Free Let Me Be Your Hero by Elaine Coffman Page A

arrival, life as the Lennox siblings had known it began to change drastically, and although they were happy for so many of the changes, they were still grieving for the loss of their father and two brothers, and naturally given to moments of extreme sadness and tears. But as the days passed, the sad days grew less long, and more infrequent, as the pain of their loss lessened.
    Claire’s tendency not to trust Isobel also lessened, and gradually she began to trust her as much as her sisters did. She did not try to understand why it was that her father detested Isobel and Lord Walter so much. Instead, she focused on what her father had taught her, and that was to “accept people as they appear to be, until they show ye a different face.”
    Gradually, the summer warmth began to turn cooler as fall approached, and then the next thing she knew, it was October. When the first cold days came, Clairemade certain that she thanked Isobel for her foresight in having nice warm woolen capes made for all of them.
    Christmas came and went, and was followed by a great freeze that completely froze the waters of the loch from Balloch on the south end and as far north as Luss. From her window, Claire could see curling teams on the ice, and red-cheeked children playing, while dozens of people skated merrily on the ice. There were men with loaded sleds driving across the stubbled fields—where golden grain had waved in the summer breeze a few months before—to take advantage of the shortcut across the ice.
    How different it all looked from summer, and it reminded her that change occurs everywhere, and not only in her life.
    As the year progressed and spring returned, Claire celebrated her sixteenth birthday, along with many new things that were added to their lives, such as music lessons and art lessons, and a dancing master who taught them how to perform the latest dances. This also meant some new employees were brought on, and some of the older employees were let go. “All done so that ye might have the refinement ye have sorely lacked in the past,” Isobel said.
    Fraser continued to send letters to Claire and, in turn, Claire gave her replies to Dermot, so he could post them for her. It was not the same as having him close, but it did help her keep his memory close to her heart. Claire did not tell Isobel about her letters, not because she was trying to keep Fraser a secret, but because she did not want to share her letters with anyone, and she feared that Isobel might ask to read them.In order to keep it secret, when Claire was in town, she requested that her letters be held, and that she would come for them the next time she returned. That way, she could send and receive her letters in complete privacy.
    While Isobel was becoming an important center of the girls’ lives, Lord Walter’s main focus was Ken-drew. This did not go unnoticed by Claire, who worried that Kendrew would be the one most affected by the loss they suffered. Claire still had her female connection in her sisters, but Kendrew lost all the male influence in his life at one time.
    Claire was an honest person, and it troubled her that she had been so suspicious and distrusting of Isobel and Lord Walter, which she now understood came about because her father was always wary of the couple. One afternoon, she had the perfect opportunity to bring it up with Isobel.
    She and Isobel were working on their embroidery in the solar, while her sisters finished their music lessons.
    Isobel took a stitch, tied the knot and snipped the thread. As she threaded the needle again she glanced at Claire, who was frowning over an intricate stitch.
    “My dear Claire, ye seem troubled today. Is anything amiss? Has something happened to upset ye? I hope ye ken that Lord Walter and I want so much to be a part of yer loving family. If, at any time, we err in our judgment or commit some other infraction, I do hope ye will address it.” She laid her embroidery down. “Is there anything we have