They each took their place with Helena back on the settee, flanked by Adelaide and Emma. Emma picked up the book that had slid between the cushions when Helena was interrupted, and smiled.
“Oh, this is a favorite of mine!” she said, thumbing the pages gently. “What part are you on?”
Helena blushed. “Just to where she climbs out the window.”
Emma nodded with enthusiasm. “Do you like Lord Evans better or Lord Winter?”
“Lord Winter, obviously. He’s quite devilish.”
“A girl after all our hearts,” Adelaide laughed. “I think we’reallproof that devilish men are best.”
Charlotte folded her arms in mock upset. “My Ewan is only devilish when it is appropriate.”
“Your Ewan is a devil in disguise, I think,” Meg teased.
Helena watched it all with surprise. She had expected ladies of such rank to be stuffy. These women were anything but. They laughed and teased and she never felt left out of it, even though it was obvious the foursome were fast friends. It was the first time she’d felt comfortable in…well, a very long time.
“But we’re not here to talk about devilish husbands,” Emma said, blushing prettily. “That isnota proper subject, no matter how pleasing it is. We came here to get to know you, Helena.”
At that moment, a maid entered and Helena got to her feet to help arrange the sideboard. When the servant had left, she began to pour the tea. She was surprised when Charlotte came and helped her, sweetening as her friends liked and handing out the cups.
“You are under no obligation to answer our brazen questions,” Charlotte reassured her as they returned to the group at last.
Helena shifted under their regard. “I’m not certain you’ve asked any yet. What is it you’d like to know?”
“Boston is a long way from here,” Emma said. “Do you miss home?”
Helena let out a sigh. “In truth, not much. I was not very happy there as of late. I see this as an adventure.”
Adelaide smiled. “I like that attitude. Since your name is different, I assume your uncle is…”
“From my mother’s side,” Helena said with a nod. “He’s my mother’s older brother. He, er, well, he took me in.”
Not exactly true, but far less humiliating than saying what had really happened. She caught Adelaide and Emma exchanging a brief look, and blushed.
“He’s brought you to us,” Meg said. “So for that, we’re grateful. Obviously you and Emma share a love of books. Do you have any other hobbies?”
“I play piano a little.Verylittle and quite poorly.”
Emma raised a hand with a laugh. “We could torture a room together, I think!”
Helena shook her head. It was hard to look at the Duchess of Abernathe with her sweet expression and perfect hair and clothes, with her subtle sophistication that seemed to drip from her, and think the lady was not accomplished in every way.
“It is true,” Meg said with a teasing wink for Emma. “Once Emma tried to play some of theIrish Melodiesand…” She dissolved into giggles, along with the other women.
Emma lifted her chin, but though she feigned offense, it was obvious from her sparkling gaze that she found as much humor in it as her friends. “And the cat began to howl. I am not ashamed of it. I thought we made a charming duet.”
Helena lifted a hand to cover her own giggles. “The same happened to me. Only it was my uncle’s hounds who accompanied me. Until—” She broke off as the amusing memory turned harsher. Uncle Peter had been very angry.
Adelaide eyed her sharply and then smiled, almost with understanding. Swiftly she changed the subject, and for the next hour Helena was enraptured by her four new friends. The women were kind and engaging, funny and friendly. Emma told stories of her precious baby Beatrice, who everyone called Bibi, and Helena thought she caught a glimpse of Meg touching her belly whenever the subject arose. It was all so very comfortable and Helena found she didn’t want it to end.
But at last, Charlotte stood and said, “Oh, gracious, we’ve intruded on your time far more than we should.”
Helena followed her to her feet and said, “I assure you there was nothing intrusive about it. I very much enjoyed our tea.”
Charlotte gave the others a look and said, “Good. Then I hope you’ll come to supper at my home in three days hence.”
Helena stared at her, surprised at the invitation. And knowing she could in no way accept it even if she wanted to. But there was no way she could pretend—past today, at least—that she belonged in the world of these women. Nor that her uncle would ever let her take even a tiny place in it.
