Her heart missed a beat.
“Such an odd amount, isn’t it? Why ask for one hundred and thirty pounds to keep one’s secrets when a much higher amount could be demanded?”
Her mouth was hanging open and she snapped it closed.
“It might interest you to know Cora requested that amount from Lavinia two weeks ago.”
Helena wilted against the door. Could Cora truly be responsible for the letter? She rubbed her chest to ease the sharp pang there. If Cora needed money, she could have come to Helena. She wouldn’t deny her sisters anything. And yet, it seemed Cora might not hold the same devotion to her kin. The threat to Helena wouldn’t hurt only her. Gracie’s future would be ruined. The burden of suspecting her sister of wrongdoing proved a heavy load on her shoulders. She needed to speak with Cora, but first she must tell Sebastian what she had learned.
With a weary sigh, St. Ambrose set his drink on the table. “If it is any comfort, I hope I am wrong about your sister.”
“Me too, my lord.”
***
Sebastian arrived at Helena’s town house at half past ten. He balked when she met him at the door dressed for an evening out.
“Where do you think you are going?”
“Well, nowhere until we talk. Are you coming inside?” She opened the door wide and motioned him in. Fergus stood on the edge of the foyer, his dark frown mirroring Sebastian’s.
He strolled inside as if he hadn’t a care when really his blood was rising. “If you think you are accompanying us to Vauxhall, you are mistaken, madam.”
“Perhaps you will change your mind once you hear what I have to say.”
He crossed his arms. He wouldn’t change his mind.
“I think you may have been right about—” Her voice trembled and she pressed her lips together, inhaling deeply as if drawing strength from her breath. “I believe you may have been correct in suspecting my sister. I think my blackmailer is Cora.”
His arms dropped to his sides. He hadn’t been expecting her to come to that conclusion. She had been adamant earlier that afternoon none of her sisters could be involved.
She reached for his hand, her posture pleading. “I really must speak with her, Sebastian. Cora poses no danger. Please let me come with you.”
“You cannot know that, Helena.”
“I told her the same thing,” Fergus piped up from his corner.
She released Sebastian’s hand and threw a scowl over her shoulder. “I can know that. She is little more than half my height, and I have successfully fought off a man. My sister is no threat to me. Besides, it is the pleasure gardens. How dangerous can it be?”
Sebastian couldn’t believe they were having this conversation. His teeth ground together. “We have no way of knowing how the meeting will play out. I won’t place you at risk. And you were fortunate that night in the rookery.”
“And what if she isna alone, lass?”
The fight drained from her, defeat showing in her slumped shoulders. She turned misty eyes toward Sebastian. “What if she is alone? She will be frightened out of her wits when two men accost her.”
If Helena’s sister was the culprit, a good scare was the least she deserved. But Helena obviously didn’t see it the same way. Perhaps he would feel the same if he were in her position and Eve was the guilty party, although he couldn’t imagine his sister doing anything so despicable.
Helena took his hand. “Please, Sebastian. At least allow me to wait in the carriage, so I can talk some sense into her when you capture her.”
The word “no” was on the tip of his tongue, but Fergus came forward to place his hands on her shoulders. “It canna hurt for her to wait in the carriage with your coachman.”
A relieved smile spread across her pretty lips. “No, it wouldn’t hurt a thing. In fact, it may help the situation in the end.”
Without waiting to see if Sebastian agreed, she grabbed her bonnet from the entry table and rushed outside.
Sebastian nailed the bigger man with a glower. “You are hopelessly wrapped around her finger.”
Fergus shrugged. “You canna win every battle, milaird. It’s better to allow the lass some freedom so she does no’ rebel.”