Chapter Twenty-Two

L ennox lowered his voice so as not to frighten her more. “Flora.”

Flora raised her head, and the fear in her eyes almost knocked him down. The threat her brother had issued only moments ago didn’t affect him in the slightest, but his wife’s despair weakened his state of mind. Her fright tore at his insides, causing him to feel defenseless. How could he protect her from an invisible threat? It would appear the culprit had gained an accomplice in his household, one he would destroy once he discovered who they were.

“Murray,” Lennox roared.

The rise of his voice sent a shudder throughout Flora’s slight frame. Lennox cursed himself for his insensitivity, but in his defense, he needed answers immediately before the threat escaped his reach. When he moved to comfort his wife, she curled her arms around herself, vigorously shaking her head.

His sister rushed in behind him toward Flora. Ailsa urged Flora off the bed and settled her on the chaise near the window, covering her with a blanket. Ailsa sat next to Flora, soothing her with soft words of comfort. Flora’s brothers shoved their way into the small bedchamber, rendering him with menacing looks for hurting their sister.

“What in the hell did you do to her?” Malcolm roared.

“Nothing.” Lennox held up the letter. “It was this.”

Hugh tore the letter from Lennox’s hand and read through the degrading comments. Lennox hadn’t even read the slanderous words yet, but if the raging reaction Hugh displayed when he finished was any sign, it held the same message as the one he had received earlier in the day.

Hugh passed the letter to his brothers. It wasn’t until they both read the filth that Lennox was given the opportunity to learn the threat Flora faced. The bastard not only degraded Flora but hinted at threatening Sara Abbott. He needed to get word to Somerville to remain vigilant in keeping the governess protected until they caught the bastard. However, in that moment, his only concern was for his wife.

When he knelt at her side, his sister moved out of the way. Lennox coasted his hand along Flora’s soft curls, hoping his touch would soothe away her fears. Fears that had elevated because he hadn’t been diligent in his protection. He had allowed their passion to distract him by consuming his every thought. No longer, though. He must focus on his mission to eliminate the danger surrounding them.

“He cannot reach you, my love. I will protect you from him,” Lennox attempted to assure Flora.

Flora’s lips quivered. “How? He maneuvered his way into our home.”

“Who dares to threaten our sister? What danger have you involved her in?” Hugh growled.

Flora looked over Lennox’s shoulder, suddenly aware of the crowd that had gathered in her bedchamber. Too caught up in her despair, she had failed to notice everyone’s concern. Even Murray hovered in the doorway, waiting for direction. “Lennox has brought no danger into my life, but only one I have caused. Though how or by whom, I am clueless.”

“Who could you have possibly offended to strike such vengeance?” Brodie asked.

“A mystery yet to be solved,” Flora murmured.

Hugh glared at Lennox. “Why did you not inform us a villain terrorizes our sister?”

Ailsa curled her hand around Hugh’s arm. “Perhaps we should discuss this over dinner. Lennox and Flora can explain the drama their lives have endured of late. Then Lennox can share the latest developments he has learned about the threats Flora faces.”

Ailsa gave Lennox a pointed look, expressing the need for him to confess his secrets. How Ailsa knew he hadn’t shared the letters he had received with Flora was a mystery.

Flora gripped his hand. “You have learned more details? When? Have you shared them with Somerville?”

Of course, he hadn’t shared his findings with the duke. He wanted to be Flora’s damn hero. Besides, he still didn’t quite trust the duke or the other gentlemen. Though they had proven themselves honorable protecting the ladies involved, Lennox considered no one trustworthy until the culprit revealed themselves.

Lennox rose, defeated that his protection wasn’t enough for Flora. She held the opinion that the duke’s influence held more power than the love of her husband to keep her protected. Perhaps if he had listened to his sister’s advice, they wouldn’t have found themselves in that predicament. However, if he were honest, Flora only held the feeling she did because he had failed her as her husband.

He held his hand out for Flora to help her rise. “My sister is correct. Shall we dine and discuss this matter in more depth? Perhaps once I reveal the details, we can find some clarity in the situation and how best to handle it together.”

Flora took Lennox’s hand, and he escorted her to the table. Everyone else followed them in silence. That wasn’t a promising sign since Flora’s brothers never kept their opinions to themselves and expressed their displeasure through obnoxious behavior. However, the severity of the situation called for a necessary seriousness everyone now provided. Slinging their fists and trading insults wouldn’t solve the problem, nor would it protect Flora. Not unless they directed their fury at the villain.

Once the footmen served the meal, Murray dismissed the servants. He stood near the door to offer his assistance if needed. Murray was a long-trusted servant who would never betray them. The man had proven his loyalty throughout the years. He would only be an asset for them to use if the threat intensified.

However, there lay the problem. If the culprit followed the same pattern, his obsession with Flora would fade away, only for him to torment Sara Abbott next. An innocent miss undeserving of the cruelty before her. Not that Flora or her friends deserved the threats. However, Miss Abbott held an innocence he had never seen before. Nonetheless, his fury grew at the bastard’s vulgarity toward his wife. Lennox would strike to avenge Flora even if he had to scour all of Scotland.

Hugh laid his silverware on the plate and directed his attention toward Lennox. “We have shown our patience long enough. It has come time for you to explain yourself.”

