Chapter Twenty-Five

T he masquerade ball had been a resounding success, introducing Flora and Lennox into society. After greeting their guests, they started the ball by dancing a waltz together. Vivian and Grace had introduced Flora to ladies they had formed friendships with, ones who contributed to the greater needs around Edinburgh, while their husbands showed the gentlemen of the peerage how highly they respected Lennox. That secured him connections he would’ve struggled to make on his own. Flora attempted to include Sara in the festivities, but Sara shied away from the aristocracy, hiding for most of the evening. Whenever Flora coerced her to join them, Sara found an excuse to escape.

Lennox never strayed far from Flora. He refused to give the culprit an opportunity to spread his venom. However, no one attempted to steal his wife away from his side. He considered the evening a failure. His eerie feeling had only been a fanciful thought that their nightmare would end this evening. The hour grew late, and soon their guests would depart.

“He did not appear,” Flora murmured low enough for only Lennox to hear.

“Nay, my love.”

She bit her bottom lip to keep from expressing her disappointment. “What shall we do now?”

Lennox tightened his hold around Flora’s waist. “We shall make a better plan tomorrow.”

That was all they could do. Keep making plans until they caught the villain. One day soon, they would be free of that nightmare. Until then, they would remain vigilant with their determination.

Flora watched their guests mingling amongst themselves, enjoying the evening. She searched for Sara again to convince her to join her in the library for a spell. She understood her friend’s hesitation in mingling with those above her station. It was only recently that Flora and Sara had been in the same situation. Sara hid in the shadows that evening whenever the duke paid her attention.

Somerville’s behavior wasn’t an act to draw out the villain. He would never use Sara to that extent. No. The duke gave Sara his undivided attention because he cared for her. How deep his affections ran, Flora was unsure of. He was protective of Sara and had no intention of hurting her. However, there was a vast divide between them. Flora hoped they could overcome the force against them. She wished for Sara to enjoy the same happiness Flora, Vivian, and Grace had found with their husbands.

Flora frowned when she noticed a person wearing a cape and a mask confronting Sara in the corner of the ballroom. While it was a masquerade ball, the other guests had disposed of their masks after the evening meal. However, the person kept to the disguise. The fear etched on Sara’s features alerted Flora to the culprit’s appearance.

Flora tugged on Lennox’s sleeve. “Hurry, I fear the culprit is accosting Sara.”

They hurried toward Sara, with Lennox signaling everyone to follow them. However, before they reached Sara, the person vanished. The gentlemen fanned out to search for the mystery person, while the ladies led Sara to the library away from the guests’ prying eyes. Ailsa stayed behind to play hostess for the few remaining guests. Flora hoped the bustle of activity didn’t give any room to gossip. If so, Somerville would be quick to dismiss it.

Sara sat huddled on the settee with a blanket spread across her legs, trembling from her talk with the villain. When they tried to comfort her, Sara flinched from their touch. They backed away so she could compose herself while they waited for the gentlemen to join them. However, an hour passed with no news. During that time, Ailsa joined them, ushering a maid in with tea.

After another hour, Somerville stormed into the library with a fierce growl. However, his expression softened when he reached Sara. Not caring who observed them, he pulled Sara into his embrace and soothed her tears away with his soft-spoken words. Vivian, Grace, and Flora exchanged worried glances at the implications of the duke’s actions. Everyone present would keep it amongst themselves, but they couldn’t guarantee anyone else’s silence if they were to see.

Lennox came behind Flora and rested his hand on her shoulder. “The bastard was within our grasp the entire evening.”

“It was not a gentleman but a lady.” Sara’s whisper echoed around the library.

Flora watched the duke attempt to restrain the ferocious expression from crossing his features. The gentleman wanted to lash out in fury. However, he held back so as not to frighten Sara. Somerville held no simple infatuation with her friend. He loved Sara and felt helpless when he wasn’t at her side to protect her. Flora squeezed Lennox’s hand, finally understanding her husband’s helplessness in watching her from afar the past two years.

“Are you capable of telling us what she said to you?” Vivian asked in a soft tone.

Sara brushed at the tears hovering on her eyelashes. “She only cackled her enjoyment at her chance to torture me. I have been her intended victim all along. She hoped that toying with my friends would frighten me enough to distance myself from them. She advised my return to Fordwich, as I never should have left.”

“Did she seem familiar to you?” Flora asked.

Sara shook her head.

“Did she say anything else?” Grace inquired.

The ladies had taken it upon themselves to question Sara so the gentlemen wouldn’t upset her further. Sara was a timid maiden at best, and since her altercation with Lord Baldridge, she had grown wary around gentlemen. All except for Somerville. He held the charming ability to draw Sara out of her shell. Sara blossomed under his attention, and Flora hoped the duke held honorable intentions regarding making Sara his wife. Because if he only toyed with her friend’s emotions, then he would find the wrath of Flora, Vivian, and Grace to contend with.

Sara pulled a note from the pocket of her dress and handed it to Flora. “No. Only this.”

The bold slash of penmanship marked “Lord and Lady Hepburn” on the outside of the parchment. Flora fearfully raised her gaze to Lennox, and he took the note from her trembling fingers. He ripped it open and read through the letter before sharing it with everyone.

