CHAPTER 38
Helena
Even through the pounding in her head, Helena felt the blood drain from her face. “But I’m—what did you call me?”
He smiled sadly. “You must know that your father has sent messengers throughout the continent in search of you. I have one in Laurier who will be most eager to see you. Lord Luther.”
The room began to spin. “But what—what makes you think—”
“As I said, Your Highness, you bear a strong resemblance to your brother.” General Valentin’s face bore a weight of compassion again.
“Word had not yet reached us when I encountered you before. I didn’t make the connection when I first saw you tonight because I wasn’t expecting you.
But Le Capuchon must have learned your identity from Lady Marielle, assuming he didn’t recognize you himself. ”
“But he—” Helena struggled to make sense of it as the hammer in her temple started up again. It shouldn’t be so hard, should it?
But she wasn’t seeing the holes in the General’s claims. Not if she suspended her assumption that Cap was trustworthy. “He didn’t trust me. He thought I was working for you. And Marielle has nothing to do with this,” she added vaguely.
“Clever of him,” the General mused. “You wouldn’t have trusted him if he came on too strong, especially if you knew that he was only being kind to you because you’re a princess.”
It couldn’t be true, could it?
The General’s assumptions were wrong. Cap hadn’t sought her out.
But he hadn’t left her at the foot of the cliff, either. Who rescued an enemy like that?
Her breaths became tighter. How many times had Cap called her “Your Highness”? She’d thought it was sarcasm, but what if it was a slip?
Sought out. Rescued. Welcome.
Sought out and rescued because of her title. Welcomed by the others in Cap’s band, but how could she be sure the whole camp didn’t know? Maybe they had all accepted her only as the court did, just with the pretense that they cared for her as a person.
“I’m sure you were hoping that Le Capuchon would rescue you once Jean tells him of your capture.” Pity filled his eyes as they returned to her. “But he isn’t coming, Princess Helena. Your influence isn’t worth his life.”
The corners of Helena’s eyes burned. She remembered the feel of Cap’s arms around her as they rode away from Erwan, the blaze of fury in his hazel eyes when he rescued her. The tiny brushes of his hand, the way he looked at her as he leaned down to kiss her just before the attack.
Had it all been an act? Had he only rescued her because he knew who she was? Had he only wanted to kiss her because he, like Luther, cared about her position and what she could offer?
Unwanted. Abandoned. Alone.
No wonder her comments in Old Ralnoran hadn’t chased him off.
“You have nothing to gain by continuing to shield him,” the General said gently. “Come, won’t you tell me who he is?”
“I don’t know,” she replied dully. “He never told me.”
“I am sorry, Your Highness.” The General sighed again and straightened. “It must be difficult to learn that someone you trusted is not who you thought they were.”
“What makes you think I care?” Helena lifted her chin and sniffed. “If you know who I am, then you must know why I left home. Cap offered me a convenient place to hide. I don’t know what stories you’ve concocted, but there is nothing more to our relationship.”
“Then why are you here in his place?” General Valentin asked shrewdly.
Dropping her eyelids to half mast, she carelessly replied, “The members of his band were kind to me. I did not wish to see harm come to them.”
He watched her for a few moments, then turned to one of the guards.
“Untie her; she has endured enough stress tonight.” Giving her a half smile, he added, “I hope you understand if I put you in one of our holding cells. This establishment is not set up for guests, and I would hate for either you or more of my prisoners to disappear.”
“Am I not one of your prisoners, then?”
“A prisoner?” He laughed. “My dear princess, your father has been rather desperate in his search for you. I have no wish for trouble with Ralnor.”
She nodded stiffly. As always, her position was the most important thing about her. He could mourn Jean-haut’s and Cap’s desire to influence her family through her, but he was no better.
“I understand. I trust you will provide better accommodations once we reach Laurier?”
“You may be sure of it, Your Highness.” He gave her a shallow bow, then retreated to his desk.
As one of the guards began undoing the knots in her bonds, Helena molded her face into a pleasant, if somewhat reserved, smile. “Thank you, General Valentin. I appreciate your understanding.”
“Please, Your Highness, just Valentin,” he offered with a smile of his own.
“Valentin, then.” She let her expression grow a touch warmer. “I look forward to furthering our acquaintance.”
She maintained her improved attitude as the guards led her to her small room, even regretting the trouble she had given them and thanking them for treating her kindly now. They were both very polite, and the one who had carried her apologized for being so rough.
Once the door closed behind them, she allowed the tender looks to slide off her face like mud sloughing off the walls of Reineggburg. Not that she would know anything about that.
Her head ached, but she shoved her confused feelings aside for later. Right now, she needed to focus on her next step. She wasn’t done yet.
And bandits and generals weren’t the only ones who could use people.