When they reached the part where Puck mistakenly puts a spell on the wrong man, leading Lysander to fall in love with Helena, Helena found herself nearly leaning on the railing.
The soft chuckle behind her had her glancing over her shoulder. Matteo was watching her, a very amused smile on his face. She straightened with an embarrassed smile at him.
Leaning close to her, he whispered in her ear.
“Have you read this work?”
Helena nodded, and Matteo said nothing else, allowing Helena to give her full attention to the actors on stage.
Very soon after that, the performance went on intermission, Matteo rose and opened the curtains to his box.
“Would you like to walk about for some exercise? We have been sitting a good while.”
Helena was about to accept when a gentleman greeted them from the entrance to the box.
“Good evening, Your Grace, my ladies.” Lord Clifton bowed. “I saw you from my friend’s box.”
“Lord Clifton.” Chastity stood up abruptly and curtsied.
Bowing and curtsying in response, Helena and Matteo exchanged glances.
“I was just about to have a little walk and wondered if you were to do the same?”
“Yes, we were,” Chastity said. “Perhaps we can all walk together?”
Helena smiled and nodded.
Lord Clifton offered his arm to Chastity, and they all stepped out of the box.
As they walked behind Chastity and Lord Clifton, Matteo leaned down and spoke to Helena in a soft voice.
“Coincidence?”
“Well, he did say that he was with a friend. Perhaps itisa coincidence. But I do wonder which friend he is with?”
She turned to look at Matteo, whose lips had turned into a straight line.
“Let us head to the refreshment room,” Helena said. “I find that I am quite thirsty.”
“Would you prefer to go to the ladies’ section?”
Helena looked at Chastity and Lord Clifton again; it seemed to her that they stood too close to each other. She frowned.
“I have a feeling that Chastity will not want that.” She turned to Matteo, “You know, I think that she was looking for someone earlier in the evening, before the performance began.”
“And you think it was Lord Clifton?”
“Well, maybe, I am unsure. But when she saw me watching her, she reacted guiltily.”
“I recall you saying before that you are thankful that Chastity has gotten over her trying age.”
“Yes. She was rebelling, I think.”
“When was this? Was she so very difficult?”
“It was nearing the end when we went to stay at Icedale Castle, I credit the influence and example set by Peter’s sisters for that,” Helena said, recalling how Chastity’s comportment and disposition had improved when they visited the family. “Perhaps she needed to spend time with people near her age.”
“What about Faith and Grace?” Matteo asked. “Are they not just a year or two younger than Chastity?”
