He ran a finger over her closing lines.Yours, etc.
Mine, and so forth.He grinned again. This was going to be an interesting arrangement.
The hour of eleven in the morning found Matteo knocking on the front door of Huntington House. The surprised look on the butler’s face when he asked after Lady Helena Ayles—not Lady Chastity—was significantly more pronounced than when he read Matteo’s name and title on his calling card.
The Blue Room was a pleasant room which afforded a view of a well-tended garden. The tall windows allowed the morning lightto filter in through their panes. He walked to the window to appreciate the view—for Matteo appreciated beautiful things—when the door opened and in came Helena.
“Good morning, Your Grace,” she greeted him with composure.
If she was feeling any apprehension towards their meeting, Matteo could see no sign of it. Perhaps the way her hands were clasped together conveyed some form of nervousness, but Matteo found that his own hands were clasped together tightly behind him as well.
“A good morning to you, Lady Helena.”
She motioned to the settee. Matteo watched her as she sat. Indeed, not apprehension, but gravity. The set of her shoulders, the intent expression on her face, told Matteo that it would be a serious call.
“And how is your family?” he asked, trying to sound as casual as he possibly could.
“They are all well, thank you.”
Helena glanced at the open door of the Blue Room. Looking at him, she stood up and pushed it almost closed, but for a few inches. She went back to the settee, this time taking a seat closer to him.
“I accept your proposal.”
Matteo’s eyebrows rose. A smile appeared on his face.
“Your pretend proposal, that is. Not a real one since you did not really propose. Well, you did, but it was just for?—”
“Helena.”
“I accept.”
Matteo nodded.
“But I have one condition; you must speak to Chastity, for she will be thoroughly surprised by this. She knows how much I dislike…”
Helena’s eyes widened, her face turned instantly red.
Matteo threw his head back and laughed. The blush stained only her cheeks when he recovered and looked at her again.
“She knows how much you dislike me. Please continue.”
He could see her forming the words in her mind.
“We must make the engagement seem real to her. If we convince her, then it will be easy to convince everyone else.”
Matteo inclined his head in a small bow.
“I understand. I shall do my best to seem convincing.”
“My parents are to leave for a visit to their friend’s country estate in two days. So I am afraid that you must meet with my father very soon, tomorrow in fact.”
Matteo nodded again.
“I shall leave him a message requesting a meeting with him tomorrow at his earliest convenience.”
“Thank you.”
“After I speak to your father tomorrow, I shall speak to Chastity as well. Perhaps you can start dropping hints?”
