“You are most welcome, Lady Helena. And I promise…” He put a hand on his chest. “That your secret is safe with me. If it isfound out, it won’t be from my lips. After all, a passion is a most wonderful thing to have, and I would hate for you to lose that which you clearly covet so much. Enough to take such a big risk in the first place.”
“I… I do appreciate it.” She swallowed, still sensing the trap. “And if there is anything you need, please…” She almost did not say it, again sensing that this right here was the entire point. “… do not hesitate to ask.”
“I will remember that.”
The Duke looked down at her a moment longer, a knowingness in his eyes that she did not understand. He held her there, wanting her to see it—luring her, it felt like.
Helena gave her head a shake, ignoring the way her stomach flipped. She could not say whether she liked the Duke or not. He was charming, that was true. Handsome as well. But he was clearly teasing her for some reason, and she did not wish to find out. That, she knew, would lead to trouble.
“If there is nothing else…” She tried again to walk around him, and this time he stepped aside to let her pass.
“Of course,” he said. “You had better get back.”
She looked at him curiously, beyond confused. But Helena knew that lingering there would do her no good. Her father was no doubt wondering where she was, and she had to put this eveningbehind her. So, she put down her head and started toward the door.
“However!” the Duke called after her.
Helena froze. Winced. Cursed herself for being so stupid. And then slowly turned around to find the Duke smirking once again.
“As I said, I know Mr. Ramsay well enough,” he said casually, as if this were the most typical of conversations. “And from what I know of his character, I doubt his silence will be so easily bought. He is a worm of a man, and even now, I am all but certain that he is scheming against you, if for no other reason than he hates to be made to look a fool.”
Her face paled as the reality hit her. “Oh no…”
He sighed and took a step toward her. “I will speak with him, but even that won’t be enough. He really is a twisted little man.”
“I… What…” Her pulse quickened, panic taking over. “What can I do? I can’t… My father can’t find out. Nobody can find out.”
“I agree,” he said, looking upset, even angry. “Likely, they will, which is a reality you need to accept.”
“No…” Her stomach dropped, the world starting to tumble. “But… but… but…”
“There is one thing I can think of.” He reached her, standing over her again as he looked her over.
That smile was still in his eyes, and now she understood what was going on. The so-called trap, as it was. Likely not planned, but swiftly taken advantage of. Helena braced herself for it.
“Marry me.”
She heard the words, but she did not understand them right away.
She balked, leaning back as if struck. She frowned stupidly at the Duke as she searched for the joke, the laughter, anything to suggest that he was not serious.
He simply looked at her, waiting for her reply, his blue eyes twinkling the whole while.
“You cannot be?—”
“It will be a fake courtship,” he spoke over her. “A marriage of convenience. That way, even if word of your actions reaches the ton, it will cause little fuss once it is understood that you are under my protection. There are few men in this world willing to make an enemy of a duke.”
She stared blankly at him.
She searched for the punchline.
She… she almost laughed, such was the insanity!
She did not, however, as despite the smirk on his lips, the look he had her fixed with was very serious.
This was not a joke, but a real offer. And the last thing she would have expected.
“You are serious.”
