She laughed. “How opportunistic!”
“Yes, a great many ugly things have been removed.” Tristan rubbed his toe over a burn mark on the floorboards. He could still smell tobacco in this room from the many cigars Uncle Burke used to smoke after dinner. He’d come to hate that smell because it meant he would be interrogated about his schoolwork and personal habits, when his aunt had left the room. Not until the carpet was removed did he discover that the ashes had burned down to the floor. Those scars would also be sanded away.
“I remember coming here when your uncle died, to make our condolences,” Joan said quietly. “It was such a dark house. I never imagined it could be so bright. What will you put on the walls?”
“Ah ... I’ve no idea.” He turned on his heel, trying to picture the room without the blood-red wall papers and dark oak paneling. “What do you suggest?”
She blinked at him. Lady Courtenay had strolled to the far end of the room and vanished into the adjoining parlor, leaving them somewhat alone. “It is your house.”
“It’s becoming mine, at any rate.” He surveyed the room again. “I always hated being here.”
“Why?”
He lifted one shoulder. “It was dark, as you said. Cold. Miserable. I only came here when I had no other choice.”
“Was that why you came to Helston Hall with Douglas?”
He chuckled. “I remember that house! Does the window on the servants’ stair still make a terrible creak?”
“It does not,” she said with a laugh. “My father nailed it shut after you and Douglas caused such mayhem. My mother insisted.”
“Right.” He grimaced. “I completely destroyed her good opinion of me, didn’t I?”
She looked self-conscious. “Oh—well, I’m sure you and Douglas were equally responsible ...”
“No, I know she laid the blame at my feet. And I can hardly claim innocence, can I?” He gave her a wry grin. “Still, I was sorry not to be invited back. That was one of my favorite holidays from school.”
Her face blanked in surprise. “Why?” She clapped one hand over her mouth. “I meant to say, I’m glad you enjoyed your time there ...”
“No, no.” He waved aside her polite correction. “I know your mother took an instant dislike to me, but Helston was still a warm, comforting place. Even when your father reprimanded us, he was patient and reasonable about it. You’d be surprised how many schoolmates had homes as gloomy and grim as mine.”
“Did you go home with someone every holiday?”
“Whenever possible,” he replied.
Her brow knit. “I thought so. Douglas described your life with no small amount of envy; merry and carefree, he called it. I think he was quite envious.”
Tristan snorted. “From the comfort of his own home and family! I would have happily traded places with him.”
“But you had a home,” she said slowly. “With your aunt and uncle. Even if it was dark and cold, it was still ... well, it was still home, wasn’t it?”
Tristan’s mouth twisted. “If by home, you mean a place where I was tolerated during any school holiday when I couldn’t wrest an invitation elsewhere, then yes, I did.”
“Tolerated!”
“Reluctantly,” he added. “If I hadn’t been the heir—which was a circumstance of immense regret to my aunt and uncle—I’m sure it would have been a great relief to everyone not to have me about at all.”
“That’s horrible!” She sounded appalled. “Surely that’s not true!”
“No, it’s quite true. Still is, I daresay, if anyone asks Aunt Mary.” Tristan wondered why he was even telling her this. He folded his arms and leaned against the mantel. “Perhaps you can sympathize ...”
She shook her head, not rising to his teasing tone. “You can be very provoking at times, but even then ... Why did you have to wrest invitations to visit? Douglas said you were the most popular boy in school.”
Had he been? Tristan would have bet money he wasn’t well liked at all. He was admired, which was a far different thing. “My dear Miss Bennet. Allow me to explain something about boys. An intelligent, hardworking boy may be popular, with a wide circle of friends. But a boy who instigates boundless pranks and adventures is legendary. Friends appear from thin air, begging him to come home with them. Tales of punishment at the end of the holiday only enhance his illustrious reputation.” He spread his arms wide and swept a bow, like an actor after the curtain. “I was rarely invited anywhere twice, but I was invited everywhere at least once.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Are you saying Douglas invited you to Helston because you promised to be outrageous?”
“Of course; what else would induce him to offer?”
