“Where have you been all this time, Mother?”
Lady Downfield frowned. “Just because you’re married now, you cannot speak to me in such a manner.”
Silas sat back with a slight smile, knowing that Helena was quite capable of handling herself.
“In what way, Mother? Honestly? Truthfully? Why have you come here?”
Lady Downfield turned to Silas, her face stormy, “You allow your wife to address people in such a way, Your Grace?” she asked.
Silas cocked an eyebrow. “My wife does not need my permission to speak.”
Lady Downfield opened her mouth to say something, but just then, Jeeves arrived leading three maids laden down with trays of tea, sandwiches and cakes.
Silas nodded his approval as Jeeves poured them all some tea. Once the serving was done, Jeeves and the other servants left the parlor. The room was silent for a while, aside from the tinkling of china and the clinking of cutlery.
“How is Charlie?” Helena asked.
Lady Downfield looked up, eyebrow quirked. “I’m surprised you remembered you had a brother.”
“Excuse me?” Helena said, her voice shaking with outrage.
“You seem to have forgotten all about your fam?—”
Helena shot to her feet, her eyes blazing. “How dare you?”
Lady Downfield remained unflappable. “Calm down, Helena. Why must you always be so hysterical?”
Silas put his cup down on the table with a thump. “Lady Downfield,” he growled, “I won’t have you talking to my wife in such a manner.”
Lady Downfield blinked at him in surprise. “I—wha—how dare…?”
“Thank you for your visit, Lady Downfield, but I think you’ve overstayed your welcome,” Silas interrupted her blathering.
His mother-in-law stared at him as if she couldn’t quite believe her ears. He gestured towards the door, indicating that she should get up and use it. Amelia got to her feet as well.
“Goodbye, Lady Downfield,” she said loudly.
Lady Downfield looked from one to the other of them like they’d all lost their minds. Then, she turned to her daughter, a sneer on her face.
“Well, I suppose it’s good you got something out of spreading your legs to this man,” she sneered.
Silas growled.
Helena’s eyes blazed. “Really, Mother? After your blatant affair with Uncle James, you have the nerve to say such a thing to me?”
Silas stepped between them, his voice low and dangerous. “That’s enough. Lady Downfield, leave. Now.”
The Dowager Countess turned on her heel and stormed out in a flurry of skirts, but not before tossing one last remark over her shoulder. “You should concern yourself less with me, Helena, and more with your brother. Not that you’d know, but he hasn’t left his room in weeks. They bring his meals to the door now.”
Helena froze. Her breath caught. Silas felt her stiffen beneath his hand.
Then, she was moving, rushing forward, but the front door slammed shut before she could speak.
Silas turned to her, gripping her elbow gently. “Are you all right?”
Her face had gone pale. “She’s lying. She has to be.”
He shook his head. “Even if only half of it is true… that’s not how a boy should live.”
