Page 36 of The Duke's Promise to Her Child
“I would not expend too much energy on the venture. Some people may appear perfectly pleasant on the outside, but the baggage they carry can be very heavy indeed.”
He took a step closer and bent down slightly. “I think I know what baggage you are referring to.”
She raised her head, and the wrinkles in her neck smoothed somewhat. She looked up at him. “Do you?”
“I believe so. I take it you are not speaking of her child or her status as a widow.”
“Indeed I am not. And I am surprised you are aware of the — circumstances.”
“I am very aware of the circumstances. It is partly why I am involved. Do not fret. I know perfectly well what I am doing.”
“Well, I hope so,” she said. “For both your sakes. If you truly believe you can find her an eligible husband, I would urge you to do it quickly. And when you find one — do not bother with the banns. Get a special license and settle the matter without delay.”
This gave him pause. Marrying by special license was generally frowned upon — it was what couples did when they found themselves in circumstances that required haste. Generally the banns were read for three weeks and a date was set shortly thereafter.
“I do not think I fully understand your meaning,” he said.
“I think that you do,” she repeated. “You can read between the lines, can you not, Your Grace?” With that she departed, and Gideon stood there, his stomach feeling as though an avalanche of rocks had settled in its pit.
* * *
Helena switched partners once more and found herself dancing with Gideon’s friend James. He was a serious fellow, but there was a sparkle in his eyes that suggested he could be quite entertaining when he chose to be. Thus far he had proved a pleasant conversationalist, though he appeared primarily occupied with talking about his wife.
By the end of the first figure Helena felt as though she knew everything about her.
“I am pleased that Frances has made such firm friends with her cousins,” James said. “But sometimes I miss her. When we are in town she is with them more often than not, always coming up with some scheme to improve the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves.”
“Is that not a virtue?” Helena said. “My husband always said the Langley sisters were the thorn in the sides of the highborn, because they sought to make things more equal for those who had not had the good fortune to be born with a silver spoon in their mouths. I always thought that spoke very well of them.”
James raised his eyebrows. “Is that so? Not many among the aristocracy feel that way about my wife and her friends — or about myself and their husbands. But it does not bother me.”
“I am glad it does not. Someone must stand up for those not fortunate enough to have a title in front of their name.”
“Indeed,” he said.
Just then another couple danced slightly too close and the woman bumped into Helena. She was all-a-mort for just a moment — struck quite still — before she turned to the woman. “I beg your pardon,” she said.
“You do not belong,” the woman said, and danced away. She was tall and pale-skinned, with black hair piled on top of her head and a ruby necklace that sparkled at her throat.
“What did she say?” James asked.
“I do not know,” Helena said, swallowing hard. But of course she had heard her perfectly well.You do not belong here.
“Do you think they overheard our conversation?”
“I should think so. They were right beside us. Everyone can hear everyone at Almack’s if they care enough to listen — and everyone cares enough to listen, I always say. It makes getting the on dit considerably easier than actually finding a partner.”
“Yes,” she said, and swallowed again. Her eyes found the woman — she was not far distant — and suddenly it seemed as though everyone was staring at her. But were they? Perhaps it was only in her mind. Surely she was imagining it. And yet the unease settled in her stomach and would not shift. They finished their dance and she curtsied quickly to her partner, then found Clara.
Clara grabbed her by the arm. “Something is amiss,” she said. “People are staring.”
“I noticed. I thought I was imagining it.”
“You were not. And I do not know why. It seemed to happen almost out of nowhere.”
“That lady with the black hair — she danced past me and said that I did not belong. At first I was not certain I had heard her correctly. Now I am.” She took a slow breath. “Do you think — do you think that they know? That it has come out?”
“I do not think so,” Clara replied, though her tone gave away that she was not at all certain. “How could they? Everyone who knew is gone. Your father. Your mother. Mary would never have said a word, and you know I would not.”
