“Diana, ladies, is here at last!” Meg said, drawing her forward. “Diana, may I present Adelaide, Duchess of Northfield, and Helena, our newest duchess. She was just married to the Duke of Sheffield recently.”
“Sixty-seven days to be precise,” Helena said, and Diana was surprised to find the lady had a very American accent. Helena stepped forward to catch Diana’s hands in greeting. “I’m still blissfully counting each and every one. Hello and welcome. We’re so happy to meet you.”
“We are,” Adelaide agreed. “And I hope Meg has told you that there are too many of us to call by title, at least amongst friends. You will call us Helena and Adelaide.”
Diana laughed as her nervousness continued to fade. “I admit, neither of you seems a woman who could be denied. So if you insist, I cannot see how I’d say no.”
They talked for a while, of frivolous things. With each passing moment, Diana felt herself becoming more and more comfortable. She had been so far removed by this echelon of Society that she had pictured the women within it as cold, detached, unfeeling.
But that notion was being disproved at a rapid pace. All three ladies were amusing, welcoming, intelligent and clearly in love with their respective husbands. It was nearly impossible not to like them with all her heart and want to be part of their little circle.
Not that she could be, not truly. If their husbands had formed a club of dukes,thiswas a party of duchesses, and that was something Diana would not be a part of, despite the love she could now privately admit she felt for Lucas.
“Adelaide, your taste is impeccable,” Meg said at last. “Will you come look through my things and help me decide what Diana should try on first?”
Adelaide smiled at Diana and the two ladies stepped away to the wardrobe to discuss, leaving Diana alone with Helena.
“You seem a very happy newlywed,” she said.
Helena’s face lit up. “Indeed, I am vastly content. You have not yet met Baldwin…er, Sheffield, but he is the greatest of men. Not that we did not have our struggles.”
“Hearing you speak of him with such warmth and seeing your unmistakable joy, it’s difficult to picture that.”
“In a way, I’m much like yourself. I was not born of this world. Not that I am anything as interesting as a healer to a spy.” Helena blushed.
Diana laughed, though it was a nervous sound. Lucas had told her it was likely all the duchesses would now know their secret, but that he trusted it would never leave their circle. It sounded better, she supposed, than a mistress. “You’re American—I think that is very interesting.”
Now it was Helena’s turn to laugh. “I am that. From Boston, though it hadn’t felt like home for a long time. I belong here now. But when I first arrived here, this—” She waved her hand around to indicate the fine chamber. “—wasn’t my station, either. I was nothing more than my cousin’s companion when I met Baldwin.”
Diana blinked. Looking at the lovely woman before her, she could scarcely picture that she hadn’t always belonged in the warm group of her friends. “A companion?” she repeated.
Helena nodded. “Due to many circumstances, things felt rather…direfor a long time. I could not believe that we could find happiness as we have. But I hope you’ll see me as proof that obstacles of class can be overcome. For us. And for you and Lucas.”
Diana caught her breath. “I-I am not…Lucas and I are not courting.”
Helena arched a brow. “Are you not? Then perhaps I misunderstood the situation.”
Diana ducked her head. Helena didn’t sound like she thought she’d misunderstood anything at all. And yet Diana refused to be comforted by the words. The situation with Lucas was far more complicated than whatever had separated Helena from her duke.
Diana had to remember that for herself as much as for anyone else in her acquaintance.
She did not have to respond, however, for Meg and Adelaide returned to her with a lovely gown in each of their arms. Diana caught her breath at the bright jade of one choice and the dark, alluring blue of the other.
“You’ll try on both,” Meg insisted, “for a start. And I am going to send word to Willowby that he will not see you again until the ball. You’ll stay here with me and I’ll help you do your hair, as well. You’ll accompany Simon and me in our carriage.”
Diana shifted. “Oh, but—”
“Don’t argue with her,” Adelaide said with a theatrically put-upon sigh. “She wins.”
“Every time,” Helena said with a nod.
Meg seemed pleased by the teasing of her friends and said, “You see?”
“Very well.” Diana threw up her hands in surrender, for there seemed no room to argue. Even if there was, she was not entirely put off by the idea of being pampered and prepared by her new friends. “I am, apparently, at your mercy.”
“Isn’t it so much easier just to admit it?” Meg said with a bright laugh. “Now which dress should we try first?”
Diana sank into the moment as she stared from one gorgeous gown to the next. “Could I—could I try on the green first? It’s beautiful.”
