“Whatever Helena says, Sally,” Chastity said, unsurprisingly.
Helena hid her sigh.
They only had a few more days now to prepare for Chastity’s wedding. And despite everyone putting up some kind of front, Helena could feel that not one of her sisters, not even Chastity, wanted this wedding to take place.
Matteo.
For him to do this, for him to sacrifice his freedom to save them from ruin, was both relief and pain to her. And it was the thought of it that served as her anchor in this stormy sea that she found herself in. She wished she could show him, tell him how much his saving Chastity’s reputation meant to her and her family. She wished she could, but alas, to be sure, they must never have conversations of the heart.
Matteo was constantly on her mind, though she tried her best to replace his image with something—anything else, somehow, he always found a way back into her mind, into her consciousness.
“Aye, these gloves then, m’lady,” Sally confirmed, looking at Helena.
Helena nodded, suddenly feeling overwhelmed.
“Allow me to assist you in changing back into your other gown, m’lady,” Sally said to Chastity, who at once allowed the lady’s maid access to the buttons at the back.
“Come, let us leave Chastity in peace,” Helena said as she ushered her two youngest sisters out of the bedchamber.
The knock on Helena’s door surprised her. It was nearly half past one, and although she was still awake, she had not expected any other member of the household to be awake too.
“Helena?”
It was Chastity’s voice from behind the door. Quickly rising from the bed, she lit a candle and opened the door.
“Chastity, what are you still doing up?”
“May I come in?”
“Of course, dearest,” Helena said sincerely. “You know that you are always welcome.”
Chastity entered the room, and Helena noticed that she did not bring a candle to light her way.
“Where is your candle?”
“I do not need one. I know the way to your room better than any other room in the house.”
Helena bit back a sob. It was true, Helena realized as she watched Chastity walk to the fireplace.
“Thunderstorms, bad dreams, gossip—any small reason, really, that was all I needed to go to you. You have always been my refuge, Helena. And I—I have been an ungrateful wretch!”
Chastity’s tears flowed freely and readily from her eyes, attesting to how long she had been holding them back.
And as always, Helena rushed to her and wrapped her sister in her arms.
“Hush now, dearest,” Helena tried to soothe her. “It shall be alright.”
“How?” Chastity said in a broken voice. “I have ruined everything for myself, for you.”
“Do not say that.”
“It is but the truth. For once, do not protect me, even from myself, Helena,” Chastity pleaded. “I know what I have done and what I have caused to happen. I am sorry, Helena, so very sorry.”
Helena could form no words, cold offer no relief to Chastity’s pain. For her own pain was already too much to bear. Instead, she tightened her arms around her sister and cried with her.
When they had somewhat quieted down, she led Chastity to her bed. And as it was when they were younger, she cradled her sister in her arms until they both fell asleep.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
