Page 13 of 1797 Club 2nd Epilogue Collection (The 1797 Club #11)

Helena sat in the dressing room of her cousin Charity’s massive chamber, watching her be measured and fabric be pinched and tucked around her.

This was a common occurrence in the five years since the cousins had come to England from Boston with the idea of marrying Charity well.

Helena had, of course, been little more than her cousin’s servant in those days, but they had both had a happy ending.

Charity because she landed herself an earl who did not seem to mind anything she did and Helena because she had married the love of her life, Baldwin, the Duke of Sheffield.

“I’m so pleased to be out of black,” Charity said with a smile over her shoulder at Helena.

Helena returned it, though she sensed the lingering sadness in her cousin’s countenance. Charity would never want it to be pointed out, though, so Helena merely nodded. “Was it easier since it ended just a few weeks into the Season? You didn’t have to miss many balls.”

Charity shrugged and the poor seamstress working on her gown had to repin a few folds of fabric that the careless action freed. “ Father was obliging in that way, I suppose. But six months in black was trying. You were so lucky to have only endured three.”

Helena didn’t have much to say to that and she got up to move to the window and look down over Charity’s lovely garden.

Wearing black hadn’t been all that trying.

Accepting the condolences of acquaintances over the death of her uncle had been more difficult.

After all, Charity’s father had been very unkind to her over the years, even violent on occasion before her marriage.

She would not miss him, nor his conniving pressure to obtain invitations through Baldwin and his tight-knit group of powerful friends.

“One very nice thing is that I will be back in color for my anniversary,” Charity said.

At that Helena turned and her smile could not be contained. She and Charity had married only two weeks apart all those years ago, so her cousin’s anniversary coincided with her own. Thoughts of that gave her great joy.

“Five years, Charity! Can you believe it? It seems like yesterday, even with all the joys and sorrows and children in the interim.”

Charity smiled a little at her enthusiasm.

“I have no comment on the children, for mine are still mostly with the governess. I’ve never understood how you and Baldwin want to spend so much time with little Maxwell.

It would drive me to tears. But yes, it is sometimes odd to me that so many years have passed.

I married my Grifford for rank, but I really am fond of him. ”

Helena shook her head gently. Charity was, in some ways, far steadier than she was, despite all her flighty behaviors.

While her cousin could be so calm about her husband, Helena still got shivers when she saw Baldwin come across the room toward her.

She still rolled over in the bed in the morning and looked at his beautiful face, then marveled that she was so lucky as to be his and he hers.

“I am also quite fond of my husband’s generous purse,” her cousin laughed. “You should see what he got me to mark the occasion! ”

Helena wrinkled her brow. “Already? Your anniversary is over a month away.”

“Details,” Charity said with a dismissive wave her hand. She repeated the action toward the seamstress. “You must be finished now. We can pick this up later in the week if you need more.”

“Yes, my lady,” the woman said with a little exhaustion in her voice. She gave Helena a brief, more genuine smile. “Your Grace.”

With that she unwrapped the fabric from Charity’s frame and gathered her things. Once she had gone, Charity came down from the dais where she had been measured, her pretty chemise fluttering around her knees.

“Let me show you! You will be green with envy I’m certain!”

Helena followed her to the massive jewelry tower across the dressing room.

Charity opened it, revealing necklaces and ear bobs and even a few tiaras.

They were lovely, though far too showy for Helena’s style.

After a moment of digging around, Charity turned and held up a necklace for Helena’s perusal.

She did so, unable to contain her gasp at it.

“A ruby,” she breathed, holding up the huge gem to sparkle in the sunlight from the window behind them. She was not normally interested in such things, but one couldn’t help but be astounded by it.

“I cannot imagine what it cost him,” Charity said with a bright smile.

“Nor can I,” Helena said as she handed the necklace back. “I can see why you chose that pink silk with the red swirls though for your ballgown. It will really make the necklace stand out against your lovely throat.”

“I thought so.” Charity said and pressed a little kiss to the gemstone before she returned the necklace to the jewelry case and snapped it shut. “And Grifford will love to see it.”

“I’m sure he will.” Helena smiled. “He does seem to adore seeing you in pretty things.”

“Your Sheffield isn’t as interested in such things,” Charity said as she swept up the gown she had been wearing before her fitting and stepped into it.

