How dare they threaten me? How dare they threaten my family? Clearly they don’t know who I really am. I will destroy them before I let them anywhere near either Amelia or Helena.
He did his best to hide his anger. “Lady Helena. You’re very quiet.” He said not looking at her.
She took a shuddering breath. “It was just so close. They were right here. Do you think they would have dragged me away if they caught sight of me?”
“No!” Amelia cried out, “No one is dragging you away, all right?”
Silas went around the desk. “I wouldn’t have let that happen.” He came to a stop at the side of the desk, watching Amelia place a reassuring hand on Helena’s arm.
Helena nodded at him and smiled at his sister softly.
Amelia gave her an intent look. “Believe my brother. He is a man of his word.”
Helena nodded mutely and tried to smile. “Amelia, would you let me talk with your brother privately?” she said.
Silas frowned. Something told him that he was not going to like whatever it was Helena wanted to tell him.
“Of course. I shall await you in my chambers.” Amelia squeezed Helena’s hand before leaving the room.
Silas gave Helena an expectant look. “I am listening.”
Helena collapsed into the chair, wringing her hands. “I can leave if you want me to. I would completely understand not wanting to put your sister in danger.”
Silas blinked at her in surprise, His entire body rebelled at the notion. “What are you talking about?”
Helena’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “They will never stop looking for me. Sooner or later, they will realize that I am here. Somebody will tell them, or they’ll find out some other way…I cannot hide forever.”
“You will not need to hide forever. Not when I’m gathering enough evidence to convict your uncle.”
She shot to her feet. “Please, you cannot do that. Not when Charlie is still under his roof.”
“Your brother will be fine. I have already sent a few of my men to watch him. If anything untoward occurs, they’ll be close enough to stop itbeforeit begins.”
“You cannot know that. My uncle and my mother are very devious people. They carried on an affair right under my father’s nose. I doubt that he knew it—and you say he was a spy!”
“Indeed, we have no evidence about what he knew or what he didn’t know.” He stepped closer to her, “What I know, though, is that,at the moment, you are in more danger than your brother. Let us deal with that first.”
He could see her trembling and his hands itched to pull her closer, to soothe her.
“Nobody is going to die on my watch,” he promised her.
“Only God can make such promises,” she frowned.
He huffed in amusement. “In any case, as my sister so aptly pointed out, I am a man of my word. And I give you my word that your brother will be safe.”
She looked into his eyes, her gaze intent. “It is not that I do not believe you, Your Grace…”
“You’re afraid.” His voice was quiet, deliberate. “I can see it.” He gave a slight nod. “Because I’ve felt it too. They threatened my sister. And there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to protect her. Nothing.” His eyes met hers, “So believe me when I say I understand.”
She sighed, her shoulders dropping as she relaxed, and nodded. “I will hold you to it, Your Grace.”
Silas’s jaw flexed. Something in her voice, so fragile and fierce at once, cut straight through the armor he wore like a second skin.
He didn’t move at first. He only watched her. The delicate line of her throat. The way her fingers trembled slightly. The vulnerability in her eyes, like she was waiting to be shattered.
He could not stand it.
“I’ll protect you, Helena,” he assured. “You’re safe here. With me.”
