“She is showing signs of partiality towards the gentleman.”
“Are you ready?”
Peter sighed, not even pretending to misunderstand the question.
“I have learned to accept that the twins are no longer children. And to see them properly wed to deserving husbands is the best that can happen.”
Peter gave his friend a salute. What a difference a year made, indeed.
“I am just glad that if Mary marries soon, Claire and Chastity shall keep each other company during the Season. A young lady must be with her own age to fully enjoy the Season after all.”
“The twins became friends with Lady Chastity Ayles during our stay there last winter, am I correct?”
“Indeed, a lucky happening.”
“What would you have done had you no visitors then, Duke?” Matteo smirked. “The pains that Lady Helena and I had to go through to secretly push you and Dahlia together.”
“Not so secret, you and Helena were very obvious in your schemes. It was quite embarrassing to watch you.”
“And here I thought Helena and I were being covert.”
Peter raised his brows at his friend’s use of Helena’s given name. Realizing his mistake, Matteo grimaced.
That is what happens when you let other people’s opinions affect you.
“Helena,is it?”
When Matteo gave him a withering look, Peter smirked.
“I admit to thinking the worst when I found out that you and Helena were meeting quite often during your stay at Icedale Castle.”
“Thank you for your high opinion of me, Duke,” Matteo said drily.
“Of course, Dahlia convinced me that Helena would never do something so scandalous.”
“I told you back then that Lady Helena was so serious that she seemed to have forgotten what the word fun meant.”
“But that did not stop you from teasing her and sticking to her side when you could, did it?”
“I admit that it was highly enjoyable to annoy her, as was it highly rewarding to see her annoyed at me.” Matteo chuckled. “Indeed, she is still annoyed at me to this day.”
“You have seen her?”
“Yes, at Lady Chapman’s ball, she quite literally blocked me from dancing with Lady Chastity.”
“I wonder why?” Peter pretended to think.
“And earlier today, I walked with both of them at Hyde Park.”
Peter stopped pretending and looked at his friend in an earnest manner. Matteo, aware that he was being studied, kept silent and indulged his friend.
“Matteo, you seem uncharacteristically interested in a lady who, not only challenges you, but clearly disapproves of you as well.”
Matteo scratched his chin. Is there any use denying it, he wondered. He thought not; Peter knew him too well.
“She is a very interesting lady.”
It was the truth. He did find Helena interesting—among other things. But he must leave it at that because Matteo, himself, did not know what his interest in her, indeed, his reactions to her meant.
