Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Helena hummed as she walked, candle in hand, through the corridor on her way to Chastity’s room.
In her wrapper, night clothes and bedroom slippers, she decided to check on Chastity before retiring for the night.
Since her sister’s expression of fatigue, she and Matteo had been extra careful in planning the rest of their social calendar.
Only one event each day, they had decided.
And what an event it was.
Helena grinned broadly.
The evening at the theater had been a thoroughly enjoyable one.
Her and Matteo’s primary goal of appearing as a real engaged couple was a success in her estimation.
So convinced were their acquaintances that they were constantly asked for a date for their wedding.
Helena imagined it would only be a matter of time before her parents pressed her for one as well, not because they were excited to see her wed, but because they would like to inform their peers.
That was the only blight in the night for her. But because Matteo did not seem to be worrying much over it—and as she had done earlier in the night as well—she decided to be guided by his lack of apprehension. But it remained that she still could not shake off her worry entirely.
She shook her head, firmly deciding to focus on the pleasant memories of the night.
Once again, she replayed the performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in her mind.
The costumes, the laughter, the romance!
But, like the mischievous Puck, Matteo kept appearing in her mind instead of reciting Demetrius’ lines.
When she reached Chastity’s room, she opened the door and peeked in. Seeing her sister sitting in front of her vanity mirror, she stepped in.
“Good night, dear Chastity,” Helena said.
“Helena!” Chastity cried. “You startled me!”
“I apologize, dearest. I had not meant to; I just came to bid you a good night.”
And since when has Chastity been so jumpy?
She frowned when she noticed that Chastity quickly pushed her vanity drawer closed. Was it a piece of parchment that she hastily dropped inside? Helena’s suspicions were awakened. Her initial reaction was to ask Chastity what it was that she hid from her, but she decided against it.
She might say that I am being controlling again. I must give her some latitude lest she start rebelling again as Matteo suggested. She will come to me when she is ready to tell me. I hope.
Helena went to her sister and, as it was when Chastity was younger, braided her hair.
“Why has Sally not braided your hair for sleep?” Helena asked in a soft voice.
“I told her that I would do it. I wanted some quiet.”
“Are you very fatigued from the night, dear Chastity? We should not have gone to the theater.”
“Helena, I am fine, really, I enjoyed going to the Theater Royal very much.”
“I am glad to hear that. I shall inform Sally not to wake you tomorrow, and sleep as much as you like. Lady Chapman’s dinner party does not start early.”
“Thank you, Helena. I would like that.”
Chastity smiled so sweetly at her that she almost forgot her worries about her younger sister.
“And what will your plans be before the party?” Chastity grinned at her. “Will you be seeing the duke before?”
Helena nodded, hoping that her heated face did not show in the firelight.
“We shall go for a drive to Gunter’s Tea Shop in Berkeley Square.”
Chastity let out a heavy sigh and looked at Helena as if she had been betrayed.
“I shall forgive you for not taking me with you if you bring me back their orange bonbons.”
Helena chuckled.
“You will probably still be asleep by the time Matteo arrives to collect me. But I promise you that I shall bring back sweetmeats for you.” She smiled at Chastity, thankful that her sister seemed to be acting herself again.
“And that means that I must bring back some caraway comfits and lemon pastilles for Faith and Grace as well!”
Matteo stared at the fire in his bed chamber. It had been a long night, but he found that despite his body’s message that he needed to sleep, his mind would not listen.
Helena had been jealous. He grinned to himself.
Indeed, if he had a choice, he preferred that she had not met that group.
But as it was, she had, and the meeting had not been a complete disaster.
They were, as they had always been, excessive, exuberant, and forward.
Known as the fast set, Matteo had kept company with them when he was bored, which, fortunately, he rarely was.
He told Helena the truth when he said that he had decided to part ways with them.
In fact, Peter had congratulated him for doing so.
“I am glad to hear that, Duke,” Peter had said. “I was starting to plan a forcible extraction. That set will not do you any good.”
Matteo would never admit it to his friend, but it was because of him, of his settling down, that he had decided to live a somewhat tamer life.
