Helena did not know what would have happened. Actually, she did know. Her reputation would be questioned—if not ruined altogether. And in consequence, that of her sisters as well. Her heart raced at the thought. But, as it was, they had not been seen, thank goodness. Matteo had acted quickly and hid them both.
A warmth suddenly infused Helena. It started from her neck and spread up to her face. They had stood so close, his arm around her, that they might as well have been in an embrace. She touched her lips, recalling the feel of his palm against them. And when he had turned to face her, she found him so close to her that Helena thought he would kiss her.
The memory both alarmed and confused her.
Heconfused her. During their stay with Peter and Dahlia, there was no hint whatsoever of any rakish behavior on his part; he acted the perfect gentleman—aside from always teasing her and seeming to be wherever she was, Matteo had behaved very properly. Moreover, he had formed a friendship with Chastity.With Peter’s twin sisters, he seemed to have a close friendship as well. And Dahlia regarded him as a friend.
Perhaps there is more toMatteo than I realized. Still, I must tread carefully, I must not let my guard down. He is still a rake.
Helena shook her head and hastily folded the piece of parchment. She looked at the clock. An hour or two, then they would start receiving callers.
Today will tell who among those who have shown interest in Chastity last night will become suitors.And tomorrow I will consult with Lady Chapman and my friends as to what they know of each gentleman.
One of the names stood out the most; she unfolded the piece of parchment and underlined Lord Strong’s name.
The young gentleman had definitely captured her sister’s attention. He spoke to her without art and stated his opinions simply.
“He is certainly very different from the duke.” She said to herself.
Her thoughts suddenly went back to the end of the previous night’s encounter, she stood up suddenly and crossed her arms over her chest.
How dare Matteo Castor think that I would want another encounter like the one last night with him! It was all his doing in the first place. I sat there innocently enough, enjoying my moment of solitude, when he came staggering out looking to all the world like he owned the entire garden! He deserved that slap!
Helena still could not believe that she had slapped a duke. Had she been living in medieval times, he could have ordered her executed. Thank goodness she lived in modern times.
And Matteo did not seem the ordering type. Thinking of all her interactions with him, starting from their shared stay at Icedale Castle, and what she observed of him even before that, he spoke persuasively, convincingly. That alone seemed to have people most willing to do as he bid.
If Helena had been of a weaker character, perhaps she would have melted then and there as he looked at her, their faces nearly touching. Those eyes, like emeralds in seawater, that smile that couldn’tpossiblybe sincere… She touched her lips.
A knock on the door had her jumping. She looked around guiltily, as if her thoughts were written on her forehead.
Mr. Keble, the Ayle’s butler, entered the sitting room and bowed to Helena. He handed two cards to her. She read the names printed on the cards.
“The gentlemen would like to call on Lady Chastity. What shall I tell them, my lady?”
“Please tell them that Lady Chastity will be with them in a short while. You may lead them to the Blue Room.”
The butler bowed and went back into the hall. Helena read the names on the cards again. The first name, Lord Mitchell, was on her list, the other, Sir Abington, was not. She would have to know more about the second gentleman.
“And so it begins,” Helena whispered to herself, glad and anxious at the same time.
The next day found Helena full of plans. The sun shone brightly outside, signaling a beautiful spring morning. She expected a call from Dahlia and her sisters later that day. And, of course, calls from gentlemen for Chastity. She would start her study of Chastity’s gentlemen callers today.
At breakfast, her three younger sisters talked more about the previous day’s gentlemen callers. Helena imagined that until any other exciting thing happened, their conversations would still center mostly on those various visitors.
I liked the gentleman who came last!” Grace declared, laying her fork down, “I thought him very handsome!”
“And how would you know what he looks like? You only saw his back,” Faith said, laughing at the youngest sister.
Helena sighed.
“Grace, what have I told you about spying?” she arched her eyebrow.
“No one saw me! I was only at the top step of the staircase. And I only saw his reflection in the mirror. That’s how I could tell that he was handsome.”
“Indeed, you are right, Grace, Lord Fleetwood is handsome.” Chastity smiled. “A little too aware that he is handsome, I think, though.”
“He looked at himself in the hall mirror so many times before he was shown in the Blue Room!” Grace confirmed.
