Chastity blinked in confusion at his speech.
“Er, yes, all true, Your Grace.”
“And would you agree, Lady Helena?” Matteo’s smile turned into a grin.
“Yes,” was her clipped response.
She wanted to erase the grin from his face. And some part of her wanted to muss his too-neat, too-deliberate hair. Although it was a tad too long to be called fashionable, Helena had to reluctantly admit that it gave him a more exciting, more dangerous appeal.
Like a pirate. Stop this at once!
“But now that we are all here, may I accompany you on your walk?”
“Oh, truly, Your Grace, we do not need an escort,” Helena answered hastily.
Oh no, you will not!
“I am sure you do not, capable females that you are,” Matteo persisted. “But perhaps the company of a friend might not be so unwelcome? You must take pity on this lone wanderer.”
Helena both resented and admired the fact that he made it so that she could not deny him their company lest she appear unkind.
What is he doing? Lone wandered, indeed!
“Chastity and I would be honored by your company, Your Grace,” Helena said in the most deadpan tone she could make.
“Excellent!” Matteo said, smiling from ear to ear.
He offered each arm to both ladies, and they continued with their walk, Matteo in between the two females, as was customary for a party such as theirs.
“Were you looking for someone?” Matteo asked as they followed the path from Grosvenor Gate.
“I beg your pardon, Your Grace?” Chastity asked, confused.
“Just before I greeted you, I heard you, Lady Helena, say that a particular gentleman does not exist. Are you looking for someone?” He asked again, this time looking directly at her, mischief reflecting in his eyes.
Helena’s face turned red. She could swear that her blonde hair turned red as well from embarrassment.
What else did he hear? Abominable man!
“Someone who has a preference for yellow?”
What was the punishment for kicking a duke?
“Do you make a habit of listening to other people’s conversations, Your Grace?”
“Out in the park like this, one is sure to hear all manner of interesting things. Especially if they are said while walking amongotherpeople.”
Helena took a deep breath and briefly closed her eyes. When she opened them, she found Matteo watching her, green eyes laughing. He winked at her.
The gall! I will not be baited. I willnotbe baited.
“Yes, the park is, indeed, full of interesting sights. Which one is your favorite here in Hyde Park, Your Grace?” Chastity asked, glancing between her companions as tensions rose.
“The Serpentine, I imagine,” Helena muttered.
She had learned about the happenings in the Serpentine from Dahlia. Having done research for her series of novels, she’d shared her learnings about the Serpentine with Celine and herself. These included reports of duels and women of the night, all giving the area a bad reputation among the proper set.
Matteo Castor, being a rake, would, undoubtedly, know of such things as well.
