Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
The Woodacre Spring Ball was an annual ball held by the Marquess and Marchioness of Norwood in their estate, Woodacre, in Surrey. Though technically held in the country, its proximity to London—just south of the River Thames—was an easy distance for the nobility to travel.
Helena and Chastity, as was now their normal way, were to ride with Matteo in his carriage. And by the looks of it, they would arrive rather early.
Matteo raised his eyebrows at seeing the two ready and waiting upon his arrival.
“And here I thought making a gentleman wait half an hour at the least was the norm among ladies attending a ball.”
Helena smiled and gestured for him to come closer.
“Chastity has been extremely excited for this ball; she practically pushed me to get ready. Poor Sally has been reprimanded many times for being too slow in arranging our hair.”
He looked at her, his gaze sweeping from top to bottom. She was stunning. He wondered why it was that every man in London did not beg to do her bidding. He certainly felt that at that moment, she could ask for the moon, and he would give it.
Helena’s gleaming blonde hair was arranged elegantly with soft tendrils framing her face, and glittering stones winked at him from within the tresses. Her gown, a deep, silvery blue, brought out the color in her blue eyes, and—to Helena’s surprise—matched his waistcoat.
Her look of surprised delight when she noticed the color of his attire had him smiling broadly.
“How—”
“I asked your Sally, of course.”
“And you just happen to have the same color waistcoat in your wardrobe?”
“I asked during the time we planned the events that we would be attending together,” Matteo took her hand, so natural a movement now that neither of them noticed. “That gave me time enough to procure the garment I needed.”
He did not say, however, that his tailor had to locate the specific fabric from Helena’s modiste.
With all the trouble, he, therefore, had to pay for the waistcoat three times the amount of what it should have normally cost. Not to mention that, Davis, his valet, had to practically threaten his tailor the loss of Matteo’s patronage if it was not finished in time.
But the look of appreciation and—was it happiness?—on Helena’s face made it all worthwhile.
“That is very thoughtful of you, Matteo.”
She lifted herself on her toes and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. Smiling shyly at him, she turned and made her way to the door.
Matteo stood, unable to move as he watched her proceed to the door. The sweetness of her unexpected gesture of thanks left him feeling warm all over. His heart beat as if it had just started beating for the first time, as if it had only been brought to life by her action.
A light, chaste kiss on the cheek did more to him than any practiced, artful move ever could.
The Woodacre ball was, so far, the largest ball of the season.
Chastity had danced two dances with gentlemen whom she had taken a turn with before, Lord Fleetwood was one of them.
Although she had smiled and been her usual amiable self during his company, Helena could tell that she was simply being polite.
Despite her father proclaiming to his daughter that Lord Fleetwood was his choice of suitor for Chastity, Helena had not pushed for the gentleman.
Indeed, the knowledge that Chastity had preferred another gentleman altogether had been a good reason for her not to.
The dance was about to finish, and she prepared to wave at Chastity to call her over, when a gentleman appeared beside her.
“Good evening, Lady Chastity.”
“Why, Lord Strong, good evening to you as well.”
She could not help the slight frown that appeared on her forehead.
“It has been a while since we have seen you.”
If her tone was one of censure, Helena could not help that either. How dare this callow lord raise her sisters’ hopes and then—and then–
Lord Strong bowed and had the grace to look embarrassed.
“My apologies, my lady. I had the most urgent business in my estate that needed my immediate attention.”
“Of course.” She replied, but she knew that her tone was not kind.
Again, Helena could not help it; the recollection of how Chastity had kept watch at every event for him, how she had stood by their drawing room window pretending not to be disappointed when it was another gentleman who came calling was something that made her feel wretched.
“I-I should have sent a note to explain my sudden departure.”
“I am sure there was no need, my lord. You are not beholden to your friends in such a way.”
Lord Strong rubbed his forehead in apparent distress.
“Please, allow me to explain.”
Helena inclined her head and remained silent.
“Mr. Worthing, my steward, was in an accident, and sadly, he passed.”
“My condolences, my lord, that is sad news indeed.”
Lord Strong bowed his head at her words.
“He had been steward to the estate during my grandfather’s time.
He should have been retired, but my father’s sudden passing left no opportunity for that.
” The gentleman looked away, as if surprised that he had said so much to her already.
