Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
“We were wonderin’ where ye were,” Darragh said, looking away from the conversation he was having with his footman. “Yer men said ye werenae trainin’ as they thought ye’d be.”
“Aye,” Lucas said, motioning for the man to follow him. The ensuing discussion would benefit from the privacy of his study. “Elizabeth insisted that I join her for a game.”
“She’s still gettin’ along nicely?” Darragh asked as they navigated through the castle. He lifted his hand in greeting to a maid who was shuffling past them. “I ken it took her a while to start behavin’ normally after her ordeal.”
“She’s doin’ quite all right,” Lucas confirmed. He stopped in front of his study, pulling a key from his pouch. “Seems to be doin’ even better now that we’ve got Flora stayin’ with us. She’s more energetic now than she was before the incident.”
He opened the door, leading the other laird inside. Once the heavy wood clicked into place, giving them privacy, Darragh asked, “And how is Flora adjustin’? Have ye started yer search for her family?”
“She doesnae want me lookin’ for her relatives,” Lucas said, carefully deciding what information he’d share with his ally.
While they were working together to find justice for the girls and women, it felt as if it would be a breach of trust to divulge every detail he’d discerned about Flora.
“But she’s integratin’ into life here quite well.
I already told ye Elizabeth loves her, and she and Annabeth have become fast friends. ”
“That’s good to hear,” Darragh said as the two settled into seats. “And how is she behavin’ around ye? Still frightened? I’ve heard all of the girls we’ve rescued thus far arenae quick to trust men.”
“Aye, she’s still skittish,” Lucas confirmed, his hands balling into fists on his knees. “I’m tryin’ nae to push her into interactions she’s nae ready for. I did teach her to throw knives a few days ago, so she had means of protectin’ herself.”
“Smart man,” Darragh said. Then, he straightened. “I dinnae come for a social call.”
“Nay, I dinnae think ye had. I imagine ye’re here to report on what ye found in the area?”
“Me men and I investigated the area where the hunt took place,” he confirmed. “We werenae able to find any remnants of the organization there. I’m quite confident that they’ve been eliminated.”
Lucas frowned, leaning forward as his eyes narrowed. “Are ye sure ye checked every tower? Every outpost? I ken ye went back to dismantle the hunt, but me men reported seein’ smoke comin’ from an abandoned watchtower.”
Darragh frowned as he said, “We searched under every rock, Laird McGowan. Every tower and outbuildin’ and the old watch posts along the eastern ridge.”
“Ye confirmed it with yer own eyes?” Lucas pressed, unease prickling the back of his neck. “Ye confirmed that there was nae sign of anyone in any of those watchtowers?”
The other laird sighed and said, “I’ll admit that I delegated some of the searchin’, but I trust me men to be thorough. They’re just as dedicated to this cause as ye, and I are.”
“I’m nae sayin’ they arenae,” Lucas said slowly. “But I am sayin’ that I’d be more satisfied with yer answer if ye were the one that did the searchin’.”
The quiet stretched between them as Lucas didn’t offer platitudes.
When it became obvious to Darragh that he was not budging on his opinion, he folded his arms over his chest, his expression hardening as he said, “I will go back and conduct a second search. I understand yer hesitancy. This is a cause close to yer soul.”
“Aye, it is,” Lucas said, his jaw tight. He looked away, swallowing down the doubt that rose like bile in his throat. The sense that something had been left unfinished lingered. “How long do ye plan on stayin’? I’m sure me staff have already prepared yer chambers.”
“They informed me that they were gettin’ me room ready,” Darragh confirmed, “but I will likely only be stayin’ for a day or two. I will be visitin’ Hector with a full report, then I’ll go back to the site and do another search. But I’m quite certain that the organization has been snuffed out.”
“We still havenae found Lewis,” Lucas said harshly. “This organization is nae eliminated until every single man who participated is dead. The women we rescued cannae begin to heal until we’ve ensured that this cannae happen to any other vulnerable person.”
Darragh’s jaw ticked, his hands tightening slightly on the arms of his chair. After a beat, he said, “Ye’re right. And ye have me word. I will do a final search of the area. Personally. And I will report back to ye with any findin’s, even if I daenae find anythin’.”
“Good,” Lucas said as he pushed himself to his feet. “I will inform the cooks that ye and some of yer men will be with us for the next few days.”
“There’s the hospitality I’ve come to expect from Castle McGowan,” Darragh said with a grin. He rose, joining Lucas toward the corridor once more. “We willnae impose on ye while we rest. The accommodations are appreciated.”
“Ye daenae need to thank me,” Lucas said, still on edge as his mind raced through worst-case scenarios. “Ye just need to finish the job.”
“At least ye daenae run off when I ask ye to play with me,” Elizabeth said, trotting alongside Flora, who had somehow been talked into carrying everything the girl had brought from the castle. “Uncle Lucas is always so busy.”
“Aye, but he’s the Laird,” Flora said kindly, scanning the area in an attempt to spot the guards that Lucas had told her were following Elizabeth.
