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She lay a hand over her brooch for a moment, a gold-and-seed-pearl pin shaped like lilies of the valley. It was the only object she had of her mother’s, and while she had no memory of her wearing it, she wanted to believe it offered some protection and carried her mother’s love.
Hidden in her trunk upstairs was the small cache of jewelry she’d been gifted by Robbie or his family. She couldn’t bear to wear any of it, and none of it suited her style, anyhow—it journeyed with her only in case she needed to sell it.
Helen descended the stairs, not knowing what the coming visit would bring, but prepared to deal with it. She was delighted but not surprised to discover that the maids’ preparations were lovely. The staff had been nothing but solicitous to her and Elijah, even as unexpected guests. The house was typical in size and appointment for the fashionable district, Bloomsbury, with its large terraced, upper-middle-class homes, and very well cared for by the servants.
She was eyeing the plates of delicious-looking treats when the front bell rang. If news of the family’s wealth hadn’t preceded Sirena and Penelope Sideris, it would have been clear from the moment the butler announced them and they joined her in the parlor.
Sirena Sideris was petite, yet her presence and voluminous skirts dominated the room, making the space seem modest. If Nicholas's golden eyes made him a tiger, Sirena was a regal tigress. Her almost black hair had liberal streaks of white; parted in the center, it was braided and coiled.
Her domed skirts were so expansive that she and her daughter had to stand some distance apart. A rich plum color, Mrs. Sideris’s satin gown was piped in navy and featured expansive bell sleeves from which volumes of white lace undersleeve poured out. Her necklace and earbobs matched, made of large, round cabochon garnets encircled with small, iridescent pearls.
Penelope, who looked to be around eighteen, was half a head taller than her mother and wore her dark hair in shiny, bouncing ringlets. Her heavily flounced, rose-colored skirts surpassed even her mother’s in circumference. She looked upon Helen with dark-brown eyes that sparkled even more than the stunning pink-and-green tourmaline gems around her neck. The color scheme was echoed in her elaborate pale-pink sleeves that matched the skirts and sage-green trimming.
Both women’s eyes were warm and curious as Helen welcomed them and they exchanged greetings. She knew a moment of horror when the two ladies approached the settee, fearing that their skirts couldn’t be accommodated, but they sat elegantly and settled them with practiced ease.
I wonder who has more acres of fabric—these London ladies or Alacrity under full sail!
Helen smiled. “It’s through your son that I have the pleasure of making your acquaintance?”
She was out of practice speaking with other women, and she wondered if she had faltered. She glanced down at her own skirts, puny in comparison to theirs.None of this matters, she told herself, but she was relieved to look up and find that her guests’s expressions reflected only kindness and interest.
Mrs. Sideris inclined her head gracefully. “Yes. Nicholas visited the night before he left for Spain.” Her accented voice was both elegant and husky. “He said you will stay in London as a guest of our family. Pen and I are here so we might become acquainted and see how we may help you settle into town.”
Helen hoped her cheeks weren’t as flushed as they felt, especially under Pen’s curious gaze. “You are too kind. As I would imagine Nicholas explained, he and my brother are…investment associates. I’ll be remaining in London until Elijah returns from China, but I won’t be troubling you.”
“Troubling, no!” Mrs. Sideris lifted her hands dramatically. “It’s no trouble.”
Pen leaned forward, mischief in her eyes. “Ihopeit’s trouble! Our family rather enjoys trouble.”
Helen laughed, enjoying the young woman’s spirit, and invited the ladies to partake in the tea, sandwiches, and pastries.
After sitting down with their prepared plates, Helen spoke warmly. “Thanks to your son, in about half a year, you and the rest of London will have the opportunity to enjoy tea of unparalleled freshness. I’ll be sure to have Elijah set aside some special leaves for you.”
“I look forward to that. I love tea!” Mrs. Sideris lifted her tea cup, as if toasting, then sipped. “In Greek, it istsái.”
“Tsái,” Helen repeated. “I understand the Chinese word to becha—not so dissimilar.”
“Andchaiin Russian, likewise similar.”
“Oh! Do you speak Russian?”
“Da.”She laughed. “But it’s been many years since I’ve spoken it. I am from Constantinople, and my father imported grain across the Black Sea.” Her face and voice had sobered as she spoke of her father, a sad air surrounding her. She nodded toward her daughter, and soon enough, the vivacity returned to her eyes. “Pen is the first in our family to be born in England.”
“That is but one ofmanyfirsts I shall achieve for our family. And where are you from, Mrs. Gray?”
“Would you mind calling me Helen?” She smiled, hoping they wouldn’t object to the informality. “I’m from Boston.”
“Please, I am Sirena.”
“And you may call me Pen. Ah, Boston! I’d like to see it one day. I hope to visit much of the world!”
Helen couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm.
“Oh!” Pen exclaimed after swallowing her first bite of sandwich. “This is rather delicious, isn’t it?”
“Virginia ham, the maids tell me.” Helen looked around the room. “My brother and I are staying here as guests of the American Legation. The Vice-Minister stocks his home with delicacies from his home commonwealth of Virginia.”
“It’s most succulent. Almost sweet.” Pen took another bite.
