‘Come on.’
He took her hand to lead her away. She patted Amethyst’s neck one last time and left the stables at his side. Luke let them back into the house, locked the door behind them and wished her goodnight.
‘Six o’clock,’ he said. ‘Will that be too early for you?’
She smiled. ‘I am a clergyman’s daughter, Luke. Lying about in bed is self-indulgent, in case you were not aware.’
He squeezed her fingers when they reached the bottom of the stairs, released her hand and stood with Romulus at his side watching as she climbed the stairs. She didn’t turn back when she reached the landing. Luke swore softly beneath his breath as the gentle rustle of her skirts slowly faded, thinking he could have handled the situation better. Showing the gelding to Flora could have waited for daylight—she was right about that—but he couldn’t admit to her that he hadn’t wanted to share the moment with anyone else.
Much as he delighted in Flora’s company and the improvements she had brought to his grandmother’s condition, part of him wished he had never met her. Then perhaps he would be able to look upon the Miss Gregorys of this world with a more indulgent eye. He would have to marry someone like her sooner rather than later, and he held Flora entirely responsible for the fact that he had put off making his selection for so long. Before meeting her, it wouldn’t have occurred to him that he required his future wife to be intelligent, not to say irreverent and opinionated. Flora was not averse to teasing Luke; a novel concept which he had come to enjoy. He’d never thought beyond a tolerably pretty face and, crucially, impeccable breeding. His father would turn in his grave if he lowered that particular standard.
With a heavy sigh, Luke headed for his own bed.
⸎⸎⸎⸎⸎
Despite the lateness of the hour and the fact that Flora needed to be up again before too much longer to ride the delightful Amethyst, she undressed and attended to her ablutions slowly. She felt cherished and truly thankful for the fates that had directed her to this wonderful house and into the warm embrace of this delightful family.
Quite a night you’ve had.
Flora, in the process of carefully replacing her gown in the armoire, whipped around, clutching a hand to her heart.
‘Remus, you scared me half to death. I’ve told you before, give me some warning before dropping in on me. To say nothing of a little privacy,’ she added, clutching her robe more closely about her.
I came to wish you happy birthday, but if you don’t want to hear it then I shall go back to the gladiator contests. I have a heavy wager on the champion.
‘Can ghosts place wagers?’
I have told you before. I’m not a ghost. Flora smiled as his image shimmered into view. He wore a bright blue toga elaborately trimmed with gold leaf and some sort of matching circlet around his forehead. I am your spirit guide, and precious little thanks I get for it.
‘No one asked you to do it.’
Much you know.
Flora grinned as she perched on the edge of her bed, bending her head forward to brush out her hair. ‘You complain, but I think you enjoy what’s required of you. It gives you an opportunity to see how modern people live. Anyway, why are you here? Have you been around all the evening? I thought I sensed your presence earlier.’
Be careful how you handle Louise Pearson.
‘Why? I rather like her. I didn’t sense anything duplicitous in her character.’
She has problems that you can’t do much about. But knowing you, you’ll throw yourself into them headfirst and I’ll have to rescue you. Again.
‘What problems? Tell me.’
Remus chuckled. ‘And spoil the surprise? You would do better to think about that handsome earl of yours. Buying you a horse indeed. You should have let him kiss you. You’re far too prim.
‘It’s very rude to eavesdrop. Besides, he didn’t try to kiss me.’
Only because you didn’t give him any encouragement.
‘I am not Miss Gregory.’
No, you’re not, more’s the pity. Prime piece that. I could relive my sex life vicariously through you if you behaved more like her.
‘She’s very forward, but I doubt whether she’s quite that forward.’
I wouldn’t be so sure about that. Flora’s mouth fell open. You see, eavesdropping has its uses. How else am I supposed to keep you out of trouble? Anyway, must dash. Just remember what I said…
‘Wait!’
But his image had already faded. It infuriated Flora when he warned her about half a problem then left her to sort it out for herself. She now had it confirmed that Louise Pearson was in some sort of trouble and that Miss Gregory was perhaps a little too free with her favours. But what did it all mean?