Flora patted the napkin against her lips before laying it back in her lap. “The explanation begins with me, dear brother.”

“How so? Your husband is the one who keeps secrets from our family,” Malcolm snapped.

Flora pinched her lips. “Yes. It would appear my husband has withheld the truth. However, my actions have caused the dilemma before us.”

Brodie snarled. “Why do you insist on defending him?”

Flora sighed. “Because I believe his actions result from him protecting me.”

“Aye,” Lennox agreed.

Flora shot him a reproving glare before addressing her brothers again. “Will you please put your hostility to the side while I explain the circumstances without you passing judgement against my husband?”

Hugh scoffed. “Dear sister, if not for the actions of your husband, you would not have found yourself in this predicament.”

Flora gritted her teeth. “If my family had been honest with me from the start, then I might not have fled from my husband, let alone married him.”

That comment drew a menacing scowl from Lennox. Flora didn’t dare glance in his direction or he would see how much she regretted the words as soon as she uttered them. However, if she wanted to get her point across to her brothers, she must pretend she had suffered a great affront at her family’s deception. Only then would they understand everyone had played a part in her disappearance. Not only Lennox.

Ailsa cleared her throat. “Perhaps if everyone can refrain from their menacing comments, we can understand the threat against Flora and how we can resolve it.”

Lennox leaned back in his chair with a smirk. “Brilliant suggestion.”

Ailsa pointed a finger at Lennox. “Refrain yourself.”

Lennox narrowed his eyes at his sister and crossed his arms as he waited for Flora to begin her explanation. It irritated him that her brothers blamed him for Flora’s absence during the past two years. Everyone at the table was to blame for the role they had played in deceiving her. Whether or not they were instrumental in the courtship, they had been aware of the terms their parents struck to make their union a success.

Flora took a sip of wine before she started. “Once I left Scotland, I settled in London and found myself a governess position at a reputable agency. During this time, I befriended some other governesses who visited the same park I did with their charges. Earlier this year, my friend Sara fought off the advances of her employer.”

Flora smiled as Brodie muttered, “Bastard.”

Flora continued. “Since the earl refused to cease his harassment, we retaliated by causing a spectacle at a ball to ruin him. This resulted in us suffering repercussions for our actions by losing our employment and finding ourselves desolate. A false rumor spread about the true nature of our employment, and we were unable to gain new positions.”

Hugh interrupted. “If that were the case, it would’ve been a perfect reason for your return home. I’m confused about what prevented you from finding other employment. True, you and your friends provoked the ton with your insolence, regardless that it was for an honorable cause.”

Flora pounded her fist on the table. “We were not out of line to defend an innocent from the lecherous attentions of the peerage. Lord Baldridge’s behavior is the very reason for the depraved acceptance in society. The lords of the ton who indulged in such proclivities needed taught a lesson that not everyone will suffer in silence for their ill-treatment.”

Lennox smirked at Flora’s show of temperament toward her brother. While he enjoyed her in a snit, he found more pleasure when she focused it on someone else, especially her brothers. However, his enjoyment would be short-lived because he needed to steer the conversation to the issue at hand.

“The actions of your sister and her friends were honorable, and you should applaud them, not reprimand them. As for the cause of them not gaining employment, it lay in a false rumor which has now been dispelled. However, the impact of the rumor rippled through to the shopkeepers. No one wanted to be associated with Flora and her friends in fear the ton would retaliate against them,” Lennox explained.

“What was the rumor?” Hugh asked.

Lennox shrugged. “An unnecessary detail for you to concern yourself over. As I said, it has been proven false.”

Lennox’s refusal to share the details with her brothers only caused them to become more agitated. Flora had witnessed the warning signs in the past before they erupted with their tempers. While loyal, her brothers were swift to act upon their fury, instead of listening to the full story before making judgements. As embarrassing as it was to confess the rumor, it was a necessity if peace were to remain between her brothers and Lennox.

A blush heated Flora’s cheeks before she admitted the scandalous rumor attached to her name. “The rumor that spread amongst the London ton implied my friends and I were never governesses to begin with. That we resided in the lords’ homes under the pretense of hiding the fact we were actually their mistresses and employed as governesses to fool their wives. And my friend Sara had acted out with revenge because Lord Baldridge had dismissed her because he no longer required her services as his mistress.”

“Bollocks! Utter bollocks!” Brodie roared, jumping from his chair and shoving it backward. He stormed toward the doorway.

Flora jumped from her chair and hurried after him. “Where are you going?”

Malcolm joined them at the doorway. “To bloody well London to set those bloody toffs right.”

Flora hooked her arms through theirs and urged them back to the table. “While it warms my heart you wish to defend my honor, ‘tis unnecessary. Lord Courtland, my friend Vivian’s husband, proved to the ton that it was a false rumor.”

Brodie balked. “Still, those sassenachs need to learn never to tarnish a Scottish Grant’s name. No matter what their status in society may be.”

“Sit,” Hugh ordered. “So we can hear the end of this tale. Then we can decide how we will seek our revenge for our sister’s dishonor.”

Flora shook her head at her brothers’ defiance. “There will be no revenge. ‘Tis how I ended up in this predicament as it is.”

Hugh narrowed his gaze. “Which you have yet to explain your reason for not returning home.”

“Because I had no home to return to.”