Helena and Julia followed though Anna was a little slow to do so. Helena looked pointedly between Anna and the chair, and she received a glare in response.
“Ahem,” Helena pulled the chair out, matching that glare and forcing Anna to sit.
“One should be invited to sit,” Anna whispered in her ear. “Does the Dowager Duchess not know what is proper?”
“Enough, Mama,” Helena hissed.
“I am so happy to meet you properly at last, Your Grace,” Julia said with enthusiasm. “Your son has spoken much about you.”
“Has he?” the Dowager Duchess said without much vigor as she poured tea into each cup.
“Yes, I hear you are fond of embroidery. I would be eager to talk of –”
“Ahem.” Anna cut Julia off with a sharp cough. “Don’t let your tongue run away with you dear.”
Helena pinched her brow at the awkwardness of the conversation. Julia had been genuinely excited to meet her mother-in-law-to-be, but Anna was holding back that excitement, out of fear of impropriety.
“Let her go on,” the Dowager Duchess said, gesturing with her teacup at Julia. In her features, there was something that reminded Helena of her son, the Duke. Her fair hair was beginning to grey, yet there was something a little untidy about it that was similar to the Duke’s own hair. It was endearing to Helena though she couldn’t understand why. “Lady Julia, I do not stand on ceremony in this house. If you wish to speak of something, I would encourage you to do so.”
“I like my daughters to hold their peace, Your Grace.” Anna’s sharp tone prompted Helena to stand on her mother’s foot under the table.
Time to be that peacekeeper.
“Well, Her Grace has shown true kindness, has she not, Mama?” Helena said pointedly. “Julia, speak as you wish to.”
“I heard you are fond of embroidery. I try myself though I am not especially good at it,” Julia confessed with a giggle.
“What else do you like to do?” the Dowager Duchess asked.
For a minute, Helena suspected the lady was softening to Julia, but that question was disturbed as she glowered at Anna.
The softness does not extend to the whole family, I fear.
“I am fond of the harpsichord,” Julia explained.
“She’s very good too,” Helena said with pride, leaning forward. “Quite a beautiful voice to match.”
“She needs more practice, of course,” Anna said curtly and lifted her chin high as she sipped from her teacup. “Chinese, I see. Do you not drink the Indian tea?”
“I drink what tea tastes fine, not what is fashionable.” The Dowager Duchess pointedly topped up her teacup.
This is getting worse.
Helena tried to step on her mother’s foot again, but Anna moved her toe away in time.
“I am not used to having guests who would turn their noses up at my hospitality. You make me wonder, Your Grace, as to why I invited you at all.” The Dowager Duchess of Bridstone’s words were cold. An icy chill settled on the room, one disturbed by Anna placing her teacup down in the saucer so hurriedly that it chinked.
“Perhaps we should begin again,” Helena suggested.
“You make me wonder why I came at all, Your Grace, even though our family history shows I should not have.” Anna’s words were curt.
“Mother, I pray you, be quiet.”
“No, dear,” Anna said simply.
“What is going on here?”
At the deep voice, Helena’s spine stiffened. Her eyes darted to the doorway where the Duke of Bridstone stood. He wasn’t wearing a jacket, and his shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing a flash of muscle across his forearms.
