CHAPTER 43
Helena
Locked. Locked, locked, and locked.
Crossing her arms, Helena scowled at the desk. General Valentin had invited her to his home for an afternoon soirée, much to her delight. It was one of the opportunities that she’d been hoping for.
But having access to his study was pointless if every drawer in it was locked.
Frowning, she looked around the room for something she could use as a lockpick. She hadn’t added that skill to her repertoire while scaling castle walls at Reineggburg, but there was no time like the present to learn.
Ten minutes later, she was snarling in disgust at General Valentin’s letter opener. Maybe she would just break the lock. He would know someone had been there, but she was almost past caring.
“Oh! I beg your pardon, I didn’t realize anyone was here.”
Ducking would have been smarter, but Helena shot up at the unexpected voice. A middle-aged woman with black hair and a feather duster stood in the doorway with one hand over her chest. The maid’s eyebrows rose as her eyes dropped to Helena’s hand.
Helena followed her gaze to the letter opener. “This isn’t what it looks like.”
“Are you sure?” the General’s maid asked, lifting an eyebrow as she closed the door. “Because it looks like you’re trying to break into the General’s desk.”
Going for brazen, Helena lifted one shoulder. “Then I suppose it’s exactly what it looks like. What do you plan to do about it? Turn me in?”
The maid studied her but kept walking. Keeping her eyes on Helena, she reached up and pulled a set of pins from her hair.
“I suppose a loyal servant should tell her master about his betrothed snooping through his belongings.” Giving Helena a wink, she knelt beside her and stuck the hairpins inside the lock.
“Since I’m not a loyal servant, I’ll just have to help you instead. ”
Helena’s jaw dropped. “Are you—picking the lock for me?”
“I would use the key if I had it,” the maid responded, her focus on the lock. “But I think he keeps it on his person, so we’ll have to make do with this.”
“But why?”
The lock opened with a click, and the maid pulled the drawer open before moving to the next. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m looking for answers, and I want to know if the General has them. Aren’t you doing the same? Or are you just nosy?”
Helena continued to gape at her. “But you work for the General.”
“You’re betrothed to him,” the maid retorted. The second lock sprang open, and she moved to the other side of the desk. “Aren’t you going to check the drawers? Our time is limited.”
The maid’s words spurred Helena into action. She pulled papers out of the drawer as quickly as she could, scanning each before flipping to the next. When she reached the bottom, she tapped it lightly, then compared the depth on the outside to the inside.
“What are you doing?” the maid asked with folded eyebrows. “Are you here to study the technique used by the General’s carpenter?”
Helena felt a bit of heat rise to her cheeks, but she kept her voice even as she replaced the stack of papers. “I was checking for false bottoms. I’ve heard they can hide secret documents and such.”
The maid released a short laugh. “And where did you hear that? Stewart’s mysteries?”
“I read half of one once,” Helena replied, beginning on the next drawer. “But I lost it when Le Capuchon ran off with my horse.”
A strange expression crossed her companion’s face. “Le Capuchon stole from you?”
Helena hesitated, then said, “By accident. My horse joined the general exodus, and I wasn’t astride it at the time.”
“So if not from Stewart’s mysteries,” the maid said cautiously, “where did you hear about false bottoms? And why would you look for them in the General’s desk?”
“From Lady Jocelyn,” Helena answered absently, distracted by the report she was skimming. “Although incidentally, she suggested it because of Stewart’s mysteries.”
The maid’s hand slowed. “And how did you come to speak with Lady Jocelyn? I thought no one knew you were in Amitié until the General rescued you.”
“She didn’t. It was dark, and I had my hood over my face. If Le Capuchon and I hadn’t warned her about the General’s men, I doubt she would have spoken with me.”
The maid stopped her search altogether, turning her brown eyes to Helena. “Then you really were part of his band? He didn’t kidnap you?”
Helena froze. Curse her distraction; she shouldn’t have revealed that to someone who worked for General Valentin. “Are you going to report me now that I’ve confessed my criminal past?” she asked casually without meeting the maid’s eyes.
“When I’m picking the locks for you? Hardly,” the maid scoffed. “I’ll be in just as much trouble as you if—”
She cut off at a voice outside the door. It was loud but friendly, with just a hint of mischief around the edges. The maid grabbed Helena’s arm and hauled her under the desk.
“Hello, General Valentin,” Lord Raoul’s cheerful voice rang out. “Have you seen Daphne? I’m afraid I’ve lost track of her.”
Helena tried to run, but the maid was stronger than she looked.
“He’ll find us under here!” Helena hissed.
“Have faith,” the maid breathed in her ear. “Raoul will take care of him. Besides, there’s only one door and nowhere else to hide.”
The voices were right outside the door now. “It must be the day for losing princesses,” the General replied jovially. “I can’t find mine either.”
“Well, I doubt you’ll find her down here.” Lord Raoul’s smile shone through his voice. “I’ve just come from the other direction, and I didn’t see her.”
The doorknob rattled. Helena held her breath while the maid gripped her arm more tightly.
“Do you expect to find her in your dusty old study?” the nobleman laughed. A dull sound like a hand slapping a back filtered through the door. “This is your party, General; don’t tell me you planned to sneak away and work!”
The General sighed. “Alas, a regent’s work is never done. I have yet to capture Le Capuchon, not to mention discover Prince Raphael’s refuge.”
“It can wait,” Lord Raoul said firmly, but with a touch of amusement. “Come be a good host, and we’ll seek our ladies along the way.”
After a few moments, the General relented. “You’re right. I suppose my work can wait a little longer.”
“Of course I’m right,” Lord Raoul responded with a laugh. “Entertaining ladies always comes before work.”
How did Princess Daphne stand him?
The voices disappeared down the hall, Lord Raoul keeping up a steady stream of conversation. Helena turned to her companion. “How did you know Lord Raoul would keep the General away?”
The maid winked. “Never trust appearances, Princess. Not all are as shallow or useless as they pretend.”
“You’re telling me Lord Raoul isn’t a flirt?”
“Oh, he’s definitely that,” the maid replied with a shake of her head. “But he knows how to make use of his reputation. And he’s more dependable than you might think.”
She finally let Helena crawl out, then motioned to the drawers. “But he can’t do it again without drawing suspicion. We’d better clear out before the General returns.”
Helena followed the maid to the hallway, preparing to rejoin General Valentin and his guests. But the maid caught her arm. “Before you go, Princess. May I ask you a question?”
Raising an eyebrow, Helena glibly replied, “It would seem you’ve already asked me one.”
The maid ignored her. “We’ve heard rumors about Le Capuchon’s archery skill. You lived with him. And fought alongside him, if I’m not mistaken.”
Helena stayed silent.
Her companion’s eyes glowed. “So tell me: is he as good as they say? Is he the best archer in the kingdom?”
“Depends on the kingdom,” Helena smirked.
“If it’s Ralnor, that would be me. But Amitié.
..” Her voice trailed off as she pretended to consider.
The memory of Cap burying a smile as he lined up four arrows made her own lips curve farther.
“He declined my challenge to prove which of us is better. But yes, I would be surprised to find a better archer in Amitié.”
“I knew it!” the maid breathed. “It is him!”
The smile slid off Helena’s face. “I only say that because the Amitian archery I’ve observed is so pathetic,” she backpedaled. “I wouldn’t know if you were hiding a truly excellent archer someplace.”
The maid winked as she sauntered away. “Thanks for the assistance, Princess. See you around.”
Helena’s heart sank as she watched the maid leave. She’d thought the information unimportant. But she might have just betrayed Cap to the General.