‘Botheration, Remus!’ she cried, exasperated. She was sure that spirit guides were supposed to be more specific, but he did so enjoy his petty amusements. He had told her before that it was his way of giving her more confidence in her burgeoning instincts.
He was a very easily distracted guide, not always as quick to come to her aid as she would like.
With a sigh, she slid between the sheets, extinguished her light and tried to sleep. But the events of the evening kept going around in her mind, and sleep eluded her. Why had her family not been in contact? Their silence concerned her more than she was prepared to admit. After exposing aspects of her father’s chequered past a few weeks previously, she had assumed that he would want to remain on her good side. She could, if she felt sufficiently vindictive, destroy his precious career at the stroke of a pen. She was not that malicious, but her father couldn’t be aware of it. She wouldn’t mind not hearing from them if she could shake the feeling that her relations were plotting something. God forbid that they planned to descend upon her en masse! She had inherited quite a tidy sum from her grandmother’s estate. If her mother knew, she would try to guilt Flora into giving it up to worthy causes.
‘Not a chance, Mother,’ she said aloud.
She shuddered and turned her mind to her other concerns. Luke’s over-generous gesture with Amethyst plagued her mind as she tossed and turned, trying to decide what she ought to do about it. Well, she knew what she ought to do. Of course she did. Single females didn’t accept extravagant gifts from gentlemen to whom they were not related without the gentlemen in question expecting something in return. She couldn’t decide if she was more relieved or offended when she reached the conclusion that Luke wouldn’t ask for any form of quid pro quo. There was such a thing as being too noble, she thought indignantly.
She gave up on sleep before it got light. Pushing back the covers, she dressed in her bronze velvet habit, thinking that if she intended to ride she might as well stop trying to second guess Luke’s reasons for presenting her with Amethyst and simply enjoy the experience.
She let herself out of the house without encountering a soul and reached the stables early, but Luke was there ahead of her.
‘You came,’ he said softly, smiling at her.
‘I am not forgoing the pleasure of riding this glorious creature, proprieties be damned,’ she replied, glancing up at Amethyst. He was already saddled, as was Luke’s black stallion, Onyx. In the half-light of dawn Amethyst was even more magnificent than she had previously appreciated. Relatively small but stocky and with superb confirmation, she suspected that the sturdy gelding would have a real turn of speed. She stroked his neck, shy suddenly and reluctant to look directly at Luke, even though she could sense his gaze resting upon her.
She fed Amethyst the carrot she had appropriated from the tackroom, then led him into the yard. Before she could position the gelding beside the mounting block a strong pair of hands grasped her waist from behind and lifted her into the side-saddle. She breathlessly looked down at Luke as she gathered up the reins and arranged the length of the single stirrup to her satisfaction.
‘I could have mounted without your help,’ she said, trying to sound severe and pretending that the simple gesture had not made her heart gallop at tw
ice its regular rate. ‘You are mistaking me for Miss Gregory, which is insulting. I am not that feeble.’
Luke laughed as he swung effortlessly into Onyx’s saddle and Romulus ran circles around the two horses, barking with excitement at the prospect of running alongside.
‘That would be an impossible mistake to make,’ he said. ‘She would not have complained. But then again, it’s not a service I would have offered to her.’
‘How reassuring. She’s an empty-headed ninny and you could do a great deal better.’
‘Thank you for considering my wellbeing.’
‘You are entirely welcome. A pretty face is all very well, but one must have something to talk to one’s spouse about for the next forty years.’
‘A sobering thought.’
‘And one that most men don’t take into consideration, I suspect.’
‘Comfortable?’ he asked, watching her as she settled into her saddle.
‘Perfectly.’ She patted Amethyst’s neck. ‘Shall we go?’
They didn’t discuss their route but instinctively turned in the direction that would take them along the towpath beside the canal, leading ultimately to the reservoir—a place where their paths had crossed once or twice before.
‘How does he feel?’ Luke asked as they broke into a sedate trot. Onyx was fresh and Flora could see that Luke was having trouble holding him in check. The stallion kept prancing sideways, pawing at the ground and generally showing off.
