The summer in Albany turned out to not be the disappointment she had thought. It was to be a special time for Helen. She was a lively, attractive young woman with a voluptuous figure that was very much the fashion in the Victorian era. In coloring, she had blue-green eyes and ash blond hair.
Albany, as the state capitol, had quite a social life and she was to be an active part of it. It was at the governor's ball on August 9, 1851 that she was to meet her future husband. Lieutenant Edward Bissel Hunt was a serious young West Point graduate (graduating second in his class) and he would not have normally gone to a ball, except his brother happened to be governor.
Helen noticed the handsome young officer in his dashing uniform. Edward, in turn, noticed the attractive young woman. The rest of the ball they spent dancing together. For the rest of the summer, every opportunity he had away from his duties was spent visiting Helen. She was hoping to get a marriage proposal, but nothing was forthcoming. A travel opportunity came up to travel out West with her co-guardians. They were relatives of Reverend Palmer (her host for the summer and fall). It was with these Palmers that she was to travel for two months to St. Louis. At the first part of the journey they stopped in Washington, DC and she re-united with Edward. Shortly after this he proposed to her. When she returned from her trip she began plans for her wedding. Their marriage took place on October 28, 1852 in Boston. Their married life was to start in Washington.
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