men and women bustled along the walkway with determined strides. Passersby swerved around her and Fergus with naught but a curious glance here and there. A bell jangled as Fergus pushed the door open and held it for Helena. Smoked meats dangled from the ceiling by various lengths of rope by the unattended counter. Dull thwacks of a cleaver against wood came from a back room, and a rusty scent assaulted her nose. She breathed through her mouth to minimize the nauseating smell.
Helena met Fergus’s gaze and he shrugged. Approaching the counter, he peered over it to check if someone had ducked behind it and shook his head to indicate no one was there.
Helena cleared her throat. “Excuse me,” she called to the person in back.
A louder whack made her jump. “Mrs. White!” The bellow echoed in the small room and rang in Helena’s ears. “Mrs. White, we have customers.”
When no one responded, the man muttered, “Where have you gotten off to now?” He tried once more to summon the woman. “Mrs. White! Cora!”
Helena’s heart stalled as she realized the man was calling for her little sister. Grumbles floated from the back room. Wiping his bloody hands on a towel, a man who appeared to be in his early thirties entered the shop just as the front door banged against the wall. Helena spun around with a gasp. A plump young woman hustled inside with two loaves of bread cradled in her arms.
“I have returned, Mr. White,” she sang out cheerfully, swept past Helena and Fergus without really looking at either of them, and headed for a set of stairs.
The man’s face softened as his gaze followed her. “We have customers.”
Mrs. White stopped on the first step and nailed him with a scathing look. Helena had no doubts this was her sister. Although her outer appearance had changed drastically in nine years, she had retained her contemptuous countenance. It had earned her a beating from their father on more than one occasion. “My arms are full, Mr. White. Why can’t you see to the customers?”
Helena held her breath as she waited for Cora’s husband to storm across the shop and deliver a strong clout to her ear as their father had often done. Instead, Mr. White held up his red-stained hands and smiled as if indulging a child. “I need your assistance, dearest.”
Cora sighed heavily.
“We can wait,” Helena offered.
Her sister’s gaze snapped toward her and narrowed. She came back down the stairs. “I will take care of them, Mr. White. You may return to cutting meat.”
He thanked her and disappeared into the back room again. Helena’s eyes widened at how easily he was ordered about by his much younger wife.
Cora’s mouth puckered as she slowly looked her over from head to toe. “You look like Lavinia, only fancier. I thought you died. What are you doing here?”
Fergus stepped forward as if to take her in hand, but Helena held out an arm to stop him. “Show some respect for your betters,” he snapped.
“I am not her better. I am her sister.” She smiled kindly at Cora. Her sister had always been temperamental and difficult, but Helena loved her dearly. Lavinia had told her Cora was affected by Helena’s leaving, and although Cora blamed their father, she’d still been angry with Helena for not fighting to stay.
Her sister moved behind the counter and set the bread aside. “How may I help you, milady? We’ve a nice blood sausage and our smoked hams are always in demand.”
“Is there someplace we may speak in private?”
Her gaze lifted to the ceiling, then landed on Fergus. She frowned. “There are rooms abovestairs, but he is not welcome.”