“I would say the lesser of two evils, were not Huntingdon so handsome.” Julianna frowned. “The earl was always such a proper fellow, bound by duty. Does he kiss well, Hellie? Please tell me he does. I cannot bear the thought of my dearest friend tied to a stiff-backed earl who cannot properly woo a lady.”
Hellie.
It was not the first time her friend had used the sobriquet for her. But for some reason, the use of it stood out rather pointedly to her now. Only two people had ever referred to her thus. Shelbourne and Julianna.
Still, she had her friend’s impertinent question to answer. Her face heated as she thought of all the delicious kisses her husband had visited upon her. And not just upon her mouth.
“He is hardly stiff-backed.” Actually, he was, rather. But not always.
“You have not answered my question.”
She frowned. “He possesses excellent talent.”
Julianna laughed. “How prim you sound, and so delightfully English.”
“And you sound almost American,” she countered, having noted the same thing on their previous meeting.
How odd it was that they had been separated for years, for long enough that Julianna’s properly aristocratic accents had been worn down, much like the pebbles in a stream.
“Never say it.” Julianna laughed. “Poor Father would be horrified were he to know anyone can detect a hint of the Yankee in my speech. He does hate Mama so.”
The reminder of the enmity between Julianna’s parents filled Helena’s heart with sadness. Sadness because she feared much the same end for herself and Huntingdon if they did not sort out their differences.
But Lord and Lady Leighton had been married for five-and-twenty years. Helena and Huntingdon had only been wed for three days. Surely there was hope for her? At least hope she could earn back her husband’s trust, if not his love.
“I dare say my parents are hardly shining examples of the state of matrimony either,” she acknowledged grimly, trying to stave off the forbidding portent. “However, I do have hope that Huntingdon and I will find some semblance of happiness in our marriage. I do not expect him to love me, of course.”
Julianna grew serious. “He ought to love you, Hellie. No one is more worthy of love than you. If he breaks your heart, I shall blacken his eye.”
“Thank you.” Helena raised a brow. “I think. However, Shelbourne has already blackened his jaw, and Huntingdon has only just recovered from his injuries. Leave me some time to work my magic upon my husband before you beat him, please.”
“Shelbourne?” Her friend’s expression shifted. “How is your brother these days?”
“He is Shelbourne.” Helena’s nose wrinkled. “He was not pleased with the haste or the necessity of my marriage to Huntingdon, particularly as they are friends.”
Or rather, they had been friends. She could only hope they would one day find themselves capable of moving on from the rift she had created.
“I love you, dearest, I do, but Shelbourne has always been an unfeeling prig.” Julianna sniffed. “It sounds as if nothing has changed.”
Her brother was not unfeeling. Not entirely. He was simply too much in Father’s mold, which meant he held duty and honor of the highest import. But he did have a tendency to be a prude. Helena had to agree with that. Which was why it was so surprising he possessed a secret cache of bawdy books.
“He is not as awful as one might suppose,” she defended lightly.
Julianna’s laugh was bitter. “That is not a recommendation.”
“Was I meant to recommend him?” Her brow furrowed. There was something distinctly odd about both her brother’s reaction to her prior mentioning of Julianna and her friend’s current reaction. “I did not suppose your paths had much crossed.”
“We crossed swords, more like,” Julianna grumbled. “But that is all in the past. It was a long time ago.”
“You and Shelbourne?” Helena repeated, incredulous. Her mind whirled with the possibilities.
“Yes,” her friend said, shifting in her chair as if she were suddenly uncomfortable. “Think nothing of it and do not, I pray, make mention of it to him.”
Something was afoot, and Helena meant to uncover more. But she could plainly see Julianna had no wish to further discuss the subject.
She decided to pivot the conversation and return to the intriguing notion of her brother and Julianna another day.
“I would never dream of it,” Helena reassured her friend. “Your every secret is safe with me, as you know. Let us speak of something else. Something of far greater interest than Shelbourne. There is a meeting of the Lady’s Suffrage Society in two days’ time, and I would dearly love for you to attend with me.”
