It still surprised her how he had suddenly become a regular part of her life. How was it that in such a short time, she had become so accustomed to him? So accustomed that she now looked for him when he was not beside her.
Helena stood up and lit a candle. She brought it to the writing table and prepared to write to Matteo.
When she had finished, she dried the ink and read the letter again.
Perhaps it was not such a good idea to ask him to meet her, knowing how she was starting to feel towards him, andknowing how they had planned all of this. But against her better judgment, she wanted Matteo to meet her at Hyde Park the next morning.
Matteo stood by the Grosvenor Gate of Hyde Park. Leaning against the open gate, he had been awaiting Helena’s arrival for some minutes when he saw her figure appear down the street.
He knew at once from reading Helena’s note last night that something was wrong. And this he was able to confirm as he watched her walking towards him. Her expression was grim, her shoulders stiff.
“What is the matter?”
Taking her hand, he led her towards the lesser-known paths of the Serpentine. He thought he had an idea of what weighed her down, but he waited until she was ready to talk.
Helena smiled a small smile.
“You agreed to walk the paths of the Serpentine.”
“Well, there is not much danger in the mornings. It is late enough in the morning that the unsavory characters will have been gone.”
“Thank you for agreeing to meet me.”
“It is no trouble at all, but you know that I would have gone to Huntington House had you only told me to.”
“I have much need to be out of the house today.”
To Matteo, she sounded bone-weary. Seeing her this way made Matteo want to do all that was in his power to alleviate her troubles from her. Turning to Helena, he tilted her face gently until her eyes met his.
“What has happened, Helena?”
“Oh, Matteo.” She said his name in a sigh. “Chastity has been secretly corresponding with a man.”
Matteo was unable to speak for a moment.
“Do you know who it is?”
“I have an idea, though I did not read the letter, but the penmanship is definitely a gentleman’s. I fear that this will all end in her getting hurt. This man cannot be of the decent sort if he carries on like this.”
She clasped her hands together in distress.
“Lord Clifton?”
Helena nodded.
“That is my suspicion, too. I tried to speak to her about this, but she refused to even utter a word in answer.” Helena continued. “But it is not merely that. I fear that Chastity is growing farther away from me. I feel her resentment that I should be in this role. I fear that by trying so hard to protect her, I have pushed her away instead.”
Helena looked at Matteo and grasped his arm.
“Have I been too hard on her? Have I been overbearing? Please tell me, Matteo.”
Taking a deep breath, Matteo looked around the empty path. He reflected on what he knew from the guidance he received in his own upbringing—or the lack of it.
“I think that your sisters are lucky to have you.”
“But—”
He gently put a finger to her lips to stop her from interrupting.
