‘We had best study the next clue,’ Luke said, avoiding giving a direct answer. He felt fairly sure that he could depend upon her discretion, but still…
‘It’s an anagram,’ Miss Wood said with a decisive nod. ‘I thought there would be one sooner or later.’
Luke took the paper from her hands and juggled the letters in his head. ‘Come along,’ he said. ‘I think I knew where we are headed.’
The pavilion came into view when they turned the next corner.
‘In there?’ she asked.
‘It must be.’
‘I thought we were in the lead but it looks as though someone beat us to it,’ Miss Wood remarked, nodding towards the window. Two figures were just discernible through it, entwined in one another’s arms, clearly not discussing the whereabouts of the clue.
‘What the devil?’ He frowned. ‘Stay here.’
Luke ran forward. This wasn’t right. But before he reached the structure, the door flew open and the last person he expected to see emerging through it ran past him, apparently without seeing him. He caught a brief glimpse of her flushed face and dishevelled clothing and felt a deep sense of betrayal settle over him.
‘Miss Latimer?’
His voice failed to stop her headlong flight. She was not taking part in the treasure hunt, so what reason did she have to dally in the pavilion? He answered his own question with a few choice expletives when Carlton emerged, straightening his lapels and looking indolently smug.
Chapter Thirteen
Flora ran back to the house, pretending not to have seen Lord Swindon and thankfully not encountering anyone else. Of all the appalling luck! It just had to be the earl who arrived and saved her from Carlton’s unwanted attentions. The look of total disdain on his lordship’s face when he saw the state she was in clearly led him to draw his own conclusions, obliging her to accept that her days here were well and truly numbered. Even though the countess liked her, he would probably not permit his grandmother to keep a companion whose conduct was not above reproach.
She slowed to a walk as she approached the back of the house. As the fog cleared from her brain, the solution to her dilemma seemed obvious. She would simply put her own interests first and tell the earl the truth. If she did that and he believed her account, he would be obliged to act. Carlton would be ejected from the house and his cousin would have to leave with him. Flora didn’t think that the earl planned to marry Miss Carlton. Unquestionably beautiful, the girl was vain and silly, but that didn’t mean her reputation deserved to be tainted by her cousin’s inability to control himself.
The endless possibilities made Flora’s head spin. The prospect of her own chamber and the solitude and comfort of her bed for a few hours had never seemed more enticing. But of course, that would be impossible. She had her duties to perform and would be required to show her face at dinner that evening at the countess’s side. Before attending the countess though, she must first go to Lady Mary and make sure that she had not been too overset by Carlton’s crass assumptions.
She ran up the backstairs, startling one of the earl’s parlour maids making her way down it in close conversation with Miss Carlton’s personal maid. The girls looked disconcerted to see Flora. There was not room for her to pass, so they flattened themselves against the wall. She absently nodded her thanks, wondering why they looked so guilty, and left them to their gossiping.
Flora ran her hands over her upper arms, wincing when she touched the places where Carlton had grabbed her. She would have bruises to show for his brutality, but that was the least of her concerns. She reached Lady Mary’s room, paused to take a deep breath and compose herself, and then knocked. Lady Mary’s wan voice asked who it was. When Flora identified herself, she was invited to enter. She did so and found Lady Mary slumped on the window seat, still fully clothed and with her hat sitting at an odd angle to one side of her head. Fresh tears sparkled on her cheeks. Flora was unable to decide if those tears had been shed in mortification or anger.
‘Don’t be downhearted,’ Flora said gently, joining her on the window seat and taking her hand. ‘You’re safe now. He won’t trouble you again.’
She leaned forward and removed the girl’s hat. It was obvious that she hadn’t realised she was still wearing it. Flora took her own off as well and then returned her attention to Lady Mary.
‘He was going to propose to you, so he assures me,’ she said.
‘Well, if that’s true he chose a funny way of going about it.’ Lady Mary recovered a little self-control, blew her nose and wiped her eyes. ‘I hate women who cry at the drop of a hat and I refuse to shed another tear about the horrible man.’
