CHAPTER 33
Helena
Stealing money bags helped disguise the fact that Cap and his raiding parties were looking for information when they stripped the casualties. But if they stopped every troop movement and faux-Le Capuchon ambush they knew about, General Valentin would realize what they were doing.
It would make them predictable and easy to trap. So when they didn’t stop the guards, they tried to warn the family.
Helena followed Cap along the edge of a beautifully manicured garden. Most of it was brown and dormant, but the gardeners had included a few plants that were still green in late winter.
The colors were difficult to see as she crept through the twilight. Cap raised a hand, motioning for her to wait as he peered around the stone wall. She put her back to his and scanned the area behind them.
He tapped her elbow. They sprinted across the path to the main building and disappeared into the shadows of the stable. From there, it was a short jog to the kitchen door.
A distant owl hooted, the sound echoing through the peaceful evening. Cap melted against the wall and watched the door.
Suddenly, it opened, light and warmth streaming out from the busy kitchen. “‘Fetch the water, Clara. Never mind the dark, can’t finish cooking supper without two more buckets from the well,’” the young woman grumbled. “The fancy houses in the capital have water indoors; why can’t we have it here?”
The servant stalked past their hiding place, intent on her mission. Helena followed as Cap peeled himself away from the wall and padded after her. When they reached the well, he said quietly, “Clara.”
“Who!” she yelped. The buckets swung wildly as she spun. Helena bit her lip to keep from laughing as she watched Cap dodge.
“Easy!” he grunted. “We’re friends. I need to speak with Lady Jocelyn.”
“Oh, sure you do!” Clara growled. “All the lady’s suitors come sneaking about the well to visit her in the dark.”
Sighing, he replied, “I have no wish to harm her. Please. Tell her—tell her the shield is strongest with the support of an arm.”
“Is it?” the cranky servant sniffed. “And why would I bring her out to meet two strange young men? I see your friend lurking back there.”
Helena stepped forward. “And if his friend is a woman?”
Clara startled, her eyes dropping to the trousers that Helena wore for their escapades. “A woman dressed like a man?”
“It is common in Castellia,” Cap interjected. He waved a hand toward Helena. “My friend takes after their sword maidens.”
“Please, Clara,” Helena urged. “It’s important that we speak with Lady Jocelyn.”
The servant eyed them warily. “I have to fetch the water. And Lady Jocelyn will be dressing for dinner.”
“I’ll draw the water,” Cap quickly offered.
“All right.” Clara thrust the buckets toward him. “I’ll give her your message then, and those had better be full by the time I get back.”
“They’ll be waiting by the kitchen door,” he promised.
After one more disgruntled look, the young woman strode toward the manor. Helena kept watch while Cap filled the buckets and hauled them back to the kitchen.
“I hope no one notices those sitting by themselves and wonders what happened to our sweet friend,” Helena murmured.
He snorted. “As long as she doesn’t report us to the guard, I’m not worried.”
It had happened before. Gaining access to nobles wasn’t easy as a bandit.
The thought made Helena smile a little. Forget throwing a fit to leave a performance early – this was the ideal method for getting Luther and Tobias off her back.
“I don’t know what that line about a shield meant,” Clara huffed as she stomped up behind them. “But Lady Jocelyn said she’ll take a few moments of air before dinner. Over there.”
“Thank you, Clara,” Cap politely replied. He gestured to the buckets. “Your water, as promised.”
She snatched up the handles and marched into the kitchen without another word or a backward glance. “Such friendly types at the Leau estate,” Helena quipped. “I’ll be sure to visit the servant hall when we are no longer outlaws.”
Cap twitched as they walked to the door Clara had pointed out. His eyes slid toward her, hard to distinguish in the gathering dark. “I have made you an outlaw, haven’t I?” he murmured. “You are no longer guilty of only sheltering in my camp.”
Shrugging, she charged ahead. “I insisted. Besides, no one knows that I’ve been helping you. I could return to a normal life without consequences if I wanted to.” Her mouth twisted. “Except for having to marry Tobias.”
Such a thought had always rubbed her the wrong way, but the idea had become unbearable in the last few weeks.
She could spend the rest of her life as Margit, couldn’t she? The council would never look for her in the home of a guard. Even one that watched over the royal family of Amitié.
