Helena let her lead with a resigned sigh. Amelia didn’t seem to care that Helena was essentially going downstairs in her nightgown and robe, with her hair falling in an untidy pile down her back. She just skipped along, tugging Helena with her.
They entered the dining hall and Helena stopped short, seeing Silas sitting at the head of the table.
Oh no,she thought with a sinking heart.
She hadn’t really expected him to be there, for whatever reason. Now she was a disheveled mess in front of him.
Amelia seemed inordinately pleased about it. As if she had planned the entire thing.
Helena narrowed her eyes at the other girl in suspicion, but Amelia just gave her an innocent smile.
“Sit down. Have some coffee,” she said.
Helena slowly sat. She turned towards Silas, giving him a tentative smile. “Good morning, Your Grace.”
He nodded at her. “Good morning, Lady Helena. Did you sleep well?”
Helena grimaced. “I suppose so.” She looked up to see that Silas had an amused smirk on his face.
“You aren’t sure?” he asked.
“You are mocking me,” she said with a pout.
He laughed. “Not at all. I am just concerned. It was a… boisterous evening for you.”
She covered her face with her hands. “Oh lord, what did I do?”
He leaned towards her, his face softening. “Nothing. You were merely exuberant. Nothing wrong with that.”
“The wayyousay it, I think there is.”
Silas leaned back and laughed. “Well, you don’t seem to have suffered any permanent damage, so all’s well that ends well.”
A servant girl came up and put a cup in front of her.
Helena nodded her thanks and smiled, though she wondered if she would be able to keep the drink down. Her stomach felt quite queasy.
“Slow sips. That’s the secret.” Silas said confidingly. “And dry toast, until your stomach settles.”
Helena blushed, feeling embarrassed about Silas knowing exactly how she was feeling.
His advice worked, at least.
Silas stepped into the library searching for a book on butterflies. He intended to give it to Helena, as she and Amelia had plans to go butterfly hunting.
Amelia had mentioned a nearby meadow that tended to attract a great number of them. She had made sure to ask Silas if it was acceptable for them to go, and he saw no reason to object, especially given how isolated the meadow was. However, he hadinsisted they take a couple of footmen along as a precaution, just to ensure the girls were properly escorted.
Still, finding this book was his olive branch. Perhaps he had been a bit harsh with both of them. Out of fear for their safety, of course. Giving them the book to look over would work in lieu of a verbal apology.
He heard Amelia’s high piping voice, talking a mile a minute, and smiled.
Speak of the devil.
He turned towards the door just as Helena came in. She came to a stop when she caught sight of him.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb you. We were just coming for some books.” She pointed behind her to where Silas assumed Amelia was waiting.
Suddenly the door slammed shut.
