“…Lord Clifton just left after they were seen…”
“Chastity,” Helena put her hand on her sister’s shoulder. “Come dearest, let us go home.”
Chastity, upon hearing her sister’s voice, raised her head and threw her arms around Helena.
“I am sorry, Helena.” She whispered fiercely.
“Come, Lady Chastity, let me bring you and your sister home.” Matteo’s voice, kind but firm, roused them into action.
Matteo and Helena looked at each other wordlessly, but it seemed that they both knew what to do. Positioned between them, they escorted Chastity out of the ballroom. Shielding her from the crowd’s stares.
Helena felt like she was in a dream. She hardly knew how they were able to leave Granger House and how they got into Matteo’s carriage. Her only thought was that of Chastity.
How could this have happened? Everything had been perfectly fine one moment, and then—and then this!
Inside the carriage, Helena tried to soothe Chastity as her sobs continued. Matteo, who had remained silent, suddenly spoke.
“Was it Clifton?”
Chastity covered her face again.
“Chastity.”
At Matteo’s prodding, Chastity nodded her head.
Matteo cursed the man under his breath.
“He loves me! I trust him!” Chastity sobbed. “He is a good man; Timothy is a good man. He shall come for me; he shall do right by me.”
Helena and Matteo looked at each other, somehow knowing that this was not the truth. That Lord Clifton had fled already spoke of his intentions—or lack thereof towards Chastity.
Tears fell from Helena’s own eyes; her heart sank for her sister. For the heartbreak, betrayal, disillusionment, and censure that would soon be her sister’s reality. She knew that Lord Clifton would not offer marriage to Chastity.
Chapter Twenty-Four
When Faith and Grace left, Helena moved closer to the door and leaned her forehead against it.
“Chastity?”
Helena heard no answer.
“Chastity, please,” she said again.
Still no answer.
“Chastity, I shall wait for you right here outside your door until you are ready to talk.”
Helena sat on the floor, leaning against the door to Chastity's bedchambers. Her sister had to go out sometime; she had to eat after all.
Helena bent her legs and hugged them to her chest.
How had they come to this? She rested her head on her knees, breathing deeply. Would that they were all young again and free of these cares, would that they were all back in Beecham Park, and the most trouble they had was difficult lessons and torn hems.
Time passed, and Helena did not know if she was there for mere minutes or perhaps hours. Not one person passed the hallway; perhaps Faith and Grace had warned the staff not to go that way for the time being, either way, she was thankful for it.
Perhaps Chasity has fallen asleep.
Helena sighed; her legs were starting to cramp. Standing up, she called to her sister one more time.
