She looked very worried and on the verge of tears. Flora squeezed her hand. ‘Please do. I am usually free during the early part of the afternoon.’
‘Then I shall come tomorrow, if that is all right.’
‘I look forward to it.’
Flora stood and returned to the countess’s side. Miss Gregory, who had been seated alone and sulking since her ladyship’s acerbic comments, perked up immediately the gentlemen rejoined them. She rose to her feet and attempted to attach herself to Luke, but Emma intercepted her before she could reach him and engaged her in conversation. Miss Gregory looked furious, but short of offending Luke’s sister there was nothing she could do.
‘Did you put her up to that, ma’am?’ Flora asked her charge, nodding towards the two women.
‘Certainly not, but I like to think my granddaughters have eyes in their head. Luke is too well-mannered to put that irritating young woman in her place. He needs to toughen up. I won’t always be around to help him out.’
‘Where are you thinking of going?’
‘It’s beyond time I revisited India. My maharaja insists that we reacquaint ourselves. I might oblige him yet, and you shall accompany me.’
Since Flora knew that no letters had arrived for the countess from India, she felt safe in promising to do so.
‘Shall we have some music?’ Sam suggested.
All the ladies hung back out of politeness, except for Miss Gregory who almost ran to the piano, keen to demonstrate her skill. Luke joined Archie Hardwick at the back of the room, where they were almost hidden from the instrument and able to conduct a conversation in low tones that involved a great deal of muted laughter.
‘This should be interesting,’ the countess said in an unnecessarily loud voice.
The girl’s performance was at best mediocre. She hit several wrong notes without appearing to realise it. She chose to play a popular melody that Flora thought an unwise selection. Something not well known would have made her lack of prowess less apparent. When she opened her mouth to sing along, Flora felt acutely embarrassed on her behalf. She really was appallingly lacking in talent, but didn’t seem to realise it. When her performance came to an end it was greeted with muted applause.
‘Your turn,’ the countess said, giving Flora a nudge.
‘Absolutely not! You know I don’t play, ma’am. Please don’t insist.’
‘Ah, but I do.’ There was a gleam in the countess’s eye.
‘No one will mind if you aren’t very good,’ Miss Gregory added. Her eyes were gleaming too, but with malice rather than suppressed mischief.
‘Well, you would know all about that, miss,’ the countess said, giving Miss Gregory the benefit of her haughtiest look.
Flora claimed to have no musical ability, although it was far from the truth. Forced to play religious music throughout her childhood, she had happily given up the instrument once she came to Beranger Court. But recently she’d taken it up again, playing in private for her own pleasure on an old upright piano in the schoolroom. How did the countess know? She never ventured into that part of the house.
Flora dithered, sensing the curiosity of all the gentlemen in the room focused upon her. They would none of them force her to do anything that made her uncomfortable, she knew, but Miss Gregory was not held back by any such considerations. She really was a horribly spiteful young woman whose attitude brought Flora’s competitive instincts, such as they were, to the fore.
‘Very well, ma’am,’ she said with patent reluctance. ‘If you insist. But be warned, I am very rusty.’
Flora noticed the satisfaction in Miss Gregory’s expression as she passed her on the way to the piano. Sam had joined Luke and Lord Hardwick at the back of the room, leaving no space for her to force herself upon them. She pouted and took the only vacant chair beside her uncle.
Flora seated herself at the instrument, took a moment to compose herself, and then started to play from memory. Breach of Promise of Marriage, the popular song from the operetta Trial by Jury struck just the right light-hearted note. Flora had secretly practised it when she still lived in Cathedral Close, on the rare occasions when she could be assured of privacy. A small act of rebellion against the only type of music she was ordinarily permitted to play. The opening chords were greeted with deafening silence, then everyone started to sing the words. When the rendition came to an end, the applause was deafening.
‘You are a dark horse, Flora,’ Henry remarked from his seat beside Louise. ‘We none of us knew you could play. And yet you play superbly.’
