Felicity had arranged to meet Darius in the village that evening. She had a great deal to tell him, and fresh plans to make. Time was no longer on their side. Felicity hadn’t gone to such extreme lengths only to have her heart’s desire snatched from her at the eleventh hour.
Chapter Ten
Flora’s prediction proved correct. Her charge decided against going down that evening, and she and Flora dined quietly in the countess’s rooms. The old lady was querulous and ate a worryingly small amount.
‘They have sent up stuffed pigeon breasts, my lady. They are your favourite. Can I persuade you to take one?’
‘Stop fussing, child. I shall eat whatever I wish.’
‘But that is precisely my difficulty. You don’t appear to wish for anything.’
‘Sorry, Flora love.’ The old lady gave a heavy sigh. ‘You will discover for yourself that the desire for food diminishes with the passage of time.’
Flora smiled, knowing when she was beaten. ‘Well, at least drink some hot chocolate.’
The countess made some uncomplimentary remark about domineering individuals but picked up her cup anyway. She had only just done so when Luke put his head around the door.
‘You have been overexerting yourself again, Grandmamma,’ he said, kissing her brow and looking at her almost untouched plate.
‘Nonsense! Why must everyone keep fussing over me. As I keep telling this irritating child, I am as strong as an ox.’
But Flora could see from her drooping eyelids that she was battling to stay awake. She rang the bell, to which Sandwell responded immediately, and the countess regally decreed that she would retire early.
‘Go away,’ she said, flapping a hand at Flora and Luke. ‘Sandwell will take care of me.’
‘If you are sure, ma’am.’ Flora bobbed a curtsey. ‘I shall see you in the morning. Call me if I am needed,’ she added in an aside to Sandwell,
‘Walk with me,’ Luke said, ‘if you are not too tired.’
‘Not at all. Why should I be?’
‘You were up early.’
‘Ah, Amethyst. Can we go and see him?’
Luke smiled at her enthusiasm. ‘I don’t see why not.’
‘Your grandmother’s strength is waning, Luke,’ Flora said, sighing. ‘She will insist on going down when you entertain. Then she overexerts herself and pays the price. She used to recover quickly. Now, as you just saw for yourself, she does not. I am running out of things I can do to help her.’
‘You do more than enough. I have seen vast improvements in her over recent months, and you must take the credit for that.’
‘Even so, I wish I could do more.’
They strolled side by side towards the stables. Having exhausted the subject of the countess, neither of them felt any particular need to break the comfortable silence that settled between them.
‘I really am remarkably grateful,’ she said when they reached their destination, helping herself to a carrot from the tack room which she fed to Amethyst. ‘No one has ever done anything half as thoughtful or extravagant for me before.’ She patted the horse’s neck. ‘You are very kind.’
‘I hope you enjoy him.’
‘You can be sure that I shall.’
They turned away from the stables and wandered into the pretty wilderness directly behind them. In the spring the expanse of land was awash with colourful wild flowers and had become a favourite haunt of Flora’s.
‘You have heard nothing from your family, I take it,’ Luke said softly.
‘No.’ Flora sighed. ‘And that comes as no great surprise, even if a small part of me had hoped…anyway, they have made their position clear. I no longer have a family.’ She impatiently dashed away an errant tear. ‘I clearly mean little to them and so I have vowed to think of them no more. It is rather liberating in many respects,’ she said, thinking that if she said it often enough then it would start to feel like the truth. ‘I have never fitted in with my father’s views of how a daughter should behave.’
‘You would not have lasted here for five minutes if you had.’
Flora smiled. ‘Very true. Your grandmother would have eaten me alive.’
She was surprised when he took her hand and gently squeezed her fingers. She assumed that he would release it again, having offered reassurance, but he retained possession of it. The simple gesture felt natural and right, even though it was fraught with peril. She found the strength to snatch her hand back.
‘It’s late,’ she said. ‘I should return to the house.’
