Book Extract: A Husband is Hushed Up by Helen Golden

I am so pleased to be welcoming Helen Golden back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, A Husband is Hushed Up.

A fatal fall. A duchess determined to uncover the truth. And barely any time for tea.

Fenshire, 1891. It was meant to be a birthday celebration weekend in the country—cucumber sandwiches, polite conversation, and maybe a waltz or two. But when the Duke of Stortford is found dead in a crumpled heap at the foot of the stairs everything goes dreadfully sideways. The police declare it a tragic accident. His wife, Alice, has her doubts. After all, only hours before, the Duke had promised to give up his mistress and make a go of their marriage. Now he’s inconveniently deceased.

Driven by a need for answers, and helped by her fiercely loyal maid Maud, her observant footman George, and her childhood friend Lord Rushton, Alice sets about uncovering the truth. But as she navigates a house full of secrets, simmering tensions, and more than one guest with murderously bad manners, her suspect pool grows to include those closest to her. Can she piece together the truth? Or will her husband’s murderer get away with it after all?

The guests are leaving. The killer may be among them. Time is running out…

Helen has kindly shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy it. 

*****beginning of extract*****

It’s May 1891. Alice, Duchess of Stortford, is travelling from London to her family’s estate, Francis Court, in Fenshire, to celebrate her father’s 60th birthday. It’s meant to be a festive reunion, but Alice’s marriage to the Duke, Vance, has been under considerable strain. The couple have agreed to attend the gathering together in the hope of mending their fractured relationship.

As the rain falls and the carriage draws closer to the house, Alice confides her apprehensions to her dearest friend, Fiona ‘Fee’, Countess of Tilling and Alice’s older brother, Duncan, who is Fee’s husband. But Fee, ever the meddler with the best of intentions, has arranged a surprise guest—one whose arrival promises to make Alice’s reunion with her husband considerably more complicated…

“Come now, Alice,” Fee said, adjusting the pearl clasp on her gloves. “Tell the truth—how do you feel about seeing Vance again?”

She didn’t answer immediately as she gazed out at the hedgerows; they blurred past the carriage windows, along the long, winding driveway to the stately home.

How did she feel? Somewhat nauseous! But she was unsure if that was from the dread at seeing her husband or the swaying of the carriage.

She cleared her throat. “Apprehensive, I daresay. Curious. Mildly braced for disaster.”

Fee arched a brow. “Indeed.”

“I meant what I said when I wrote to him,” Alice said softly, recalling how it had taken three attempts to get the wording right. “That we ought to speak plainly about our future. It cannot continue like this—two polite strangers bound by legal ties and little else.”

Her hand drifted to her reticule. Inside, carefully folded and tucked into a small pocket, was Vance’s reply to her recent letter requesting they meet to talk about their relationship during the birthday celebrations. She’d read it twice already since they’d left London.

My dear Alice,

You are quite correct in observing that the time has come for plain speech between us. There have been failings on my part—many of which I am prepared to face with candour.

If you are willing, I should be glad of an opportunity to confer in private while we are both at Francis Court. I would not presume too far, but I hope we might explore the possibility of arriving at a more companionable understanding.

Yours,

V.

It was not a letter brimming with sentiment, but then, Vance was not a man given to effusions. Still, the line “a more companionable understanding” had lingered with her. For Vance, that bordered on emotional transparency. He must mean something by it. And yet, any conversation of substance would be rendered exceedingly difficult with her cousin Lady Forthington fluttering about the house… “It won’t be easy to speak freely,” she said aloud, “with Lilly in attendance.”

Alice’s brother gave a brief grunt. “I say, it’s dashed ill-mannered of Vance to bring her at all.”

“She’s your cousin, Duncan,” Fee reminded him, smoothing the skirt of her travelling dress. “And a member of the family. Naturally, she received an invitation.”

“Still bad form,” Duncan muttered.

Alice gave a humourless smile. “I can hardly speak to my husband about repairing our marriage while his rumoured paramour is sipping sherry in the next room.” She paused, her fingers tingling. Saying it aloud made her realise Duncan was right. Until now, she’d resisted thinking of it in such stark terms, but yes, it was poor form. Worse, it was cruel. He should’ve told Lilly to refuse the invitation. She licked her lips. “It places me at a distinct disadvantage,” she said huffily.

“I thought as much,” Fee said lightly. “Which is why I arranged something that might assist.”

She arched a brow. “What have you done, Fee?”

Her sister-in-law had a long history of what she termed “gentle involvement”—a practice that began during their first Season, when Fee had taken it upon herself to prevent Alice from taking the air with a marquess who she didn’t, “like the look of”, who later turned out to have both a wife and a fondness for absinthe. That particular intervention had been welcome. Others—such as introducing her to a viscount with breath like boiled cabbage—had been less successful.

Still, Fee’s heart was always in the right place, even if her schemes occasionally went sideways. A knot of dread twisted in Alice’s stomach as her sister-in-law continued, “Guess who arrives later today and is staying with Duncan and me at Francis Lodge?”

Alice narrowed her eyes. “Fee…” She braced herself for her best friend’s reply.

Fee’s smile grew positively wicked. “Henry Somerset. Lord Rivershore himself.”

Alice blinked as a nervous tremor passed through her. “You invited Henry?”

“I merely suggested it. And the invitation was extended.”

Henry, here? The handsome earl’s attention in London had been flattering, even exciting. But now? Under the same roof as Vance? “That’s wildly improper,” she murmured.

Fee shrugged. “Perhaps. But scarcely more improper than your husband parading about the drawing room with your cousin on his arm and expecting a private reconciliation over the breakfast kedgeree.”

She didn’t know whether to scold her or laugh. Henry. At Francis Court. She’d enjoyed his company far too much recently, and now he would be here, right under Vance’s nose. Well, at least I’ll have a backup! “Fee,” she said, her voice dry, “you may have complicated things rather spectacularly.”

“I prefer to think of it,” Fee said sweetly, “as balancing the scales.”

Duncan groaned and folded up the newspaper on his lap. “I am surrounded by madwomen.”

But she couldn’t help the smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth. Complicated? Yes. Improper? Certainly. But interesting? Oh yes! And Alice liked interesting…

*****end of extract*****

About Helen Golden

Helen Golden spins mysteries that are charmingly British, delightfully deadly, and served with a twist of humour.

With quirky characters, clever red herrings, and plots that keep the pages turning, she’s the author of the much-loved A Right Royal Cozy Investigation series, following Lady Beatrice and her friends—including one clever little dog—as they uncover secrets hidden in country houses and royal palaces. Her new historical mystery series, The Duchess of Stortford Mysteries, is set in Victorian England and introduces an equally curious sleuth from Lady Beatrice’s own family tree—where murders are solved over cups of tea, whispered gossip, and overheard conversations in drawing rooms and grand estates.

Helen lives in a quintessential English village in Lincolnshire with her husband, stepdaughter, and a menagerie of pets—including a dog, several cats, a tortoise, and far too many fish.

If you love clever puzzles, charming settings, and sleuths with spark, her books are waiting for you.

Say hello to Helen on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and X.  

​A Husband is Hushed Up is book two in The Duchess of Stortford Mysteries and was released in November 2025. Click to buy on Amazon UK and Amazon US. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.