Page 58 of The Insufferable Duke
Julia’s face saddened instantly, but Lord Robert nodded, knowingly.
“Perhaps you are right. We have pushed our luck tonight as it is.” He turned to face Julia. “In a few days’ time, we will not have to say goodbye again.”
“I cannot wait,” Julia said sweetly.
As Lord Robert lifted Julia’s hand to his lips and kissed the back, Helena’s gaze flicked away. She sought out the Duke of Bridstone who still hovered by the garden door, staring at her. She wondered briefly what it would be like to go home with the Duke to a house they shared together, where they would not have to say goodbye to one another. When her heart thudded harder in her chest, she reached for Julia’s hand.
“We really have to go.”
“Goodbye, Robert,” Julia whispered to her love then she let Helena drag her away at last.
* * *
“Goodness, what a night!” Julia danced around Helena’s bedchamber as she said the words, wearing her nightgown with a shawl draped across her shoulders. “Robert and I were inseparable throughout.” She giggled with delight then turned to face Helena, dropping her hands to the foot of the bed.
Helena looked up from a book she had been attempting to read in the candlelight, propped up against the pillows, though in truth she had barely read a single word properly. Each time she endeavored to do so her thoughts wandered to those minutes shared with the Duke in the garden that evening.
And that kiss…
“I am so grateful to you, Helena,” Julia said with a giggle.
“Me? Whatever for?”
“You persuaded our parents to allow me to go tonight, and oh, it was so worth it.” She stood straight again and flicked the shawl off her shoulders, holding it between her hands as if it was a dance partner, and she swayed around the room again. Helena laughed indulgently at her sister’s happiness.
“You are elated. It is quite wonderful to see,” she observed and closed up her book. “At least tonight gave you and your betrothed time to enjoy one another’s company again without the families hovering at your shoulders.”
“We were so worried at one point.” Julia continued to dance though she looked past her shawl at Helena. “We thought you and the Duke had had an argument, and that was what had driven you outside.”
“Not an argument as such.” Helena chewed her lip, determined not to say anything of what had passed. Fearful of being a hypocrite, she knew if she revealed the kiss that Julia would point out she should now marry the Duke, just as Julia was marrying his brother.
Marry the Duke of Bridstone?
The mere thought made Helena’s mouth dry. She dropped the book onto her bedside table and picked up her glass, taking great gulps of water in an effort to quench that thirst.
He would not marry me. I am a Carter, and he is a Moore. Our siblings may be crossing that boundary, but he never would. Besides… it would mean being a part of that family.
“He is not so bad when you get to know him, is he?” Julia said and wrapped herself up in the shawl. “I have to say how shocked I have been this last year, to learn so much more about the Moores from Robert’s own lips.”
“What do you mean?” Helena asked with intrigue, adjusting her candle on the table so that it basked Julia in more of an orange-tinged light.
“Well, everything changed the night of my debut.” She stopped dancing and looped her arm around one of the bed posts, coming to face Helena. “He saved me from that rather persistent gentleman.” She shuddered, just at the memory. “Walked in as my savior, a knight in shining armor!”
“You romanticize things too much.” Helena put down her cup and picked up the book again.
“This from my sister who is reading a romance book.”
Helena hastily shut the cover.
“The point is, he helped me.” Julia smiled instantly. “I knew no cruel man would have bothered to do such a thing, but Robert did. Since then, so much more that the Moores have done has made perfect sense.”
“Such as what?” Helena abruptly sat forward off the pillows, eager to hear what Julia knew.
Was it possible that as well as Helena believing the lies of the Duke’s rakish ways, she had believed other falsehoods too?
“Well, for instance, the old story about what separated our families, years ago.” Julia came to sit beside Helena on the bed. “We have always been told that our great-grandfather was betrayed by his best friend, the Duke of Bridstone at the time, the current Duke’s great-grandfather.”
“I know the tale.” Helena rolled her eyes. “We have heard it often enough. The lady in question was courting our great-grandfather then was caught in the Duke of Bridstone’s arms. She was forced to marry him, and a duel took place between the gentlemen. Both of them drew blood.”
