Silas immediately straightened, his expression shifting to one of practiced calm.
“Good morning,” he said, his tone polite, though carefully measured. He turned his attention back to his sister. “I was wondering if you’d taken the time to practice your lessons this morning.”
Amelia blinked, a sudden shift in her demeanor. “I…I suppose I’ve forgotten. I was so eager to get outside.” She shrugged, her innocent grin spreading across her face.
Silas felt a flicker of impatience, but he kept it carefully in check. He had allowed Amelia more freedom than was perhaps wise, and now it was time to guide her back onto the proper path firmly, yet without unnecessary harshness.
“So take care of your lessons before you go outside,” he instructed, his voice steady and controlled.
“And what if I don’t want to?” Amelia tossed back, a playful edge to her tone, though he could see the challenge in her eyes.
His jaw tightened, but his voice remained even. “You know better than this, Amelia. Your lessons are not optional.”
Amelia’s grin faltered, but she lifted her chin, defiance glimmering in her eyes. “I’m not a child anymore. I don’t need you to remind me what to do.”
Silas’s gaze softened slightly, though his jaw remained set. “No, you’re not a child. But you are still young enough to make poor choices. You’ve been entrusted with responsibilities, and it’s time you took them seriously. Doing so will serve you far better than arguing now.”
Helena’s voice cut through, calm yet firm. “His Grace is right, Amelia. You need to focus on your studies. There will be time for the outdoors later. Why don’t you let me help you? It might make things easier.”
Amelia blinked, taken aback by the suggestion. “You? Help me?” she asked, tilting her head, a skeptical frown tugging at her lips.
“Yes,” Helena said smoothly. “If you’d like some assistance, I can help you focus. It will make the work go faster, and make it all less frustrating.”
Silas watched the exchange, noting the subtle shift in the room. Amelia seemed to pause, considering it, and he found himself quietly pleased. Helena had intervened in just the right way—direct, confident, yet gentle—and it had the desired effect.
“Well,” Amelia said finally, sighing dramatically and leaning back slightly, “I suppose I can’t argue with that, can I? Fine. I’ll let you help me, but only because I’m being magnanimous.”
Silas resisted the urge to smile at the way Amelia tried to mask her reluctant acceptance.
Helena returned a small, knowing smile. “I promise it won’t be so bad. We’ll start with what’s giving you the most trouble.”
Silas stepped back, folding his arms. His gaze lingered on them both, analyzing the situation as he often did.
He cleared his throat, his voice measured and even. “Don’t waste time. I’ll leave you to it.”
Amelia turned her eyes to him with a mockingly sweet smile. “Don’t worry, Silas. We’ll get through it without too much trouble, I hope.”
Before he left, he glanced over his shoulder. “If either of you need anything,” he said, “you know where to find me.”
Amelia muttered something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like, “And you’ll probably be watching us anyway.”
He resisted the instinct to respond to her teasing. There was no need to engage in games today; he had matters far more pressing to consider.
With a final glance at them both, he left the room.
Yet his mind lingered, as it always did, on Helena. The situation with her remained complicated, and, perhaps for the first time, somewhat beyond his control.
That thought unsettled him far more than he would admit.
A couple of hours later, Helena was in the sewing room, assisting the seamstress in making her a few more gowns. Apparently, there were bolts and bolts of cloth in storage for just that purpose.
Suddenly, Amelia breezed into the room.
“There you are,” she said. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”
Helena spread out her arms. “Well, you have found me.”
Amelia took the chair next to Helena. “What are you doing?”
