“It was only ever meant to help Chastity’s chances of finding a good match, of making sure that she is kept safe from those without scruples. Matteo’s position and standing in society would prove effective in those areas. And he has done as he has promised, saving Chastity from a scandal. He has been all that is considerate, all that is kind and dependable.”
Helena felt a quiet relief in telling Faith the truth. She leaned against the back of the settee and breathed deeply.
“But you know, Helena,” Faith said, looking intently at her. “It seems to me that you are no longer pretending.”
Helena suddenly sat up.
“What do you mean?”
“I think you know what I mean,” Faith said simply.
Her sister said it so simply, so directly that Helena could only remain silent.
Helena dressed in the dark; the light of the moon through her windows was her only illumination. She knew what she had to do. She had never meant for things to get this far. She had never meant to fall in love with Matteo Castor. She must end their engagement—their arrangement.
Faith was right, she had stopped pretending, when that happened, she could not tell. She only knew that somewhere in all the time they spent together, she had learned to care deeply for him. She had learned to love him.
And falling in love with a rake could only give her the pain of a broken heart. This, she had always known, had always reminded herself. Helena thought that she had been careful.
I knew better, and yet I let it happen. I have no one to blame but myself.
She would have laughed at herself if the pain were not also very real.
Putting on her cloak, Helena opened the door to her chambers and walked out into the dark.
Matteo, having received another note from Helena, waited in his study. He had not heard from her since the previous day when they met at Hyde Park.
When he received her note, he had dismissed all the servants for the night, and so he watched the street from the study window, waiting for her to arrive.
When she did, Matteo rushed to open the front door.
“I apologize for the lateness of my call,” Helena said in a reserved tone.
Matteo swiftly looked at her, seeing the formality of her demeanor.
“Let me take your cloak,” he said quietly.
“No, thank you. I’d like to keep it on.”
Again, that reserved tone. Matteo frowned but said nothing.
“Let us go into the study.”
He took Helena’s hand. When he felt her stiffen, Matteo almost stopped in his tracks.
“Helena, what is the matter?”
“Please, let us go into your study.”
Nodding, Matteo led her to the room and once inside, closed the door behind them.
“What is wrong?” Matteo asked again, this time he could not help the note of urgency in his voice, for indeed, he felt that whatever brought Helena to his house that night was very urgent.
Without looking directly at him, Helena spoke clearly and decisively.
“We must start ending the engagement, Your Grace.”
Matteo watched her, his eyes roamed her face. When he moved closer to her, Helena spoke again.
