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.
