Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
“Helena,” Matteo leaned down and whispered in Helena’s ear. “If you would kindly remove that guilty expression from your face. You look like you just committed a crime.”
Walking into the hall of Wakefield House, Matteo escorted the sisters in each arm. The reaction to the announcement of Matteo’s presence at the event was overshadowed only by the guests’ realization that he had arrived with Helena and Chastity.
They had anticipated that their arriving together would cause understandable curiosity, especially since the Duke of Valen did not usually attend morning musicales.
But the fact that he had now attended two social events that were considered marriage mart venues was too delicious a speculation for the gossips to pass.
Helena heard the words even as she felt the stares.
“Perhaps the duke is finally ready to settle down and leave his wild ways.”
“She is from an outstanding family; in her sixth season, I think.”
But it was not until they were greeted by Lady Robertson, a friend of Helena’s mother, that talk truly began to spread about them.
“Your Grace.” Lady Robertson curtsied to Matteo and then addressed Helena. “My dear,” she greeted her in her usual bored manner. “I believe that congratulations are in order, for your mother tells me that you have just been engaged to the duke.”
Helena reinforced herself with a breath. She could see that her mother was still quick to communicate with her circle of friends.
“Thank you, Lady Robertson. It is a very recent occurrence.”
“It is a very good match for you, my dear. I see that the time you spent not hurrying has paid off.”
Then, to Matteo, she continued.
“Of course, it is a very good match for you as well, Your Grace. Though very unexpected, if I may say so myself.”
Matteo smiled his charming smile at Lady Robertson and acknowledged her words with a bow.
“Alas, one never knows when Cupid will strike.”
Helena elbowed him as discreetly as she could. His smile remained intact.
“I find that I have reached that point in my life when I feel ready to settle down. And seeing my dear Helena made me realize that she—”
Another discreet jab at his side.
“—is the correct partner for me.”
He glanced just as discreetly at Helena with a mischievous look.
That encounter seemed to have triggered others to give in to their curiosity and openly approach Helena and Matteo. Greetings, congratulations, and more questions were launched at them.
Matteo bore it all with his usual charm and ease.
Helena noticed how many times he answered various questions when she had seemed to have difficulty in forming replies.
Although she was constantly worried that he would overact and be overly romantic—as he had seemed to be doing during their conversation with Lady Robertsaon—he had not.
When the signal was given that the musicale was about to start, Helena heaved a sigh of relief.
Chastity, who had been mostly polite but mostly silent during the encounters, was now approached by Lord Fleetwood. After exchanging pleasantries with their party, he turned to Chastity.
“Will you do me the honor of sitting next to me during the performance, Lady Chastity?”
“I would be delighted to, my lord.”
“This way, my lady. I have reserved those seats for us.”
“Thank you, my lord.” Chastity smiled. Then, turning to Helena and Matteo, she added. “I shall look for you after the performance.”
Helena nodded.
“Is Fleetwood pressing his suit on Lady Chastity?”
“He has come to call on her quite regularly since they were introduced at Lady Chapman’s ball.” Helena looked at Matteo. “Why? Is there anything bad about him?”
“No, the man is as he appears, a little on the foppish side, but he isn’t a bad fellow altogether.” Matteo watched Chastity and Lord Fleetwood take their seats. “Does Lady Chastity show any inclination towards him?”
“At the moment, no, she is more interested in Lord Strong.”
“Lord Strong. Now there is a fellow.” Matteo’s eyebrows rose.
“What do you mean?” Helena asked.
“Believe it or not, he is more serious than you.”
She slapped him lightly on his arm. Matteo chuckled.
“I am in earnest that gentleman would marry his responsibilities if he could. A more innocent youth I have never seen, well, perhaps Peter just after he lost his mother. Viscount Dunsmoor wants to prove himself. He is very active in Parliament, though he has much to learn.”
“That is what my father says as well. That he should learn to listen to his elders first and learn.”
“Your father is not wrong.”
“You think him too serious for Chastity?”
“I think no such thing, I only mean to relay that having known Lady Chastity as a lively young lady, I am unsure their dispositions will suit.”
“They seemed to be enjoying each other’s company during the few times they were together.”
“A gentleman—a man—always wants to make a good first impression. Well, perhaps not Peter, but—”
Helena slapped him lightly on the arm again.
