“It is good then that you got the headache,” Grace said after a drink.
“Grace!” Faith scolded her younger sister. “What a horrid thing to say.”
“Well, if Helena had not gotten the headache, then she would not have been able to rest for as long as she did,” Grace challenged Faith. “And we all know that she never rests.”
“Well,” Faith said begrudgingly. “You have a point.”
“I do.”
Faith and Grace’s exchange—not to mention Grace’s smug smile—lessened the somber mood that their supper started with.
When they retired to the sitting room, Chastity excused herself, claiming fatigue, and bid her sisters a good night.
Helena wanted to reach out to her and ask her how her meeting with their parents went, but decided to leave it until the next day.
“We know that both you and Chastity had a meeting with Papa and Mama earlier today,” Faith said, surprising Helena with her directness.
“What is happening?” Grace said, frustrated. “There is no way for me to listen and snoop in Papa’s study! We have been waiting for hours for someone to tell us.”
“Chastity made no mention of it?” Helena asked them both.
“None whatsoever,” Faith replied. “Though Chastity no longer hides in her room, she still keeps mostly to herself.”
“I miss the old Chastity,” Grace said, her eyes downcast.
“Well, go on then, Helena, tell us what you’ve been meeting Papa and Mama about,” Faith insisted.
“I shall tell you,” Helena said after a long breath. “But you must promise not to be very angry with me.”
Both Faith and Grace frowned at her but nodded all the same.
“I suppose I should start from the beginning.”
She pointed at Faith. “You already know this.” And before Grace could protest, Helena held up her hand and began.
She told them about Matteo’s plan—their mutual benefits plan, as he called it. She told them about how smoothly everything was going, how they both fulfilled their roles very successfully, how everything went suddenly wrong, and finally, how Matteo came up with a solution to save Chastity’s reputation.
“Matteo is now to marry Chastity?” Grace said incredulously.
Helena nodded.
“I cannot quite believe it.” Faith leaned back against the settee; she shook her head. “It cannot be quite as simple as that.”
“Apparently, it can,” Helena chuckled humorlessly.
“But you love him, and he loves you,” Faith said simply, her eyes watching her older sister’s reaction.
“Oh, hush, Faith!” Helena’s cheeks reddened. “Where did you get that idea? What a notion!”
Faith said nothing more, but the look she gave Helena told her that she was not fooled, nor did she approve.
“Chastity agreed to this?” Grace asked.
“Chastity had no will to either say yes or no, so she has agreed to everything.”
“Poor Chastity,” Grace said sympathetically.
But Faith’s look saidPoor Helena.