It had seemed so uncomplicated, so easy—well, perhaps after he and Dahlia had surrendered to their feelings for each other, but Matteo found that he wanted a simpler existence.
Simpler? Is that what I am doing with Helena?
She was worried about everyone expecting them to set a date for the wedding. Admittedly, they would have to figure that out, but Matteo thought that they had some time still.
He chuckled again. Helena was jealous.
I must tease her about that!
He saw her in his mind as she watched the performance, leaning on the box railing at her favorite part, the illumination of hundreds of candles enhancing her glow. Perhaps, like Lysander and Demetrius, Puck had used a potion on him too, for she scarcely left his mind since they parted that evening.
Whatever this was, spell from a potion or not, Matteo found that he was loath for it to end. And from watching her, he thought that perhaps she too was enjoying being with him.
He grinned again and made his way to bed. Leaning towards his bedside table, he snuffed out the candle. This time, when he closed his eyes, he fell almost instantly asleep.
Two days after their visit to the theater, Matteo was headed to Icedale House for a call.
Matteo had received a note from Peter hinting, not so subtly, that Dahlia had been hoping for a call from him.
He realized that it had, indeed, been a while since he had visited his friends.
The business with Helena had been keeping him on a steady flow of social engagements—he had never accepted this many invitations before.
And of course, the fact that he had never actually told them the truth about their situation proved a factor in his absence.
He spent nearly every day with her now. Yesterday’s drive to Gunter’s Tea Shop in Berkeley Square was a very enjoyable one.
He enjoyed her company as he hoped she enjoyed his.
His interest in her during the early days of their acquaintance was piqued because he found her indifference to him quite a challenge.
Matteo chuckled. Indifference was a very light word—she had thought him quite irritating.
And once he knew this, he had endeavored in every possible moment to irritate her.
But the truth was that he saw Helena as a challenge.
One that he had hoped to conquer. But somehow, along the way, things had changed.
Those who had doubts about their engagement would certainly accept it now. To all the world, they appeared a happy couple. Between them, Matteo would dare to call them friends.
Perhaps more?
He silenced the voice that spoke in his mind. And before he could think more on it, he had arrived at Icedale House. He rang the bell, and moments later, he was shown into Peter’s study.
“His Grace, the Duke of Valen.” The butler announced.
Peter stood up from behind his desk.
“Duke,” Peter said, grinning.
Peter instructed the butler to bring tea. When the study door closed, he pointed to another door which adjoined the library, gestured for him to be quiet, and spoke in a low voice.
“Dahlia just fetched a book from the library; she will be back soon.”
“Good, I—”
Peter cut him off before he could reply.
“We haven’t much time, let me speak first.”
Matteo raised his eyebrows but kept silent as Peter continued.
“Dahlia plans to question you about Helena. She is still in disbelief,” Peter said, then with a smirk, he added.
“Thanks to that short letter of yours telling us that you two are engaged—and then not bothering to say anymore. Surely you knew that a match between our two best friends would amount as colossal news to us. She almost thought that it was a twisted joke you were playing on us.”
“Come now, Duke. You know I would never jest about such a thing.”
“Indeed, I know you would not. I told Dahlia that as well.”
Matteo nodded in gratitude.
“But why have you been avoiding us?”
“I have not.”
Peter gave him a hard stare. Matteo sighed and was about to speak again when the adjoining door to the library opened and revealed the pregnant Dahlia.
“Matteo!”
“At your service, Your Grace,” Matteo grinned, taking her hand and kissing it. He escorted her to a chair and sat in the opposite one.
“We have missed your company.”
“Speak for yourself,” Peter said jokingly.
“My apologies, Dahlia,” Matteo replied, ignoring his friend. “It has been a rather busy season.”
“Yes, for us as well. Mary has accepted Lord Westerfield’s offer of marriage.” Dahlia said, clutching her hands to her chest.
“Then congratulations are in order,” Matteo said, grinning broadly. “A fine match, my congratulations to the family!”
“Thank you. Matteo.” Peter said, smiling as well. “In truth, I had thought that Mary would make the Lord Westerfield wait until next season, but alas, she took pity on the gentleman.”
“She fell in love, you mean,” Dahlia corrected her husband. “You should see them, Matteo. Young love.”