‘He’s a very comfortable and lively ride, but he doesn’t feel the need to make a show of himself like some I could name.’ She beamed with pleasure. ‘I love him.’
Luke smiled. ‘I thought you would.’
‘Shall we give them their heads?’ she asked when they reached a flat gallop. ‘It might help Onyx to remember his manners.’
Luke pulled a dubious face. ‘It’s worth a try, I suppose. But then again, I shouldn’t complain about my horse too vociferously. I wanted a challenge and he’s certainly that.’
‘I don’t blame him for misbehaving; not really. He’s far too handsome to have a man on his back telling him what to do and when to do it.’
Luke laughed. ‘We both know that more often than not, he’s the one that makes the decisions.’
Flora grinned. ‘True enough.’
Onyx was built for speed and could have easily outstripped Amethyst, but Luke held him back and the two horses chased along side by side, eating up the ground with their long strides. Slow by Onyx’s standards, Amethyst was still faster than any horse Flora had ridden before. Onyx put in a massive buck that almost unseated Luke. The curses that slipped past his lips as he fought for control were probably supposed to be eaten up by the sound of thundering hooves and the wind whistling past their ears. Flora heard them clearly, cocked a brow and then laughed across the space that separated them.
‘Sorry about that,’ Luke said as they drew rein at the end of the gallop. ‘Onyx still enjoys our battles of will.’
‘You didn’t use any words that I haven’t heard your grandmother employ from time to time. And I would hardly be shocked into giving notice even if you had.’
‘Grandmamma is a law unto herself. Always has been. But you don’t need me to tell you that.’
Flora patted Amethyst’s sweaty neck, smiling as Romulus came gambolling up to them, tongue lolling from the side of his mouth. He’d probably ran off somewhere to chase rabbits, but never allowed Luke to be far from his sight. Sensible dog that he was, he knew when he was well off and wasn’t about to risk abandonment for a second time.
‘It’s rather liberating, not having a strict moral code by which to live anymore. Oh goodness, I didn’t mean that the way it sounded, so you can stop grinning this instant, Luke Beranger. I was referring to my father’s idea of the only suitable behaviour for a young woman. I still sometimes get eaten up by guilt because I am so relieved to have been liberated. It’s still possible to believe in God and enjoy life, but Papa would never see things that way.’ She flashed a rueful smile. ‘Christians thrive on inducing guilt.’
Luke returned her smile. He looked far too handsome and confident, riding without a hat and with his hair blowing across his intelligent brown eyes. She had been a little in love with him since she had first taken up her position, but it would bring their friendship to an abrupt halt and she would find herself unemployed if she ever permitted her true feelings to show. Luke enjoyed her company simply because he didn’t have to worry about being compromised, Flora knew, and she intended for matters between them to remain on that footing.
‘How do you like Amethyst?’ he asked.
‘I adore him, but you knew that I would. He’s fast but not flighty, and unlike most males he’s also obedient. I like him very much indeed. Thank you, Luke. It was a very thoughtful gesture. I cannot accept him as a gift, of course, but I will look upon him as a loan since I cannot bear to think of him being sent somewhere else to live with someone who might not give him the loving care he so obviously deserves.’
Luke’s smug smile implied that she had played into his hands. ‘We had best turn back,’ he said, sounding reluctant. ‘You deserve a little more rest before you attend to your duties. You cannot have had much sleep.’
‘I shall not wilt for want of a few hours rest,’ she assured him. ‘Besides, your grandmother will sleep late. She won’t need me yet. She never does after a late night. But you’re right. It wouldn’t do for us to be seen.’
‘That isn’t what I meant.’
‘What do you know about Louise Pearson’s circumstances?’ Flora asked as they walked their horses back towards Beranger Court. Onyx had enjoyed his run and was now behaving a little better. But he still occasionally pranced and danced, spooking at shadows and bushes that blew in the wind, seeming to think it was expected of him. ‘Your grandmother and Mrs Pearson are the best of friends but I was unaware that Marianne had an older sister. The countess has never mentioned her to me. It seems curious.’
