A Scandal By Any Other Name-Chapter 146 - Hundred And Forty Six

Her voice trembled slightly. She looked Rowan up and down again. "Is there any trouble? I live a very quiet life here, sir. I do not want any trouble."

Rowan replied with a warm, reassuring smile. He tried to soften his commanding presence, making himself look as harmless as a tall, broad-shouldered Duke possibly could.

"No, not at all, Miss," Rowan assured her gently. "We mean you no harm. We just have a few questions to ask you."

Miss Flora relaxed just a fraction, though her shoulders remained completely tense. She looked at Delaney, finding a small measure of comfort in the other woman’s calm, empathetic face.

"Go ahead," Miss Flora replied quietly, holding the watering can defensively in front of her apron.

Rowan dropped his smile. He became entirely serious. The time for polite pleasantries was over; the fate of his family depended on this conversation.

"Did you work for the Farringtons?" Rowan asked directly.

The reaction was instantaneous and terrible.

By the sheer mention of the name, Miss Flora couldn’t utter a word. She turned completely white. All the healthy pink color drained from her cheeks in a single second. Her eyes widened in absolute terror. Her mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out. She looked as though she had just been struck by lightning.

Rowan saw her deep, paralyzing fear. It only confirmed Aunt Margery’s brilliant deductions. The Farringtons were hiding a massive, dangerous secret, and this maid was terrified of what they would do to her if she spoke of it.

Rowan took another step forward, pressing his advantage.

"Their daughter, Lady Celine, is back from France," Rowan asked, keeping his voice steady and demanding. "Did you serve her before she was sent away?"

The watering can in Flora’s hand fell to the floor.

Clatter!

The tin can hit the hard stones of the garden path loudly. The water spilled out in a dark puddle around her worn leather shoes, soaking the hem of her brown dress, but Flora did not even look down. Her hands flew up to cover her mouth.

"Lady Celine is back?" Flora asked. Her voice was a broken, horrified whisper. She shook her head violently. "No... no, she cannot be back in London. It is not safe for her."

Rowan saw his opening. He stepped closer, his tall frame casting a shadow over the frightened woman.

"Yes, she is," Rowan replied firmly. "And she is in terrible danger. Can you tell us what happened three years ago? Why was she sent away so suddenly?"

Flora took a stumbling step backward, her eyes wide with panic.

"What are they hiding, Flora?" Rowan asked , his voice growing louder, his commanding persona completely taking over his manners.

Flora shook her head frantically. She backed away from him, retreating toward the safety of her cottage. She looked wildly toward the carriage, terrified that Lord Farrington’s men might jump out at any moment.

"I don’t know," Flora cried out, her voice rising in sheer panic. "I know nothing! Please leave me alone!"

Rowan frowned deeply. He was so close to the truth he could practically taste it. He was not going to travel for two days just to be turned away by a frightened woman.

"But..." Rowan spoke, fully prepared to reveal his title.

Flora did not care about his fine clothes or his commanding tone. Her fear of the Farrington family was far greater than anything else.

"LEAVE!!!" Flora shouted at the top of her lungs.

She turned on her heel and ran. She rushed up the two small wooden steps and ran back into the house. The heavy wooden door slammed shut behind her with a loud, violent bang. They heard the heavy iron bolt slide into place on the inside, locking them out completely.

Rowan’s jaw clenched tightly. The muscle in his cheek ticked with pure, boiling frustration. He had failed to get the answers he needed. He marched up the wooden steps and raised his large, clenched fist, fully prepared to knock on the wood.

But before his knuckles could strike the wood, a small hand grabbed his arm.

Rowan wanted to press on, but Delaney held him back.

She pulled on his sleeve with surprising strength. Rowan turned his head, his bright eyes flashing with deep anger. Delaney simply shook her head slowly. Her hazel eyes were calm and full of deep, profound empathy.

"Rowan, stop," Delaney whispered softly, placing her hand flat against his chest to hold him back. "You are frightening her. You cannot force her to speak; she must choose to do it. If you keep pressing on, she will only run further away."

Rowan stared at Delaney. He let out a long, heavy breath, his tense shoulders dropping slightly. He lowered his fist, stepping back to give Delaney the space she needed.

Delaney let go of his arm. She walked up the small wooden steps and went to the closed door.

She did not knock. She leaned her head close to the rough wood, keeping her voice low, gentle, and incredibly sincere.

"Miss Flora," Delaney spoke clearly through the solid wood. "I know you can hear me. I know you are terrified. And I know you are trying to protect whatever secret the Farringtons have threatened you with."

There was silence from the inside of the cottage, but Delaney knew the maid was standing right on the other side of the door, listening to every word.

"But those secrets will destroy Lady Celine one way or the other," Delaney continued, her voice filled with a deep, tragic sadness. "They are forcing her into a marriage she does not want. I have seen her, Flora. She is a prisoner in her own family. If you truly cared for her when you served her, you know she does not deserve this."

Delaney paused, letting her words sink into the frightened woman’s heart. She opened her small travel bag and took out a folded piece of white paper and a small charcoal pencil. She quickly wrote down the direction to Hamilton House in London.

"I won’t force you to tell me anything," Delaney said softly to the door. "But..."

She knelt down on the wooden porch. She slid the paper down the small gap at the bottom of the door, pushing it inside the cottage.

"If you want to save Lady Celine," Delaney finished, standing back up, "come to this address. We can protect you from Lord Farrington. Thank you."

Delaney turned away from the door. She walked down the steps, grabbed Rowan’s large hand, and pulled him toward the gate, back to the waiting carriage, praying that her words had been enough to break through the maid’s terrible fear.