“A good afternoon to you as well, Townsend.”
“I beg your pardon,” the gentleman said somewhat sheepishly to Helena and Chastity. “In my shock, I have forgotten my manners. Valen, if you would introduce me to your lovely companions, I would be very much obliged.”
Matteo smiled indulgently.
“Of course, my friend.”
He introduced the gentleman as Lord Stuart, Baron Townsend, a friend from his club and from Oxford. Although he and Lord Townsend went back as far as their university years, Matteo and he had never developed a deeper friendship. But as they often mingled in the same circles, they had remained friendly with each other.
“I am in awe of you, Lady Helena, for taming my friend. Indeed, I had expected him to evade matrimony altogether, especially as he was the only one left in our circle who had remained unmarried.”
“You make me sound so very uncivilized, Townsend,” Matteo said, chuckling. “Of course, matrimony was on my mind. I was just biding my time.”
“Waiting for the right lady to come along, I see.” Lord Stuart smiled at Helena.
“Of course,” Matteo answered, he looked at Helena with a twinkle in his eye. “When I found her, I had to do all that was in my power for her to say yes to me.”
“I thank you for your compliment, my lord,” Helena smiled back at him with a similar twinkle in her eye. “But I assure you that you could have done all that was in your power, still that would not have guaranteed a yes.”
“Oh?” Lord Stuart asked, intrigued. “Then what was it that made you accept His Grace?”
“Why, his agreement to my request of decorating our sitting room yellow, of course.” Helena smiled at the bewildered looking Lord Stuart, “I never thought I would find a gentleman who loved the color yellow.”
“Ah. Of course.”
The laughter that Helena and Matteo let out as soon as Lord Stuart left them had Chastity watching them with an amused smile.
Indeed, Matteo had heard her exuberant list for the perfect husband the afternoon that he had come across them at Hyde Park. Funnily enough, in his mind, he had checked to see if he could comply with her requirements.
And then, without meaning to, Matteo had envisioned himself in a sitting room painted yellow and decorated with yellow ornaments and furniture.
“Did you really agree to that absurd request, Your Grace?” Chastity asked as she stifled a giggle. “For indeed, I cannot imagine you having tea in a yellow sitting room!”
Many a time that afternoon did he steer Helena and Chastity away from the company of certain gentlemen. From rakes, fortune hunters, and the occasional outright bore, to be precise.On the second time that he had, Helena looked abruptly at him, finally understanding what he had been doing.
After that, they had inadvertently developed a system. First, altogether avoid the introduction of the said gentlemen to Chastity. Second, if an introduction could not be helped, make the encounter as brief as possible. All of this, Matteo and Helena communicated through mere looks and gestures.
“Helena, would you mind if I join the next game of croquet with some friends?”
Chastity, who had just returned to their group from talking to her friends, excitedly informed her sister of their plans.
“They needed one more to complete the players.”
“Of course, Chastity,” Helena gestured for her to go. “Go and join your friends.”
Matteo and Helena, who, for the first time that afternoon, were left alone, sat together on one of the numerous blankets set under the blooming magnolia trees. Tea and sandwiches were served. From across them, the game of croquet was preparing to begin. On the other side of the gardens, cheers from a game of lawn bowling could be heard.
“I must thank you, Helena.”
“For what, Matteo?”
“Have you noticed any young ladies or their mamas hovering about me recently?”
Helena grinned.
“Ah. Your plan is working beautifully for you then.”
“Indeed, peace and quiet during a social event.” Matteo shook his head. “I had not thought that at all possible!”