‘Flora, I—’
‘Yes?’ She glanced up at him. His eyes looked as black as obsidian in the twilight, his expression unfathomable. She had never known him to be anything other than forthright and self-assured, but at that moment he seemed conflicted. ‘What is it?’
He touched her cheek. ‘You’re right,’ he said with a sigh. ‘It’s late.’
They turned together in the direction of the house. ‘When are you riding with Louise?’
‘Tomorrow afternoon. Henry is coming as well.’
‘Actually, he probably won’t be. I have a problem with a property I own on the other side of Wiltshire and I’ve sent him to arbitrate with the tenants. I sense a restlessness in him and thought it prudent to give him a little authority. If he is thinking of spreading his wings, he might as well discover for himself what he will be letting himself in for.’
‘You don’t want him to go and you are looking for ways to discourage him. That’s entirely understandable.’
‘Actually, I won’t try to stop him, but he isn’t as worldly-wise as he thinks he is, and as things stand his tenants would likely run rings around him. That’s my fault, I suppose. I haven’t given him enough decisions to make before now, which is why I am attempting to rectify that situation. Anyway, if Henry isn’t back, I could ride with you.’ He sounded and looked uncharacteristically unsure of himself. ‘I don’t want you venturing out unescorted until this matter has been resolved.’
She smiled. ‘Thank you, but I don’t think your company would do much to reassure Louise. She would feel embarrassed to think…’ Flora waved a hand in the air, trying not to give offence. ‘She knows I have spoken to you about her situation but would be mortified if she thought you’ve actually guessed the full extent of her problem. I don’t want her to think that I have betrayed her confidence, since I have not. Well, not really. Anyway, Cleethorp doesn’t know me and has no reason to do me harm.’
‘He will if you come between him and Louise, which I suspect you wouldn’t be able to help doing, irresponsible female!’
‘I will know if he’s anywhere near.’
‘Ah, your sixth sense.’ He spoke scathingly and the awareness that sprang up between them at such moments was effectively broken.
She lifted her chin in a defiant gesture. ‘Yes, my sixth sense. Why are you so reluctant to accept that I have a gift?’
He looked away from her. ‘At least take Romulus with you.’ The dog had accompanied them on their meander through the meadow and barked in support, making them both smile.
‘That,’ Flora replied, stroking the dog’s big head, ‘I will happily do.’
They reached the side door to the house. Luke opened it and stepped back so that she could pass through it ahead of him.
‘Good night,’ she said, wishing that he could be broad-minded enough to have a little more faith in her psychic abilities. She failed to understand his stark determination to deny its existence and knew it was a subject that would always come between them. For such an intelligent, open-minded person, he seemed to have a blind spot when it came to the supernatural, ignoring all the compelling evidence that supported it. She couldn’t help wondering why but sensed that he had very personal reasons and wouldn’t open up to her in that regard.
With a sigh, she returned to her room aware that sleep would be a long time coming.
⸎⸎⸎⸎⸎
Louise was on the point of leaving to keep her engagemen
t to ride with Flora when she was delayed by the arrival of an unexpected visitor.
‘Miss Gregory,’ she said, attempting to hide her surprise when the only male servant that her grandmother employed—an elderly footman—announced the young woman. ‘What an unexpected pleasure.’
‘I hope I am not detaining you. You are obviously just going out.’
‘Not at all. Can I offer you tea?’
‘Thank you, no.’ Louise waved the footman away.
‘My grandmother is resting and my sister is having an art lesson. Was it her you came to see?’
‘Actually, I was hoping to get to know you both a little better.’ Miss Gregory stumbled over the words, sounding awkward and insincere. Louise had not liked her much when meeting her for the first time. She suspected her motives now and her dislike failed to dissipate. ‘I am to remain in Wiltshire for a few months and don’t know anyone my own age in the district. I thought we might…’
Then why, Louise wondered, had she not made more of an effort to converse with her and Marianne the other evening? ‘That’s a pity, but the squire is acquainted with all the leading families and so I am sure you will soon make friends.’
