“He’s brought you to us,” Meg said. “So for that, we’re grateful. Obviously you and Emma share a love of books. Do you have any other hobbies?”
“I play piano a little. Very little and quite poorly.”
Emma raised a hand with a laugh. “We could torture a room together, I think!”
Helena shook her head. It was hard to look at the Duchess of Abernathe with her sweet expression and perfect hair and clothes, with her subtle sophistication that seemed to drip from her, and think the lady was not accomplished in every way.
“It is true,” Meg said with a teasing wink for Emma. “Once Emma tried to play some of the Irish Melodies and…” She dissolved into giggles, along with the other women.
Emma lifted her chin, but though she feigned offense, it was obvious from her sparkling gaze that she found as much humor in it as her friends. “And the cat began to howl. I am not ashamed of it. I thought we made a charming duet.”
Helena lifted a hand to cover her own giggles. “The same happened to me. Only it was my uncle’s hounds who accompanied me. Until—” She broke off as the amusing memory turned harsher. Uncle Peter had been very angry.
Adelaide eyed her sharply and then smiled, almost with understanding. Swiftly she changed the subject, and for the next hour Helena was enraptured by her four new friends. The women were kind and engaging, funny and friendly. Emma told stories of her precious baby Beatrice, who everyone called Bibi, and Helena thought she caught a glimpse of Meg touching her belly whenever the subject arose. It was all so very comfortable and Helena found she didn’t want it to end.
But at last, Charlotte stood and said, “Oh, gracious, we’ve intruded on your time far more than we should.”
Helena followed her to her feet and said, “I assure you there was nothing intrusive about it. I very much enjoyed our tea.”
Charlotte gave the others a look and said, “Good. Then I hope you’ll come to supper at my home in three days hence.”
Helena stared at her, surprised at the invitation. And knowing she could in no way accept it even if she wanted to. But there was no way she could pretend—past today, at least—that she belonged in the world of these women. Nor that her uncle would ever let her take even a tiny place in it.
“I—” she began, shifting with discomfort as she sought a way to refuse without offending a lady she truly liked.
Meg’s expression softened, and she stepped up to take Helena’s hand. “My dear, it’s clear you are uncomfortable and Charlotte would never in the world make you so. Just say whatever you must say and don’t fret over consequences that do not exist.”
Helena glanced over at Charlotte and found her nodding. She took a deep breath and said, “I’d love to—to join you, of course. More than anything after today. But I couldn’t…I couldn’t possibly without my…without…”
Emma nodded. “I understand. You couldn’t do it without your family.”
Charlotte wrinkled her brow. “There is a simply solution to that problem. I shall invite you all, uncle and cousin included. They needn’t know it is really you all of us wish to spend time with.”
Helena stared. “I don’t know what it is I’ve done to inspire your kindness, but it is much appreciated. I can never really speak for my uncle, but I doubt he would dare turn down an invitation from such an important group.”
Charlotte smiled. “Then I am happy to trade on Ewan’s title. I will send a formal invitation as soon as I arrive home. Do your best to appear shocked and awed by it.”
Helena laughed. “I will practice.”
They moved into the foyer, where Aniston returned with the hats and gloves. As the duchesses gathered themselves, Charlotte cast Helena one more look. “It might also interest you that my brother will be in attendance to my little gathering.”
Helena fought to keep her expression calm at the quiet little explosion that had just gone off in the midst of the foyer. She had no idea why Charlotte would think to specially mention Baldwin to her. All Helena knew was that being around the duke made her…nervous. Fluttery.
“Well, I’m sure my uncle will be very happy to hear that, as well,” she managed to choke out. “Thank you again for calling.”
The carriage pulled around and the ladies said their final goodbyes, then headed out to the vehicle. Helena stepped out onto the stairs to wave them off, but as she did so, she recognized that her hand was shaking.
And that she was looking forward to seeing Baldwin again even more than she was looking forward to spending time with her new friends.
Chapter Six
Baldwin ran the end of his fountain pen over the row of numbers once again, doing the sum in his head. He frowned and went through the motions again. It was no good. He could add and re-add all he liked, but the problem remained the same.
They were hemorrhaging money and there were still those three debts outstanding, poised over his head like an ever-present guillotine. He dipped his pen in ink and scrawled a number in the field, then shoved the entire pile of papers and writing instruments aside with a curse.
“That is a bad start,” Charlotte said as she breezed into his office with a smile on her face. One that was rapidly falling as she looked at him. “Is this not a good time?”
Baldwin jumped to his feet and came around the desk. “Charlotte, I had no idea you’d come to call. My apologies for my bad behavior.”
She shook her head as she bussed his cheek. “I insisted on coming to you myself and not being announced. Is there something I can do?”
She nodded to his desk and he glanced over his shoulder, then shook his head. “No, no. Just annoyed with some…” He searched for a lie. “Some information from the tenants out in Sheffield. Nothing that needs your worries.”
She wrinkled her brow as if she didn’t quite believe him, so he caught her arm and guided her to the fireplace where he motioned for her to sit. “Join me. Will you have sherry?”
“At eleven in the morning?” she asked.
He blinked. He hadn’t been thinking about the time. “Ah, my apologies. Of course not. But there must be a reason you called.”
“There is,” she said, her expression brightening. He was glad to see it. Charlotte was so very happy since her marriage, he didn’t want to darken her mood with his troubles. Or have her find out what he’d done to increase them.
“And what is that?” he asked.
“Ewan and I are having a gathering tomorrow. Supper and perhaps some parlor games. We wanted you to join us.”
Baldwin leaned back. “Ewan wanted to have a gathering?”
“He’s always been reclusive, of course, but Baldwin, he is truly trying to come out of his shell since our marriage.” She smiled broadly. “All his talk of coming into what he perceives as ‘my’ world and no longer hiding because of his mutism is…well, it’s true.”
Baldwin watched her as she spoke, saw her joy at Ewan’s behavior. And his smile was very real as he said, “You give him the strength, I think.”