Page 54 of The Duke of her Dreams

“And is that so cruel that you would say it with such distaste?”

“I am not some boring gentleman that you wish to marry, Helen. You know that I can be complicated as well as interesting, and you do not like those qualities in a husband.”

Helen wanted to stop him from talking, to hold his lips in a lock and make him hold the words in his throat. It hurt her to hear him speak like that. After everything they did together, she thought it was unfair. But she knew the risks of entering the agreement with him. He was only helping her like a friend would, making her happy by restoring her reputation. Even now, Helen was sure that the pursuits for her hand by other men would continue because Theodore did not propose. And he was not willing to.

He was her friend, and his intentions were clear from the start. By entering into the charade they kept up, Theodore merely wanted a life away from all the boisterous mamas and their sanctimonious daughters. And he had gotten that. But she fell in love with him. With the slight arc of his face and the smile that turned her stomach into a twist, Helen fell fast, and she fell hard. She missed him every time they were apart and could barely keep her thoughts straight when they were together.

“What are your plans for choosing a husband from the plethora of suitors at your beck and call?”

Helen could not bring out the words in her mind. In fact, her mind was befuddled by hurt and love.

“Or shall I help you make a list? Every man is out for your hand, and as a man, I know the best pick for you. For one, I know that Lord Henslaw will not make a good match with you. And the Marquess of Worthington is certainly not as boorish as you might want.”

“Theodore,” Helen whispered, trying so hard to stop her voice from cracking. “You want to help me find a husband?”

“I am your friend, Helen, despite all we have shared together. I want your wishes to come true, just like I always promised.”

“That is such a relief. But will that not cause a problem for you? Seeing me with other suitors?”

Theodore tried to keep his voice steady, holding his breath from inhaling the sweet, heady scent of her. He wanted to yell out that he wanted nothing but to stop talking. But his mouth would not stop running. His mind was bent on the fact that he was not the type of person that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. Helen just wanted to have a good time, and he would give her that.

“We agreed on getting you a husband, Helen. That was the whole point of this arrangement. Restoring your reputation and making your father happy. That is all that matters.”

“Are you sure?” she asked, staring deep into his eyes.

“Do you not want me to be sure?”

She sighed, removing her hand from his grasp. Helen knew that touching him even in the slightest would cause her to break down. And she was stronger than that. She had to respect his decision.

“Then, what will happen when I get a proposal? Every debutante will be out for your head.”

“You need not worry,” he replied softly. “I have made plans to travel to Greece — a respite from everything until my grandmother plans some other grand scheme to bring me back.”

“We still have lots of balls to attend this Season,” she suggested, wanting to spend the rest of the time she had left with him. “Westminster, Haughton, Worthington, and Surrey. A lot of appearances to keep up if our courtship is to be believed.”

Theodore shook his head, “I wonder how you keep up with all the events slated for the Season. Will you —”

Helen handed him a paper that she prepared beforehand. “These are all the events till the end of the Season. I asked Aunt Gertrude, and she was happy to oblige.”

He stared at the sheet, counting all the events in his mind. Theodore would not pass up any opportunity to be with Helen. She was his until a proposal came in. He held her hand in a warm clasp and stared into her baby blue eyes.

“You had better be prepared to dance till your feet wear off.”

She smiled at the falling petals of the apple tree and squeezed his hand softly. “I accept the challenge.”

ChapterTwenty-Two

Soft music floated through the elaborate ballroom of the Westminster estate. Helen stood in the corner, shrinking further into the darkness to escape her line of suitors. She had just brushed off Lord Surrey’s first son, Duncan. It was steadily becoming a battle to gain her attention, and her dance card was almost filled for the night, but she was saving a spot for the man she loved.

Theodore Simmons, The Duke of Wallington.

Helen smoothed the folds of her peach muslin gown, grateful that Sonya decided to choose something simple for this ball unlike the elaborate dress she wore for the first ball of the Season. This time, she had her hair pulled tight and curling into luscious pale tresses around her shoulders, and almost all the men fell for the snare that her lady’s maid carefully placed.

She pretended to be interested in the blooming flowers by the door, anxious that another suitor might approach her again. That week, she had refused three proposals already and was applauded by Theodore. Each man was not up to the standards he wanted for her.

“Now, where might you be?” she asked herself, subtly searching for Theodore among the crowd.

“Ah! Here you are!” Kate’s familiar voice exclaimed behind Helen, and she jumped.

---