“It-it was difficult for me to proceed after he was gone. I am still learning, you see.”
Suddenly feeling ashamed, Helena spoke with a soft voice, hoping to atone for her unkindness.
“I am extremely sorry to hear that, my Lord. Losing a valued member of your staff is a very hard thing to experience, especially one who has been with your family for so long. If there is anything that I can do to help, you must let me know.”
Lord Strong looked at her in a hopeful way.
“Perhaps you can explain to Lady Chastity the reason for my absence?”
Helena smiled kindly at him.
“You can tell her yourself, my lord.”
Behind him, she greeted her sister.
“Hello, Chastity. Look, an old friend has found me.”
Turning around, Lord Strong bowed to Chastity.
“Lady Chastity.”
“Lord Strong.”
The surprise in Chastity’s voice was evident. She blinked her eyes, seeming to gather her composure.
“I apologize for not being able to call on you lately. As I had been telling Lady Helena, a most unfortunate incident left me with no choice but to return to my country estate.”
“Oh, I am sorry to hear that. I hope you have been able to recover from the incident.” Chastity said, now with an even voice.
Helena watched as they continued their exchange.
Lord Strong proceeded with his explanations, and Chastity seemed to be taking his apology in stride.
She did everything correctly, said all the right responses, but in her voice, Helena heard disinterest. Had she been so hurt by his sudden absence that her feelings for him were rendered forgotten?
“Of course, you may have a dance,” Chastity replied politely to his request for a dance with her. She marked the dance with his name.
“Thank you,” Lord Strong said.
When he seemed to run out of things to say, Lord Strong excused himself and bowed, but not before Helena caught his worried look.
“That was unexpected,” Helena said to Chastity, watching her sister’s expression.
“Yes, to be sure,” Chastity said, then smiled her usual smile. “But he has returned, and I hope that he enjoys the season.”
“He will probably resume his calls at Huntington House.”
“Perhaps.”
Chastity’s apparent lack of interest bothered Helena. Deciding to take the direct route, she voiced her question.
“Chastity, do you no longer have feelings for Lord Strong?”
Chastity, who had been checking her dance card, looked up and simply shrugged her shoulders.
“I see,” Helena said when she added no other answer.
She felt that she should say something, but the signal for the start of the next dance gave her no opportunity. Beside her, Chastity scanned the crowd. Her face instantly lit up when she saw Lord Clifton approaching them.
“Ladies.” He bowed low. “I believe that this dance is mine, Lady Chastity?”
“Yes, it is, my lord,” Chastity replied, her eyes sparkling.
She took the hand he held out and joined him with nary a word to Helena as they left her. As they moved to the dance floor, Helena watched with a disapproving eye, Lord Clifton’s hand rest—possessively, it seemed to her—on the small of Chastity’s back as he maneuvered her to their positions.
She watched them throughout the whole dance, and indeed, followed them with her eyes when they went for refreshments.
But throughout their time together, Chastity was beaming, she laughed more exuberantly, her eyes seemed more alive.
She still, however, did not like the way his hands were too free in touching Chastity. He touched her cheek on one occasion, and on another, Lord Clifton rested his hand on her waist.
It is bordering on impropriety! But, oh, Chastity looks happy.
For all her protective feelings, Helena could not begrudge her that. She shook her head. If only she could be sure of Lord Clifton’s intentions. She sighed as she watched him. He knew how to make her sister laugh; indeed, it seemed that he made her happy.
But Helena could not help feeling that there was something amiss about him. Watching him closer still, she observed his movements, his manners, and found them excessive, almost verging on careless.
Her instincts told her that he could not be trusted.
She was contemplating how to take action without hurting Chastity and pushing her sister away when Matteo joined her.
“Where have you been?” She whispered, much has happened during your absence.”
“I know,” he said. “I have been observing from afar.”
She stared at him.
“You have been watching me?”
His reply was a wide grin.
“You and Chastity, and Lord Strong, and Lord Clifton.”
“Oh.” She pouted. “That was very anticlimactic. I had been looking forward to sharing with you the dramatic turn of events.”
Helena knew she was behaving in a most ridiculous way, but she was enjoying being playful with him.
Matteo smiled indulgently.
“By all means, my lady, please share with me all that happened while I was not about.”