Helena’s heart beat fast as she waited for the answer.
“No, m’lady! That, I would never do, I would never leave Lady Chastity alone with a man, even if she asked me to!”
The fierce look on Sally’s face told Helena that she was telling her the truth. She heaved a sigh of relief. Lord Clifton had not reached that far. But had he had the opportunity to continue, had they not been seen at the ball, Helena dreaded to think what he could have done, and what Chastity would have been led to do in the name of love. There was some consolation in that at least.
“Alright, Sally. I believe you.”
Shoulders stooping again, Sally wiped at her eyes. Her shoulders still shook, but the expression on her face was relief.
“I am very sorry that I did not tell you, m’lady. I failed you. I knew better, but I thought that they were in love.”
“And what do you think now?”
“That blackguard would never leave Lady Chastity like this if he intended to do the honest thing by her. I think he was never in love; he had only ever wanted to seduce her.”
Helena closed her eyes. Hearing the words said out loud cemented her misery for her sister. Taking a deep breath, she stood up and went to Sally’s side. She put her hand on the servant’s shoulder and spoke.
“We must now help each other, Sally. We must do everything we can for Chastity.”
“Anything, m’lady. Please tell me what I must do.”
“Tell her that I love her, no matter the things that have happened, that has never changed. Ask her not to shut me, Faith, and Grace out anymore. Please tell Chastity that.”
“Aye, m’lady.”
Matteo arrived at Huntington House late in the afternoon. Helena received him in the sitting room as was usual.
It felt to him as if it were only yesterday when he first entered Huntington House. At that time, he was received in the Blue Room, as all other callers were being received. But on his next call, being Helena’s betrothed, he was received in the sitting room.
Looking back, he now just realized that the shift meant he was considered not a mere visitor anymore, no, he was a close family connection—even family, had everything been real.
Had everything been real.
Funny how nothing felt more real to him now than his time as Helena’s betrothed.
His remembrances, adding to a day already fraught with miserable news, served to further dampen Matteo’s spirits.
No sooner had he thought those words than, upon seeing him, Faith and Grace stood up and curtsied, their faces brightening. Their reactions warmed Matteo’s heart. Bittersweet was the impact of those smiles, of the warm welcome that the two young ladies conveyed on him.
“Good morning, Lady Faith, Lady Grace,” he bowed back.
“Your Grace!” Grace rushed to him. “It has been a while since you were in our company.”
“Indeed, it was a rather busy week for all of us,” Matteo explained. “I apologize for the neglect.”
“We have not been busy at all today; we have had not a single caller,” Grace said with a serious expression.
“Grace,” Helena said in a firm voice, and shook her head at her sister.
“Shall I call for tea?” Faith said hurriedly and cast a quick but reproachful look at Grace.
“Yes, please, if you would, Faith. Thank you,” Helena said.
They spent the next few minutes talking about the weather and other mundane things, not uttering a word about the very thing that they all had in mind.
Matteo observed the tension among the sisters; he particularly observed the fatigued look upon Helena’s countenance. He could only imagine the weight she carried. And he could only wish that she had help from her parents, though he suspected otherwise. He wanted to take her in his arms and give her the comfort that she obviously needed right now.
Tea arrived, which Helena served, and everyone drank in near silence.
