Helena stood in the middle of the room, soaked and trembling, not from cold anymore, but from fury, humiliation, and dread.
He threw his riding gloves onto the table, spinning to face her.
“Explain,” he snapped.
She didn’t speak right away. She was too busy unfastening her cloak, her hands clumsy from the lingering chill and adrenaline. She peeled it off and let it fall to the floor.
Silas stepped closer. “Now, Helena.Wherewere you going, andwhyin God’s name did you think it wise to sneak off like a thief in the night?”
“I didn’t sneak,” she bit out. “I left.”
“Without tellinganyone, without guards, without a message?—”
“Because you wouldn’t have let me go!”
His mouth opened in disbelief. “Damn right I wouldn’t have!”
She threw her hands in the air. “Exactly!”
Silas paced a few steps, running a hand down his face, trying, and failing, to rein in his temper. “What the hell is wrong with you? What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking about Charlie!” she shouted. “Becausesomeonehas to!”
Silas froze. His eyes narrowed. “What happened?”
She didn’t want to cry. Not in front of him. Not again.
But her fingers fumbled at the pocket of her gown, pulling out the now creased and slightly damp letter. She tossed it onto the table between them.
“Read it.”
He didn’t move. “What is it?”
“A letter from my uncle.” Her voice shook. “He has Charlie. He threatened to hurt him unless I come in person to ‘retrieve’ what my father left behind. I didn’t know what to do—I still don’t—I just?—”
He grabbed the letter and read.
And as he did, the color drained from his face, slowly replaced by a terrible, simmering rage.
His voice, when it came, was low and lethal. “You didn’t think to show me this first?”
“I didn’t want to give you time to say no.”
“You’re damn right I would’ve said no!” He looked up, his jaw clenched. “This was a trap, Helena. Clear as day.”
“Iknowthat now!”
He paced again, fists clenched at his sides. “You would’ve walked right into his hands. Alone. If I hadn’t stopped you?—”
She whirled on him. “I was supposed to sit here and wait while my brother, my baby brother, was in danger? While that man,that monster, held him like leverage?”
“Yes,” Silas snarled. “You were supposed to sit here and let me handle it. Because if something happened to you—if hehurtyou?—”
His voice cracked. Just slightly.
Helena faltered.
“You think he’s the first murderer I’ve dealt with? The first treasonous bastard? I know exactly what I’m dealing with.”
