Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
“I’ll go ahead and you follow behind—” Silas began to say.
“No, Silas,” Benedict said with uncharacteristic soberness. “You will wait, and we will all go together.”
Mustering a large group of men together was time consuming, but necessary. After all, they had no real idea where Helena and Amelia were being held and how many of James Porter’s men would be present.
If they were to overpower and arrest all the traitors, as well as rescue his wife and sister, they needed every man they could get.
But it literally pained him to wait for even one second. The urge to rush off half-cocked was almost too strong to resist.
Silas gave a frustrated sigh. “Can we hurry this up then?”
“We’re going as fast as possible. Now go, and pack your bags if you need something to do.”
“I don’t need—”
“You do need supplies. We don’t know how long this will take. We’ve sent messengers ahead to find out what they can. We’re not just sitting around doing nothing. Remember that.”
Silas nodded, feeling a little better. “Fine. I’m going to pack and leave instructions for the household. But then after that, we should set out.”
“We’ll be ready.”
Helena’s wrists ached but she didn’t stop trying to pull them loose. Whoever had tied her, however, had done a thorough job. The ropes seemed to get tighter the more she struggled.
She began to shout for help. Her voice was already hoarse from the cold and her previous attempts to call for help. She felt as if she might soon lose her voice.
“Excuse me, guards?” she called.
She could hear them talking outside the door and knew they could hear her, but they ignored her call.
“Guards!” she yelled louder, to no avail.
“I’m hungry. Are you not going to feed me?”
There was still no answer. She panted for a few minutes, thinking hard.
“I feel quite sick,” she said at last. “If I die without telling Uncle James what my husband has planned for him, he’ll have your heads.”
The talking outside the door abruptly stopped.
One of the messengers they had sent came riding back as they were crossing the border between Highcliff and Downfield.
“Your Grace, I inquired with our man at Downfield. He confirmed that James Porter and the Dowager Countess left last night. They went to a second property they own in the downlands near the abbey. I inquired whether they knew where Lady Amelia or the Duchess were, but all they could confirm was that they were not at Downfield.”
Silas grunted. “Do you think they are at this second property, or at the abbey?” he asked Benedict.
“I’m not sure, but at least we have a direction of movement. I doubt that they’re far from either one of these locations. We can check them both.”
Silas agreed. “Yes, now let us ride like the wind. We have kept the Duchess and my sister waiting for long enough.”
James stepped into the room, his face like thunder.
“I do hope you don’t think you can push my men around and send them on wild goose chases, Helena. If you have something to say to me, say it now.”
Helena smirked, “Or else what, Uncle James? What will you do to me otherwise?”
Her uncle raised his arm as if to slap her.
“Do not fall for her provocations, James,” the Dowager Countess said, stepping out from behind him. “You know how much she loves it.”
James growled. “Such an ill-mannered child. It is a wonder you keep your composure around her, my dear,” he said.
Helena’s lips twisted. “And what of my brother? Is he ill-mannered too? What have you done with him?”
Lady Downfield frowned. “Charlie is perfectly fine. The better for being away from you and your rebellious influence.”
“Away from me?” Helena said in disbelief. “You think that him standing continuously under Uncle James’s sword of Damocles is better than associating with me, Mother?” She shook her head in disbelief.
“What are you on about, silly girl?” Lady Downfield asked irritably.
Helena looked at her mother with disbelieving eyes. “Don’t tell me you don’t know, Mother. Don’t pretend. Not now.”
“Know what?” Lady Downfield asked in annoyance.
Helena blinked at her in surprise. “You don’t know,” she said in realization.
Uncle James reached out and grabbed her mother, pulling her back to his side. “Don’t listen to that girl anymore. She only seeks to turn you against me.”
“Lies? Me? What have I got to lie about? You threatening me? You saying that if I didn’t do as you said, that you’d kill my brother?”
“What?” Lady Downfield exclaimed, hand over her heart.
Helena’s eyes slid to her mother and she nodded. “Why do you think I stayed at the convent all these years? You yourself have said how rebellious I am! What would make me stay put for so long?”
Lady Downfield turned to James. “It’s not true, is it, James?”
“Of course not! She’s lying,” James waved his hand dismissively. “She’s trying to sow discord between us. Do not listen to her.”
“Then why did I stay, Mother? Why?” Helena kept her eyes on her mother.
Lady Downfield looked from Helena to James, indecisive. “Wh-why would you say that? You didn’t mean it, did you?” she asked James.
“Of course he did. If he was willing to kill me, then why not Charlie? He’d have inherited the title then, wouldn’t he?”
“No, he cares for us!” Lady Downfield yelled, whirling on Helena and looming over her. “He cares.”
“Maybe he cares for you. But your children are just an impediment. Has he done anything to make you think he cares for Charlie? Does he tell him stories, or take him riding, or embrace him lovingly?”
Helena was just guessing, but she was willing to bet that Uncle James had never done any of these things.
“Regina…” James said, giving her mother a sidelong glance.
She shook her head. “No… tell me the truth, James. Did you threaten Charlie’s life?”
“Of course I didn’t!” he said.
“Then why did I stay at the abbey, uncle?” Helena said loudly. “What was keeping me there? Obviously I could have escaped much earlier.”
The Dowager Countess looked from Uncle James to Helena, doubt in her eyes. “James, tell me you didn’t threaten Charlie!”
Uncle James rolled his eyes. “Fine, I did it! But only to keep her in line. You know how rebellious she is! I needed her to believe that I would really harm Charlie, when I truly wouldn’t.”
“Where is he now then? Where’s Charlie? Why have you locked him away?”
“He’s not… locked away!” Lady Downfield said, but she looked uncertain.
“Are you sure, Mother? Are you sure?”
Her mother took a breath, holding it as if breathing out would be admitting that Helena was right.
“James?” she said in a small voice.
“It’s not true, Regina! Do not believe her,” Uncle James yelled.
“Mother…” Helena said quietly. “Think. Think what he did to Father, what he convinced you to do to him. Why would he be more considerate to his brother’s child? Think about it. Without Charlie, he’s the earl! He gets everything.”
“Shut your mouth!” Uncle James shouted.
Helena looked at her mother. “He will kill me and Charlie!”
Lady Downfield shook her head slowly. “N-no.”
“Regina!” James called, tugging her closer.
She removed her arm from his hand, taking a step away from him.
Helena’s heart leapt with excitement as she saw her mother stare at James with new eyes.
“No,” she whispered again.
Uncle James reached into his jacket and extracted a pistol. He pointed it at Helena.
“Such a waste,” he said, voice dripping with contempt. “I’d hoped you’d be clever enough to know when to stop meddling.”