“What do you mean? You worried over them something fierce!” Celine teased her friend.
“Yes, I confess I had,” She chuckled. “But that was probably due to my pregnancy.”
“But tell me,” Celine asked. “How did you come to be wearing matching attire? You could not have had time to change on your way to the church.
“Would you believe me if I told you that we had not planned it at all?”
“I think yes, I do believe you,” Celine replied
“I told you, Helena,” Dahlia said softly, “Fate knows what she’ is about.”
“Yes, I just needed to have faith,” Helena said, hand on her chest.
A few feet beside the ladies, Peter gave Matteo a great clap on the back.
“There is still hope for you after all, Duke,” he chuckled.
“You know that this is all thanks to you, Duke.” Matteo said earnestly, “Had you not invited me to Iceadale Castle and playedthe part of a charming host, Helena and I would never have found each other.”
“Well,” Peter said. “You did tell me that you planned to give her some fun.”
They turned to look at their wives, who stood together laughing with their friend.
“Are we not the fortunate ones?” Matteo asked his friend.
“Indeed, we are,” Peter said with a smile on his face.
Soon, all of them climbed into their carriages and drove on to Huntington House.
The wedding breakfast proceeded according to plan as well. That was, of course, with one minor adjustment, the bride herself was literally a different woman.
Surrounded by the people they loved, enjoying delicious food, everyone was in high spirits. They all felt the hand that fate played in Helena and Matteo’s story.
The morning moved on into the afternoon. One by one, the guests said their congratulations, their best wishes, and their goodbyes, until only the earl, the countess, Chastity, Faith, Grace, Helena, and Matteo remained.
“You know, Your Grace,” Grace said to Matteo. “You must plan a wedding trip.”
“You must call me Matteo, sister.” He grinned at Grace. “And yes, you are right, Helena and I must have a wedding trip.”
With a grin, Grace continued.
“Perhaps it is time to show Helena the view from your uncle’s château.”
“That is one of your more brilliant ideas, Grace,” Faith said.
Grace frowned at her sister.
“All my ideas are brilliant, if you please.”
Matteo smiled at Helena and wiggled his eyebrows at her.
“That is a very good idea. What do you think, duchess?”
Helena’s heart skipped a beat, and she beamed at him.
Helena Castor, Duchess of Valen.
That was her name now. She looked at Matteo, who stood beside her, handsome and tall; he was her reality now. All the whispered wishes of her being had come true, wishes anddreams that she had not dared to speak even in the recesses of her heart.
