Chapter 3 #2
The sound of footsteps caught her attention and effectively interrupted her pleasant visions. Annoyed, she opened her eyes just as the source of the sound was revealed in the form of a man walking from behind a path obscured by the garden shrubs.
So surprised was Helena that she was unable to rise from where she sat and before even knowing it, the man was before her.
The garden lamp gave off just enough illumination for her to see his face.
The Duke of Valen. Of course, who else could it be? The man just cannot seem to stop ruining my evening!
Matteo stopped in mid-step as he saw her too. By his expression, was equally stunned to see her there.
How long they stayed in that manner, he standing looking at her with surprise and not a little confusion, she sitting frozen on the garden bench, she could not tell. It certainly felt longer than just a few moments.
“Really, Lady Helena,” Matteo drawled after his initial surprise at seeing her alone in the garden, “are you following me?”
“I beg your pardon!” Standing up from the bench, Helena fairly sputtered, “I was here first, Your Grace! I will say that it is you who seems to be following me!”
“You flatter yourself, my lady.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I should ask you that question, an unmarried lady alone in a garden at night.”
“And what of it?” Helena’s hands were clenched at her sides. “I wanted some respite from the happenings of the ball. I have no need to explain myself to you.”
“I am merely concerned for your well-being, Lady Helena. I thought you were an expert on keeping one’s reputation intact, clearly you have forgotten the dangers for a lady of solitary garden walks at night.”
Her eyes narrowed at him. Matteo was enjoying riling Helena, indeed he had even during their short visit with Peter and Dahlia.
Although then, he tempered the inclination.
Now, watching the way her eyes blazed at him made him want to try her further.
He did mean what he said to Peter back then as well.
Helena seemed so wound tight that she did not seem to know what the word fun meant.
Someone must remind her how to have fun.
“And you must know all about the dangers of solitary garden walks at night, I imagine.”
Matteo intentionally smiled at her in a mysterious way.
“A rake must know such things of course.” Then she continued with a sniff, “Why do you keep seeking Chastity out?”
Matteo let out a long breath. She certainly did not mince words. Matteo felt a little insulted, for he felt that he did not deserve the censure that she was implying.
“Forgive me, but I seem to recall asking Lady Chastity to dance only once, a request which, I might add, I withdrew in deference to your unreasonable ill humor. And while we are speaking of your sister, why is it that you are so eager to keep her away from me?”
“Chastity deserves better than a rake!”
“Ah. And so my reputation precedes me, I see.” He adopted a nonchalant expression. “Funny how, during our time together at Icedale Castle, you never saw the need to protect Lady Chastity from me there.”
“You would never! Not in your friend’s very home!”
“You are correct, I would never.” Matteo put emphasis on each word. “Not Lady Chastity, not Mary, not Claire.”
Matteo was vaguely aware that he did not add not you.
“Even we rakes have our codes.” He said sardonically.
“An oxymoron, if I ever heard one.” Helena spat. “Rakes, by their very definition. do not treat women as they should be treated.”
Matteo stepped closer to her. He felt a thrill run through him when she did not move away. Leaning down, he softened his voice.
“Really, and how, pray tell, do you know this? For I should think that a rake is the best authority on how to treat a woman most pleasantly.”
Helena’s eyes widened. Then, seemingly realizing how close to each other they were standing, started to step back. She opened her mouth to speak, but the sound of approaching people froze her.
They both turned toward the pathway Matteo had used to enter. They could hear a conversation between a group of gentlemen and ladies, seemingly out on a stroll.
Without thinking, Matteo pulled Helena with him behind a large hedge. She was so surprised that her protest came late.
“What are you doing? Unhand me!” She demanded.
“Be quiet,” he hissed.
“I demand that you let me—”
Matteo gently covered her mouth with his hand, effectively silencing her. At that very moment, the group emerged. They stopped and occupied the same bench that she had earlier sat on.
“Did you see what the countess was wearing?” said one of the ladies.
“Indeed, how could you not?” replied the other lady. “She shone like a beacon with her orange trims and frills!”
Laughter followed the exchange.
“Really, ladies,” said one of the gentlemen, chuckling, “must you be so severe on your own sex?”
“Well, I am but stating a fact, sir,” said the first lady.
“But that is not the most interesting thing that has happened tonight,” said the second gentleman. “The Duke of Valen is in attendance at a debutante’s ball. Imagine that!”
“That can perhaps be explained by the Duke of Icedale’s recent marriage. It seems that the Duke of Icedale is trying to reform a rake!”
“That will be the day!”
They all laughed at that.
Helena turned her head to look at Matteo. At her raised eyebrows, he shrugged. Matteo had learned a long time ago not to be bothered by what people thought of him, at least those people that he cared nothing for.
The time when he cared too much about what people thought had long passed. If he had been thought a disappointment by those who should have valued him, then why should he concern himself with anyone else?
With her standing so close to him, Matteo could feel her breathing. She stood stiffly in front of him, her back touching his chest, his arm around her shoulder as he covered her mouth. He felt her warmth seeping through to him.
During their stay at Icedale Castle, he had realized that she was a beautiful woman buried under frowns and disapproving looks.
Indeed, he had teased her repeatedly because he was attracted to her.
And tonight, seeing her again, he could not deny that he was still attracted to her.
He wondered what would happen if he acted on his attraction?
How she would react if he were to reach—
No! What am I doing?
He must not allow himself to start thinking those kinds of thoughts towards Helena. He blamed the nearness of her, the scent of her hair, as her coiffure tickled his chin. For a moment, Matteo forgot why they were even hiding.
The group continued talking for a few more minutes until they finally decided to head back to the ball.
When their voices and footsteps could no longer be heard, Matteo dropped his hand from Helena’s lips. He slowly turned to her. For the life of him, he could not step away from her.
He motioned for her to remain still and silent. He wanted to be sure that everyone from the group had completely gone.
Quietly, Matteo stepped from behind the hedge and peered at the area of the garden bench. It was finally empty.
“Come, my lady, they have left.”
Gingerly, Helena followed his directions.
She looked towards the ball. Matteo could read from her expression—eyes narrowed, lips tightened as if she would like to purse them disapprovingly—that she thought the incident too close a call.
He wondered if she had any idea how expressive her face was. Or how beautiful.
Indeed, she was beautiful. And serious, and immensely lacking fun. But there was something about her way, about her manner that had pulled at him.
He had known beautiful women. But he knew that beauty alone could not produce attraction. Certainly not the kind he was feeling now.
She turned to him, and Matteo stared into beautiful blue eyes.
He could not help it; he leaned down, bringing his face so close to hers that they were only inches apart.
“I thought tonight would be dreadfully dull. But it turned out to be rather interesting.” He said, the feel of her lips against his palm still fresh in his mind.
Control yourself, Matteo! Good god, you are thinking like a schoolboy.
To hide his sudden flare of feelings, he raised his brow and spoke again, employing every particle of charm he’d learned over the years.
“I do hope we meet again soon. I would welcome another argument with you, my lady. Or if you prefer hiding—”
But before Matteo could continue, a loud smack filled the air, surprising him. The stinging feeling in his cheek rendered him suddenly still.
Helena, her face red and hot, had slapped him.