Silas pursed his lips as he sat alone in the music room, a post dinner brandy in his hand. He swirled the liquid around as he thought about Helena’s words.
Was I really too harsh?
He thought about his many interactions with his sister over the years.
He lived his life always wanting to be righteous. He wanted to be like his father. Every action, especially pertaining to Amelia, was preceded by one thought.
What would his father think of this?’
Now, Silas wondered if his unwavering loyalty to a dead man had led him to overlook Amelia’s wants and needs, prioritizing what he believed his father would have wanted instead.
He had never really thought about it before, but reflecting on it now, he could not be sure that he had ever taken her own opinion into account.
He sighed deeply. “What am I to do about it now? I cannot change the past.”
He got to his feet, moving to the piano and taking a seat at the bench. He played a few chords of a tune his mother had taught him a long time ago. Getting lost in the nostalgia of it, he played the entire song, humming along under his breath.
His eyes flicked towards the half open door, hoping that his sister, or Helena at least, might join him. He could hear the castle settling in around him for the night: the distant footsteps as the maids climbed up and down the stairs, using the dumbwaiters to transport hot water to the upper floors.
He could also make out the shuffle of footmen, shifting from foot to foot as they stood at attention, awaiting summons, and evendistantly, the kitchen staff, gossiping as they banged on pots and pans.
Everyone was busy, no one giving a thought to him.
It felt very lonely.
He frowned, wondering where that thought might have come from. He wasn’t a man much concerned with company, but knowing his sister and their house guest were somewhere ensconced together, pouting about him, was unsettling.
We’re supposed to be enjoying a digestif together, for God’s sake!he thought with annoyance.
Before Helena had come, he knew that Amelia would have returned, and joined him for the evening. If only to have someone to speak to.
He began to play another tune, increasing the tempo until his fingers were flying over the keys. He lost himself to the music, pushing all thought away.
Whatever had happened earlier, it was done already, and there was no use crying over spilt milk.
As the song reached its conclusion, he came to an abrupt stop. He could sense someone’s presence behind him.
He looked up to see Helena standing in the doorway.
“I didn’t know you could play like that,” she said, taking a step into the room.
Silas frowned. “There’s much you don’t know about me.”
“Clearly,” she said nonchalantly as she leaned against the pianoforte. “Will you play something else?”
He took his hands off the keys and placed them in his lap. “No. I am done for the evening.”
“How disappointing. We heard you play from Amelia’s chambers, and she said that it happens so rarely that we really need to take advantage. I see what she meant. You’re remarkable.”
He snorted, looking away and shaking his head. “I thought I was harsh and unfair.”
“Oh, you are those things as well. Never fear,” she said blithely.
He flicked a glance at her, unable to maintain his annoyance. “So you and…” He leaned back and away so he could see past her at the door. “…Amelia came down to get an after-dinner show?”
Helena grinned. “We did. We decided that if the music was good enough, we could forgive you.”
Silas narrowed his eyes at her, noticing for the first time how loose she was, how her body swayed a bit as if she had trouble maintaining her balance.
