Amelia shrugged. “I’m not sure. One of the footmen brought it to me.”
Helena nodded. “I see.” She took a deep breath, turning away from Amelia.
“Do you want to keep the note?” Amelia asked.
Helena shook her head, “No thank you.”
With that, she marched away.
Benedict’s phaeton was fast, but it was still nightfall by the time they arrived at the abbey.
Cloaked in black clothes and keeping to the shadows, they snuck their way into the abbey where Benedict’s man was awaiting them at the stables.
“This way,” he whispered, and led them into the stable.
He walked to the very last stall and they followed. Inside the stall, the spy bent down, searching the floor of the stall, moving hay aside.
Silas frowned, about to ask what he was doing when the man exclaimed in triumph. “Found it.”
He then lifted up a trap door and stepped down onto the stairs that led into a dark hole.
Benedict and Silas exchanged glances before following him.
“This is where they store any contraband. I happened to follow one of the nuns as they brought in some new boxes. They don’t even trust the abbey servants with them. The nuns bring them here on their own.”
Silas wished that they’d thought to bring torches, but could understand why that would have been an additional hazard. The familiar screech of flint on steel reached his ears and then the room was alight. Benedict’s man had brought a candle.
He looked around. The room was mostly empty, but there were a few crates piled in one corner. “This is the next shipment scheduled to leave in the morning. Shall we open them?”
“Yes. I want to see.” Silas said, “But only if it won’t jeopardize the case.”
The spy moved to one of the crates and began to pry it open. Silas moved closer, so he could see.
The top layer was packed with bayonets, but when they moved those aside, Silas was surprised to see jewels of various kinds—gold, silver, rubies, emeralds, all packed together.
He and Benedict exchanged dumbfounded looks.
“What is this?” Benedict whispered.
Silas plunged his hand into the booty, scooping up a bunch of jewels and bringing them close to his eye.
“This is…” He plucked out a gold ring and peered at the inside. “There’s an inscription here… to my… lovely Penelope… always and forever.”
Silas looked up at Benedict, eyebrows raised. “Seems like something a little too personal to give away.”
“You think maybe they’re stolen?”
“I would not be shocked if that were the case.”
There was a rustling sound from upstairs, and they all became very still, waiting.
The sound of footsteps coming down the stairs had them extinguishing the candle and retreating to the furthest, emptiest corners to hide.
“When do you expect to hear from Porter? The rank and file grow impatient with these delays,” a woman’s voice said.
“Sister Frances, you know full well that is out of my control. I am nothing but an intermediary.”
“Yes well, I suppose an apothecary is the perfect foil for that, Raymond. But I know you also attend the meetings. What news of the diadem?”
