Chapter 8 #2
“All but one of them are dead,” Lucas said, not wanting to hide anything from her.
“The man is named Lewis. He managed to escape. Hector, another laird, a man I’d trust with me life, is huntin’ him down.
” He leaned forward, ensuring she was looking at him directly.
“When Hector finds that man, that monster, he willnae be able to escape. He willnae hurt another person. I can promise ye that.”
Flora let out a sigh of relief, her features softening. She looked down at the book in her hands as she said, “I’m glad to hear it. I daenae want anyone else to suffer in the way that we did. We were so helpless. He and those other lairds used it to their advantage.”
“Those men were only lairds in title,” Lucas said fiercely, his anger returning with a vengeance. “A laird is meant to protect the vulnerable, nae use them for his own sick games.”
“I’m beginnin’ to realize that,” she said, a slight smile settling on her lips. “Thank ye for showin’ me that those werenae real lairds.”
“Me only regret is nae findin’ ye sooner,” he said, his mind trailing off.
Flora had said it herself; she and the other women were vulnerable, and they’d been exploited because of that.
As much as he wanted to declare that he’d keep her safe, he knew as well as anyone that it only took a moment for something awful to happen, and he wouldn’t always be there to protect her. His job wouldn’t allow it.
Perhaps what she needs is to be able to defend herself.
“Flora,” he said, breaking the thoughtful quiet they’d fallen into. “Would ye be interested in learnin’ how to fight, so ye’re nae as vulnerable to people like him?”
She stared at him, surprise flashing in her obsidian eyes. Then, a grin broke out as she began to nod enthusiastically. “Yes, I’d like that very much,” she said. A flicker of uncertainty crossed her features. “Ye’d really teach me how to protect meself?”
“Aye, of course, I would,” Lucas said as he stood. “I need to get some things prepared first. We will start trainin’ in two days after our mornin’ meal. Does that sound agreeable, Flora?”
“It does, aye,” she said, her grin returning, then she murmured, “And… thank ye. For bein’ patient with me and savin’ me and… everythin’. I daenae ken how I’ll ever repay ye.”
“Ye daenae have to worry about repayin’ me,” he told her, standing at the threshold. “I’m only doin’ what’s right.”
He waited until she nodded her affirmation before leaving. There were lessons he had to plan. On the way to his office, he nodded at Annabeth and Elizabeth, who seemed to be on their way to the library.
Elizabeth is goin’ to be excited once she learns that Flora can speak.
“Uncle Lucas!” Elizabeth exclaimed as he passed them. “Do ye have time to come and read to me?”
“Ach, I daenae, Elizabeth,” he said apologetically, stopping to face her. “Perhaps another time?”
“Ye always say that,” she groaned before grabbing onto Annabeth’s hand and pulling her back on their way.
“He’s a busy man, Elizabeth,” Annabeth said, giving Lucas an amused smile over her shoulder before letting herself be led away.
“What do ye want to read, Elizabeth?”
The sound of Annabeth and Elizabeth approaching made the smile on Flora’s face widen even further.
Already, she was charmed by the child, who was undemanding when she realized that Flora couldn’t speak, and Annabeth’s patience was most certainly part of the reason that Flora felt comfortable enough to communicate now.
“If ye pick a book, I’ll read it to ye,” Flora said, drawing both of their attention.
“Ye can talk!” Elizabeth squealed, jumping up and down before she darted to the shelf full of tales.
“Aye,” Flora said, watching as the girl ran the tip of her finger over the spines of her favorite books. “I’ve been practicin’ just so I could read to ye.”
Annabeth finally recovered from her shock and took the seat that Lucas had vacated a few moments ago. She dropped her voice low to keep from disturbing Elizabeth and said, “Ye’ve got a beautiful voice, Flora. I’m glad to hear it.”
“If it werenae for ye, I daenae think that I would be speakin’,” Flora admitted. “I feel… safe here for the first time in me life. Ye played an important role in makin’ that so.”
“Well, I’m proud to have played a hand,” Annabeth whispered, leaning in as she watched her daughter pull several books, “but ye’re the one that made everythin’ happen. If ye never spoke again after the ordeal those men put ye through, nay one would fault ye.”
Flora couldn’t do anything but sit with that information.
She supposed that Annabeth was right. It wasn’t as if anyone made her speak, she’d done it all on her own.
She wasn’t able to sit with that revelation for long before Elizabeth walked over with a stack of books that looked as if it weighed nearly as much as she did.
“Ach, Elizabeth, ye need to pick one,” Annabeth said though she was grinning at the girl’s enthusiasm. “We cannae possibly get through all of those in an afternoon.”
“I’ll read as many stories as she wants me to,” Flora assured, accepting the stack of stories from Elizabeth and thumbing through them. She smiled at the child and said, “Ye just have to promise me ye willnae get tired of the sound of me voice.”
“I willnae!” Elizabeth promised as she clambered onto her mother’s lap. “Maither, scoot over so I can see the pages, please.”
Flora waited until the two were positioned in a way that Elizabeth approved of before she began reading.
The girl was enthralled by the stories, and Flora couldn’t help but push through the slight tiredness she felt at speaking for so long.
She didn’t think she’d be able to deny Elizabeth anything, especially not when she was sure her time here was limited.
I daenae think I could deny anyone in this family somethin’ they wanted. They’ve been so good to me; it’s only right that I return the favor. I want to return the favor.