“What? Is a man not allowed to make fun of his oldest friend in the world?” Matteo chuckled.
Helena considered Matteo’s words. The viscount had not called on Chastity recently.
They had assumed that his responsibilities had not allowed him the time to do so.
And it appeared that they were right. She sighed inwardly; they would just have to wait and see.
The best she could do to help Chastity was to advise her not to expect too much yet.
“Is Chastity taking the news of the engagement better now than yesterday?” Matteo interrupted her thoughts.
“I believe so. Well, the initial shock is over at least. She is still trying to get used to the idea, I think.”
“I hope today’s plan will finally convince her,” Matteo said.
“That is the plan, at least.”
Another signal sounded for everyone to take their seats. Guests were starting to settle down.
“Well, shall we sit as well?” Matteo gestured to a pair of chairs among the rows set up in the Wakefield’s extensive Music Room. They were just a row behind Chastity and Lord Fleetwood.
“Yes, thank you.”
If Helena thought that being the eldest child among four sisters was a challenging thing, then she had the utmost respect for Lady Rebecca Wakefield, who was the eldest among seven daughters.
The Wakefield Septet, as they had been called since their musical debut the previous Season, was composed of all the Wakefield daughters, their ages ranging from four and twenty to fifteen.
Their performance last Season had been such a success that they had relented to the requests of those who attended and turned it into an annual event.
Their initial audience of family and friends had now extended to acquaintances as well.
“How is it that you were invited to this event?” Helena asked Matteo. She leaned closer to him and whispered. “Was Lady Wakefield not afraid for her seven daughters?”
Matteo gave her a humorless smile, then pointed to Lord Wakefield, who sat three rows in front of them.
“Lord Wakefield was one of my father’s closest friends.” This time, he turned to Helena with a smug smile. “And if you must know, there was a time he bade me choose which daughter I would have.”
“No,” Helena said in disbelief. “Surely you jest!”
“I do not, I am telling you the truth.”
At her shocked look, Matteo laughed and continued.
“He was mostly joking, of course. Well, I hope that he was. But as it turned out, he need not look for suitors for his daughters. The young ladies have done quite well on their own.”
“Yes, Rebecca is to be married in a month’s time, and two of her sisters are also engaged.” Helena smiled.
“You are friends with Lady Rebecca?”
“Yes, though not as close as Celine and Dahlia. We met during her first season. I was on my third season then and somewhat better at navigating London Society, so I felt somewhat protective of her.”
“Pray, exactly how old are you, Helena?”
“Why, with three sisters grown, how could you expect me to reveal my age to you, Your Grace?” Helena, eyes dancing, bit back a laugh.
“I am glad to finally see you smile. It is a far cry from your disposition when we arrived earlier today.” Matteo grinned at her.
Helena remembered how nervous she felt as they entered the front door of Wakefield House together with Chastity. Indeed, talking to him like this seemed to have lessened her nerves.
“Of course, I was nervous. What if someone were to find out what we are about?” She looked around guiltily.
Matteo laughed.
“Someone will find out if you continue acting in such a suspicious way. Will you please relax?” He pointed to the musical instruments on the stage. “There, try naming the various instruments that the Wakefield daughters will be using.”
Helena trained her eyes on the stage. She appreciated the Wakefield sisters’ accomplishments in the field of music more.
“The pianoforte, the harpsichord, a lute, a lyre, two harp-lutes, and a mandolin.” She said in succession.
Matteo frowned.
“I only see the first two, and perhaps the lyre. Where do you see the other four?”
Helena laughed this time.
“I am merely recalling the instruments the ladies used at last year’s performance.”
“Ah. Let me think of a more challenging question then.”
He tapped his chin in thought.
“I have it.” Matteo grinned. “What are the Wakefield sisters’ names? Aside from Lady Rebecca, name the other six. For there is nothing harder than putting a name to a face.”
“Truly, do all ladies look the same to you?”
“Well—”
“Never mind, do not answer that.”
Matteo chuckled.
“Go ahead, their names if you please.”
Helena frowned in concentration. Counting off the names in her fingers, she started.
“Let me see, there is Cassandra, Margaret, Georgette, Louisa, and…” Her brows drew closer together. “Oh, what were the two youngest’s names?”
Matteo made a show of drawing out from his coat pocket the handbill that was handed to him by a footman upon their entrance.