Having received callers for most of the day, Helena felt a great need to step out of doors after Dahlia and the twins made their leave.
“Tell me, how many sentences have you heard him speak since we met him at the ball?” Helena continued.
Chastity considered, then counted silently using her fingers.
“If you discount the greetings, then five at least.”
Both sisters laughed.
“I cannot at all imagine speaking so little.” Chastity declared.
“Nor can I, especially not with sisters like you, Faith and Grace!” Helena teased.
“You would have to scold us with your eyes.” Chastity’s own eyes danced with laughter at the image.
“He lives alone; Lady Chapman told me. His mother and sister have been living in Vienna since his sister married an Austrian count.”
“How quiet it must be in his house.” Chastity giggled. “Imagine how loud he shall think our household is, especially with Faith and Grace arguing.”
“Indeed,” Helena said with a grin.
“But for all his silence, I think him very amiable.”
“And pray tell, how can you even know that since he rarely speaks?”
“He nods and smiles and seems generally pleased with what people around him say.”
Helena shook her head, smiling.
“I cannot for the life of me imagine being married to a man who rarely speaks, aside from the basic communications, how on earth will you know how the other feels?”
At her statement, Chasity looked at her sister intently, consideringly. Suddenly serious, she went on.
“Do you think you shall ever marry, Helena?”
Taken by surprise, Helena shrugged her shoulders dismissively.
“Perhaps not.”
“But why not?” Chasity asked.
“Because my ideal man does not exist,” Helena said dramatically, making Chasity giggle. “He must be a gentleman who has a castle, one who is intelligent; he should be able to make me laugh. He should be handsome, tall, and athletic. He must always agree with everything I say. He must tell me that I am the most beautiful woman in the world at least ten times aday. Oh, and he must have a love for caraway comfits and sugar plums! And he must love the color yellow, for I shall decorate our sitting room, that precise color.”
“You silly goose.” Chastity laughed at her sister’s ridiculous words.
“I tell you that that gentleman does not exist!”
“Good evening, ladies.”
“Your Grace!” Chastity exclaimed. “What a surprise to meet you here.”
Helena and Chastity had been so engrossed in their conversation that they had not at all seen the duke nearing them.
“Is it?” He bowed.
Belatedly, Helena and Chastity curtsied.
“Hyde Park is not so uncommon a place for a gentleman to stroll in.” Matteo smiled pointedly at Helena. “He certainly cannot be accused offollowinganyone when he decides to have a leisurely walk in a completely public area. An area that was designed for strolling. Open to one and all.”
