Page 15 of The Haunted Duke

Helena thanked him again and did her best to turn her attention to the wide array of gorgeous flowers. Her mind was still on her conversation with the Duke, and though she tried to push it away, his sudden interest after a full day of ignoring her just seemed odd. Why would he care so much about her discomfort? Especially after treating her as if she did not exist?

She shook her head at her silent questions and told herself it did not matter. She just needed to get through the day.

Helena took in the blue, purple, and green hydrangeas, the white and purple gladiolas, the rainbow assortment of roses, lilies, and tulips. They were all so very vibrant and gorgeous. A spark of longing shot through her as her eyes lingered on the hydrangeas. They were her favorite, and what her mystery beau had once sent her along with every letter. She could not pick those, though, surely. Not flowers that would remind her of him.

She shifted her gaze away from the dusky blue flower and toward the lilac sprigs, picking one up instead of the hydrangeas.

She let out a hum of delight as she inhaled the scent of its petals, a deep sense of calm washing over her.

“I adore lilacs,” she sighed, holding it back to stroke her fingers lovingly over its delicate petals. “We certainly need some of these.”

Behind her, Evander chortled. She bristled as she turned around, brow raised.

“Do you have something to say, Your Grace?” she asked.

He raised a single brow as he swept his gaze over her in a dismissive fashion.

“Is that your choice?” he asked.

“What is wrong with it?” she felt uneasy under his gaze. It was as if he could see through her mind, her heart, the fake engagement—everything.

“So you and Jeremy are fond of each other?” he asked, and Helena instantly looked away.

“Of course… of course we are. We are very good friends,” she replied, her tone defensive.

“So you know him well?” Evander asked, reaching around to pluck the sprig of lilac from her fingertips.

“Obviously,” she all but hissed.

“Hmm,” he hummed, twirling the lilac in his fingers. Then she gasped as he tossed it to the side.

“Excuse me!”

“Then you should know that Jeremy detests lilacs,” Evander cut her off.

“Detests them?” Helena frowned. “Why would he have such strong feelings about them? They are only flowers.”

“Not quite. The smell, the look. They remind him of death.”

That gave Helena pause.

“Why death?” she asked.

Evander’s hard expression softened, if only a little.

“Lilacs were his mother’s favorite flower. They were laid on her casket as she was put to rest.”

Guilt swept through Helena. She had not known that. In fact, she realized, Jeremy had never shared anything but silly quips about his life. He never once shared something sorrowful or serious.

“Oh,” she murmured, looking down at the discarded flower on the floor.

She reached down and picked it up, twirling it in her fingers. She truly loved their scent, and it was a gift to have them so late in the year and out of season. In addition, the arrangements were supposed to be a symbol of them coming together to make a beautiful bouquet, so perhaps…

“Well, what if our wedding could give the flower a new meaning?” she asked, looking over the assortment for a flower that would best represent her betrothed. “Turn something that was once sad into something happy?”

She picked up a deep purple tulip and held it up to the lilac.

“And you are this something new that can create such a drastic transformation?” Evander asked, plucking the tulip from her hand.