“Oh!” Cora’s eyes widened. “Have you lost your home then? My Thomas is a good man, but as you can see, he has many mouths to feed already.”
“Thank you for the kind offer, but I have a home in Aberdeenshire, and I’ve let a town house in Mayfair.” Helena wasn’t certain her sister had actually extended an offer, but she chose to pretend she had. “I came to see you, Cora. Nothing more.”
“Ah, I see. You gave his lordship an heir.”
Helena shook her head, swallowing her shame over her inability to give her husband a son. Olive had reassured her the problem must have been with Wickie, who had suffered from a severe case of mumps as a boy. “Prestwick left no heirs. He was the last of his line.”
Cora’s eyebrows shot up as she pushed away from the table to pour hot water into a pretty teapot and add tea. “I suppose you have the castle all to yourself now. It must get lonely.”
“Gracie will come live with me, so that will make it less lonely. And Pearl, if she likes. I leave for Haslemere tomorrow.”
“So Gracie and Pearl will have run of a Scottish castle, wear expensive dresses, and learn to put on ladylike airs.” She snorted. “I’d wager that would be a sight.”
“Perhaps you could come visit. Scotland is nice in the summer.”
She wished the old fantasy of having her sisters at Aldmist Fell warmed her heart as it used to do. But she would only have half her family with her, and she would miss the friends she had made in England. And Sebastian. Not quite a lover and yet more than a friend.
Cora rejoined her at the table. “Gracie lived with Thomas and me until several months ago. I hated to send her to Lavinia, given the circumstances, but I didn’t know what else to do. My husband was working hard to take care of us all. I feared for his health.”
Helena reassured her Gracie was well cared for, then asked her about her life.
“Thomas is a good provider and he treats me with kindness, which is more than I ever had at home with our father.”
“I am happy for you, Cora.”
Toward the end of Helena’s visit, Cora brought her children to meet her and introduced her mother-in-law. Helena supposed her sister wanted to be certain about what she wanted before exposing her family to her. She could understand wanting to protect them.
“This is my oldest sister, Lady Prestwick. She’s a real lady,” Cora said with a proud tilt to her chin. “Your son married into an important family.”
Mrs. White’s smile was tight. “I daresay Thomas doesn’t care a whit about your lineage. He is devoted to you. No offense intended, milady.”
“None taken.” Helena was pleased with how well her sister had done in her marriage. She had a nice home, beautiful children, a gracious mother-in-law, and a husband who doted on her. Helena couldn’t imagine a better life. If she didn’t love her sister dearly, she might be envious.
After collecting hugs from the children, Helena bid them farewell. Opening her reticule, she pulled out all the bills she had and held them out to her sister. “For the children. I didn’t bring gifts, but I would like to give them something.”
Cora smiled. “That is kind, but unnecessary.”
Her mother-in-law stepped forward, taking the money, and thanking her on the children’s behalf. Helena didn’t miss the slight glare Cora tossed at Mrs. White. It seemed there was perhaps some question about who ran the household after all.
Cora walked her downstairs.
“Will you come visit again before you leave for Scotland?” she asked.
“Nothing would make me happier.” They embraced and Helena kissed her cheek. “Cora, I am so pleased we have reconnected. I’ve missed you.”
They hugged once more.
Fergus was waiting outside, just as he’d promised. “How was yer visit with yer sister, lass?”
Helena couldn’t contain her smile. “Perfect. It has made me even more anxious to see Pearl.”
And perhaps she could make peace with Sebastian on the short journey. It would certainly lessen her guilt if she could properly express her thanks. If not for Sebastian, she wouldn’t have her sisters back, and she didn’t want to part with him believing she was ungrateful.