‘Thank you, Henry, but I have yet to decide how the countess knew about my secret passion.’ She narrowed her eyes at her charge. ‘I have never mentioned it to her.’
‘Ha! I am not deaf, you know, nor stupid either,’ the countess cackled gleefully. ‘And I have eyes in the back of my head too, in case you were not aware.’
‘Evidently,’ Flora said smiling.
More songs were requested, the atmosphere remained cheerfully informal and Flora remained at the instrument until the party showed signs of breaking up.
‘You are full of surprises. Henry’s right about that.’ Luke’s voice sounded close to Flora’s ear as she tidied away the music.
‘Allow me a little mystique, my lord.’
‘Why have you not played for us before? You are easily the most talented musician I have heard perform in this room for months. You could have saved us from all those other tedious renditions.’
Flora smiled. ‘It has taken me a while to reawaken my love of playing. Papa always made me perform for his visiting dignitaries. But needless to say, operetta did not form a part of my repertoire.’
‘Of course. I understand.’ Flora noticed Miss Gregory hovering in the periphery of her vision. She had been unable to get anywhere near Luke since the music had started and was clearly desperate to reclaim his attention. Luke gave her a dismissive look and turned his attention back to Flora. ‘Come back down once Grandmamma is settled,’ he said softly. ‘I have a present for you.’
‘A present?’ Flora sent him an inquisitive look. ‘I don’t require presents from you.’
‘Nevertheless.’ He sent her an enigmatic smile as he sauntered away. ‘Until later.’
Chapter Three
Luke felt relieved when their guests finally took their leave. With Archie and his grandmother in such fine form, the evening was never going to end prematurely. Luke would have enjoyed himself but for the fact that Miss Gregory had become an increasing irritant as the hours wore on, taking every opportunity to monopolise his company. Luke had been stuck with the tiresome chit for the entire course of the meal while Archie flirted outrageously with Flora at the other end of the table.
The situation had not left Luke in the best of tempers.
He lost all patience and was close to being impolite when Miss Gregory invented excuses to linger at the end of the evening, batting her lashes at him like a demented owl and touching his arm in a desperate attempt to make an impression. She succeeded, but in a negative manner. Luke had a great deal of respect for Squire Exton but he wouldn’t be receiving any further invitations to Beranger Court until his niece had left the district.
When just the family and Archie were left, Flora thanked them all for making her day so special.
‘It is we who should be grateful to you, dearest Flora,’ Mary said, impulsively kissing Flora’s cheek.
‘Thank you for your company,’ Archie said, making do with kissing the back of her hand.
Luke said nothing at all. He watched as Flora ascended the stairs with his grandmother leaning heavily on her arm. Charlie and Miranda had taken themselves off. The others were all remaining for the night.
‘Nightcap?’ Luke suggested.
‘Thanks, but no.’ Archie surprised him by saying, yawning behind his hand. ‘Must be getting old. Can’t put it away like I once did. You’ll have to excuse me, old chap. I’m for my bed.’
‘Sorry about Miss Gregory,’ Sam
said once Archie had left them. ‘If I’d known…’
‘You had no choice but to include her in the invitation,’ Luke said, slapping his brother’s shoulder. ‘Don’t worry. I survived.’
‘Well, just so long as you’re not angry with me. Good night.’
‘Night,’ Luke replied absently.
Left alone, Luke knew it would be at least half an hour before Flora came down again—if she elected to. She had seemed surprised by his unorthodox suggestion and not especially enthusiastic about complying with it. God forbid that she had arranged an assignation with Archie, accounting for his turning down his customary brandy! Jealousy streaked through Luke, only dissipating when he reminded himself that not all females were as ambitious as Miss Gregory and that Flora would never agree to put herself in a compromising position. But wouldn’t it seem as though Luke asked her to do precisely that? His intentions were honourable, but she didn’t know that. They had been alone before and he’d behaved himself—most of the time.
But not always.
