On the other hand, I've never really understood why she bothered to scrape together the money needed to pay off the blacksmith who was assaulted by Roylott. I'm pretty sure that, if it had been me, I would have let the doctor stew in his own juices, and hoped that the blacksmith would press charges. Having the old goat investigated and perhaps locked up- even temporarily- would have been a welcome respite from his violent ways. I suppose the most logical assumption is that she didn't want a family scandal before her wedding.
Speaking of Helen's fiance, we are never introduced to him, but I'm not inclined to think very highly of him. What the dickens was he doing, leaving her in a situation like that? We know that Helen confided her fears to him, but instead of taking it seriously, he thinks that she is exaggerating and imagining things. I must say, his response- or lack of one- demonstrates a decided lack of spirit or sense. His fiancee has told him that she is afraid for her life; her stepfather has an ungovernable temper who has violently assaulted a number of people in the community, and is known to have killed a man on at least one occasion. Roylott's other stepdaughter has died in a highly questionable way, right before she was to marry and gain her inheritance. And now Helen informs her intended that the same things which bothered Julia right before her death are occurring again. It doesn't take much of a leap to conclude that the doctor might very well be up to something nefarious. Even if it was only a remote possibility, wouldn't you still act- perhaps take her to her aunts' house for safety, or even just to give her peace of mind. It's very telling that when Helen flees Stoke Moran, she doesn't go to her fiance, she goes to Holmes. Obviously, she knows where she can expect to get actual help.