“What are the two of you plotting over there?” Lucy asked.
They both looked up with matching looks of guilt on their faces. “Nothing,” Helena said, a hand sliding to cover the paper they’d been looking over.
“Helena…” Lucy said, her tone purposely menacing. “What are you and my husband up to?”
“Nothing bad,” she answered, her eyes wide and innocent.
“Yes,” Matthew agreed. “Nothing bad.”
“That goes without saying, but I didn’t ask what your intent was, I asked what you were doing.”
Helena grabbed the paper Matthew had been writing on and pulled it behind her back.
“Matthew…” Lucy matched the tone she’d used on her sister earlier.
Matthew cast his eyes between Lucy and Helena, obviously torn.
Lucy put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes. “I’m your wife, Matthew. You can’t hide things from me.”
“I don’t remember that being part of our vows. I’m not sure that kind of promise would be well suited for the two of us.”
“What?” Lucy strode forward, keeping her eyes on Matthew, but when she reached the writing table she quickly switched her target and pounced on the paper behind Helena’s back.
A short shriek burst from Helena’s mouth and her hand tightened around the paper, but Lucy gripped just as hard and pulled.
With a tear, half of the page ended up in Lucy’s hands and she dashed away reading it as she went.
18. Lord Horndarner
19. Lord Rumsfeld
20. Mr. Alfred Gunderson (son of the Baron Finch)
“Helena,” Lucy’s voice was remarkably steady for how unsettled she felt. “What is this?”
“A list.” Helena’s voice was soft.
“A list of what, exactly?”
“Titled men.” Matthew provided this information and Lucy shot a warning look at him.
“And what need do the two of you have for a list of titled men?”
Matthew stepped forward with his hand out. “Now, Lucy, you can’t get upset with Helena. You need to see things from her perspective.”
“And what perspective is that, exactly?” Lucy was still very impressed with how unaffected she sounded.
“She’s your sister.”
“And…”
“And she’s seen how an arrangement like ours can work out so perfectly.”
“An arrangement like ours?” Lucy’s voice rose two octaves, her calm demeanor forgotten. “Do you mean an arranged marriage?”
Helena stepped forward. “I’d be a fool to not at least consider it. Finding a wonderful husband was so easy for you.”
“Easy?” Lucy closed her eyes hard. “You think waiting around for this man for three years waseasy?”
