“Yes, the Earl and Countess of Winford, our latecomers,” Helena said, and her hands clenched at her sides.
Before Selina could respond, Katherine and the Duchess of Crestwood approached together. “What are you two discussing so seriously?” the Duchess of Crestwood asked as she slid an arm through Helena’s and squeezed.
Helena smiled up at her. “The party, Meg. And how wonderful it is already, with such friends to be met. I’m so glad we could do this, Katherine. We love seeing you and need to do it more often.”
“Actually, we were discussing the friends yet to come, Your Grace,” Selina said.
“Meg,” the duchess corrected her. “To my friends and family, I’m just Meg. Robert and my Simon are practically brothers, so you follow the line of that, my dear.”
Selina felt heat flooding her cheeks at the kindness of both duchesses. They were so easy and kind, so welcoming without any hint of ulterior motive. She had not expected it, but it was…nice.
“Meg.” She arched a brow. “I was just about to tell Helena that I am not particularly sad that Lady Winford and her husband have not yet joined us.”
Meg let out a little sound of surprise, laced with just a touch of admiration at Selina’s candor. Katherine dipped her head, barely smothering a smile, and Helena blushed.
“So direct!” Meg said with a laugh.
Selina lifted a hand to her chest. “Too far?” she asked with feigned innocence.
Meg shook her head. “Not at all. I find the candor refreshing. And I happen to agree with it. I’ve always found Lady Winford to be…cold.”
“Cruel,” Selina whispered softly.
Katherine jerked her gaze to her. “Lady Winford was cruel to you?” she asked.
“Not to me directly…at least not yet,” Selina admitted. “But I’ve seen her do it to others, especially those she deems too unimportant to be able to fight back.”
Helena shifted. “I admit, I have also experienced some of her bad ways. I’m so sorry that you felt compelled to invite her because of Baldwin and me, Katherine.”
Katherine took her hand, and the warmth between the women was almost palpable. “No, dearest. I’m happy to help. Certainly, we all interact regularly with people who aren’t our favorite to spend time with. It is part of the world, unfortunately. And at least in this case, it could lead to some good.”
That seemed to ease Helena’s worries a little, and she smiled. “By the time they arrive, it will only be a week left. And perhaps she won’t be so terrible this time.”
Meg snorted. “You keep that faith, my dear, because you are too good.”
Selina couldn’t help but smile at their sisterly camaraderie. She’d been alone most of her life. She’d grown close to three of her brothers to varying degrees, but she hadn’t met any of her half-sisters. She hadn’t truly experienced this kind of bond.
“Now I must ask,” she pressed, pushing aside whatever longing she felt at that thought. “What do you think of our other new friends?”
“New friends?” Katherine repeated. “Are you speaking about Mr. Huntington and Mr. Barber?”
Selina nodded. “Yes.”
“I met Mr. Barber briefly in the garden a short time ago,” Helena said. “He seems a very friendly man. We shared our common interest in roses. He gave me good advice on a problem I’ve been having with mites in my own little garden on our London estate.”
Katherine shifted and Selina felt her slight discomfort. Selina hadn’t been able to eavesdrop long enough at the study window to find out if Katherine was aware of the men’s investigation, but now she had to believe the duchess was. But Robert and she were obviously keeping the truth quiet.
“They are friends of Robert and Selina’s brother Nicholas. They served with him in the war. I believe Nicholas discovered they were spending time near Roseford, and asked Robert to include them. They both seem very decent men.”
Selina nodded slowly. She wanted to get closer to the efficacy of Huntington and Barber’s investigation, which meant getting closer to them. Or at least one of them. Huntington, since the attraction between them was patently obvious.
So it was time to throw a lure into the conversation and see if Katherine would jump for it.
“Very decent, given the brief interaction we shared on the drive. And very attractive, as you’ll all see at supper. Mr. Huntington is uncommonly handsome, I would say.”
Katherine’s gaze slowly shifted to Selina, and she pretended not to notice the interest in her sister-in-law’s stare. The calculations she was making. But Selina felt them being made, felt the desire to matchmake rising up in the duchess. She just hoped it was an itch Katherine wouldn’t resist scratching.
But judging from all the duchesses’ faces as they changed the subject to something else, she would wager a farthing she would be seated next to Derrick Huntington that very night. Now she just had to figure out the best way to read him, and which way to play the game that had begun hours before.
