Helena glared up at her mother. “Spare me the theatrics, Mother. I see no signs of remorse.”
Her mother huffed, turning her head away. “Those of us whospread our legsto others apparently have difficulty with feeling remorse. I’m sure you understand. Now, you will give your uncle what he needs, so that we might be done with this business.”
“First, let the girl go. She has nothing to do with this!” Helena cried, straining forward in an attempt to make her mother look at her. “Mother!” she yelled finally.
The other woman slowly turned to look at her. Helena thought she saw regret in her eyes. “The girl stays, in case you get… ideas.”
“Ideas? I don’t even know anything about what you want from me! Please, Mother, stop this now.”
“Come away from her, Lady Downfield.” Sister Frances called. “She only seeks to poison your mind.”
The Dowager Countess hesitated, but ultimately, stepped back. Helena let out an angry sigh.
She glared at her uncle. “What do you plan to do to her?”
Uncle James turned to her with a faint, pitying smile. “Ah, dear Helena. Always so dramatic. But if you must know…”
He folded his hands behind his back, pacing leisurely.
“Your little Duke should have known better than to meddle in affairs that don’t concern him. He’s been a thorn in my side from the start. And now, well, now he’s brought this upon himself.”
He paused, eyes glittering. “It’s really quite tragic, isn’t it? A devoted brother, a stubborn wife, a poor, frail sister-in-law… all gone in the blink of an eye. One moment, they’re riding along in their grand little carriage. The next—” He clapped his hands together sharply. “A broken wheel. A ravine. No survivors.”
Helena’s blood turned to ice. She jerked against the ropes, frantic. “No—no, you can’t! Please! Amelia has nothing to do with this. Let her go!”
James tilted his head, almost curious. “Let her go? After all the trouble you’ve caused me? After the slights your precious husband has delivered with such noble arrogance?” He leaned closer, voice low and gleeful. “No, my dear. This is justice. You stole a future from me, Helena. Now I’m taking yours.”
She strained harder against her bonds, wrists burning. “You won’t get away with this,” she hissed.
He chuckled, straightening his cuffs. “Of course I will. I always do. The world is more than ready to believe a widowed duchesslost control of her carriage in a storm. Especially when it’s that same Duchess who was shut in a convent due to hysteria. It’ll be a terrible loss. So tragic. So… convenient.”
He turned to her mother. “Shall we, Lady Downfield? There’s much to prepare, and I think Helena could use a moment to reflect on the choices that brought her here.”
Helena looked desperately at her mother. “Mother… please…”
But Lady Downfield only looked away, a shadow of guilt passing across her features before she took Uncle James’s arm in silence.
The nuns followed, their parting glances sharp with cruel satisfaction.
And then Helena was alone.
She slumped against the post, breath ragged, tears burning in her eyes.
Chapter Thirty
“I’ll go ahead and you follow behind—” Silas began to say.
“No, Silas,” Benedict said with uncharacteristic soberness. “You will wait, and we will all go together.”
Mustering a large group of men together was time consuming, but necessary. After all, they had no real idea where Helena and Amelia were being held and how many of James Porter’s men would be present.
If they were to overpower and arrest all the traitors, as well as rescue his wife and sister, they needed every man they could get.
But it literally pained him to wait for even one second. The urge to rush off half-cocked was almost too strong to resist.
Silas gave a frustrated sigh. “Can we hurry this up then?”
“We’re going as fast as possible. Now go, and pack your bags if you need something to do.”
