Page 35 of The Insufferable Duke
“Coming.” Helena took the carnation with her, unable to put it down as she followed her sister and aunt around the florist’s shop.
“Any other words of advice, aunt? For marriage,” Julia pleaded, evidently wishing to learn.
“Oh, I could tell you much that I had learned over the years,” Kitty chuckled and picked up some more flowers, holding up lilies for Julia to admire. “Here is a key one that it took me far too long to learn, but I am glad I eventually did.”
Julia took the lily and inhaled the scent.
“Don’t hold onto past grievances,” Kitty said softly to Julia. “Old arguments can be forgotten as easily as a last breath. You just have to learn to let them go and not sour the future.”
Helena fidgeted restlessly with the carnation, uncertain what to think or feel as her mind raced. She thought Kitty’s advice could be applied to both families, to make them forget the rift that had caused their grievances. Equally, she felt guilty for laying such grievances at the Duke of Bridstone’s door. Maybe he was a man of bad business, but she had accused him of it as if she had been hurt by such business.
Yet I have not.
“It is all settled, Julia,” Anna called as she stepped out from the adjoining room. “You are to have roses after all.”
“As you wish, Mother.” Julia seemed unaffected by the talk of flowers. She had a vast smile on her face and was plainly not thinking of the wedding but the marriage and the happy days she would be spending with her husband.
Helena returned the carnation to the vase and took her sister’s arm, walking out of the shop with her. They followed behind Kitty and Anna as they left through Oxford Street with the busy shops stretching on either side of them, and people hurrying in and out of the doorways, carrying boxes with their purchases hidden away inside.
“You seem happy indeed,” Helena observed to her sister.
“I was just thinking how right our aunt was. It shall be a marriage, not just a wedding.” She laughed at herself. “Even if our families end up arguing through the whole wedding, I shall reassure myself that Robert and I have our lives together to look forward to.”
“An admirable position to bear.”
“Yes.” Julia chewed her lips, despite her words. “You don’t think the families will argue throughout the wedding day, do you?”
“No, I don’t.” Helena lied, hoping to comfort her sister. She had a feeling it would be all too easy for the families to argue together, constantly.
Benjamin would make snide remarks, Anna would hold her chin high and probably comment on the Dowager Duchess’ poor choice of gown when it came to fashion. Matthew might try to trip up the groom as he walked down the aisle, and Gibbs would tell anyone who came to the event what monsters the Moores were.
Helena turned away from her sister and grimaced at the mere thought. Then another entered her mind, one who might try to cause peace.
The Duke of Bridstone would stand proudly beside his brother as best man, and he might even make as good a toast at the wedding breakfast about the union as he had done the evening they had shared dinner together.
“The Duke of Bridstone and I will continue to keep the peace as we are endeavoring to do so now,” Helena assured her sister, pulling her along through the crowds and avoiding others in the street. “He has proven himself rather apt at changing conversation and distracting our families, has he not?”
“The two of you ended the card game rather spectacularly the other night,” Julia said with a giggle.
“How do you mean?” Helena asked. She could remember the night of the dinner when she and the Duke had put an end to the card game rather swiftly.
“You took over our father’s hand, and the Duke took over his great-uncle’s then you both endeavored to lose all your money. It was a grand gesture indeed!” Julia laughed. “Each of you wanted the other to take the money.”
“Yet neither of us did, much to the complaint of our families. We agreed it would buy you and Robert a gift instead. Our families could hardly complain at that, could they?” Helena asked, recalling the way her mother and father had nodded in approval. The Dowager Duchess of Bridstone had sat there smiling with her sister at her side, almost giddy. “Perhaps there is hope for this family to find peace.”
With the words, she thought of the Duke of Bridstone and his dark green eyes upon her.
“You and the Duke of Bridstone seem to be spending quite a lot of time together at present,” Julia observed.
“Shh!” Helena pulled her sister back a little, increasing the distance between the two of them and their parents. “What do you mean by that?”
“It was merely an observation. I had no idea it would have such a reaction.” Julia giggled. “You and he, you’re often speaking together. You two were in the library the other night too.Alone.”
“We are to be brother and sister-in-law; therefore, it is no scandal,” Helena whispered in a rush. “If you must know, we were talking of how to smooth things between our families.” Helena frowned, realizing the error she had made. That was what their meeting was intended to be about, yet she and the Duke had ended up discussing love and excitement.
How on earth did we get onto such a subject?
“Well, I am indebted to you both,” Julia said softly. “You are trying so hard to persuade our parents to have more time for the Moores, and I will admit the Duke of Bridstone is quite excellent at distracting his own family. There is one thing I do not understand though.”
