She shrugged a shoulder. “I am praying for Benjamin, of course.”
“He does not deserve your prayers.” He scowled and followed her inside despite his protest.
“Now, now. You don’t know what I am praying for.” Her calculated grin made him forget the mystery of Lady Prestwick for a moment.
He chuckled. “And all this time I thought you were a saint.”
“Likewise,” she said then snorted.
Three
Helena often felt out of place in a crowd, and the one gathered in the foyer of the Theatre Royal was no exception. She only half listened to the ladies standing around her discussing their latest hardships. Lady Wiltshire’s modiste was working too slowly on her newly commissioned gown. Lady Rutland’s sojourn to Bath would be delayed by a week. And Lady Teesdale was having a horrible time with her cook, who had taken to bed with a fever two days earlier, which had Lord Teesdale high on the ropes.
Problems of the privileged. How do they cope?
“I told Mrs. Burke no more lazing about unless she wants to be turned out without references. Lord Teesdale was fit to be tied and refuses to eat another bite until the regular cook returns.”
Helena smiled to disguise the gritting of her teeth. She didn’t even know Mrs. Burke and yet she felt sorry for her. Lord and Lady Teesdale must be the most trying employers in Town.
Lady Eldridge—Olive—caught Helena’s eye and motioned Helena to join her and her dear friend, the Dowager Duchess of Foxhaven. The duchess was a cheerful lady who always put Helena at ease, and she was more than happy to escape the present company.
“Please excuse me. My husband’s cousin is summoning me.”
The ladies offered fleeting smiles, then returned to consoling one another.
Helena nearly wilted with relief when she reached Olive’s side on the outskirts of the Grand Saloon. “Is intermission almost over?”
“Soon. We could return to the box if you like.”
“That would be lovely.” She inclined her head in greeting to the duchess, admiring her vibrant bronze silk gown. “Good evening, Your Grace.”
“The duchess thought you looked in need of rescuing,” Olive said, fluttering her tortoiseshell fan to create a breeze on her reddened cheeks. Her fine, blond hair lay limp against her head and drew attention to her long face. The evenings had grown warm that week, but Olive refused to abandon her ruffled chemisettes. “Was it the toast story again?”
Helena chuckled in surprise. “You have heard about his lordship’s chipped tooth?”
“We all have, dear girl,” the duchess said, her blue eyes sparkling. “Other than being bombarded with uninteresting tales of woe, how are you finding London?”
“Very pleasant, Your Grace.”
The only reason Helena had traveled to London for the Season was to search for her sisters, but attending social events was necessary to keep up appearances.
Olive’s keen gaze swept over the other patrons as if on the lookout for trouble. What kind, Helena didn’t know, but she relied on her husband’s relation to guide her during her time in Town. Olive had been exceptionally kind and welcoming when Helena arrived, and they got on well despite the twelve-year age difference.
“Lady Eldridge is pleased you decided to summer in London,” the duchess said.
Olive nodded. “I wrote to Wickie several times suggesting he bring you to Town. I knew you would enjoy the Season, but my cousin was the most headstrong man I have ever known.”
“Wickie preferred the country, and I learned to love Aldmist Fell as much as he.” Helena didn’t defend her husband out of loyalty as much as a desire to avoid questions about her marriage.
Headstrong was an apt description for Wickie, however. As were obsessed, domineering, and irrational at times. One year Helena had begged him to accept Olive’s invitation, but he refused. He insisted the journey would be too tiring for a lady trying to conceive. When she had argued that she was in good health, he accused her of trying to interfere with conception and ordered her to bed rest. His accusation had mortified her, because she had wanted a child desperately. The emptiness of her life had chipped away at her. It still did, but finding her sisters would fill the hole left in her heart.