After a while, Matteo leaned over to Helena, who sat next to him on the settee, and whispered.
“Might I have a word with you in private, Helena?”
For indeed, the purpose of his call required privacy.
“Is there any other place where we can talk?”
She nodded discreetly and set her cup down.
“The weather is particularly fine for a stroll in the gardens. Might I ask you to accompany me, Your Grace?” Helena said, aiming a smile at Matteo.
“Of course, my lady.”
Matteo followed Helena as she led the way out into the gardens. As before, they went to the pergola. It was indeed a lovely spring day. The trees with their branches swaying gently in the breeze, and the spring flowers with their profusion of colors, cared not about the troubles of the people around them.
This time, it was Matteo who led Helena to the bench and asked her to sit down.
“How fares Lady Chastity?” he asked.
“She has not left her room at all today. She speaks to no one from the family as far as I can tell, and will only allow Sally in her chambers.”
“And your sisters?”
Helena sighed.
“They are trying their best with Chastity as well, but she does not even acknowledge them. We have given her space in hopes that she will eventually start talking to us. But so far nothing has changed.”
Helena frowned, then she looked at Matteo.
“I have spoken to Sally.”
“She knows something?” Matteo leaned closer.
“Yes, she admitted that she was the one giving and receiving the letters between Chastity and Lord Clifton. She also admitted that it was Lord Clifton that Chastity would meet with during their afternoon walks.
Helena paused, her brows still furrowed.
“Sally said that Lord Clifton claimed to love Chastity and she him, but that he asked to keep it a secret.”
Matteo shook his head.
“That lowlife was getting ready to flee the country.”
“What?” Helena gasped.
“I have been about town since this morning following his trail.”
“And what did you find out about him?”
It was Matteo’s turn to sigh.
He had started at his club even before breakfast and had roamed about London until he found the answers that he had been dreading to find.
“Lord Harris had withdrawn his sponsorship of Clifton following the information that the former racked up an enormous debt since his return to England.”
“Oh.” Helena seemed not to know what to say.
“Ah, but there is more,” Matteo continued regretfully.
