Page 83 of Duke of Seduction

“Morgan?” Alice echoed.

“How many times are you going to say his name?” Helena laughed, looking at her friends across the table.

“I was as shocked as you two were,” Barbara said alongside Lydia and Alice. “You could have knocked me over with a feather when I found out.”

“How?!” Lydia exclaimed, obviously still having trouble processing the information.

“Oh, that is not really important,” Helena said hastily, which earned her a smirk from Barbara and Teresa. She would one day tell that story to her other two friends, but for now, they seemed to be having enough trouble accepting the identity of her new husband-to-be.

“I cannot believe Ambrose has allowed this,” Alice said in awe.

“He has been over for dinner quite a few times since he asked for Helena’s hand,” Barbara explained on Helena’s behalf — throwing her a lifeline. “It is very clear that he has true feelings for her.”

“And do you love him?” Lydia asked, her brow raised curiously.

“I do,” Helena agreed, laughing.

“Morgan?” Alice said again, and Helena shook her head as her smile began to hurt her face. She knew that her friends would have trouble accepting the news, but their surprise was becoming downright comical.

“I am so happy for you, darling,” Teresa said warmly, reaching for Helena’s hand. “This is such terrific news.”

Helena beamed at her friend and squeezed her hand in return.

“Thank you, Teresa.”

“Darling,” Alice said carefully, a light blush tinging her cheeks, “I do not mean bring up such unsavory topics, but after everything that happened with Luke, are you sure you want to do this?”

Helena fell silent for a moment as the memories of last week flooded into her mind. It was not an uncommon experience for her. It had happened to her many times, at any given moment. She could be having breakfast with Ambrose and Barbara or posing for Morgan, and the memories of Luke’s accident would overwhelm her. At night it was worse.

Even if she managed to escape them while she was drifting off to sleep, they were always waiting for her in her dreams. Except, of course, when she snuck away to sleep in Morgan’s arms.

While he remained steadfast to his idea of marital tradition, they had indeed bent some of the rules. She would still sneak out most nights to be with him. Their dynamic seemed to grow more intense every time, even when he was simply holding her and stroking her hair while she sobbed at the memories.

When she did sleep alone, she would awake many times with a racing heart, gasping for breath, and covered in sweat despite the chilly air. She would then get up, and though she knew it was silly, would check her chambers to be sure they were empty. Sometimes, when she woke up, she would feel that familiar sense of dizziness she had experienced in Ashfield and she would panic, thinking Luke had somehow poisoned her again. It was going to take a long,longtime to heal from what had happened.

Especially since the tonwanted to do nothing more than talk about the drama of it all. Which was why, as a family, they had chosen to take a cold journey to the countryside, where they would not only live out the rest of the winter in peace, but where Lydia and Ezra would have their baby.

“I want to be with Morgan,” Helena replied finally with a simple shrug. “I am going to struggle with these memories, whether it is by his side or by myself. I would rather fight those memories while I am in his arms as his wife than I would on my own.”

“Oh, dear,” Alice sighed, turning a serene expression towards her older sister. “She really is in love.”

“It seems so,” Lydia agreed, smiling warmly at Helena as she traced her fingertips over her very large, very pregnant belly. “You know, this idea of you two together is growing on me. I did not want you to leave us. None of us did.”

“That I can agree with,” Alice supplied.

“As can I,” Barbara agreed right after, clapping her hands as if to symbolize the change of subject. “Now, let us move on to the fun part. The planning of the wedding. Have you and Morgan spoken about it?”

Helena beamed, happy that their conversation had finally concluded.

“White and pink,” Helena sighed. “I want everything white and pink. With just a touch of black here and there. The church we visit when we summer here is absolutely gorgeous; white stone and peaked rooftops that look stunning and mysterious when the snow falls. And you must recall the inside. The stained glass windows and the artwork on the ceiling are absolutely precious. We will have the ceremony there, and then have the reception at Morgan’s country house.”

“And on what date will this gorgeous affair take place?” Lydia asked, then let out a small gasp as she jerked in her chair.

“The end of January,” Helena answered, her brows furrowing with worry as she watched Lydia suddenly grow pale.

The others noticed as well, and all four of them rose from their chairs to go to Lydia.

“Darling, what is it?” Alice asked, putting a hand on her sister’s shoulder.

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