Even though she looked everywhere, she was unable to find a single one. She didn’t doubt they were there, though. Lucas seemed to take Elizabeth’s well-being seriously. She wouldn’t be surprised to learn that the guards watching the girl were the most elite, highly trained men that Lucas had.
“I ken he’s the Laird,” Elizabeth whined, throwing her head back dramatically, “but he’s me uncle, and I want to spend time with him.
It’s so difficult to get him to agree to play.
Then, when I do get him to say yes, someone always comes to tell him he has somethin’ ‘important’ to deal with.
” She looked up at Flora, eyes wide. “Am I nae important, too?”
“Of course, ye are,” Flora said fiercely. “I havenae been here very long, and I ken beyond a shadow of a doubt that ye are the most important thing in his life. I think most of what he does is because of ye.”
Elizabeth sighed, fiddling with the length of her gown. “I suppose. But I would rather just spend time with him. Sometimes it feels like he just doesnae want to spend time with me or get too close to me.”
The statement struck Flora, making her consider the Laird’s behavior. It seemed that Elizabeth did have a point. The man was always leaving, cutting his interactions with the girl short. It wasn’t as if he couldn’t make time. He was the man in charge here, after all.
“I daenae think that’s the case,” Flora said softly, filing away the thoughts she’d had.
Voicing them wouldn’t be good for Elizabeth.
“He cannae help how busy he is. I’m sure that if he were able, he’d play with ye every time ye asked.
It’s just unfortunate that he has the kind of position that keeps him from givin’ ye the attention that ye deserve. ”
“It is sad,” Elizabeth agreed, reaching out for the bundle in Flora’s arms when they reached the front of the castle. “But at least he tried to play before the guard made him leave.”
“Ye’re right,” Flora agreed, a little pit in her stomach opening up.
Elizabeth smiled up at her, warm and honest. “And I’m glad that ye were able to play with me. I had so much fun. And ye were a good maither.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Flora replied, stopping in the foyer just outside the great hall. “Now, ye should go get yerself cleaned up before our next meal.”
As the girl ran off, Flora walked over to a bench tucked away in an alcove, sinking down onto it with a heavy sigh.
Her mind lingered on the comment that Elizabeth had made about Lucas avoiding her.
While Flora was sure that he wasn’t avoiding his niece, she was sure that Lucas had been steering clear of her.
Even though he kissed me, he pulled away afterwards and wouldnae talk to me for days…
She pressed the heels of her palms against her eyes, groaning softly.
Her head spun with the confusion of the day.
Fear and something that felt like want and something else that felt like rejection sank into her veins.
It felt as if her life had only become more complicated since she’d been rescued.
“Flora?” Annabeth urged, her voice getting closer as her footsteps echoed off of the tall ceiling. “Are ye feelin’ well? Ye look troubled or ill.”
“I’m fine,” Flora said, dropping her hands and giving her friend the best approximation of a smile she could muster. “Perhaps I’m a wee bit tired.”
“That’s understandable,” Annabeth replied as she offered her hand. “Perhaps ye should rest for a bit before our meal. The cooks will be makin’ somethin’ elaborate. Matthew told me that we’ve got another laird and some of his men stayin’ with us for a bit.”
Flora froze, her hand halfway to Annabeth’s.
Surely there wouldn’t be another laird here if there weren’t a problem.
Or perhaps she was being sent away. Maybe Lucas had finally realized how broken she truly was and was sending her to someone who would be better suited to taking care of someone like her.
“Ye daenae need to worry,” Annabeth said, her voice steady as she helped Flora to her feet. “Occasionally other lairds will come to visit to update Lucas on what’s happenin’.”
“Of course,” Flora said, relaxing just a bit. The weight in her stomach didn’t lessen, though. “I’m overreactin’.”
“Nay one blames ye,” Annabeth assured her as she released Flora’s hand. “But ye’re safe. Everyone at the castle is safe. Darragh is here for a short meetin’, and we get to benefit from it. The staff here loves entertainin’.”
“Then I suppose I should go to me chambers for a bit,” Flora said with a soft smile. “I hope the guests arenae too excitable.”
“I cannae make any promises,” Annabeth laughed. Then, when Flora was a few steps away, she added, “Ye ken ye can speak with me about anythin’ at all. Ye’re me friend, Flora. I’ll help ye in any way I can.”
“Thank ye,” Flora muttered, unable to turn to look at the other woman, the back of her throat burning with emotion. “That means more to me than I can say.”
“Then daenae worry about tellin’ me with words,” she said easily. “All ye need to do is focus on takin’ care of yerself. That’s more than enough of a thanks for me.”
Flora wasn’t able to come up with a proper response, so instead, she nodded, hoping that Annabeth could see her.
Having a friend here was even more unexpected than being allowed to stay.
As she finally started on her way back to her quarters, she decided that she’d do as Annabeth instructed.
She’d take care of herself, however she had to.
Though it would be so much easier if Lucas hadnae looked at me that way or put his lips against mine…