“’Tis a dreadful thing, believing one’s sister to be forever lost.”
Her conscience twinged. The rest of her life? Could she really do that to her family?
Cap’s irresistible pull drew her eyes to him. The council couldn’t bind her to Tobias if she was already bound in marriage. But what consequences would there be for her family if she did that?
What consequences had they already faced for her failure to meet the council’s demand? The deadline had passed more than a month ago.
Forcing her unpleasant thoughts aside, Helena settled next to Cap to wait.
Half an hour, and still no sign of Lady Jocelyn. But no sign of guards, either.
Finally, a beam of light split the darkness. A petite woman in an elegant dress stepped through the door. Her soft black hair was piled neatly on her head, and her hands were folded in front of her.
Cap stepped forward, dropping his head in a shallow bow. “Good evening, Lady Jocelyn. You are looking well.”
He spoke with his Le Capuchon voice, but the young lady tilted her head and examined him with something like recognition.
“With whom have I the pleasure of speaking?” she asked in a smooth, cultured tone. “Clara said you spoke of the shield of Amitié?”
“A friend, my lady,” Cap replied steadily.
Her eyes continued to trace his outline, then turned toward Helena, who lingered in the shadows.
“Two cloaked and hooded strangers, both wearing bows and carrying themselves with the confidence of fighters. I have heard that Le Capuchon sometimes fights with a woman by his side, but I never expected him to show up on my doorstep with her.”
Stiffening, Cap said, “There are many men who carry bows on their backs.”
“Oh, pish posh,” she replied with an airy wave. “No need to deny it. The number of your exploits has been increasing the last couple of months, and while some are what I would expect of a bandit, others match what I would expect from someone with your history.”
“My history?” His voice was tight.
“Your actions in the year prior,” she answered. Taking a step closer, she added, “Unless we’ve met before?”
The question hung in the air for a moment. Gesturing Helena forward, Cap said, “My friend and I bring a warning. General Valentin is persecuting nobles who are sympathetic to Prince Raphael. If our information is correct, a squad of guards will search your home tomorrow.”
“And what are they searching for?”
Helena shrugged. “Prince Raphael? Evidence of where he’s hiding? Who knows?”
“We believe it is an intimidation tactic,” Cap added, shooting Helena a look she couldn’t see. “But they have been destructive in some of their searches, and it will not surprise me if they escalate to arrest should they find anything to justify it.”
The lady looked away. “I have heard of this,” she quietly said. “As I have heard of the shadowy bandit who tries to help.” She turned back to him. “But no one can tell me why he does.”
“Because we are allies,” he firmly replied. “I wish to see General Valentin removed from power and Prince Raphael back where he belongs.”
“Hmm.” Lady Jocelyn eyed him speculatively. “I see.”
They stood in silence for a few moments before the lady straightened her shoulders. “Thank you for the warning; I will tell my father and do my best to ensure that he heeds it. But I must return before I am missed.”
“Of course. Thank you for your time, my lady.” Cap gave her another slight bow and turned away.
Helena hung back. “Lady Jocelyn, may I have another few moments?” she said in an undertone. Cap would notice her absence soon. “The prince can’t return until someone proves his innocence. Do you know of anything that might help?”
No one had yet. Or at least, nothing they’d been willing to share with her.
Lady Jocelyn hesitated. Her eyes flicked toward Cap’s retreating back.
“I’ve heard General Valentin keeps trophies of his victories someplace in his home in Laurier.
” A smile tugged at the side of her mouth.
“If it’s documents you seek, I’ve also heard that false bottoms in desk drawers are a good place to start. ”
Helena’s eyebrows pulled together. “Where did you hear that?”
“From Prince Cedric. He is quite the fan of Stewart’s mysteries.” The smile disappeared from Lady Jocelyn’s face. “I know he longs for his brother’s return. So do I.”
The wistfulness in the lady’s tone resonated with something inside Helena. Her eyes tried to follow Cap. He wouldn’t want her involved. He seemed to think it was more dangerous than attacking twenty guards with only two teenage boys to help.
Helena didn’t care. She’d never met the prince, but she planned to do everything in her power to free him.
Because freeing him meant freeing Cap.
She gave the lady a feral grin. “Leave it to me.”