‘That’s the spirit!’
‘I thought he was a gentleman and that I would be safe with him. I found his accounts of his soldering experiences entertaining and enjoyed his company.’ She sighed. ‘Now I know he was only making himself agreeable to me for one reason.’
‘You didn’t do anything wrong.’
‘He’s a fortune-hunter, Miss Latimer, surely you realise that? Luke warned Emma and me that we would meet our fair share, but Carlton wasn’t even subtle about it. I saw the way he tried to attract Emma’s attention when he first arrived. She was immune to his charm, of course, because she is already in love with Mr Watson. I suppose I should have seen through him when he transferred his attentions to me so quickly.’
‘How could you have, Lady Mary?’
‘Oh, call me Mary, please. After all, you saved me.’
‘Thank you, I shall. And you must call me Flora. Anyway, I’m not so sure that I saved you as such. He would not have overstepped the bounds, other than having the bad manners to attempt a proposal before asking your brother’s permission.’
‘Or keeping me there for long enough to ensure that others saw us, ruining my reputation and leaving me with no choice but to accept him,’ she said, wrinkling her nose in disgust.
Flora nodded. ‘Yes, I think he very possibly might have, if charm and coercion failed to get him what he wanted.’
‘It would have been impossible to continue with the treasure hunt, but I wouldn’t have wanted to make a scene by storming off, so your being there helped no end.’
‘If it’s any consolation, he fooled me as well. At first, anyway.’
Mary smiled. ‘You won’t tell Luke.’ She clutched Flora’s arm, her smile abruptly replaced by a worried frown. ‘Please say you will not. It would be too embarrassing and everyone would know that I had been targeted by a bounder. I couldn’t bear it. Besides, if you tell then Luke he would feel duty bound to do something stupid.’ She dramatically threw her hands in the air. ‘Like challenging him to a duel, or…well, or something.’
‘Do men still fight duels?’ Flora asked, attempting to lighten the mood.
‘No, probably not. Grandmamma insists that several have been fought over her, but I’m not sure if I believe her.’
Flora laughed. ‘She does tend to exaggerate. Even so, I suspect that she was quite the beauty in her younger days, and rather wild too. Good for her, I say.’
‘I’m glad you are here for Grandmamma, and for Emma and me,’ Mary said, ‘even though I know that we are not strictly speaking your responsibility. Haughty is supposed to look out for us, but sometimes it feels as though our roles have been reversed.’
‘I would be privileged to look upon you and your sisters as friends. I have never had any, you know, not really. My father was so strict, so judgemental—’
Mary frowned. ‘Are not the clergy supposed to be forgiving?’
Flora smiled at her innocence. ‘Suffice it to say that the only females he considered to be suitable company for his daughters were so dull, so assiduously correct, that I preferred to go friendless. I had quite enough of duty and piety being drummed into me at home. I didn’t require an extension of that morality in my limited free time. That’s why I am enjoying the freedom I have here.’ For now, she thought but did not say. Talking to the earl was now out of the q
uestion since she had given Mary her word that she wouldn’t betray her confidence. With no other choice let to her, she would just have to wait and see what decision he reached regarding her future at Beranger Court.
‘Well, you have a friend in me, Flora.’ Mary squeezed her hand, looking more like herself again. ‘Best not tell Emma what happened, either. She is determined that this week will be a success and I don’t want to spoil things for her.’
‘It will be our secret.’ Flora stood, picked up her hat and plonked it back on her head. ‘Now, if you are sure you are all right, I will go and find your sister. I expect the treasure hunt is over by now. I’ll tell Lady Emma that you were feeling the effects of the heat and so you and Carlton had to withdraw from the hunt. I am sure that will satisfy her.’
‘You are very kind.’ Mary stood and kissed Flora’s cheek impulsively. ‘I am so very glad to have you as a friend.’
