AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She scowled at Helen. “If you think this dinner takes any dime from your dowry, you need not be worried. You should be more than happy, Helen. Entertaining a Duke is no easy feat.”
Helen quelled the smile that almost crept up on her. Knowing that Theodore almost did not care about what they served wanted to make her burst into laughter. If only she could tell someone that everything they thought was a lie.
“I made sure to tell him that the dinner is an informal one. Like a family dinner,” Helen replied.
For the first time, Aunt Gertrude seemed nice. And it made Helen’s skin crawl. Having spent some horrendous weeks at her aunt’s cottage, she knew that everything was just a facade. Aunt Gertrude probably had an ulterior motive.
“Has he said anything about a proposal?” her aunt asked, scooting closer to where Helen sat on the sofa.
“A proposal?”
“Yes, of course. I can tell that he is very interested in you. Do you not see that he visits almost every other day?”
Helen felt like she was struck in the head with a broom. “What?”
“Are you so oblivious that you cannot notice? This dinner might be the chance he has been waiting for.”
If only she knew the truth.
“I do not think that the Duke wants to propose yet, Aunt Gertrude,” Helen said, hoping that the feigned sadness in her voice would help steer them away from the topic.
But her aunt did not back down. “What? I have heard news from thetonthat the Duke only has eyes on the chit from the Erbury House. And there’s no other lady here.”
“He has not made his intentions known,” she replied, all the while forcing herself not to laugh. “Perhaps he has shared something with you that I should know of?”
Aunt Gertrude shook her head so quickly that Helen thought it might roll off its hinges. “He told me no such thing. I was hoping he already declared his love for you. With your reputation among theton, a quick marriage will restore the lost glory of this house.”
Helen scoffed, “It is all about the glory then?”
“What else?” Aunt Gertrude replied with a twinge of scorn in her voice. “Your father is expecting you to marry soon. Out of the line of suitors that visit the house every day, some might have hinted at a proposal.”
“But?” Helen intoned, knowing that her aunt only paused to catch her breath.
“But the Duke of Wallington will make a fine match. With his wealth and position among theton, surely you have dreamed of such magnificence. With God at the forefront, you will have the most beautiful wedding in all of London.”
“For the first time, I thought you cared about me, Aunt Gertrude,” Helen said. “But all you ever wanted was a proposal just so that I could have the best marriage. Have you stopped to consider what I would want?”
“Helen, do not think I have no idea of what is going with you and the Duke. It is why I am your chaperone in the presence of suitors, even more so when the Duke is with you,” she explained and called a maid. “Has the oyster sauce been placed on the table?”
Helen felt her heart crawl into her mouth. Their secret was over, and she knew it. She felt her aunt’s scrutinizing gaze all over her body, and all the hairs on her neck stood on end.
“I do not know what you speak of, Aunt Gertrude,” Helen replied rather quickly, casting furtive glances at her aunt.
Aunt Gertrude paid no attention to her anymore as she continued to order the maids around. Helen could only watch the sun’s descent into the horizon, her heart thundering at the slightest move her aunt made.
“I know you are quite smitten with one another, Helen. None of the other suitors made you laugh. You should oversee the preparations, Helen. Call it training, seeing that you will host dinners of your own soon enough,” she said. “Did you not learn anything from the time we spent together?”
Helen shivered even though the windows were closed. Even after this much time, terrible dreams and thoughts still plagued her mind. Being in her aunt's presence alone was almost so frightening that she was struggling to hide it with a polite attitude.
“I learned quite a lot,” she replied, trying to hide the fear in her voice, “but I am afraid that some of the oyster sauce might spill and ruin my dress. I believe that it is in your best interests that I remain spotless tonight?”
Aunt Gertrude placed a finger under her chin, and Helen knew that she was thinking of possible things Helen could do without ruining her dress.
“Fine,” Gertrude said hoarsely after a while, “but I want you to hurry things up with the Duke before someone else proposes. Not something that might ruin your reputation like last time and definitely not with sinful acts.”
Sonya ran into the room just in time to save Helen from any religious talk about the pious institution of marriage.
“His Grace, The Duke is here,” she whispered to Helen but was audible enough that Aunt Gertrude heard.
