Page 93 of The Insufferable Duke
“Were you the one who spread such rumors?” Helena asked, moving to her feet.
“The Moores were our enemies at the time,” Kitty said helplessly. “It seemed no great matter, and you all got such enjoyment out of hearing of his misdemeanors. I’m… I’m sorry.”
Helena couldn’t look at her aunt anymore. As much as she tried to convince herself that Kitty and Gibbs’ hearts were in the right place, this was another immoral act.
I will never be as close with them as I once was.
“Excuse me.” Helena stepped back. “There is another I must see.”
“Helena?”
“Let her go, Kitty.” Anna’s warning tone was enough to keep Kitty in her seat.
Helena walked across the ballroom, hunting for another. So furious was she at her discovery that her chest quivered, rising and falling. She did not even know what she would say when she found Christopher, but all she knew was she had to find him.
She discovered him eventually, standing at the side of the room talking to his cousin. They were sharing a drink and laughing together.
“Ah, I see someone comes who you would much rather speak to than me,” Percival declared and knocked back what was left of his drink. “Oh look, I’m running dry too. It’s the perfect excuse to leave you to it.”
“Hurry off,” Christopher said with a humored smile.
“Oh, I will,” Percival stepped to the side and allowed Helena to take his place, leaning on the wall beside Christopher. “Though I would just like to point out that I knew of this before anyone else did.” He gestured between the two of them.
“I beg your pardon?” Helena murmured.
“Go, Percival.” Christopher pointed a hand away. “I’ll be sure to cause this much trouble when you fall in love someday.”
“Ha! If only I’d be so lucky. Now, where is the happy couple?” Percival spun away. “Ah, Robert! Shall we have a toast?” He disappeared into the crowd, leaving Christopher and Helena to laugh together.
“How much has he had to drink?”
“He’s always a jolly fellow, but today more than ever,” Christopher agreed. “By the way, I have some news for you.”
“And I for you.” Helena held her breath and tapped her champagne glass, uncertain whether to tell Christopher or not. What Kitty had done was certainly unfair, but there hadn’t been anything in the scandal sheets about Christopher for weeks now, so at least she had stopped.
Could telling him simply grow discord between the families again?
Helena decided she would tell Christopher at some point, but perhaps now was not the right moment.
“What is your news?” She sought to distract him and gestured for him to go on.
“It concerns your father and me. We are to go into business together.” He smiled broadly and motioned with his own glass across the room to where Benjamin was laughing with Isaac and Matthew.
“You are?” Helena asked, stepping forward.
“Yes, there’s a joint venture into shipping coming up that I think could benefit us both, so we are to do it together.” Christopher faltered, turning completely to face her. “Well, I did not expect that news to make you smile quite so much as that.”
“Well, it did.”
“Whatever can I do again to make you smile so much, I wonder?” He leaned toward her.
“If you are thinking of kissing me again, may I remind you where we are?”
“Ah. Yes.” He leaned back again then cursed playfully. She laughed at him, thrilled by his teasing of her these days. “Your sister’s wedding certainly made you smile. I caught your expression in the ceremony.”
“Caught it? You stared at me throughout it!”
“Well, I’m not quite that… persistent,” he insisted though he laughed, showing he knew full well that he had done.
