Page 20 of Duke of Wickedness

“Because, if I know those things,” Ariadne said, putting the pieces together, “then perhaps I can find a husband who likes and dislikes similar things.”

“Yes, exactly,” Helen said.

“Right,” Ariadne said.

“Right,” Helen said.

Ariadne was tempted to sayrightagain, because, for all that she appreciated Helen’s candor, she was notentirelyat ease with any of this, but instead, what came out was, “So how do I learn those things?”

Helen blushed. Ariadne blushed.

Then, despite a keen sense that talking more would not lessen her embarrassment, Ariadne stammered, “It’s just—it’s simply that you cannotaskpeople.”

I could, though,came an unhelpful voice from the back of her mind.I could ask the Duke of Wilds.

“No!” Helen said, thrusting her hands out in front of her in a defensive gesture. “No, you can’t. But there are, um. There are books. They discuss things. Often in detail.”

For a heartbeat, Ariadne was astonished by this, but then something clicked into place in her mind.

“Those books that you’re always hiding in the library!” she exclaimed. “That’swhat those are?”

Helen’s entire face went red, from her hairline all the way down to her collarbone.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, unconvincingly. Then, she sighed. “Oh, very well. Yes. Yes, they are. How did you know about those?”

“You’re pretty much as bad at sneaking as you are at lying,” Ariadne told her. “I just never said anything because it didn’t seem any of my business.”

“Kind of you. Well, if you already know where they are, then I shan’t say anything more except to let you know that they could give you some…places to begin your research.” Helen’s blush was fading, but it wasn’t gone. “Now. I am going to end this conversation while we can still look one another in the eye.”

“Marvelous,” Ariadne agreed.

Helen gave Ariadne a fond smile, then stood and headed toward the door. Before she left the room, however, she paused.

“I love you, Ari,” she said. “I want you to be happy. And—well, I know I might have been a bit blustery here today, but I am always here if you need me. Xander, too, of course, but sometimes these things are best kept between women.”

“Between sisters,” Ariadne said, smiling softly at this wonderful woman who had changed her whole family, who had made all their lives so much better.

Helen flushed again, but this time, it came with a pleased smile.

“Sisters,” she agreed.

Ariadne waited another moment or two, just long enough that she wouldn’t encounter Helen in the corridor. There was a difference, after all, between seeming curious and seeming a bittoocurious.

The Duke of Wilds would disagree, she thought, a smile teasing at her lips.

But maybe, if these books proved informative enough, she wouldn’t need the Duke of Wilds’ assistance. Which wasgood.

It wasdefinitelygood.

She kept telling herself that all the way to the library. She kept telling herself that as she went to the shelf where she had seen Helen acting far too suspiciously, given that this area of the library contained land keeping records from fifty years prior.

Once she pushed aside the old records, however, Ariadne thought of nothing other than the bounty before her.

Fanny Hill.

The Indiscreet Jewels.

The School of Venus.