He merely did what he was supposed to do.
And more.
He saved Chastity and saved her family’s name from disgrace.
I do it for you.
He had said no words, but Helena knew, as sure as she knew her own heart, that Matteo had done it for her.
Therein lay the conundrum of it all.
Helena rolled over and muffled a scream in her pillow. She felt as if she were going mad. The emotions that raged within her were their own contradictions.
Finally giving in, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
The sun was high in the sky when Helena woke up. She considered rising again, but it was as if every muscle in her body protested at the idea. It was easier to fall back to sleep this time, for even as Helena was drifting back to sleep, she knew that in slumber, her feelings did not exist.
For the third time that day, Helan was roused from sleep. This time, she was instantly alert. The clock said that it was almost four in the afternoon. She rubbed her eyes; this was the longest that Helena had ever spent asleep.
Gingerly, she sat up, rose, and then rang for Sally.
“How do you feel, m’lady?” Sally asked when she entered Helena’s chambers.
“Better, I thank you, Sally.” She lied.
Another knock sounded on her door.
“Begging your pardon, m’lady, but that will be your food.” Sally smiled kindly. “I have requested Mrs. Brown to send you a meal.”
“That was very thoughtful of you, Sally, thank you.” Helena continued, “I find that I am quite famished.”
Dressed and full, Helena considered her most pressing tasks; she had delayed them as long as she could. Looking at the time again, Helena noted half past five. She was confident that Matteo had already come and gone.
And so, with those considerations in mind, she went straight to her father’s study and braced herself as best as she could.
The Earl of Huntington had accepted Matteo’s offer of marriage to Chastity, as she knew he would.
“It was very astute of you, Helena, to convince His Grace to marry Chastity instead.”
Helena could not think of a word that would be suitable enough to describe her actions in saving Chastity’s reputation, but astute was not the word she would have chosen.
“It is enough for me to overlook your lapse that resulted in the need for a hasty wedding in the first place,” the earl added.“You must be sure that nothing like this happens to your other sisters.”
“Yes, Papa.”
What had she expected? Marriage was a business arrangement after all, and daughters were investments. If you failed in one investment, then there was another where you could succeed.
No, Helena was not surprised. But that did not give her heart the armor that it so needed.
Helena saw her sisters for the first time that day at supper. Looking at Chastity, she knew that their father and mother had spoken to her about their acceptance of Matteo’s offer.
Helena wondered if her parents considered this a success for Chastity? Again, she would not be surprised if they did.
The meal progressed almost silently with one or two interjections from Faith and Grace.
“How is your headache, Helena?” Faith asked.
“Gone now, thank goodness,” Helena smiled at Faith. “I had not realized that I slept most of the day away.”
