Helena smiled. “I understand. You are his sister, and you love him. He’s a lucky man to have someone care about him as you do.”
“And yet…?” Amelia prodded.
Helena laughed. “You are too insightful for your own good. I was just going to say that in my humble opinion, he is a bit…”
Before she could finish, Amelia cut her off, her voice a bit too eager. “Grumpy, absurdly stubborn, a veritable tyrant over the smallest things, and if I may be so bold, rather prone to looking as though he’s swallowed a lemon whole!”
Helena stifled a laugh, her lips twitching. “I hadn’t noticed,” she teased, her tone light.
Amelia gave her a knowing look, eyes sparkling. “Oh, don’t pretend you haven’t! You needn’t feel obliged to censor your thoughts; you’re quite free to express your opinions with me. Just… perhaps avoid saying it to him directly. Unless you want to be met with a lecture on proper decorum.”
“I will take your word,” Helena chuckled.
Then, she looked around the landscaped garden, enjoying the flower arrangements, the way the various statues were placed, noting the gazebo she could see in the distance.
“It is peaceful here,” she added.
Amelia nodded. “Yes, I suppose it is.” She looked around. “Peaceful is one word, lonely is another.” She gave Helena a wistful smile. “I suppose that is why I was so glad you could stay. I do not get much company all the way up here in the country.”
“What about your neighbors?”
Amelia made a dismissive sound, “We barely see them. Silas is always traveling, and they would hardly call upon me. So, I’m usually alone with just my tutor and the staff, who are very busy with work and do not have time to chat with me.”
Helena’s mouth turned down in sympathy. “That does sound lonely. I know how it feels. I didn’t have anyone to speak to even when I was at my home.”
“Are you an only child?” Amelia asked.
“I was, for a long time. My brother was not born until I was eleven years old. My father was like your brother, you see. He used to travel a lot. My mother… well, to be frank, she was distant and unapproachable. I didn’t have a tutor once my governess left, but I occupied myself with reading, and teaching myself to play the musical instruments that were available.”
Amelia grinned, her blue-gray eyes shimmering. “And what did you learn to play?”
Helena gave her a one-armed shrug. “Oh, I play the harpsichord and the violin equally awfully. Thankfully, the music room was further away from the other rooms, so nobody had to suffer my musical endeavors except myself.”
Amelia reached for her hands. “I would have suffered with you, gladly! If only for the company.”
Helena laughed, shaking her head. “You say that because you haven’t heard me play. I am certainly never going to win a husband by showing off my talents in that direction.”
“Perhaps I can help you brush up at the harpsichord. My tutor taught me how to play it fairly well. Or at least well enough thatSilas has asked me to play him a tune every now and then after dinner.”
“Oh, that is awfully kind of you, Lady Amelia. But… I’m afraid I don’t know how long I shall be here.”
Helena frowned, thinking about what she could possibly do when she left the Duke’s home. She did not know enough to find work as a governess, and she certainly did not want to end up as someone’s mistress.
Even if she tried to find a job as a maid, she had no discernible skills.
No connections either. And her family was trying to kill her.
“What miserable thoughts are you thinking, my lady?” Amelia asked. “Your face became ever so gloomy.”
Helena tried to smile but couldn’t quite manage it. She shook her head, pulling at the grass at her feet. “It’s nothing.”
Amelia rubbed her shoulder consolingly. “Be assured that you can stay here as long as you need to.”
She blinked at the adolescent, her insight once again surprising Helena.
Then, she exhaled. “You’ll give me leave to doubt that your brother will agree with that, my lady.”
“He took you under his wing, and I know from personal experience he takes his responsibilities very seriously. I assure you, we will take care of you.”