‘Yes, perhaps.’ Miss Gregory glanced around the room, apparently searching for a suitable subject. ‘You look as though you are going riding.’
Since she was dressed in a habit, it was hardly the deduction of the century. ‘Yes, Miss Latimer and I are going out. She wants to show me the reservoir. Apparently it’s a favourite bathing spot in the summer, and at this time of year the trees are quite spectacular.’
‘In that case I shall not detain you. Please send my regards to your grandmother and sister. I hope I shall see you all again very soon.’
Louise rang the bell and the footman reappeared to show the girl out. Louise watched her guest climb into the squire’s waiting carriage, which was immediately driven away, and wondered what the real purpose of her visit could have been. Glad to be rid of the girl, she shrugged a shoulder, put her from her mind and prepared to leave for Beranger Court.
‘I hope I have not kept you waiting,’ she said as soon as she was admitted to the house and greeted by Flora.
‘Not at all, you are precisely on time. The countess is sleeping and I have the rest of the afternoon to do with as I please. Really, sometimes I feel guilty to be paid for doing so little. Henry was planning to join us but has been called away on business for the earl.’
Louise attempted to disguise her disappointment by telling herself that it was just as well. She has been thinking about Henry Beranger a little too much since first making his acquaintance, which simply wouldn’t serve. She had been compromised and had no hope of forming an alliance with a respectable gentleman. Indeed, no respectable gentleman would want to know her, regardless of Flora’s opinion on the subject. It would be better if she forgot all about Henry’s engaging character and concentrated upon finding ways to save her sister from sharing in her disgrace.
‘That’s a shame, but I dare say we shall do well enough alone,’ she said, her voice sounding artificially bright.
‘We shall have to make do with this chap’s company.’
Louise exclaimed with delight when a huge, non-descript dog in a variety of interesting colours trotted up to them and pushed his head beneath Louise’s hand. ‘He’s delightful, if a little…well—’
‘Unconventional?’ Flora smiled. ‘The earl and I rescued Romulus. He was in a bad way when we found him, but as you can see, he is now completely recovered and devoted to Luke.’
‘And you, it seems.’
‘Well yes, he is a man, so it follows that he can be fickle.’
Both ladies laughed when Romulus barked in support of that assessment.
‘Come along.’ Flora took Louise’s arm and led her from the hallway with Romulus trotting along at their side. ‘I am anxious to introduce you to Amethyst.’
But before heading for the stables, Flora turned them in the direction of a pretty wilderness immediately behind them.
‘You should be aware,’ Flora said in a calm, sympathetic tone, ‘that we have discovered Miss Gregory’s sister is Cleethorp’s intended, Mrs Brigstock.’
‘Oh.’ Louise raised a gloved hand and covered her mouth with it as she absorbed that disquieting fact.
‘You have turned quite pale. I’m sorry. I should have prepared you better. The squire called upon Luke yesterday and mentioned the fact that Mrs Brigstock is ordinarily her sister’s guardian, which explains why she hadn’t been seen in the district before.’
Louise shook her head. ‘You have nothing to apologise for. Miss Gregory called to see me today as a matter of fact. Well, she said she was hoping to see both of us, but Marianne wasn’t there. Anyway, that’s why I was almost late. I was surprised to see her. She took no interest in us at all the other evening, but now wants to be our bosom friend.’ Louise fixed Flora with a pensive look. ‘Do you suppose her sister sent her to spy on me?’
‘We don’t know if her sister is actually here yet, but we must assume that she and Cleethorp are on their way.’ Flora impulsively clutched Louise’s upper arm. ‘I am sorry to distress you, but we had already concluded that they would come.’
‘I didn’t imagine it would all happen so quickly.’
‘No, nor I, but I suppose it would be better to confront the issue and put the horrible man in his place once and for all.’
Louise gave a wan smile. ‘You make it sound so easy.’
‘Don’t underestimate Luke’s influence. He is trying to find out more about Brigstock’s death, and if there was anything suspicious about it.’
