He knew that very well.
“Then we shall be friends,” she said, and motioned to the house. “It will be enough.”
He nodded as he began to guide her back to the house and the party within. But with every step, he felt the weight of her fingers around his bicep. The warmth of her body beside him. He felt the relief that confession had given to him. Not just confession to anyone, but tothiswoman who had inspired his trust so easily.
And he knew being her friend was not enough. Could never be enough. But it was the only option.
Chapter Nine
“Do you have any news to report?”
Baldwin had been staring into his tea, stirring it aimlessly, but now his mother’s voice broke into his fog and he jerked his head up to look at her. He found her watching him, concern in every line of her face.
“News?” he asked. “Regarding?”
“It’s been a week since your sister’s gathering,” the duchess said, flexing her hands open and shut in a nervous display. “I know you’ve gone to a few parties since then and I haven’t been to all of them. I was simply wondering if you’d enjoyed the company of any of our—our prospects?”
Baldwin paused before responding, for his mind was consumed with only one woman: Helena. Since Charlotte’s party, since their passionate kiss in the garden, all there had been was her. And though he couldn’t explain the full truth to his mother, that was a big part of why he couldn’t concentrate on anyone or anything else.
“You know how the beginning of the Season is,” he explained with a wave of his hand. “A crush, everyone circling. In a few weeks it will calm down and I’ll be able to find more time to approach each lady individually.”
His mother’s lips pursed. “Baldwin, I do worry so.”
Tension flooded him, pleasant thoughts of Helena fading into the background at last. “I know. I’m sorry. I do not have any intention of not doing as you wish.”
“Of course you don’t,” the duchess said, reaching out to touch his arm. “I didn’t mean to imply otherwise.” She paced away, and for a moment Baldwin thought the conversation might be at its end. But then she turned back, determination lining her expression. “I think we ought to have a country party.”
He leaned back. “A country party? Now?”
“Yes,” she said. “A week would be enough time to let the servants out in Sheffield plan. It’s only two-day ride for anyone we would invite in London.”
“And you want to get these prospects alone,” he said, folding his arms and spearing her with a hard glance.
She shook her head. “You needn’t sound so ominous! They wouldn’t be alone. We would invite others. To only invite the prospects would be too obvious. I would invite your married friends.”
“Far less obvious, yes,” he snorted.
She glared at him. “I hear told that the Earl of Grifford is back on the market after his wife’s death. I could invite him. He’s older and he won’t interfere with your goals. And Matthew or Hugh or—well, not Robert. He’ll just ruin all the young ladies he comes in contact with.”
Baldwin stared in shock. She was not incorrect in her assessment of Robert, Duke of Roseford. Aside from being a loyal friend and an incredibly intelligent mind, he was also known as a rake of the highest order. Still, one didn’t expect a lady to acknowledge that fact.
“You mean to invite gentlemen who you don’t believe will intrude upon my various courtships,” he said.
Her lips parted. “I know it all sounds mercenary and I don’t like it any more than you do. Your sister married the love of her life—I’m not immune to the fact that life is demanding you not be allowed to do the same.”
Once again, Baldwin flashed to images of Helena, her arms coming around him as she murmured out a deep sound of pleasure. He cleared his throat. “Most don’t get as lucky as our Charlotte,” he said, trying to sound nonchalant.
“Well, at the very least I want you to see if you couldlikeone of these women. That is a start.” The duchess bent her head. “A country party solves our problems.”
Baldwin could see that she was determined and that doing as she requested would take some amount of pressure off her shoulders. He owed her that. “Very well. Send word to Sheffield and mail your invitations to prospect and friend alike. A week in the country could do us all good.”
She smiled, relief slashing across her face. “Excellent. I’ll invite the prospects and the others we discussed.”
Baldwin hesitated. “Including Miss Shephard?”
Her face fell a fraction. “I realize you’ve spent a bit more time with the Americans than with anyone else. Are you saying you don’t like Charity at all?”
Baldwin swallowed. He hadn’t really paid much attention to Helena’s cousin. Fifty-thousand pounds or no, he could not fathom pursuing her and having Helena close by the entire time. It seemed an exercise in cruelty to them both.
