On instinct, she very nearly pulled away, but she refrained from that. Only, it wasn’t because she knew she had to push this lie as hard as she could, but rather…
When she saw the Duke lean in, a small part of her almost wondered what it would feel like to have those lips on hers.
She did not move to accept the kiss, but she did not pull away either.
The Duke pulled her into him, leaned down, and placed the smallest kiss on her cheek. He held it, and she gasped as its effect washed over her, disarming her objections in ways she did not expect.
“I am so happy,” the Duke said as he looked down at her. “So very, very happy.” His smile furthered the lie, bought by all.
At that, the crowd erupted in applause. Her father stepped forward to shake the Duke’s hand. Her mother rushed to her, as did her sister, as did her friends. They grabbed her, hugged her, and told her how happy they all were.
Helena could not blame them. The Duke was playing his role as he promised, and all she could do was play along while knowing how fake the whole thing was.
Although that kiss… The way her body reacted…
Helena shook the effect away, ignoring it as best as she could. But the feel of his lips stayed on her cheek long after the act, and that was a problem she did not understand or know how to deal with.
This marriage, she was beginning to suspect, would be anything but convenient.
“Oh, it is not so interesting a story, I assure you,” the Duke chuckled gaily. “I wouldn’t want to bore you all.”
“Nonsense!” Helena’s father, the Earl of Montrose, chortled along merrily. “It is about time you told us how this all came to pass. Unfortunately, Helena has not been very forthcoming.”
“Has she not?” The Duke smiled coyly at her. “She is just shy, no doubt. Or perhaps embarrassed, although I don’t know why she would be. I am the one who should be embarrassed—acting like a lovesick fool.”
“Now you must tell us,” her mother insisted.
“Yes, tell us,” another pressed, a lord whom Helena did not know or care to. “Come now, Your Grace. Enough games.”
“The story!” cried a young lady, whom Helena also did not recognize. A wife to one of the Duke’s friends, she thought. But she also didn’t much care. “We insist.”
“Tell it! Tell it!”
They were at the wedding breakfast, hosted by Helena’s family as her father insisted. He had taken an extreme liking to theDuke and was at pains to please the man because he seemed to think that he owed the Duke for doing him the honor of marrying his troublesome daughter, as nobody could have ever dreamed would happen.
It was a small affair, just a dozen or so people. Hosted in the dining room, Helena and the Duke had their own table at the front of the room while the other tables were lined along the walls in a large U shape.
Here, the guests were meant to sit, eat, drink, and celebrate as the day wore on. In this instance, things were not going as planned.
The score of guests gathered at Helena’s table, standing around it as they leaned in and listened with rapture to the Duke, who appeared more than happy to hold their attention.
He certainly loves a crowd. Or perhaps it is himself that he loves.
The Duke sat beside Helena. From the moment they arrived, he took his seat, just as he took her hand, refusing to let it go as if doing so might literally kill him. He stroked her hand as he spoke, beaming at her lovingly. To all who watched, it was clear that he was head over heels in love, and this was the happiest day of his life.
“Oh, if you all insist,” he sighed and shook his head, then rolled his eyes as he prepared himself for a story that Helena knew hewas eager to tell. One that she did not even know the details of. “Unless…” He looked at her. “My sweet, do you wish to tell it?”
She had to refrain from scowling. “No, no…” A forced smile. “You will tell it better than I.”
He laughed. “I suppose it is my story, isn’t it? What with the way I behaved—like a puppy hounding its owner for a treat, and I am not ashamed to admit it. Such is how smitten I was from the moment I saw her.”
“When was this?” her father asked. He was standing to the Duke’s right, leaning in close, eagerness painted across his face. “I admit, I had no idea the two of you had ever met.”
“We hadn’t,” the Duke explained merrily. “The truth is, I saw sweet Helena months ago at Hyde Park, walking with friends. I can still remember the exact moment…” He allowed his eyes to drift. “The way the sun shone on her fair skin, the way her eyes sparkled in the light, and the sound of her laughter.” He breathed out deeply. “In that moment, I was a changed man.”
“Oh, please…” Helena muttered under her breath.
“Naturally, I found out who she was, at which point I began to write to her. Do you remember my first letter?” The Duke was looking at her, his smile wide and earnest. “Do you?”
