Page 60 of The Haunted Duke

He then glanced toward Helena, offering her a reassuring nod.

“And allow Evander to marry dear Helena.”

Helena looked fondly at her new husband, marveling at how happy he looked as he sat by her side at their wedding reception. There was no pinched brow. No crease of worry on his forehead, no tightening of his vivid blue eyes as if he were straining to contain his discomfort as he had been for the last several days. He was relaxed, his handsome face smiling and stress-free as he spoke to Elara and Caroline, who had come to offer their congratulations.

“I say I have rather enjoyed these sudden twists of events,” Elara said giddily, turning her affectionate gaze to Helena. She reached her hand to her, and Helena felt no discomfort in laying her palm in Elara’s.

“I knew right away it was our family you belonged in,” Elara said with a sly wink. “We are sisters now, and I do very much look forward to the fun we shall no doubt have. Will we not, Caroline?” she added, glancing toward Damien’s wife.

Caroline’s smile was as affectionate as Helena’s as she looked down at her.

“We certainly will,” she agreed, her hands trailing down to her rounded stomach. “Of course, I will have to wait until this little one is ready to join us. I am afraid Damien and I must depart quite soon. All this excitement and intrigue has me feeling so very tired, and I had to beg Damien to allow me to stay this long.”

“Go,” Evander and Helena encouraged in unison. They shared a glance and broke into laughter at their shared speech. She bowed her head toward him, silently urging him to speak first. He winked at her, then rose from his chair and went around the table to stand before Caroline and take her hands in his gloved ones.

“Helena and I will be returning to my London estate tomorrow morning,” he told her. “Please write to us when you are feeling comfortable with visitors.”

“I will, thank you, cousin,” Caroline replied, her gaze turning pleading as she shifted her gaze from Evander to Helena. “But please take no offense if you receive no such letter until after the baby is born. I truly do feel most exhausted most days.”

“No offense taken,” Helena promised, going to Evander’s side.

She took Caroline’s hands from his and leaned, both women giving each other a familial kiss on the cheek.

“We understand completely,” Helena assured her. “Please do what you must to ensure your health and that of your precious new baby.”

“Your new bride is as kind as she is beautiful,” Damien said, joining them.

Helena did not miss how Damien’s arm wrapped possessively around Caroline’s back. Nor did she miss the instant look of happiness on Caroline’s face as he did so.

“Thank you for your compliments and your presence,” Helena replied. “I do fear Patricia would have taken extreme measures at the church if you had not intervened.”

Damien bowed his head to her in respect.

“I love my brother,” he said, shifting his gaze to Evander. “But it is quite clear to me that it is you two that belong together. I never thought I would see him this happy after so many years.”

Helena turned to look at her husband, watching as an appreciative smile drew across his face as he and Damien shook hands.

“Thank you, old friend,” Evander replied sincerely.

They bid farewell to Caroline and Damien, and for the next several minutes, Helena talked comfortably with Elara as they made future plans.

“You simply must come to London before the Season is through,” Elara insisted, squeezing Helena’s hands. “I shall introduce you to every dressmaker worth knowing, and we can scandalize the ton together at the theater.”

“I should like that very much,” Helena replied, laughing.

Evander’s mother, Nora, came up to the table as well, offering her congratulations and embracing Helena tightly.

“Welcome to the family, my dear,” Nora said warmly, patting her cheek. “You have already done more for my son than any physician these last two years.”

She pulled back to study Helena’s face, her sharp eyes softening.

“I watched him disappear into himself after he came home,” she went on quietly. “I had nearly given up hope of seeing him laugh again. After people called him such names… I thought he would never leave the house again. But now here you are, and he cannot seem to stop looking at you.” Her voice caught, just slightly, before she composed herself and smiled. “Forgive an old woman her tears. You have given me my son back, Helena, and there is no debt I could ever repay you for that.”

Soon, Mary-Anne followed, and she and the Dowager Duchess of Redgrave fell into a cordial conversation, their heads bent together as Nora asked after Alex.

It was as Patricia was hesitantly making her way to their table, however, that a servant appeared by Evander’s side and handed him a letter. Her curiosity and concern piqued as she watched her new husband grow still and turn a slighter shade of pale. Yet before she could ask if anything was wrong, he opened the letter and visibly relaxed.

“It is a letter from Jeremy,” he explained.