“This argument does none of us any good at all.” Anna spoke up for the first time. Shakily, she lowered a hand from her lips and stepped forward. “I do not know how their argument began, or how this…” she waved a hand at the broken pot, “happened. Yet thetonis watching us all. Goodness knows how many people out there have pressed their ears up against these doors right now.” She waved a hand at the double doors behind them.
“Of course, and that is what matters, is it not?” The Dowager Duchess of Bridstone turned her back and walked around the room, scoffing with the words. “What thetonthink, not what each of us think of the union.”
“I am trying to make things right,” Anna said with passion. “At least give me the honor of seeing that. We cannot continue this argument. Our children are getting married, and that is an end to the matter. We must end this argument, save face, and return to our guests.”
“Save face,” the Dowager Duchess repeated with scorn.
“Mother. Not another word,” Christopher warned, still standing closer to Helena’s side. “The Duchess of Dunton is right. We should be thinking of Robert and Lady Julia and their day. This day could have gone off without a hitch if you had all just chosen not to cause trouble.” He cast a glare at his great-uncle who shifted in his seat.
“It was not I who started it,” he insisted and pointed at Gibbs with his cane again. “Where are you boy? You saw it. What happened to start all this?”
Helena looked at Matthew, who stood by the wall, still fidgeting restlessly. He looked tearful.
“You’re putting pressure on the lad, Uncle. Leave him be,” Christopher commanded, his tone taking control of the room. With a reluctant nod, Lord Isaac agreed and didn’t say anything more but sat back in his seat.
“No more of this then,” Helena pleaded, staying beside Christopher as she turned to face her family. “No more trouble, not from any of us.” She looked from Benjamin to Gibbs then to her mother and aunt too. “For Julia, no more trouble.”
Benjamin nodded, and with that movement, Helena sighed. It escaped her suddenly with relief, yet she was watched in earnest by her father, who never once removed his eyes from her.
“Perhaps it’s best we try to all avoid one another before the ceremony to keep the peace,” Christopher said, more gently this time. “Lady Helen,” he laid a hand to her arm, “perhaps you could steer your family one way, and I’ll take charge of my own?” She moved toward him. Automatically, thinking of that touch, she shifted herself, so she held his arm too. They stood together in the room, holding onto one another with her hand resting delicately on his bicep.
“Yes, that is a wise —”
“You have a hold of my daughter.” Benjamin’s voice had darkened.
Helena looked down at that touch. She had thought nothing of it. After their kiss, such a simple touch was nothing; it was hardly as intimate as the touches they had shared when dancing together.
“Release her,” Benjamin ordered.
Slowly, Christopher raised his hand from Helena. She dropped her touch from him, too.
“I respect your daughter, Your Grace. Do not mistake what I did.”
Yet Benjamin’s eyes continued to flick between them. Helena felt a sudden rush of heat in her face, fearing what more he had noticed.
“You didn’t recoil either. In fact, you laid a hand on him, too,” Benjamin observed then looked around, appealing for other witnesses. He stared at his wife in expectation. “Anna? What of this?”
“He just touched her arm.” Kitty shrugged, plainly not seeing anything to concern her.
“She didn’t pull away. She didn’t even flinch,” Anna said, talking over Kitty. “She returned the touch. If I didn’t know any better…” She raised a hand and waved at the short distance between Helena and Christopher.
They suspect…
Helena held her breath, fearing that somehow her parents would suddenly discover everything that had happened between her and Christopher. They already resented Julia for her scandal with a Moore. What would they think of Helena having her own scandal, and what was more, walking into it willingly with open eyes?
She looked at Christopher, feeling that warmth for him despite the situation. He didn’t look away from her.
“How well have you come to know my daughter over recent weeks?” Benjamin asked, stepping toward them.
“She and I have made it our mission to broker peace. For our siblings’ sake,” Christopher explained in a rush.
“That didn’t answer my question.”
“Father, please.” Helena stepped in front of Christopher, blocking off her father’s path to him. Benjamin’s eyebrows shot up across his temple, for he was startled at her movement.
“There is something more to this, there is,” Gibbs joined in, pointing sharply at the two of them. “Look at how she defends him.”
“What is all this?” a voice called from the doorway.
