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Marietta exchanged a glance with Vivianna They both knew that Toby was useless and that Helen did rely on William In his way, he had watched over Helen He had even paid so debts when Helen could not do so, and Toby would not do so

“We don’t expect you to do anything that will ry with you,” Vivianna assured her “Truly, Aunt Helen, youfor you, and good for Uncle William, too, if you s

tand up for yourself occasionally If you were to say what you really think and feel, rather than saying what you believe will please him most”

“Well, as for that…You can ask William yourself, Helen,” Toby called out, as he turned fro smile “He’s just arrived”

Helen took a deep shuddering breath Vivianna and Marietta exchanged looks, before Vivianna went out into the hall to welcome her Uncle William, and Marietta clasped her aunt’s hand and squeezed it, at the salance He responded with a rin

Willia Vivianna into the room He took Helen’s outstretched hand with a brusque, “Sister,” and greeted Marietta as if he would rather she wasn’t there Dutifully the nurse presented Vivianna’s son to be adrunted—and then he sat down in the most comfortable chair in the room

“I’ll have a little milk in my tea, Marietta And two of those tea cakes,” he said, watching critically as Marietta fetched theruraciously acknowledged Ao anywhere withoutmade of the scandal of their birth I wish it had never co to allow the truth to leak out”

“No one e to her voice “And Her Majesty is perfectly comfortable in the coossips, whoever they are, to mind their own business, Uncle”

Helen drew in a little gasp of air, clearly far e than any of the participants Willialared at his eldest niece and infor there was nothing remotely scandalous about the Tremaine family”

“I find that hard to believe,” Toby spoke up

“Apart from my poor sister’s union to yourself, of course,” William cut him down

“More tea cakes, Uncle?” Marietta asked a little desperately, holding out the plate

He gave her a look, as if he was about to start a category of her own reedily over the tea cakes and he changed his mind “Thank you, Marietta, I will take another one How is A?”

“She hopes to be able to travel south very soon,” Marietta replied sweetly “She asked after you, too, Uncle, in her last letter”

“Did she?” He appeared soh faed”