“Oops!” Amelia’s voice said from the other side. “The wind must have blown it shut. And the key flew right off. I shall just go and look for it!”
There was the sound of her footsteps going away.
Helena and Silas exchanged exasperated glances.
“Your sister is not very subtle,” Helena said.
“Please forgive her. She’s new at this matchmaking thing, I think. She must like you quite a lot. She’s usually very hostile to ladies looking to set their cap at me.”
She visibly bristled. “I havenotset my cap at you, Your Grace!”
His mouth twisted in a smirk. “Forgive me, I did not mean to insult you with such an insinuation.”
Her cheeks reddened. “I didn’t—It wasn’t my intention?—”
He decided to change the subject by holding out the book he’d selected. “This might be of interest to you, if you’re still going on this butterfly hunt of yours.”
Her eyes dropped to the book and she smiled, reaching out to take it. “Thank you. Amelia and I are hoping to identify the species. I told her that I used to do it with my brother, and she seemed tremendously interested in learning how we did it.”
Silas watched Helena as she spoke, his gaze momentarily softening. He felt a wave of admiration for her patience and care with Amelia. He hadn’t missed how often she put others before herself.
“You’re a good sister, Helena,” he said, his voice low but genuine, surprising even himself with the words. “Charlie is lucky to have you.”
Helena blinked, clearly caught off-guard by the praise. She gave a slight, almost reluctant smile.
“Thank you,” she murmured, as though she hadn’t expected it. “I suppose I have my moments. You’re not so bad yourself, you know. A good brother, despite everything.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” he replied with his usual calm detachment.
She scoffed incredulously. “Don’t be silly. I haven’t seen my brother in five years, thanks to Uncle James… and my mother. At least you’re here for Amelia every day.”
He shrugged, gaze distant. “Your absence, if anything, was to protect your brother. You’ve done what needed to be done. As for Amelia… I’m never quite sure it’s enough.” His jaw tightened just slightly.
She frowned. “Well… I may have been a bit harsh towards you on occasion about that.”
He took a step closer to her and perched on the end of the reading table. She mirrored his movement, taking a step closer and leaning her hip against the chair.
“Well, in spite of what you think, Idolisten. So, I took in what you told me. About disregarding Amelia’s opinion.”
“And?”
“Well…” he dipped his head in embarrassment. “There has beensomedisregarding where I thought her ideas were not well thought-out, or contrary to my expectations for her. I perhaps didn’t take the time to discuss things with her.”
“That’s very… astute of you. The question is, will you continue in the same vein?”
He gave a small laugh, shaking his head. “I shall try to listen more. To both of you. Are you happy now?”
She looked him in the eye. “Are you?”
He blinked, looking away, unable to stand the intensity of her stare. It was like looking at the sky through a clear lake on a late winter day.
“I don’t know what I am.” The words slipped out of his mouth before he’d even realized.
“Hmm, well the good news is that it’s never too late to learn.”
He turned back to her, smirking. “How did you become so wise?”
“My father used to bring a lot of scholars around for dinners and such. Scientists, philosophers, artists, architects…anyone he could find who could impart some knowledge. I learned a lot at those dinners. I can’t say who exactly said that to me, but I know where it was said at our dining table.”