Luke lifted one shoulder as he removed a hand from the reins to push hair away from his eyes. ‘I was as surprised as you are. I know that Mrs Pearson’s son and daughter-in-law are both dead and I think the elder Miss Pearson has always lived in London with a maternal aunt. The younger girl grew up in her grandmother’s care. Why and when they were separated I couldn’t say. I also don’t know what’s brought the elder girl here all of a sudden. Henry spent a lot of time talking to her last night. Perhaps he will know, if you’re that interested.’
‘It’s not that so much. I don’t want you to accuse me of prying.’
‘Heaven forbid!’ But Luke smiled, making it clear that he was teasing her.
‘Louise wants to be my friend, you see. I got the impression that she’s in trouble—’
‘What sort of trouble?’ He threw back his head and let out a long breath. ‘Ah, your trusty sixth-sense.’ He sounded disappointed in her.
‘Don’t mock, or I won’t talk to you.’
‘Yes you will. You enjoy putting me in my place.’
‘Well, there is that. But since you have raised the subject, you might as well know that my senses were on high alert when I first met her.’ Flora knew better than to mention Remus’s visit. Luke, highly sceptical when it came to her abilities, would have her committed to Bedlam if she admitted to seeing ghosts. Sorry, Remus, she mentally amended, spirit guides. A puff of wind lifted the hair that had escaped her hat. Remus was eavesdropping again and wanted her to know it.
‘I asked her one or two natural questions about her sudden appearance here—how long she intended to stay, that sort of thing. She deflected them all, so I stopped asking. Then, after dinner, she sought me out and asked if she could call on me today.’ Luke flexed a brow. ‘I hope you don’t mind.’
‘Good heavens. Why would I?’
‘Well, it’s your house and a servant shouldn’t issue invitations.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous. You can invite whomsoever you please. It’s your home too.’
‘Thank you. Anyway, Louise said that she was in urgent need of someone to confide in. I just wanted to make sure that there was nothing untoward in her life that would conflict with the interests of this family. Otherwise I wouldn’t have mentioned anything.’
‘There’s nothing at all to the best of my knowledge. My grandmother would know if there was.’
‘Yes, but I won’t mention anything to her. At least not until I have spoken with Louise. If there is some sort of difficulty, I am fairly sure that Mrs Pearson knows nothing about it.’
‘Ah, quite. No doubt there’s a man involved. She’s had her heart broken and come here to lick her wounds.’
‘Now who’s being fanciful?’
‘If you need any help from me, you have only to ask.’
‘That’s a generous offer.’
They continued for a few minutes in companionable silence. The trees were changing colour with the onset of autumn and they rode beneath a glorious canopy of rich reds, golds and browns. A strong breeze brought dried leaves fluttering to the ground to be trampled underfoot by the horses’ hooves.
‘I love this time of year,’ Flora said, catching a red leaf as it floated down. ‘Soon winter will be upon us. I do hope that your grandmother’s constitution will remain strong. I worry about her failing health. Not that she will ever admit that it’s failing. My potions help, but there is only so much I can do for her. Talking of which, I am going to make something up that I think might help Lord Hardwick. He says that nothing can. He’s as stubborn as your grandmother, but I can be stubborn too and shall insist. It might not help, but he won’t know unless he tries, and it certainly won’t do him any harm.’
‘Are you considering his proposal?’
‘What?’ Flora laughed. ‘What sort of question is that, and why do you look so miserable about the possibility? Ah, lowering the tone, I suppose. Well, don’t worry, of course I am not considering it! Don’t be absurd. But why should you care if I was, other than the fact that it would leave you without a companion for your grandmother. That must be what concerns you, but you don’t need to worry because he wasn’t serious. He was either attempting to be amusing or to embarrass me. He doesn’t know me well enough to understand that’s just the sort of challenge I can’t help meeting head on, so I called his bluff and now he will think twice before pulling that trick again.’
A Sense of Injustice (Perceptions Book 4) Page 5