“It sounds like your father built a happy life for you.”
She shrugged. “It was happy, I suppose. It’s strange, but I don’t remember my mother much from those days. My father was… He was…” She frowned, clearly searching for the word.
“Larger than life?”
“Yes. One could say that. He was effervescent.” She smiled in remembrance before the smile dropped off. “Until he wasn’t.”
He reached out for her hand and squeezed him. “He shall be avenged. I promise.”
She sighed. “Justice is enough for me.”
He nodded slowly, unable to think of anything to counter what she’d said. The silence stretched between them like a length of twine, weaving around them both holding them in place, so there was no escape, but no way forward either.
His eyes darted towards the door and he shook his head. “Silly girl. Amelia will be the death of me, I swear.”
Helena huffed in amusement, shifting her hip slightly and folding her arms under her breasts, which made them rise up into creamy twin peaks of temptation, almost bursting out of her square-necked morning gown.
Thankfully, she seemed unaware of his eyes straining not to drop and devour the sight.
“She’s not silly,” Helena said, making him jump slightly as his attention was brought back to their conversation. “She has a romantic heart and notions of making your family complete.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Were you not the one saying you hadn’t set your cap at me?”
“That doesn’t mean your sister doesn’t want us to be together for her own reasons.”
“Mmm. So, what doyouthink?”
“Of what?”
He gestured towards himself and then her, surprised at how curious he was to hear her answer.
“I am not in a position to think about any of that,” she said. “Not when my life is hanging by a thread, and the sword of Damocles hangs over my brother’s head.”
He took a deep breath, wanting to deny her words, but he knew that he could not. There was a man intending to kill her and holding her brother hostage.
“What can I do to make you feel better?” he asked.
She snorted, shaking her head. “You don’t need to do anything more for me, Your Grace.”
“Something practical. Something that will stop you from worrying so much. Tell me, and I’ll do it.”
She took a deep breath, brow furrowed as if she was thinking furiously.
“Teach me how to fight,” she said thoughtfully. “I want to learn how to defend myself. To protect those I care about, should I need to.”
He blinked in surprise. “What?”
“Please. Teach me,” she insisted, her voice steady.
God help me,Silas thought, feeling a flare of heat in the lower part of his body.
Why did she have to sound so good when begging?
He fought to steady his breathing, clenching his fists to keep his composure.
He took a long moment before responding, his voice rougher than he’d intended.
“As you wish.”