Lord and Lady Hepburn,

I must thank you for a gracious evening of entertainment. While I am offended you never included me on your guest list, you made it possible for me to sneak inside with your lack of security. For that, I can only respond by reprimanding your negligence.

Perhaps I should pursue Lady Hepburn. For I can offer her the protection she so desperately needs. However, I would tire of her brothers always hovering near her, attempting to protect her. Also, I remind myself she is no proper lady, or governess, for that matter. She is as much a heathen as her brothers and should return to the countryside instead of ruining our pristine society with her attempt at being a lady.

So, rest assured, Lord Hepburn, I no longer challenge you on that front. For now, I shall challenge the gentleman in the room who holds more esteem than your mere title. The duke’s besotted behavior toward his governess this evening is an abomination to the structure of our society. The duke and his governess need to learn a lesson about how society shall not tolerate their behavior.

Miss Sara Abbott needs to return to where she came from and not tarnish a well-respected man’s name or bring shame to his child. Lady Hepburn, perhaps you can convince your friend of the dangers involved if she remains the duke’s governess. Or is the reason the duke holds no shame in his scandalous pursuit of his governess because he has already crossed the line and ruined the miss?

If so, not only will Miss Abbott endure my wrath but her friends shall suffer from my vengeance too. Because if not for their friendship, their climb in society would never have occurred.

This is not a threat but a promise I deliver to you.

Farewell for now.

Lennox crinkled the vengeful letter in his grasp and growled. “Bastard. I cannot wait to tear him apart.”

Flora shook her head. “But Sara said it was a lady.”

Somerville rose to pace across the library. “A guise to throw us off his mark.”

Grace clutched Lockhart’s arm. “How can you be sure?”

Lockhart wrapped his arm around his wife to offer her comfort. “The tone of the letter with its vindictiveness implied his status of a gentleman of high standing.”

“In my opinion, he holds ties with Miss Abbott,” Courtland added.

“How? I have no living relatives,” Sara objected.

Somerville paused. “None you may be aware of. While we are in London for the holiday, I shall hire an investigator to look into your past.”

“I should not accompany you to London. I wish no harm to come upon you or Mairi.”

Somerville remained firm. “Nonsense. You only remain safe while by my side.”

Sara blushed at the duke’s possessiveness. “Perhaps ‘tis best if I give my notice.”

“No,” the duke growled.

Flora exchanged a look with Lennox to dissuade the duke from expressing his desires with such passion. However, Lennox shook his head in denial, bending down to whisper in Flora’s ear, “’Tis best for the lass’s safety if she remains in his care.”

Flora saw reason in Lennox’s statement, but Sara’s unease was difficult to watch. The discussion caused Sara stress. If Lennox helped to calm the duke, Sara might be more agreeable to the duke’s wishes. Flora gave Lennox another pointed look, and he shook his head. However, he urged the duke and the other gentleman to join him in his study.

Flora’s brothers and Ailsa offered their farewells while they retired for the evening, which left the ladies alone to offer Sara some advice. Her friends had offered their friendship to Flora during the ordeal of her husband returning to her life. Now she wanted to return the gesture to Sara. Their bond of friendship had been her saving grace since she met them.

Vivian sat next to Sara, wrapping her arm around her shoulder. “Tell us what frightens you to deny the duke’s protection.”

Sara sniffled. “I refuse to be his downfall.”

Grace handed Sara a handkerchief. “The duke cares for you.”

“All the more reason I need to leave my position. I will not bring shame to his name.”

“You love him,” Flora stated.

Sara’s lips trembled. “An impossible emotion I should never feel.”

Flora puffed out her breath. “Bollocks.”

“Flora!” Sara admonished.

Flora shrugged. “I only speak the truth.”

Vivian narrowed her eyes at Flora in an unspoken message not to stir Sara’s emotions any more than they already were. However, Flora felt differently. She didn’t want Sara to deny any emotions that could bring her joy.

Grace interjected to keep the peace. “We only wish for you to remain safe. While our husbands could offer you protection, we believe it wouldn’t be to the advantage Somerville could provide. Please reconsider staying on as his governess until our husbands can catch this villain.”

“Please, listen to Grace’s advice,” Flora pleaded.

Sara closed her eyes as she contemplated her options. If she resigned from her position, her opportunities would be scarce because of the scandal she had fled London for. She had no family to rely on, only the friends surrounding her who offered her comfort. Sara didn’t wish to disrupt their newly married lives. Or, in Flora’s case, her reunion with her husband.

Each day she shared with the duke, her feelings intensified. He was unlike anyone she had ever met, and his kindness from the first day they met had endeared him to her. She didn’t dare share with her friends the scandalous dreams she had about the duke. Or how her greatest wish was for him to proclaim his love for her. For they were but a simple girl’s fantasies.

However, she understood the truth of their arguments. Somerville’s status would provide her with the protection needed. Also, he had the influence to uncover the reason she was the intended target. Her only option was to remain in his employment. She must fight against the emotions he stirred to life within her soul.

“I will remain with the duke.”

Flora hugged Sara. “He will keep you safe.”

A promise Flora hoped the duke fulfilled.