Chapter 21 #2
“I agree,” Helena said. “She should know the truth before she has any further dealings with him.”
“We must do so as soon as possible,” Tristan replied. “I still have to answer Lord Ravenscroft’s request to formally call upon Georgiana. I told him I would give the matter some thought, but after what we have discovered, I have no intention of granting his request.”
Helena nodded. “Then perhaps we should speak with Georgiana before you send your reply.”
“Yes,” Tristan agreed. “I would rather she hear the truth from us first.”
“And Beatrice, she ought to know all this too.” Helena suggested.
Tristan nodded, “Absolutely. Would you mind if I had her called to join us now? Then we may share what we have learned.”
“Not at all.” Helena responded, “I will go find her, and I’ll call for tea to be sent as well.”
Chapter 22
The following morning, Tristan sat at his desk with Helena opposite him, closing the notebook she brought with her to each of their morning meetings.
“I am looking forward to being at Blackmere. I am particularly interested to see all the changes you have made during your time as earl. Do you truly know every tenant?” Helena asked, leaning back in her armchair.
“Indeed. I know many landowners prefer to keep their tenants at a distance, believing they will ask for more than is necessary and drain every last coin from the estate, but I have a different opinion of the matter. The tenants work the land. They know what must be done to perform their duties properly. I rely upon them, and they rely upon me.”
Tristan paused. “My estate manager deals with the tenants more frequently, as is to be expected, but I choose not to keep them at arm's length.”
“I find I agree with you.” Helena smiled. “Now, there is one topic you have avoided all morning.”
Tristan knew precisely what she meant and sighed. “Indeed, Georgiana...”
“We did agree to speak with her this morning.” Helena studied her husband carefully. “However, you seem rather apprehensive.”
“I am.” Tristan raked a hand through his unruly hair. “I am concerned I shall lose my temper with her.”
Helena's eyes widened. “Surely not!”
Tristan gave a sardonic smile. He knew he appeared to be a man very much in control of his emotions and therefore understood her surprise. “You must remember how Georgie and I bickered as children.”
“Well, yes, I do, but you are both adults now,” Helena responded.
“We are, but Georgiana is remarkably talented at being obstinate whenever I present her with reason.” He shook his head. “And I fear that, because I am not my father, she will dig her heels in regardless of what I say.”
“Then be determined to navigate the conversation not as her brother, but as someone who cares for her future,” Helena advised.
“Indeed.” Tristan nodded, resolving not to allow anything Georgiana said to provoke him into losing his temper.
It was only half an hour later, when he sat with Georgiana and Helena in the parlor, that he had entirely forgotten his resolution.
He stared across the room at Georgiana, whose face was flushed with anger.
“I love him!” Georgiana retorted. “I knew you would stand in our way!”
“How do you expect me to trust some fleeting emotion of yours when you will not even listen to reason?” Tristan fired back, his temper already rising.
“Tristan…” Helena warned.
He ignored her, glaring at Georgiana. The conversation had only just begun, and it was already a disaster.
“What would you know of love?” Georgiana demanded. “Or are you simply jealous that I have found a love match and you failed to?”
“Georgiana…” Helena warned again, that time turning her attention upon her.
Georgiana ignored her as readily as Tristan had.
“A love match?” Tristan scoffed. “With a man fifteen years your senior?”
As Georgiana opened her mouth to answer, Helena abruptly rose from her chair and crossed to the window. “For Heaven's sake,” she muttered.
Both Wycliffe siblings fell silent, neither had ever seen Helena in a temper before.
She turned to face them; her gray eyes dark with anger and her arms folded across her chest. For a moment she looked from one to the other before speaking.
“May I remind you both of your ages?” Her voice was low, but the frustration within it was unmistakable.
She turned back toward the window and shook her head.
Georgiana and Tristan exchanged a startled glance before looking back at Helena.
She had already turned away from the window and was walking toward the table where Tristan had placed the leather-bound file. He had brought it with him, as it contained the documents relating to Lord Ravenscroft's finances, together with Elinor's writings.
Helena stopped beside the table and looked at them both.
“Tristan, if you wish your sister to listen to what you have to say, keep your temper in check and do not rise to the simplest provocation.” Her gaze shifted to Georgiana.
“And if you wish to treat the head of your family as though you are an obstinate child being scolded, then I have nothing further to say on the matter of your attachment to Lord Ravenscroft.”
Georgiana's expression fell.
Helena reached down and picked up the leather-bound file. “But I will not do an injustice to either Frederick or Elinor by bringing up their dealings with Lord Ravenscroft in the middle of an argument such as this. It dishonors them both.”
She paused, looking directly at Georgiana. “Be headstrong, Georgiana, and marry the man if you are determined to do so. But I will not hear of it when he has treated you as he has treated others dear to you.” With that, Helena turned and walked toward the door.
Tristan felt heartily ashamed of himself.
He had allowed his temper to place Helena in the position of having to reprimand both him and his sister.
He rose from his seat at the same moment Georgiana did, and noticed her expression had changed entirely, concern and regret replacing her earlier anger.
“Wait!” Georgiana called quickly, just as Helena reached for the door.
Helena turned and fixed her gaze upon her sister-in-law. “Yes?”
“I am sorry. Truly, I am.” Georgiana glanced toward Tristan.
“So am I,” he admitted.
Georgiana looked back at Helena. “What do Elinor and Frederick have to do with any of this?”
Helena's expression softened. “They have everything to do with it.” She paused, then glanced between them. “Shall I call for some more tea, and we can speak about this as adults?”
Both Tristan and Georgiana agreed.
As Helena moved toward the bellpull, Tristan found himself watching her with admiration. She had managed to bring their quarrel to an end almost as swiftly as it had begun, and, more importantly, had done so without taking either of their sides.
He could not help thinking that he had married a remarkable woman.
“Georgiana, I am sorry I spoke to you as I did.” He gave a rueful half-smile.
“I was never the brother who could make you understand. That was always Frederick... But I wish to be, I wish to be the brother you rely upon and turn to.” He paused.
“Our family has lost so much, I only want your future to be filled with happiness and safety. And I am terrified of failing you.”
Georgiana blinked, unaccustomed to hearing Tristan speak to her with such earnestness. “I am sorry too, brother. I do wish to hear what you have to say, and I do wish to be the sister who listens to you.”
Tristan glanced at Helena, who was smiling, before turning back to Georgiana.