Helena stood by the tea table when Chastity walked that way. Smiling at her sister, Helena took her hands.
“Are you having a pleasant night, dear Chastity?”
“Yes, very pleasant, Helena.” Chastity’s smile was wide.
“I am glad to hear that. It is a very enjoyable event.”
“And you, Helena?” Chastity asked in return. “Are you happy?”
Helena tried to read her sister’s thoughts. She had noticed that the past few days, she had become more accepting of her betrothal to Matteo. At the very least, she seemed less suspicious.
Perhaps it is not worry, but genuine curiosity.
Despite the additional effort that she and Matteo had to put in to make Chastity believe that their engagement was real, Helena was still glad to see that Chastity cared for her enough to question her decisions.
I do this for you, my sisters.
“I have always been happy, have I not, Chastity dear?”
Chastity smiled at her.
“Yes, you have.”
And you, Helena? Are you happy?
She repeated the question in her mind. Was she?
The night had turned crisp. Matteo and Helena stood just outside Lord Algate’s front door, waiting for Chastity to come out as she bid their host and hostess a good evening. Matteo’s carriage, which had conveyed the sisters there as well, was to bring them back to Huntington House.
“I have been watching Lord Clifton as well,” Matteo whispered to Helena.
“And what have you observed? Perhaps a man’s eyes will see something that a woman cannot.”
“He seems well-mannered enough,” Matteo replied.
“But?” Helena smiled imitating him.
Grinning, Matteo touched her nose with his finger.
“But he also seems too eager to impress Chastity.”
“What do you mean? How is he too eager?”
“Well, for one thing, he appears to agree with everything that she says. And—I have been listening to their conversation, remember—all his opinions are the exact same opinions as Chastity’s.”
“Well, that, I will admit, is quite strange,” Helena said, frowning.
“He does not have a reputation of being a rake that is known in London, at least,” Matteo added. “But that shall not be my basis in determining his good character.”
“You are right,” Helena said.
She could not feel comfortable until Lord Clifton could be vouchsafed by a trustworthy source.
Indeed, I agree with Matteo.
Chastity appeared from the front door, a smile on her face, prompting Helena and Matteo to drop the subject for now.
“What a thoroughly lovely night that was, Helena,” Chastity said, twirling in the corridor to their bedrooms.