*
Emma looked up and smiled at Miss Latimer as she saw her approaching. ‘Ah, there you are. Several of the couples are complaining that our clues were too difficult.’
‘They are either pretending not to understand them in order to spend a little more time alone with their partners or else they are not very clever.’
‘Yes, I think my sister and Captain Carlton must be a case in point. No one has seen them. I’m beginning to get worried.’
‘Don’t be. I have just seen Mary. She’s upstairs in her room. The heat was too much for her so I suggested she return to the house.’
‘Oh, that’s a relief. That’s three couples who have dropped out for various reasons.’
‘And it looks as though your brother and Miss Wood will emerge as winners,’ Miss Latimer remarked, looking very anxious as she nodded towards the approaching pair.
‘Oh gosh, that’s awkward. It’s probably not the done thing for the host to win.’
‘Miss Wood is not the host. She deserves her moment of glory. She’s been largely overlooked this week.’
‘That’s true.’ Emma turned her attention to Luke and his partner. ‘Have you finished? Well done! You are the first.’
Emma glanced between her brother and Miss Latimer in confusion as Luke fixed her with a look of withering contempt. Miss Latimer lifted her chin and her expression remained defiant. She wondered what had occurred to make Luke so annoyed with a woman who had proved to be such a welcome addition at Beranger Court and who, to the best of Emma’s knowledge, had thus far given exemplary service. She thought that Luke approved of Miss Latimer, but clearly, she had got that wrong. Emma hoped that he didn’t intend to send her away after her trial period came to an end. Grandmamma liked her and almost behaved herself now that she had met her match, which had to count for something.
Luke seemed to recall his manners, looked away from Miss Latimer and smiled at Miss Wood. ‘I can’t take much credit for solving the clues. It was all Miss Wood’s doing.’
‘That I can easily believe,’ Emma said emphatically.
Other couples gradually returned, pretending to take offence because Luke had beaten them all, loudly proclaiming that he must have had inside help.
‘I did,’ Luke replied cheerfully. ‘I had the good sense to depend upon Miss Wood.’
That settled the dispute, and the participants fell upon the refreshments laid out on the terrace to revive them. Temporarily relieved of her duties, Emma was about to go and check on Mary when Alvin joined her.
‘Well done,’ he said. ‘Another successful entertainment.’
‘I’m glad you enjoyed it.’
They strolled together, away from the terrace where the treasure hunters were still cheerfully bickering about the clues and towards the lake. The sun had lost some of its heat and the breeze that rippled the surface of the water came as a welcome relief. Emma had not been scurrying about solving clues, but keeping track of everything that was going on had proved equally exhausting. As though sensing her weariness, Alvin steered her towards the first bench they reached and she sat, conscious of his large form occupying the space beside her. They sat for several minutes, enjoying the tranquillity interrupted only by the occasional burst of laughter coming from the terrace or the indignant quacking of squabbling ducks.
‘Do you know why Luke is angry with Miss Latimer?’ Emma asked, after the comfortable silence had stretched between them for some time.
‘No idea. He told me that he approves of her and wants her to stay. She’s good for your grandmother, apparently. But she also has a tendency to speak her mind, so perhaps she said something to offend Luke.’
‘I cannot imagine her doing so, but the look he gave her just now when he finished the hunt could have frozen the sun.’
‘I am sure you must have imagined it.’ Alvin sighed as he stretched his arm along the back of the bench, mere inches from her neck and shoulders. Acutely aware of his presence, yet equally aware that they were visible from the terrace, she concluded that his action had been purely instinctive. He had not brought her here with the intention of moving their friendship onto a more intimate footing, unfortunately. But at least he had chosen to walk with her with no coercion on her part and appeared in no hurry to return to the party. ‘Luke has a lot on his mind at the moment. He probably didn’t even realise that he was frowning.’
