Because he was English and that's what the English do under stress: they drink tea.

Christian is staring at us. He’s an only child and could never understand the delicate joys of sibling abuse.

Are you any good at it?"
"Pulling idiots out of the snow? I'm the best.

But indeed I would rather have nothing but tea.

When may did so, he found every cup and saucer, plate, vase, and bowl standing arranged across the floor like pieces in a scaled-up chess game.
"The Whitstable family tree," Bryant explained, entering and setting down his tea tray. "It's the only way I could get it sorted out in my head. I had to see them properly laid out, who was descended from whom." He pointed to a milk jug. "Daisy Whitstable is bottom left-hand corner, by the fireguard. Next to her is the egg cup, brother Tarquin... Now, pass me Marion and Alfred Whitstable over there."
"What's their significance?"
"We need them to drink out of.

There is nothing so capital as a cup of tea for settling the Disheveled Nerves of Fair Ladies.