“Not without more information. I shall place a maid or two in the household. To keep an eye on the boy, and to see what they can find out.”
Benedict clapped him on the shoulder with a grin. “That’s a good plan, my friend.”
Silas nodded. “Thank you for the information.”
Benedict waved a dismissing hand. “Yes, I am a saint, I know. These people have caused a lot of grief, especially to that poor woman out there.”
Silas nodded grimly. “I know. We’ll make them pay.”
A couple of days later, Helena was in the sewing room mending a tear in her gown when she heard a kerfuffle outside the door. She put her mending down and got to her feet just as Amelia burst through the door.
“He’s here! Your dastardly uncle is here,” she said, panting.
Helena’s heart dropped. “Where is he?” she whispered, clutching the skirt of her gown so that her hands did not shake.
“He’s in the parlor with Silas. They are arguing.”
If it had been possible Helena’s heart would have sunk right down to her feet. She was moving before she could even think about it.
She snuck down the two flights of stairs in her slippers. Her only thought was to find out why Uncle James was here.
“God, please don’t let anything have happened to Charlie,” she mumbled to herself, before stopping outside the door.
To her surprise, she wasn’t alone there. Both the butler and the housekeeper were standing opposite the door, clearly eavesdropping.
She stared at them incredulously before joining them, as she listened to the raised voices from inside the room.
“I know you have her! I know she’s here! If you know what’s good for you, you will give her to me!” Uncle James’s distinct slimy tones came through the door, and Helena could tell that he was frustrated.
“Even if she were here, I am not a man who is inclined to do as he is told by hisinferiors.” Silas’s voice was colder, devoid of emotion.
“You do not know who I am!” Uncle James hissed. “You think you and your sister are safe from me because you are a duke? Think again, Your Grace! Helena Porter is not your problem, and I insist you produce her forthwith!”
“And if I don’t?” There was a thread of amusement in Silas’s voice.
Helena was afraid that he was not taking Uncle James seriously. She knew full well that her uncle was capable of killing everyone in this household to get his way. He was a dangerous, dangerous man, and she had no intention of putting anyone else in danger on her behalf.
“I can make things quite difficult for youandyour sister, Your Grace. Is she not about to come out? I could spread it around that you kidnapped Helena! The ton would certainly be curious about what a man like you would want with a hysterical womanin a convent! I wonder what suitors would think of your sister then!”
No. Not Amelia.
She couldn’t let him hurt the poor girl. Not when she’d shown her nothing but warmth.
Helena reached for the door handle and pushed it inwards. Mrs. Owen hissed a protest while Jeeves made a sound of dissent, but she was already stepping into the room.
“Here I am, Uncle James. What do you want?” She took a deep breath, seeking to calm her racing heart.
“Helena! What—” Silas began to say, his brow furrowing with anger.
“Aha! I knew it!” Uncle James said triumphantly at the same time. “The nuns told me about how cold the Duke was to them. I knew you had been filling his head with lies right away. That’s all you are, silly girl, a liar! So much so that even your family did not want to be with you! I alone have taken pity on you! Your mother does not even want to hear your name, and your brother hates you for abandoning him.”
Helena glared at him, her teeth grinding at his audacity. “Is there no end to your manipulations? Is it not enough that you have separated me from my brother for all these years? Now you have to tell lies about me? Who is your audience?” She spreadher hands around extravagantly, looking around the room. “There’s nobody here to perform for.”
He growled. “I see you have grown some thorns in the time you have been away. I’m not surprised the nuns were happy to see the back of you. Such a nuisance you must have been!”
“I’m happy to hear I caused those nuns some grief.Heavenknows they caused me enough. Was killing me their idea, or yours?”
“You little wretch!” he snarled, marching towards her.