She turned her back toward Helena expectantly and she almost laughed.

Her cousin had changed a great deal since her marriage but in some things she was the same spoilt girl she’d always been.

Helena fastened her gown regardless and thought of her cousin’s words.

There were so few who knew what Baldwin had been through in the last few years, how he had dragged himself up through loss and guilt and nothingness and rebuilt his legacy brick by painful brick.

Certainly, it wasn’t something she discussed with her cousin.

So Charity simply thought that Baldwin was not the man who gave expensive gifts.

“Honestly, I much prefer the gift of his time and affection over a bauble,” Helena said and meant it. “The moments we share have a higher value to me than any gemstone, even though I do think your necklace is very pretty.”

“Don’t be silly, Helena,” Charity laughed. “There are few things in this world with a higher value than that ruby!”

Helena laughed with her but glanced at the clock on the mantel as she did so. “Oh, I must rush off. Baldwin will be finished with his meetings soon and I want to be ready for him.”

“Off you go then, tell the duke that I gave my fondest regards and we must all have supper together soon.”

“I will.” Helena kissed her cousin’s cheek and then hurried from the room, excited to get back to Baldwin and the life they had. Yes, it had always been simpler than Charity’s, but Helena also knew it was so much sweeter.

O ne thing Baldwin had always liked about Grayson Danford was that man didn’t waste time or words. When they met, everything was direct and frank and he was never left wondering where he stood. Today, the man was smiling as he reached across his desk to shake Baldwin’s hand.

“I’m so pleased to give you this report,” Gray said.

“Not as happy as I am to receive it,” Baldwin replied as he leaned back in the chair across from Gray’s desk. “I really am so thankful that you allowed me to invest my very small funds into your venture, Gray.”

“And so you say every time we meet,” Gray said as he got up and moved to the sideboard to pour them each a drink.

He handed it over and leaned back on the desk edge.

“Your Grace, you may have started out as a mere investor, but I have come to truly value you as one of my partners. You needn’t thank me every time we meet. ”

Baldwin strummed his fingers along the cool cut glass of the tumbler and shook his head. There were not many people beyond his tight-knit group of friends and his beloved wife who knew the truth of his financial ruin not so many years ago. But Gray was one of them.

“I never would have been able to rebuild as I have without your assistance. I will thank you as much as I like for that.”

Gray chuckled. “And as a man with far superior rank to mine, I suppose I have no recourse but to tell you that you are most welcome for any help I provided. And that I am heartily impressed by how far you have come along in rebuilding yourself in just five years. You’ve paid off all your debts, improved your holdings, made sure your people had fair wages. ”

“I’ve tried my hardest to make things right and with Helena’s help and support, I think I am making inroads.”

Gray sipped his drink thoughtfully. “I wouldn’t dare tell you what to do with your funds, but with this newest influx of blunt, have you ever considering doing something…

fun with it? Frivolous?” Baldwin stared at Gray and the other man laughed.

“I feel as though I must have sprouted a second head when you stare at me so. ”

Baldwin shook his head. “It’s only that I’ve never considered you the kind of man who valued frivolity.”

“I value it very much if it makes my wife smile,” Gray said with a distant look in his eye that he only got when he spoke of Rosalinde Danford, a delightful woman who Baldwin very much admired, as did Helena. “And I think you have the same mindset.”

Baldwin nodded. “I do, indeed. And I admit that it has been difficult not to spoil Helena as I would have liked in the five years of our marriage. She never complains, of course. But how I would love to shower her with magnificent gifts for once.”

“Then why not do it? Surprise her.” Gray pushed off the desk and set his empty glass down behind him.

Baldwin pondered the idea for a moment. He had hesitated to put any money into personal needs or desires until his estate was in order.

That goal wasn’t entirely complete, but getting closer every day.

And he did have an anniversary with Helena coming up.

To surprise her with an extravagant gift was something that excited him. She deserved the world, after all.

“It’s a good thought,” he said at last. “Though I might need your help executing it. You know everyone, after all, and half of them owe you a favor.”

Gray smiled. “Anything I can do, I’m happy to oblige. What are you thinking?”

Baldwin explained the idea that was forming in his mind, and with every word he got more excited about the idea of gifting the person who meant more to him than anyone else in the world something that would tell her and the world how much she meant to him.