“Comes with treason charges,” I admitted, getting up to give her a much-needed hug. “And execution. Don’t do it.”
“We ended up in a screaming match, and I said things I probably shouldn’t have, but I don’t regret the words. She said things to me she’s definitely going to regret.”
I gave her a squeeze around the shoulders and chaffed one arm. “We all know her opinion is wrong. You’ve done a great deal of work to help put the lower city back together, and people are acknowledging what you’ve accomplished. I think what this really boils down to? Is you’re gaining popularity and respect from the citizens and nobility, to the point it’s taking away support from Victor. Your mother’s viewing you now as an obstacle, so she’s doing her best to get you to stop.”
Helena blew out a breath. “I realize you’re likely right, but for her to say all that to me just to make Victor look better? Pisses me off.”
“Understandably. She shouldn’t be taking his side over yours.”
“No. She should not. I think she’s going to make it an official command, though, if I don’t do her bidding. I don’t want to be stopped by her, but I don’t know how to maneuver around her.Father’s likely to take her side because he thinks I’m useless as well. Not as much as she does, but still.”
She was not wrong to worry; her analysis of the situation was likely right. Blowing out a breath, I tried not to regret sending Edwin to fix his house this morning.
“Your garden,” I said. “Let’s sit and talk there. We need cookies to fortify us.”
“Cookies sound great.” Helena gnawed on her bottom lip and asked uncertainly, “You’re sure about thwarting her? Mother’s so, so determined.”
“No, she’s being needlessly stubborn. There’s a difference. Also, Helena, I want you to remember, this isyourlife. Your mother can threaten and manipulate, but in the end, it’s your choice. You can say no. Hell, I’ll back you on the no. If you want to walk away from the royal family completely and strike out on your own, I’ll financially support you until you get your feet under you. You arenotlocked into behaving as they wish.”
The stress and dread drained from her expression, and tears burned in her eyes. “You’d really do that for me?”
“Of course. You’re my sister, aren’t you?”
Helena threw both arms around my waist and hugged me tightly. I hugged her back, recognizing that until this moment, she hadn’t truly felt she had someone in her corner. I meant every word I’d said. I’d abscond her out of the damn palace if I had to.
“You are the best decision my parents have ever made,” she whispered against my shoulder, sounding choked up. “Thank you, James. I promise, I’ll return the favor.”
“I’m counting on it.” I truly was. Helena, once she formed her own power base, would be a force to reckon with. I’d need her in the future. Right now, though, she was the priority. “Come, let’s form a battle plan.”
Her head lifted and she nodded, still looking a bit emotional and overwhelmed. “Yes, let’s.”
I gave her my arm and we quickly left the office, heading for her rooms and garden. My staff was probably just as glad the emotional bomb had left, and I couldn’t blame them. The second we were in the hallway, however, Helena objected.
“Wait, where’s Edwin?”
“He has this week off,” I explained. “He’s overseeing the renovations on his house right now.”
“Oh! I’m glad he got a construction crew in so quickly.” Then her eyes narrowed on me. “You hired a crew for him, didn’t you?”
“I may have.” I winked at her.
“Figures. Well, I won’t pull him away, even though I want him for this meeting. Perhaps we can pull him in later on.”
“You trust him that much, do you?”
“I do. I know you do as well.”
For some reason, my chest puffed up with pride. I loved how Helena had rightfully already gotten Edwin’s measure. If she trusted in him the way I did, nothing in her life could truly go wrong. Edwin was that reliable.
Helena’s eyes narrowed on my neck for some reason. “You have a hickey.”
“That’s entirely possible,” I admitted, not at all shy about it. “Also, Edwin may have put it there.”
Helena gasped and then lightly smacked my arm. “You did not finally seduce him!”
“I did.” I quite relished the fact. Well, he’d rather seduced me, but to-mae-toes, to-mah-toes.
“Oh dammit.” She groaned. “I was going to flirt with him—”