He took himself off to his library to wait for her. He would give her an hour and if she hadn’t come down by then he would have to accept that she never would. He received a rapturous welcome from Romulus, his large, non-descript hound who’d spent the evening slumbering in front of the fire. Romulus was not a dog who could be trusted to behave himself in the dining room when they had guests.
‘Did you miss me, boy?’ He ruffled the dog’s ears and received a thorough face-licking for his trouble. ‘We’ll go outside in a moment.’
Luke threw himself into a chair with Romulus at his feet, thinking about the events of the evening. He wondered if Archie’s proposal had been intended to test the waters and gauge Flora’s reaction to it. How would Luke feel about it if he renewed it in private, and if she agreed? Why would she not? She enjoyed Archie’s society. Luke couldn’t think of a single person who did not. The man possessed a magnetic personality and captivating charm. The loss of the use of his legs to all intents and purpose had not changed his character. Even Luke’s grandmother was not immune to Archie’s mischievous ways.
Luke poured himself a brandy that he didn’t really want and knocked it back in one swallow, feeling unsettled.
His introspective thoughts were interrupted when the door opened and Flora walked through it, still wearing her lovely gown. Her cheeks were pink and she seemed breathless, but she had come. Before Luke could stand to greet her, Romulus bounded across the room, wagging his entire ungainly body as he attempted to place his huge front paws on her bare shoulders. She laughed and tickled his stomach, not seeming to mind that his claws might scratch her delicate skin or pull threads from her gown.
‘Your grandmother is tired and crotchety. I left her in Sandwell’s capable hands and was able to get away quicker than I imagined.’ She smiled at up at Luke once Romulus finally finished greeting her, an elusive warmth glowing from her violet eyes, as though someone had said something to her that stirred her passions. Damn Archie! ‘Why did you want to see me? Couldn’t it have waited?’
He returned her smile, admiring the manner in which the glow from the dying fire cast her creamy skin in light and shadow, making her seem mysterious, desirable and unattainable. ‘Your gift. Aren’t your curious?’
‘I’m curious to know why everyone couldn’t have seen it. Why the need for secrecy?’
He took her arm and propelled her towards the door. ‘Come.’
‘Where are we going?’
‘Your gift is outside.’
‘Outside?’ Flora shook her head, setting curls dancing around her face. ‘It’s the middle of the night. I believe the attentions of the fragrant Miss Gregory have deprived you of the ability to think rationally.’ A taunting smile touched her lips. Was she jealous? The possibility ought to have annoyed Luke. Instead it gave him immense satisfaction. ‘I think you have acquired another admirer.’
Luke rolled his eyes. ‘It must be my lucky day.’
‘Are we really going outside?’ she asked, when he led her in the direction of the side door which he’d had Woodley leave unlocked. Romulus trotted along at Luke’s heels.
‘Stop being difficult and disputing everything I ask you to do.’
‘Luke, really! Since when did I ever give you the slightest trouble?’
But there was laughter in her voice as she followed him towards the stable yard. He liked to hear his name slip past her lips. She only ever used it when they were alone but didn’t hesitate to address the rest of his family informally.
‘Here.’ He stopped outside a stall that was dimly lit by the light that had been left burning at the end of the row. The beautiful head of a magnificent grey gelding with a thick mane that reached his shoulders peered out at them. ‘This is Amethyst. He’s an Irish draft, sturdy and dependable, but with a good turn of speed. He’s yours. Happy birthday, sweet Flora.’
‘He’s absolutely beautiful,’ Flora replied with wide-eyed breathlessness. ‘But I couldn’t possibly accept such an extravagant gift.’
The horse nuzzled her shoulder. ‘Amethyst and I disagree with you. I didn’t know you were a skilled pianist. You kept that from me. But you have told me more than once that you enjoy riding. I have seen you in the saddle for myself and I know you are proficient, even if your father never allowed you to have a horse lively enough to match your ability.’
‘True.’ She gave a wry smile. ‘It was only ever plodding cobs for me.’
‘Happily, I am in a position to rectify that situation. I want you to have this chap. In fact, I purchased him with you in mind. Don’t put him out of a home.’
