Chapter Text
March 1933
“Mrs. Landon, please, I assure you he didn’t mean it that way.”
“I most certainly did!” Siegfried bellowed from his office.
Taking a deep breath, Tristan tried to calm himself; defusing this situation was paramount, and he followed Mrs. Landon up the stairs.
“I know my brother can be somewhat,” he paused, scrabbling for a more flattering adjective than crankanerous, “prickly in his opinions, but I assure you he has nothing but the greatest of respect for you."
Mrs. Landon let out a short, sharp laugh. “I’m afraid it’s too late for flattery.” She said this as she hurriedly packed her suitcase.
"I..." but his sentence died on his tongue when Mrs. Landon gave him a sharp look; he was lying through his back teeth, and she knew it. Clearing his throat, he tried a different tactic: “Will you at least stay till the end of the month? Give yourself time to find another position.”
“My sister has a BnB in Scarborough.” She stated it matter-of-factly, closing the claps on the suitcase.
"The week then? The extra pay would likely be helpful.”
Mrs. Landon stood up straight, picking up her suitcase, and looked over at Tristan, exasperated. “There is no amount of money in the world that would make me stay in this house with that disagreeable man.”
At that moment, Siegfried appeared at the bedroom doorway, a small brown envelope in hand, and he held it out towards Mrs. Landon.
“A full two weeks' pay.”
For a brief moment, Mrs. Landon was stunned, and then pride came upon her. "It ain’t right to take money for a job left undone.”
“Which is not a fault of yours."
Mrs. Landon looked to Tristain, who gave her a small shrug and said, “I would consider it compensation for the emotional turmoil.”
Siegfried rolled his eyes at Tristan’s remark.
“Aye, well,” said Mrs. Landon as she picked up her coat. “All the same, it would feel wrong to take it,” and she made to leave but stopped on the landing, turning back to Siegfreid, “but I appreciate the gesture.”
Siegfried gave a small nod in acknowledgment of the truce, and with that, Mrs. Landon made her way downstairs and out the door.
***
Tristan was sitting at the bar, his chin in his palm, at a complete loss about Siegfried.
“Everything alright, Tristan?” He hadn’t seen Helen come into The Drovers. “You’ve a face like a slapped arse.”
He gave her a sarcastic smile. “Funny."
Helen sat on a stool beside him. “Let me guess, Mrs. Landon left."
Tristan just nodded in reply.
“Look, we all knew that it was never going to be easy for him to find a housekeeper who could handle his eccentricities.”
“Eccentricities. He’s my brother, and I care deeply about him, but Helen, he’s a mad man. How he even managed to convince Evelyn to marry him is beyond me.”
“Oi.” Helen said as he smacked him on the arm. Siegfried could be difficult at times, but as she’d seen firsthand, he had a good heart on him. “That’s not fair. You know they both doted on one another.”
“Yes, yes, they did.” He said sadly, and he sat quietly for a moment. He was at a loss as to what to do to help his brother. “Evelyn was everything to him; how will he survive without her?" Helen laid a hand on Tristan’s arm to offer comfort as he continued talking. “And I go back to college in two days. I’m worried he’ll barely remember to eat if he’s on his own.”
“I don’t think you need to worry about that. If there’s one thing you Farnon’s have, it’s a healthy appetite.” Helen said it jokingly, and she was happy to see a small smile tug at Tristan’s mouth. “And I’ll keep an eye on him till he finds a housekeeper.”
Tristan sat up. “You will?” He asked, relieved to have the support.
“Of course, and I’ll write to keep you up to date with any developments."
“Thanks Helen.” He was touched by her kindness. “Now all we need is someone with the patience of a saint, desperate enough for a job.”
Helen sat quietly as Tristan ordered another pint, and as he took a sip, she said, “Has he thought about offering danger money?”
Tristan laughed into his pint, sending foam everywhere.