Helena was weary, but somehow it was more bearable with him beside her. At that moment, she did not care that she had, once again, disregarded all her warnings to herself. Never mind that she felt more for Matteo than she had for any other man, never mind that she dreaded his leaving, never mind that she realized that she had come to depend on him.
She told herself now was not the time for those concerns. Now was for the satisfaction of having someone who understood her and for once sharing the burdens that she carried.
Helena felt her heart had finally fully opened. And she felt no inclination to stop it.
Chapter Twenty-One
Helena woke up with the morning light streaming in her bedroom.
Her eyes opened tentatively, her mind slowly telling her body that yes, it was indeed the next day. As her consciousness set in, a heavy feeling that she could not quite explain settled in her. Something was wrong. Indeed, she had had that feeling since the incident of the charity ball.
Chastity had been distant for days now. She avoided Helena, in fact, all her sisters. The headache that she had used as an excuse the night of the ball extended until the next day. But Helena knew that it was just that—an excuse not to face any of them, her in particular.
Now fully awake, Helena knew that she could no longer ignore their situation.
I must speak to Chastity today; I can no longer delay it.
Helena rang for Sally and started to prepare for what she knew would be a difficult day.
In the breakfast room, only Faith and Grace were there having their morning meal. Once again, Chastity had asked for her breakfast to be taken up to her.
“Good morning, Faith. Good morning, Grace.” Helena said, trying her best to maintain a façade of normalcy.
“Chastity is still unwell?” Faith asked.
“She has just been lazy, I think,” Grace said after swallowing her food.
“Grace! Why would you say such a thing?” Helena admonished her younger sister. “It is a headache, as Chastity has claimed.”
“I saw her last night, she snuck to the kitchens and returned to her chambers carrying all types of food,” Grace told her sisters.
“And how came you to witness that?” Helena said with a raised eyebrow.
Grace’s cheeks turned pink.
“I was on my way back from the kitchens as well.”
Helena and Faith looked at each other before bursting into laughter. Was it a wonder then that Helena was devoted to these young ladies? Sisters they were, but it was also a fact that she loved them for their personalities and dispositions.
All the more reason for me to fix things with Chastity.
This, Helena, resolved on.
After breakfast, Helena went in search of Chastity, upon finding out from Sally that she had gone to the gardens for some air, Helena followed her there. She found her sister in the pergola, sitting on one of the benches, a closed book lay on her lap. Her eyes held a faraway look.
“Chastity?”
Chastity jumped and turned to her, in the process knocking over her book. She bent down hastily to retrieve it. Rushing to help her, Helena was surprised when Chastity stayed her with her hand.
“I am sorry, I had not meant to startle you,” Helena said instead. “I only wanted to see if you are feeling better today.”
“Yes, much better, thank you.”
“You did not come down for breakfast. I thought you were still unwell.”
“I do feel a little twinge just now; I think I shall go back to my room and resume my rest,” Chastity said rather quickly.
Without waiting for an answer, she rose and made for the house.
