Chapter 5 #2
The different faces of servants, of governesses, and of tutors sped through his mind. How many had there been to give him the education and training that were required for the son of a duke? Too many, when all he really needed was…
Matteo gave himself a mental shake.
What is wrong with me?
Why was he being besieged by sentimental thoughts? It was rather unnerving.
Earlier that day, as he was walking with Helena and Chastity, he was surprised at his own reaction to her unsaid words.
Matteo had always professed to be a rake.
No matter his personal behavior, a well-crafted reputation as a flirt kept marriage-minded mamas and their dangerous daughters away from him.
So why had Helena’s opinion of him stung?
And why did he suddenly want to confess to her the reasons for his behavior?
When he had taken his leave, he could not help feeling that he was leaving something important behind. Matteo sighed at the gravity of his thoughts.
What is happening to me?
Determined to regain his usual disposition, he concentrated on the first course that was just then served to him.
He was halfway through his crawfish soup when Peter arrived and joined him at his table. Glad to finally escape his own thoughts, he teased his friend.
“Not so late as last time, I am quite surprised.”
“Apologies, I was detained,” Peter said with a mysterious smile.
“By a red-headed beauty, I would guess?”
Peter’s replying grin said it all.
“Truly, Duke, you are the luckiest of men.”
“I do not deny it,” Peter ordered his meal, still smiling. “Sometimes, I question if it is all a dream, but alas, I find that it is all too vivid to be a dream.”
“Vivid.” Matteo teased. “Dahlia has made a poet out of you.”
They ate in companionable silence as they always had. Being now married, Peter only met Matteo every Wednesday night at their club. And, truly, Matteo could not begrudge his friend the happiness he had found.
“And how fare Mary and Claire in this second season of theirs?”
“Dahlia believes that Mary is to receive an offer of marriage very soon.”
Matteo raised his eyebrows.
“Lord Westerfield.”
“Ah. The suitor from last season.”
“Yes.” Peter smiled. “When Mary told him that she did not yet wish to be wed last season, I thought that he would go and find another willing lady. I am rather surprised that he waited.”
“And will she accept this time?”
“She is showing signs of partiality towards the gentleman.”
“Are you ready?”
Peter sighed, not even pretending to misunderstand the question.
“I have learned to accept that the twins are no longer children. And to see them properly wed to deserving husbands is the best that can happen.”
Peter gave his friend a salute. What a difference a year made, indeed.
“I am just glad that if Mary marries soon, Claire and Chastity shall keep each other company during the Season. A young lady must be with her own age to fully enjoy the Season after all.”
“The twins became friends with Lady Chastity Ayles during our stay there last winter, am I correct?”
“Indeed, a lucky happening.”
“What would you have done had you no visitors then, Duke?” Matteo smirked. “The pains that Lady Helena and I had to go through to secretly push you and Dahlia together.”
“Not so secret, you and Helena were very obvious in your schemes. It was quite embarrassing to watch you.”
“And here I thought Helena and I were being covert.”
Peter raised his brows at his friend’s use of Helena’s given name. Realizing his mistake, Matteo grimaced.
That is what happens when you let other people’s opinions affect you.
“Helena, is it?”
When Matteo gave him a withering look, Peter smirked.
“I admit to thinking the worst when I found out that you and Helena were meeting quite often during your stay at Icedale Castle.”
“Thank you for your high opinion of me, Duke,” Matteo said drily.
“Of course, Dahlia convinced me that Helena would never do something so scandalous.”
“I told you back then that Lady Helena was so serious that she seemed to have forgotten what the word fun meant.”
“But that did not stop you from teasing her and sticking to her side when you could, did it?”
“I admit that it was highly enjoyable to annoy her, as was it highly rewarding to see her annoyed at me.” Matteo chuckled. “Indeed, she is still annoyed at me to this day.”
“You have seen her?”
“Yes, at Lady Chapman’s ball, she quite literally blocked me from dancing with Lady Chastity.”
“I wonder why?” Peter pretended to think.
“And earlier today, I walked with both of them at Hyde Park.”
Peter stopped pretending and looked at his friend in an earnest manner. Matteo, aware that he was being studied, kept silent and indulged his friend.
“Matteo, you seem uncharacteristically interested in a lady who, not only challenges you, but clearly disapproves of you as well.”
Matteo scratched his chin. Is there any use denying it, he wondered. He thought not; Peter knew him too well.
“She is a very interesting lady.”
It was the truth. He did find Helena interesting—among other things. But he must leave it at that because Matteo, himself, did not know what his interest in her, indeed, his reactions to her meant.
For a moment, Peter seemed to be on the verge of saying something else, but, making up his mind, he kept quiet. But after a while, Peter spoke again.
“Matteo, for all your rakish affect, you seem far more thoughtful than you usually are.”
“Do I?”
Even without Peter’s answer, Matteo knew that his mind was kept busy by thoughts of a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, sharp-tongued lady who refused to have anything to do with him.
Who he didn’t want to have anything to do with him.
Not at all.