Flora looked conflicted. Luke knew she hated accepting gifts. She was unaccustomed to receiving them and didn’t think she deserved any special treatment. Unfortunately for her, he enjoyed spoiling her.
‘This is why you went to Tattersall’s last week.’
Luke nodded. ‘One of the reasons.’ Flora patted the horse’s neck and her eyes sparkled when she received a responding whinny as the animal nudged her shoulder. Romulus put his front paws on the door to the stall and horse and dog sniffed at one another, making Flora smile. ‘You see. He has bonded with Rom already.’
‘I don’t know what to say.’ She looked up at him, her eyes liquid with emotion. ‘Why are you being so generous?’
‘You still don’t seem to understand what you have done for Grandmamma. For all of us. We would be lost without you, and this small token of my appreciation is my way of showing my gratitude.’
‘And one that I cannot accept.’ She bit her lower lip, looking conflicted. ‘How would it look? What conclusions would people draw?’
Not the right one, unfortunately. ‘You are worried about your reputation.’
‘I am more concerned about yours. If you purchased Miss Gregory a horse, it would be akin to a declaration.’
‘Which is why I never would.’
‘Even so.’ He could see her cheeks bloom when she realised what interpretation could be placed upon her statement. ‘I have no expectations of that type‒’
‘You already turned down a future marquess, so you are clearly a hard lady to please.’
Flora smiled and the awkwardness between them dissipated. ‘He was playing with me. Your friend enjoys flirting and I am no longer the gauche, inexperienced child who came here six months ago, desperate for employment and far too worried about saying the wrong thing.’
Luke laughed. ‘You have never been gauche. And certainly never at a loss for words.’
‘Well anyway, I shall not allow Lord Hardwick to intimidate me. He has taken it upon himself to play games and I am learning to give as good as I get.’ She grinned. ‘Your grandmother is an excellent example to follow.’
Luke didn’t want to discuss Archie’s intentions, so he returned the conversation to the horse. ‘Amethyst is waiting for your response.’
‘I can’t, Luke.’ But he could see that she was sorely tempted.
‘You most assuredly
can,’ he responded, in a softly persuasive tone.
‘If it is an innocent gesture on your part, a way to show your appreciation for the services you pay me well to provide, then why the need for all this secrecy? Why did you not show Amethyst to me in daylight and invite everyone else to meet him at the same time?’
‘Infuriating woman! Why must you question everything I do for you?’ Luke threw back his head and sighed. ‘His arrival was delayed until late this afternoon. Yes, I could have left it until tomorrow,’ he added, holding up a hand to cut off the protest he sensed her formulating, ‘but today is your birthday. Well, technically it’s yesterday now, but my desire was to present you with your gift as close to the correct day as possible. You will never come of age again. It seemed important, especially since everyone else in my family had given you something. You must have wondered why I had not.’
‘The thought didn’t cross my mind.’ She continued to stroke the horse’s neck and wouldn’t look at him. ‘You have done more than enough for me.’
‘If you feel awkward about owning him, pretend he is on loan.’ Some of the anxiety left her expression at that suggestion. ‘I’ll tell you what,’ Luke said, pressing home his advantage, thinking she was one of the few women in the entire country who would have to be talked into accepting a gift from him, ‘ride with me first thing before anyone else is up. See what you make of him, then decide.’
‘Yes.’ Her expression cleared. ‘Yes, that I will gladly do.’ She stood on her toes and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek. ‘Thank you so very much.’ Tears sprang to her eyes. ‘I am unaccustomed to being spoiled, and unsure how to respond to gestures of generosity. Be careful, Luke. I might get used to it.’
The desire to pull her into his arms and kiss her until she forgot all about being sensible and responsible was painfully difficult to resist. But he could not, would not, permit himself that luxury. He had kissed her once before when she saved him from being trapped by an ambitious female, and had still not forgotten the taste and smooth contour of her lips. Besides, the night groom was awake in the tackroom and was probably listening to their muted conversation.
A Sense of Injustice (Perceptions Book 4) Page 4