She removed her arm from his hand, taking a step away from him.
Helena’s heart leapt with excitement as she saw her mother stare at James with new eyes.
“No,” she whispered again.
Uncle James reached into his jacket and extracted a pistol. He pointed it at Helena.
“Such a waste,” he said, voice dripping with contempt. “I’d hoped you’d be clever enough to know when to stop meddling.”
Chapter Thirty-One
They rode into the compound at full speed. Silas dismounted from his horse even before it came to a full stop.
He ran at the door, using his bulk to shoulder it open. Fortunately, it was not locked.
He stopped short, skidding to a halt as three people turned to face him. Sister Frances, Sister Philomena and Sister Mary Gertrude.
Sister Frances opened her mouth and Silas drew his pistol.
“Tut-tut… no screaming,” he said.
She snapped her mouth shut, and all three nuns stared at him with wide eyes.
“Where’s my wife and my sister?” he demanded.
The three nuns simply continued to stare at him.
He pointed his gun at Sister Frances. “You think I won’t use it? Is your silence worth your life?”
Sister Frances raised her chin defiantly, saying nothing.
Silas growled in frustration. He pointed the pistol at the second nun. “What about you, Sister Mary Gertrude? Are you ready to die to protect a bunch of traitors?”
The nun was trembling and her eyes slid away from him, but she didn’t say a word. Silas cocked his pistol and she flinched, jerking hard but didn’t speak.
“No! Stop!” Sister Philomena said, hands held out pleadingly.
“Iwillshoot. Unless you speak.”
Sister Philomena pointed down the hall, “They’re in the basement,” she said.
Silas looked in the direction she was pointing. The hall extended far beyond where his eyes could see.
He marched forward, grabbed Sister Philomena and pulled her with him, pointing the pistol at her head. “Show me where.”
He turned towards his men. “Tie the rest of them up. Make sure they don’t escape.”
The men came forward, taking the nuns in hand. Benedict joined Silas. “I’m coming with you.”
Silas nodded, turning to Sister Philomena. “Move,” he ordered.
The nun tottered down the corridor ahead of Silas, her shoulders hunched, looking terrified. Silas sneered, wondering how many girls Sister Philomena had terrorized in her time at the abbey. He was not surprised to realize she was just a coward, hiding behind a bigger bully.
She stopped at the end of the corridor, and pointed down some stairs. “Down there,” she said.
Silas pushed past her, running down the stairs until he came to the first door. He tested it and was relieved that it was open. He pushed the door open and stepped in to see a lump of blue muslin hunched over in the corner, with a head of brown hair covering her face.
“Amelia?” he called and she looked up, her eyes brightening.