Louise gasped. ‘Surely he doesn’t suspect foul play?’
Flora elevated a questioning brow. ‘Don’t you?’
‘Well, I hadn’t actually given the matter much thought, but now that you have raised the possibility, I suppose… What I am trying to say is that I wouldn’t put anything past Mrs Brigstock. She seems very accustomed to having her own way in everything.’
‘Precisely so.’ Flora sniffed. ‘She is a determined and resourceful woman. If she wants Cleethorp as a permanent presence in her life, she would not permit the inconvenience of an ailing husband to thwart that ambition.’
Louise nodded. ‘When you put it like that…’ She tapped the fingers of one gloved hand against her opposite forearm, feeling worried and a little afraid.
‘Don’t fret. You have powerful allies now. Once Luke discovers the particulars of Brigstock’s death, or hears of any rumours surrounding it, he will hopefully have something to confront Cleethorp with. In other words, Luke won’t make what he knows public if he agrees to leave you alone.’
Louise swallowed as she sought composure. ‘That is uncommonly kind of him.’
‘Even so, matters are likely to get worse before they get better. You need to be prepared for a battle. Cleethorp won’t go quietly; Mrs Brigstock won’t permit him to. That being the case, I think you should confide in your grandmother. It would be better that she hears it from you.’
Louise was conscious of the blood draining from her face as shame and embarrassment consumed her. ‘All of it?’ she asked faintly.
‘At the very least, you must tell her you anticipate a visit from Cleethorp and that he will try to make trouble for your family. That he has already attempted to compromise you. I am perfectly sure that your grandmother will be too conscious of your finer feelings to press for the full particulars.’ Flora smiled. ‘I also predict that your grandmother will give Cleethorp a good trimming regarding his lack of gentlemanly conduct if he attempts to get anywhere near you.’
Some of the tension left Louise’s body and a brief smile touched her lips. ‘Very likely, but I would much prefer not to involve her.’
‘I understand, but let’s not think about that now. It’s far too nice a day.’ She turned in the direction of the stables. ‘Come and meet the mare I’ve had saddled for you. I think you will like her.’
‘I’
m sure I shall.’
Louise allowed herself to be led away and gave a small gasp of delight when she espied a spirited-looking golden mare being led from her stall.
‘She’s beautiful.’
‘And very safe. I used to ride her myself. Now I have Amethyst.’
Louise glanced at the grey gelding in question and let out an admiring exclamation. ‘He is magnificent!’
‘Well, naturally I agree with you.’
‘And he is yours? Goodness, you are fortunate.’
‘I cannot accept him as a gift, even though that’s really what he is, so I am treating him as a permanent loan.’
Louise decided not to embarrass her new friend by asking her why the earl felt so generously inclined towards a servant. Both ladies mounted up, with Romulus running in excited circles around their horses. They rode from the stable yard side by side, with Flora pointing out various landmarks as they made their way towards the reservoir.
‘It’s breath-taking,’ Louise said, as a cool breeze touched her face and she found herself surround by trees sporting leaves of a hundred different shades. ‘And so peaceful. I am unaccustomed to a lack of people everywhere I go, or to the purity of fresh, country air, but it is a situation I could easily become accustomed to.’ She threw her head back and watched fluffy clouds scudding across the sky. ‘I think I must be a secret recluse. I should certainly find it easy to settle somewhere remote in the countryside and not miss society.’ And I might well have to when my reputation is in tatters.
Flora smiled. ‘I am glad you’re enjoying it. For my part, I have never been able to understand the lure of big cities. Oh, they have their excitement and share of culture, but are also horribly overcrowded and not always safe.’
‘Do you ever get to take this for granted?’
‘You are asking the wrong person,’ Flora replied. ‘I have not yet been here for a full year. And I might not get to be,’ she added, sadness in her tone, ‘if the countess’s health does not improve. When she dies I shall be without employment, but we shall not entertain such gloomy thoughts on such a lovely afternoon.’
A Sense of Injustice (Perceptions Book 4) Page 15