Raymond let out a loud breath. “Porter claims to be very close to getting it.”
They reached the bottom of the stairs and the room brightened from the light of their torches. The three men ducked down, hiding in the corner where the shadows still provided a shield.
“We are wasting resources, sending these to France without the diadem.” Sister Frances complained. “Can they not be scattered until we are ready to rise up?”
“They say that if we let them go, they will scatter and we won’t find them again. There is some truth to that.” Raymond said.
Sister Frances sighed. “It is annoying.”
“Yes, I know. But not much longer now.” Raymond assured her.
Helena woke suddenly to find shadowy figures looming over her.
She sat up, opening her mouth to scream when one of the shadows grabbed her from behind and another put his hand over her mouth.
She tried to bite the hand, but her hair was grabbed and pulled back roughly.
“Dinna even try it,” a rough voice said.
She made a choking sound, and he eased off slightly on her hair, though he didn’t let her go. A second person grabbed her arms, dragging her out of bed.
“Please!” she tried to say but her mouth was still covered.
She stumbled as they pulled her away from the bed. Someone else brought her discarded gown, pulling it roughly over her, on top of her night gown. They put shoes on her feet and a shawl over her shoulders.
Helena was surprised at their consideration.
Surprised and worried.
Once she was dressed, they dragged her out of her chambers and down the corridor.
She stared in horror at the prone figure of the footman who’d followed her around all day. He was lying on the floor, his head at a strange angle. Helena was very afraid that he was dead.
She dug her heels in, trying not to move forward, but they dragged her with them. Then, to her horror, two more men joined them, carrying an insensible Amelia between them.
Helena screamed, shaking her head to dislodge the hand over her mouth.
“Amelia!” she cried. “What have you done? Have you killed her?”
One of the men snorted. “If she was dead, why would we bring her?”
Helena’s entire body slumped in relief. “Please sir, please, let her be,” she immediately began to plead. “You have me, you don’t need her! Just let her go.”
The men ignored her, even as she continued to plead with them, they led her down the stairs.
She spotted two more bodies lying prone in the corridor, but all she could do was pray that they were all right. Her heart was hammering in her chest, and she wanted to burst into tears.
The men dragged them both out to a pair of waiting carriages. Helena closed her eyes.
Silas, please find us.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Coming home, Silas was eager to share with Helena that they had enough evidence to arrest her uncle. He knew she would be happy.
But he could not lie to himself that was the only reason he was eager to get home. He had missed her terribly, even when she was right next door to him.
Benedict dropped him off at his door and his heart dropped as Jeeves immediately appeared, looking disheveled. “Your Grace, thank heaven you’re back!” he said agitatedly.
