“No news yet,” Christopher answered Percival’s question himself and looked past his cousin’s shoulder, waiting expectantly for Helena’s return.
“I cannot do this. I must see for myself.” Robert stood swiftly, and Christopher copied his movements, standing in the way. “Brother, step out of my path.”
“I cannot,” Christopher said in a quiet tone. “Brother, I can understand perfectly why you wish to march to her chamber right now —”
“Do you? How can you possibly understand how this feels!?” Robert asked wildly. “You do not know what it is like to be in love, the last time I checked.”
“Does he not?” Percival asked, his voice light and curious. Christopher shot a quick glare at his cousin.
“Not now, Percival.” Christopher’s warning silenced his cousin, who merely shrugged in response.
“I have to see for myself.” Robert walked past Christopher, but Christopher caught his brother’s arm and swung him back around, refusing to let him leave the room.
“Think!” Christopher commanded in a low voice. “You two are not wed yet, and you wish to go marching into her chamber? Imagine the gossip then. Everyone attending the wedding would hear of it.”
“Christopher is right,” Percival called from the doorway. “They already seem to know a lot.” He looked uneasily back at all the guests.
“They would talk of you being in her chamber, walking in there so easily. Let no more scandal cast thunder across this day. Enough has already befallen,” Christopher pleaded quietly.
“You’re interfering.”
“I’m trying to protect you. Find some sense, Robert. All I’m asking is you wait here until Lady Helena returns with what she has found in that note. Just please, wait.” At Christopher’s begging, Robert pulled his arm free, but he no longer made an effort to escape the room. He turned away instead and paced across the space.
“Ah, back to the pacing, wonderful,” Percival called from the doorway. “It’s better at least than running to the lady’s chamber. Speaking of which…” He trailed off and stepped back from the doorway, allowing another to appear.
When Helena stepped in, Christopher stepped in her direction, his feet moving of their own accord toward her. The pain in her face was obvious. Her eyes were wet with unshed tears, her lips pursed together, and she clung onto something between her fingers.
“Hel —”
“Lady Helena.” Robert cut Christopher off and walked past him so fast that Christopher didn’t have time to seek out her gaze. “What is it? What have you found?”
“Something you should see. It is important you know the true nature of your family and what they have done to you today.” Helena shot a glare at Percival then at Christopher. He jerked, never having known the strength of such a fierce gaze from her before. She slowly passed the note in her hand to Robert.
“She is gone. This wedding cannot happen now. M.’”Robert read the card aloud. “You mean she…” He wavered, holding the note down. Helena snatched it back hurriedly. “She has been taken!?” Robert was instantly wild. He looked ready to march from the room, but Christopher held him back again. Helena stood in the way too though her eyes flashed with anger. She clearly sought to stop him for another reason entirely.
“I can understand the meaning of this note well enough. Someone has taken my sister. They were so desperate not to see this wedding happen that they actually took my sister against her wishes,” she spoke quickly, each word tumbling after the next. “Her chamber is a state with petals from her bouquet fallen to the floor. She plainly put up a struggle and refused to go. It is kidnapping!”
“Shh.” Percival stepped in and closed the door behind him, hurrying Helena forward. “Enough gossip is happening in that room.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, what do I care about gossip and whispers? Let them talk. The only person I care about is now gone.” Helena spoke with vigor, her volume rising despite Percival’s madly waving hands in his effort to keep her calm. “A Moore stole my sister!”
“What did you say?” Robert’s jaw dropped.
“Wait.” Christopher had had enough. He stepped forward, moving around his brother who was now backing up and retreating across the room in surprise. “Helena, a Moore did not do this.” He no longer held his brother back, who stepped restlessly between his feet, his anger plain. Christopher felt that anger too now. The fury consumed him. “I have born with all sorts of accusations from your family and from you, Helena.”
She stiffened at his words, her cheeks paling.
“But I will not countenance this. You think any of us would do such a thing to my own brother? Are you mad!?” He’d offended her now. Those fine eyes narrowed to slits, the ire now worse than before.
“You call me mad?”
“What else am I supposed to do when you accuse us of kidnapping Lady Julia?”
“Let me pass,” Robert ordered. “I will see for myself what has taken place.” His fear was overwhelming now as he tried to reach the door, but once more, Helena stepped in the way.
“You cannot go to her chamber. And if no Moore had anything to do with this matter, then explain this.” She shoved the letter into his arm. “It is signed ‘M’, see? It must be a Moore!”
Christopher looked over the letter. The fury grew worse now as it was such a tenuous link to his family.
