“Baldwin,” Kingsacre began, but before he could say more, the doors to the house opened and Walker appeared with several of their guests in tow.
Baldwin rose. “I must see to my guests, it seems.”
Kingsacre nodded, but his gaze held firmly on Baldwin’s. “You must, I know. But I hope we will talk again soon.”
Baldwin executed a swift bow before he turned back to fetch his mother and greet their guests. But as he walked away he felt an increasing sense of ill ease. A feeling he would have to extinguish if he intended on fulfilling the duty that was the only path left for him.
The carriage was too small. Actually, that wasn’t true. The carriage was massive, a display of ostentatious wealth that made color flood Helena’s cheeks whenever Uncle Peter bragged about it to appalled lords and ladies. But today, with her uncle and cousin sitting across from her, going over their plans and goals, it felt utterly close and hot and uncomfortable.
“Twenty-seventh in line for the crown,” Charity said, clasping her hands. “Just think, Helena, you could lady’s maid to the Queen someday.”
Helena shook off her thoughts and looked at her cousin. “If the King and twenty-six other people happen to all die at once.”
“Itcouldhappen,” Charity said with a glare at Helena’s comment. “What has you so cross anyway?”
“I’mnotcross,” Helena said.
And it was true. She wasn’t cross. She was something else entirely.Nervouswas probably the best description. She was going to the home of the Duke of Sheffield. The man she knew with almost complete certainty was the same one who had talked with her on the terrace.
The idea of seeing him again, well, it was both exciting and disappointing. She was so far beneath him. It would be obvious the moment he saw that she served her cousin. And yet, she would get to gaze upon that handsome face again. Maybe see one of those smiles that lit up the world.
“Are you woolgathering?” her uncle snapped.
She blinked and forced herself back to reality. “Yes. No. No.”
He glared. “Your duty is to remain close to your cousin, Helena. If there is any chance for her to get near this man or anyone else who is important, she’ll need a chaperone so she doesn’t look like a wanton. So you go with her.”
Helena swallowed hard before she nodded. “Of course.”
“Otherwise, stay out of the way as much as possible,” he continued. “And Charity, this man could be very important to your future. You could be a duchess or, as you said, even a queen. Wouldn’t that be a feather in the family cap?”
“What do you know of the man’s circumstances?” Charity asked.
He smiled. “Aside from his lofty title, he has four estates under his protection. Hundreds of workers. He must be worth a fortune.”
The carriage turned, and Charity pulled the curtain back to see where they were arriving. Helena peeked over her shoulder, and both women caught their breath at once.
“Oh, hemustto have a house like this one!” Charity said with a laugh of delight.
Helena tended to agree. The estate was large and beautiful, with an exquisite view of the park across the way. There was no doubt this was the home of a very important and wealthy man. And once again, she was very aware of the disparity of their positions.
The carriage stopped, and her uncle and cousin stepped out. They left her behind to hustle after them up the stairs of the fine house. She flinched at the sharpness with which her uncle spoke to the duke’s butler, and then trailed through the hallways toward the veranda, where tea was being held.
Helena couldn’t help but look around her as they walked. The house was just as fine inside as out. The furniture was understated and beautiful, the walls done in muted colors. A few portraits graced those walls, and she gasped when she passed by one of the duke standing by a mantel, two large dogs at his side.
It was most definitely the man she had encountered on the terrace.Baldwin Undercross, 15th Duke of Sheffield, the little plaque read.
“Catch up, girl!” her uncle called as they entered a parlor.
She scurried to do so, even as her mind spun.Baldwin. The name fit him. It wasn’t at all common. Nor was he. Of course, she would never call him by that given name. Heavens, she likely wouldn’t talk to him at all. The moment on the terrace was one that never should have happened in the first place. Certainly he wasn’t thinking about it. She should forget it, too.
The butler opened the veranda door and stepped out. He announced her uncle’s and cousin’s names to the gathered crowd. “Mr. Peter Shephard and Miss Charity Shephard.”
Helena pressed her lips together as they stepped out, Charity looking over the crowd like she was already the queen she imagined she could be by marrying the poor man in that portrait.
The very idea made Helena’s stomach turn. She ignored it, shoved it aside and followed them onto the terrace—where she came face-to-face, once again, with the Duke of Sheffield.
To her surprise, he was not looking at Charity or her uncle as he crossed the veranda toward them, an older lady at his side.
