Page 92 of The Insufferable Duke
Maybe soon there will be a chance for another kiss.
The organ struck up again, and the couple walked down the aisle with the congregation throwing petals eagerly, wishing them well. Helena walked forward, ready to follow, when she found an arm presented at her side.
“Did you think I couldn’t walk without you?” she teased Christopher as he appeared there.
“Now, don’t tell me you do not like taking my arm, Helena, for I’d have to point out it was a fib if you said as much,” he whispered mischievously. She smiled as they followed their siblings down the aisle and out of the chapel.
In the small garden beyond the church doors, more people threw petals, so many that the pink flakes ended up in both Julia’s and Robert’s hair. The couple stayed for many minutes, talking with their well-wishers, then at Anna’s pleading, they headed toward the house, ready for the wedding breakfast.
Helena was led inside by Christopher, who seemed reluctant to release her arm at all, but soon enough, he had to take his place on Robert’s other side for the meal.
“Cannot bear to part from me?” She raised her eyebrows as he lowered her arm.
“Well, I don’t intend to part from you for long.” He walked away, glancing back in her direction.
Their constant flirtation was a thrill to her these days, so as she sat down, she repeatedly looked his way, the whole time through the joint toasts and all the pleasantries, wishing the happy couple well. As the formal breakfast ended, and people wandered around the room, Helena fell into conversation with Anna and Kitty at her side.
“They are happy indeed,” Anna said sweetly, watching as Julia and Robert walked around the room together, hand in hand. “I am delighted, I have to say.”
“I’m so glad.” Helena touched her mother’s arm, relieved by her happiness. “Kitty? What do you think?”
“I think that everything has turned out as it should be.” She sighed despite her words. “I just long for the day when Gibbs can talk of something else. Oh, don’t get me wrong, he is doing better, and he acknowledges that Julia is happy, but you should hear him sometimes.” She rolled her eyes.
A few weeks before, Anna had forgiven Kitty’s secrecy, putting it down to the loyalty of a wife to her husband. Helena still felt some resentment where her mother did not. It was a good thing, she told herself, for in the distance between her and Kitty, she’d seen her aunt’s flaws she had not noticed before, such as her propensity to gossip and repeat things she could not know to be true.
“Does he speak with resentment?” Anna asked, her hand fidgeting around her champagne glass with worry. Helena topped up her mother’s glass, knowing it would help to relax her.
“No, just fear.” Kitty looked at Helena. “He fears most of all that the Duke of Bridstone will now toy with Helena’s heart.”
“I beg your pardon?” Helena laughed at the idea. “How can he think such a thing when we are courting? It is not exactly a rushed marriage, is it?” The situations between Julia’s match and her own were remarkably different, but Kitty didn’t comment on the matter. She merely shrugged.
“They are well suited,” Anna said. Her encouragement startled Helena so much, she slipped with the champagne bottle but just managed to stop any from spilling. “I went with Helena the other day to the Duke’s house, and I spoke with the Dowager Duchess for a long time.” She smiled warmly. “She is a good woman. She looks at the world differently from how I do, but that is no bad thing.”
“I’m pleased you think so, Mother,” Helena said, taking heart in how her mother and Christopher’s were growing closer.
“She was the one who observed how informal you and the Duke are together.” Anna spoke with interest. “You are a natural pairing.”
“Thank you.” Helena smiled and sipped from her own glass.
“There is just one thing I do not understand.” Anna shook her head. “That was where all the rumors about the Duke of Bridstone came from when you are convinced, Helena, that he truly never was a rake.”
“I know he was not.” There was no doubt in her mind, not anymore. Christopher was devoted to her as she was to him. He still didn’t know things about women, and she was endeavoring to teach him, and that gap in his knowledge confirmed as much as his own word did that he lacked certain experiences. “He was no rake.”
“Ah.” Kitty stiffened in her seat.
“Aunt?” Helena looked toward her. “What does ‘ah’ mean?”
“Well, I…” Kitty wriggled. “I may have heard that the scandal sheets merely printed what they were told by an intermediary in that regard, rather than them knowing absolutely that it was true.” She hurried to gulp from her champagne.
“Aunt.” Helena put her champagne glass down heavily. “How exactly would you know that?”
“It is just what I heard.” Kitty shrugged, taking another hasty sip from her glass.
Helena exchanged a glance with her mother, who was now grimacing.
“Kitty, pray tell me you did not,” Anna pleaded.
“What?” Kitty said innocently.
