Chapter 17 #2
“Do decide on the date, my dear Lady Helena,” Lady McLean said. “Before this gentleman here becomes too restless.” Then, with a curtsy and a wink at Matteo, she steered Lady Henderson away.
“We shall look for you tomorrow, Valen.” Lord Crowther said with a bow.
They had walked a few steps away when Lord Ruddock called out to them in a loud voice.
“You are not yet tied down, Valen; there is still time to play!”
Matteo looked away and cleared his throat. Then he looked sideways at Helena, seeming to check her reaction.
“Those are your friends?”
“Ah, I would not really say friends, more of close acquaintances.”
“Hmm,” Helena said, keeping her face expressionless. “The ladies said that you are dear friends.”
“Again, more of close acquaintances.”
“The widow—”
“They are both widows.”
“Ah.” Helena thought that somehow explained their confident and unguarded ways. “Lady McLean, she seems to know some of your disposition. Perhaps you are closer to her than you think.”
Matteo pressed his lips together, preventing a laugh.
“Not at all, I assure you.”
“If you wish to meet with them tomorrow, I am sure Chastity and I can manage at Lady Chapman’s dinner by ourselves. It is only a small party anyway.”
He took Helena’s hand and spoke quietly.
“Helena.”
She looked at him, keeping her face neutral.
“I admit that I did run with that set.” He waited for her to look at him. When she did, he continued. “But I decided for some time now that it was not what I prefer. I have not kept company with them since last winter.”
Helena watched Matteo’s face. She recalled Lord Crowther saying that they had not seen Matteo in a while.
She had thought that was due to his agreeing to leave his rakish ways while they were engaged, but knowing that he had decided to part ways with the group even before that somehow mattered to her.
She sighed.
“I do not like them; I am sorry to say it.”
Matteo chuckled.
“I have learned that neither do I.”
“They invited you, in front of me, your betrothed, to go carousing!”
Laughing, Matteo put a finger to her lips to hush her. Helena colored at the realization that she had spoken quite loudly—and at the feel of Matteo’s finger on her lips. She took a step back and looked around. Luckily, no one seemed to have heard her sudden outburst.
Matteo continued with a smile.
“But I have no plan of going, do I? I have a very important place I must be. Lady Chapman will be very cross with me if I do not make an appearance tomorrow night.”
Helena began to chuckle, but checked herself.
“Matteo, people are beginning to ask for a date for the wedding.”
“Yes, I gathered as much.”
“What are we to do?”
“The same thing that we have been doing.”
“Yes, but what are we to say?”
“That we are still deciding. Long engagements are not unheard of.”
Helena thought this over in her head. It would have to do for now. They were, after all, still recently engaged. It was perhaps just nervousness on her part that kept her worried over the questions.
She willed a smile.
“Yes, perhaps I can even quote Lady Henderson.” She did her best to imitate the lady’s flirtatious voice and extravagant manner. “Those are the most ideal, it gives both parties time to truly know their potential spouse, if they will suit or not.”
Matteo chuckled. “Come, let us go back to the box.” He handed their empty cups to a passing footman.
“Where is Chastity and Lord Clifton?” Helena asked, her eyes moving around the refreshment room. She started to move forward when Matteo stopped her.
“There,” he pointed. “By the refreshment table. They seemed to have gone for a second drink.”
“Oh.” Helena relaxed.
“But let us go,” Matteo said. “I shall escort you back to my box.”
They had not walked a few yards when another group stopped them for greetings. They were detained for another few minutes before they were able to reach Chastity and Lord Clifton.
“Come, Helena, let us walk back to Matteo’s box,” Helena told her sister.
“Must we go back now? There are still some minutes left in the intermission,” Chastity replied.
“If you would like, I can escort Lady Chastity back to your box, Your Grace, my Lady Helena.” Lord Clifton offered, with a smile at Helena.
“No, that is quite unnecessary,” Matteo replied quickly. “We can wait. And where is your friend’s box, Lord Clifton?”
“Ah, I am with Lord Luther in his box.” Lord Clifton said quickly.
“Ah,” Matteo replied, “And how is the view from there?”
“Oh, quite lovely. Indeed, lovely.” He turned and watched the other guests start walking back to their seats. “But do let us start walking toward the boxes.”
Everyone nodded. Helena and Matteo walked behind Chastity and Lord Clifton.
“He is lying,” Matteo whispered to Helena.
“What do you mean? How is he lying?” Her eyebrows raised in question.
“Lord Luther’s box has the absolute worst view among all the boxes. That is why it came so cheap.”
Helena’s eyebrows rose in alarm.
“I do not think he has been in that box at all.”
“Are you suggesting that he did not come to watch the performance?”
“That is what I am guessing, yes.”
Helena’s gaze flew to Lord Clifton. What could be his intentions in such an action? The obvious answer was, of course, the one that she did not like.
He is seeking Chastity out.
“Do not take your eyes off him,” Matteo whispered.
I do not plan to.
They stayed in the hall near the boxes for the remainder of the intermission, mingling with the rest of the audience, also passing the time.
Soon Lord Clifton bid them goodbye. Chastity, who had been very animated in his presence, continued on in her cheery mood.
When Sir Abbington, followed by Lord Fleetwood, approached them, Chastity met both of them with a full smile.
She conversed with them easily, describing her reaction and feelings toward the performance.
It was inevitable that more acquaintances and friends approached Helena and Matteo.
By now, very used to the greetings, opinions, and questions—the most common question, of course, was the date for their wedding—they answered them calmly, directly.
Helena, in particular, proved better with practice, though a worry that their answer would soon prove insufficient stayed with her; she followed Matteo’s lead.
The signal for the start of the second act sounded, and people started walking back towards their boxes and seats.
“Shall we?” Matteo asked.
Helena and Chastity nodded. Lord Fleetwood offered his hand to Chastity; she smiled and accepted.
With her hand resting on the crook of Matteo’s arm, Helena leaned over to speak quietly to Matteo.
“I cannot wait to see the actors perform the part where the four lovers wake up and the couples are set to rights.”
“Why, Helena, I never thought you to be a romantic.”
“No, it is not that.” She rolled her eyes. “I like it when problems are solved, and everything is tidied.”
“Tidied is a correct term,” Matteo chuckled. “As a child, I had always disliked Oberon and Puck for making Titania fall in love with Bottom when his head was transformed into a donkey’s. It had always bothered me; it was just wrong for the Queen of the fairies to fall in love with a donkey.”
She laughed aloud at this.
“Admit it,” Matteo said with a teasing smile.
“Admit what?”
“You like this play because of your namesake.”
Helena bit her lip. She considered calling him absurd but decided at the last second to tell him the truth.
“You may call me silly for it, but yes, I do!” Helena giggled. “Especially when she is pursued by both Lysander and Demetrius. What young girl would not dream of being fought over by two lovers?”
Matteo grinned at her. Then with a theatrical voice, he continued.
“O Helena, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine! To what, my love, shall I compare thine eyne? Crystal is muddy. O, how ripe in show thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow!”
“Be quiet if you please, Matteo!” Helena’s blush tinted her cheeks. But the pleasure she felt suffused her countenance as well.
Reading those lines as a young girl, she had always imagined them recited to her with just such feeling. So it was no wonder that her heart beat a little faster when Matteo did just that.