“At your service, Your Grace,” Matteo grinned, taking her hand and kissing it. He escorted her to a chair and sat in the opposite one.
“We have missed your company.”
“Speak for yourself,” Peter said jokingly.
“My apologies, Dahlia,” Matteo replied, ignoring his friend. “It has been a rather busy season.”
“Yes, for us as well. Mary has accepted Lord Westerfield’s offer of marriage.” Dahlia said, clutching her hands to her chest.
“Then congratulations are in order,” Matteo said, grinning broadly. “A fine match, my congratulations to the family!”
“Thank you. Matteo.” Peter said, smiling as well. “In truth, I had thought that Mary would make the Lord Westerfield wait until next season, but alas, she took pity on the gentleman.”
“She fell in love, you mean,” Dahlia corrected her husband. “You should see them, Matteo. Young love.”
“Lord Westerfield has proved steadfast in his devotion to Mary; I imagine he would have waited had she told him that she was still not ready,” Peter added.
“And what is Claire’s reaction to all this?”
“She is taking it well; it is fortunate that she approves of Lord Westerfield as well,” Dahlia said.
“I can only imagine what it would feel like to be separated from your twin. But I hope her own suitors and social life are keeping her busy as well.” Matteo smiled.
“Yes, she had been very busy. Claire does not express it out loud of course, but she is hoping for a long engagement between Mary and Lord Westerfield.” Dahlia added.
A long engagement to better get to know your future spouse.
Matteo smiled, finding the memory still funny. He looked up to find Dahlia observing him.
“You have been very mysterious as of late, Matteo,” Dahlia said, looking at him as if he were a wayward young boy.
“Have I?”
“Oh, you know you have. You and Helena both, as a matter of fact.”
“Have we?”
Dahlia waved her hand impatiently at him.
“For all your evasiveness, one thing can be quite confirmed,” Peter said in a suddenly serious voice. “That you make no secret of it.”
Matteo bowed his head in agreement.
“Indeed, it is no secret.”
Matteo kept his gaze level, trying to project a calm that he suddenly did not feel. He was not comfortable evading the truth with his friends. A nervousness of sorts crept up in his chest. Were Helena’s concerns valid after all?
“What made you choose Helena?” Dahlia asked, drawing nearer to Matteo.
Ah, that one is easy enough to answer.
Matteo smiled and told Dahlia the truth.
“I was her seriousness, her sense of purpose, and the fact that I felt I could do her some good.”
“Oh?” Peter asked, a mocking smile on his lips.
“Yes,” Matteo explained. “She needs to have fun. She needs some lightness and laughter—and I flatter myself that I am just the man to provide them. When I saw her at Lady Chapman’s ball, I thought she was so tightly wound that she could break at any time.”
