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Without thinking, she embraced him, thanking him, and felt him stiffen against her.

“You like it?” he asked, concerned.

“I absolutely adore it,” she gushed. “Thank you.”

He smiled down at her and ended up kissing her. But this one felt too tender, and she wondered if perhaps he, too, was warming up to her.

ChapterEleven

The night of the engagement party drew close so quickly, but this time, Helen was more than confident and ready to handle whatever came her way, especially in the beautiful dress she was now in.

Alexander had also given her a sapphire necklace that was sure to turn heads, and his head had indeed turned when she approached him where he stood outside, waiting.

“You, my wife, are a sight for sore eyes.” He smiled, kissing her cheek. “Are you ready?”

“I am,” she affirmed. “Let’s go meet your family.”

They stepped into the carriage and rode in conversation, discussing everything and nothing in equal measures. She mentioned a novel she had read that he apparently enjoyed too.

He gave her a brief overview of his life and how he had come to be the man he was now, but before he could warn her sufficiently about his family, they arrived.

He helped her down from the carriage, and she took in the small house with its well-kept lawn and gardens.

There were already a number of guests around, and it would be a crush, judging by the number of carriages he saw.

“We’ll be fine,” she told him.

He nodded, and they stepped through the double doors of the house.

* * *

“The Duke and Duchess of Blackwell!” the master of ceremonies announced as the doors were opened to admit them.

Whispers arose around the room as all eyes turned to watch them step into the ballroom. Alexander’s body immediately tensed up as he prepared to swim in the shark-infested waters he knew English ballrooms to be.

Helen squeezed his arm, and he appreciated her attempt to comfort him. He had given only sparse details of his strained relationship with his family, nothing much different from what Society knew, so he knew she had been mildly prepared to deal with them if there was any need to.

He secretly hoped their attempts to trap him in scandal would end with his marriage, but knowing his half-brother’s determination to get more money out of him and his stepmother’s zeal in protecting her children’s interests, he could not afford to let down his guard.

He surveyed the party guests with a look of disinterest, hiding his surprise at the crowd his family had managed to pull, but he guessed Society was all too curious to visit the manor of the family he had apparently, oh so wickedly, cast out of his estate.

“How,” Helen started, clinging to his arm as they strolled further into the room, “bright.”

He wanted to laugh. He knew he had been unfair, but her observation was correct, as the ballroom was glaringly bright with so many candles lit that he feared the slightest accident would set the place on fire.

As if the candles weren’t enough, they had opted for gold decorations, which further reflected the light and were near blinding.

“That’s rather impolite, wife,” he chided, smiling down at her. “What would my dear family say if they overheard us?”

“Will you tell them?”

“No.” He smiled brightly.

She gave a full-toothed smile that made him stop. She was so beautiful, she outshone even the jewels adorning her neck.

“What is it?” she asked, growing uncomfortable with his stare.

“You’re so beautiful, it astounds me,” he observed.