A trio of older ladies had beaten him to the otherwise deserted conservatory. They had smiled at him pleasantly enough when he had entered the room moments earlier but had since cast dubious glances his way as if he might try to pounce on them as they perused the roses. The three watched them curiously as Helena walked up to him, their stares drawing him from his stupor.
“Helena,” he said, rediscovering his voice.
She smiled up at him, her white teeth gently tugging her bottom lip. “Have you called a meeting to discuss strategy?”
Casting the older women a fleeting look, he offered Helena his arm and led her to the other side of the room, which had a wall of windows overlooking the garden. She offered the ladies a greeting as they walked.
“Yes, but I didn’t realize this place might be inappropriate for our purposes. I wanted somewhere quiet, but not scandalous.”
She laughed. “I guess you haven’t heard of Lady Russell’s obsession with botany. They call this her Petit Garden of Eden.”
“I’d heard, but I suppose I underestimated her enthusiasm.” Everyone who had dinner with Hereford and his sister had been subjected to at least one long discussion of her conservatory here in London, which she had taken over after her mother’s death and kept as a shrine to the late dowager. If one were very unlucky, they were treated to a second, even lengthier discussion about her larger conservatory at her country estate.
“Now, Mr. Crenshaw, you should know to never underestimate a lady.” She teased him as she reached out to touch one of the lilies housed on this side of the room.
“I would never underestimate you.”
She smiled at that, and he had to drag his gaze away from her lips. They were the pink of rose petals. He wondered if they would feel as soft and supple as them, too. Now that they were far enough away from the women, he paused and said, “I want to apologize for earlier. I know you’re not like them. It was unfair of me to lash out at you in my frustration.”
She appeared thoughtful as she looked up at him. “I wouldn’t say that I’m completely unlike them, but thank you.”
He took in a breath, feeling like the oxygen had been sucked out of the room. Standing here with her felt different than all the other times he had been near her. Maybe it was because they were so much closer now to acknowledging the unspoken heat that lay between them. “I wanted to make certain that we are on the same page, as it were. That you realize what we’re undertaking.”
She glanced behind them toward where the trio had only recently disappeared down another aisle. Gently pressing her hand to his arm, she guided them down their own aisle. “Oh yes, I understand completely.” Lowering her voice, she continued, “Flirting, courtship, betrothal. Then I get to break your heart in a humiliating display of backpedaling. Well, humiliating for you.”
She gave a soft laugh, and he couldn’t help but smile at her. She really was adorable in a sensual sort of way. “Good. I’m glad we understand each other, and you’re anticipating my future set-down with relish. Now that you’ve had time to think things over, are there any additional rules you would like to put in place?”
“Additional rules? Have we come up with any?”
“Only the unspoken one . . . that I won’t leave you compromised beyond repair.” He loved how her cheeks flushed at that one as she quickly glanced away at a potted plant that he couldn’t identify.
“Ah, that one. Yes, it is an important one.” She leaned forward, bringing a long strand of leaves to her nose, which wrinkled slightly at the unpleasant smell.
“Any others?” he prompted.
“Perhaps one. I’d like to not break the hearts of your sisters, particularly Violet. I suspect that she may be of a mind to play matchmaker.”
Residual dread settled in his stomach at the memory of being trapped with Violet in the carriage as she joyfully arranged his romance with Helena. “I fear you’re right, but I don’t know how to tell them without giving too much away.”
“Do they know anything?”
He quite liked the look of concern that crossed her face. In the gaslight, her eyes appeared deep pools of touching apprehension. Clearing his throat against a sudden huskiness, he said, “I have told them of Papa’s demand, but not his ultimatum.”
“Good.” She nodded, and the spell she was weaving was broken. “That should be sufficient. We can tell them that we’ve conceived of the idea to placate your father, and my donors, and leave out the rest about August.”
“That might be enough, though I think August might suspect there’s something more to the scheme.”
“Can you put her off?”
“I believe so. With pressing business concerns at home, I’m only here in London for a little longer. I can certainly string her along until I leave for New York.”
“And then?” She arched a perfectly formed brow.
“She can’t very well force the truth out of me with an ocean between us, though I know she will try with her sternly worded letters and telegrams.”
Helena laughed. It was both husky and light, a full-throated sound that made his blood thicken in an awakening of carnality. He really needed to not be alone with her in public.
“She would try.” Then soberly, but with a gentle curve of her lips, she said, “I admire your friendship with your sisters.”
“In what way? Do you not share a friendship with your siblings?” He’d never thought about her family before beyond her parents, whom he’d met, and a few fleeting jealous thoughts cast toward her dead husband. Thoughts of which he was not proud.
“No, not as such. We are family who gather for holidays and special occasions. Do not misunderstand. I care for them, but we don’t have your ease.”
“And you don’t enjoy spending time with them when it’s not required of you.”
She grinned, lowering her head a bit in sheepish discomfiture. “No. You probably think poorly of me that I would admit to such a thing.”
“Not at all. I feel the same way about your family.”
“Blackguard!” Her eyes widened in mock outrage, but the smile stayed on her lips.
He laughed, enjoying this ease between them, rare as it was. “We should get back soon, but before we do, are there any other concerns or rules you’d like to discuss?”
“No, I trust that we’ll both behave as adults. Obviously, we can’t do something embarrassing or untoward that would make any reasonable person call off a courtship.”
“Obviously.” He nodded, slowly leading her farther down the row. Her hand felt comfortable on his arm, as if it were natural for it to rest there. “Do you expect any resistance from your parents?”