‘Perhaps you are right.’ But Emma knew she had not imagined the frigid atmosphere. ‘It’s just that Mary and I like Miss Latimer very much and would not be pleased to see her frightened away from Beranger Court by Luke’s disapproval. Her methods are a little unorthodox, I’ll grant you, but that’s what makes her so interesting. When we heard that the daughter of a canon chancellor had been appointed as Grandmamma’s companion we feared the worst.’
Alvin smiled at her. ‘Homilies, praying three times a day and disapproval of anything pleasurable?’
‘Well yes, which just goes to show that it is unwise to prejudge.’
‘For my part, I have never understood why having Christian standards and enjoying life’s pleasures must be mutually exclusive.’
‘I agree with you—and so would Miss Latimer, I suspect. Poor Grandmamma.’ Emma laughed. ‘I think she imagined that Miss Latimer would be a shy, retiring little thing and intended to amuse herself by tearing her to shreds, just as she did her predecessors. Miss Latimer has proved herself to be made of sterner stuff though. She stands up to Grandmamma, rather spoiling her fun.’
‘As a budding engineer, I can assure you that you cannot force a square peg into a round hole.’
Emma blinked at him as she considered that rather ambiguous statement. ‘By which, I suppose you mean that all the indoctrination in the world cannot turn a person into what they are not.’
‘Exactly.’ Alvin gazed across the lake, probably not even seeing the family of ducks which had ventured from the protective reeds once the sun started to go down and now dabbled for their supper. ‘We are all as children influenced by the views and beliefs of those responsible for our care. Young minds are easy to shape. I am sure that your Miss Latimer is no exception. She was trained from the cradle to be a devout Christian, modest and obedient.’
Emma shook her head. ‘Perhaps, but Miss Latimer is none of those things now.’
‘No, not now that she’s here and has the freedom to be herself, clear of parental control and disapproval. She has the intelligence to question everything that she was taught to believe was…well, quite literally the gospel truth in her case. She has fought against those established truths inside her own head, but probably didn’t dare to express any doubts she might have harboured to her father, who sounds unbending in his convictions.’
‘She would not have done. She told Mary and me that her father insisted she marry one of his curates. She despised the man and refused, which must have taken courage, but that is why we are fortunate enough to have her here with us now.’
Alvin looked shocked. ‘Her father threw her out for disobedience?’ He sniffed. ‘How very Christian of him.’
&nb
sp; ‘Indeed. Anyway, I just hope Luke doesn’t frighten her away with his bad temper. Just because he doesn’t want to get married, that’s no reason for him to take it out on others, and I shall tell him so if he continues to be disagreeable.’
Alvin smiled and for the briefest of moments one of the fingers resting along the back of the bench tickled her neck. ‘I shouldn’t worry, if I were you. If Miss Latimer can stand up to your grandmother, then she will be more than a match for Luke, even at his most obstinate.’
‘Yes, very likely.’ She sighed. ‘Things won’t be the same for you and Paul Dalton, will they? Not once Luke decides to marry. He hasn’t shown any of the ladies here any special attention, much to their collective frustration. But, as I say, the three of you have always been so close.’
‘We have to grow up sometime, my dear,’ Alvin replied, removing his arm from the back of the bench and stretching them both above his head.
‘Ah, so you are intending to take the plunge, too,’ Emma suggested playfully. ‘Is your intended known to me? I have not noticed any preferences on your part, but this week is an ideal opportunity for you to make your selection. Ladies from all the best local families are in attendance, most of them with their mothers.’ She bit her lip to quell a mischievous smile. ‘If you take my advice you could do worse than to get to know their mothers before making your choice. They do say that most girls grow into images of their mamas in terms of looks and character with the advancing years.’
Alvin shed his wistful look and flashed a raffish grin that enhanced his rugged good looks and made Emma yearn for more than friendship with the only man she was convinced would ever make her truly happy. ‘You think I should examine each of their mother’s faces and decide if I could abide seeing any of them across the table from me in twenty years’ time?’ He chuckled ‘What a novel suggestion.’
A Sense of Belonging Page 17