Page 10 of A Sense of Misgiving
‘The rumours will be sufficient to tarnish your family’s reputation, regardless of the lack of proof, to say nothing of Mary’s chances of making a good marriage.’
Luke threw up his hands, aware that it was true. ‘For a while, perhaps, but all this happened a long time ago. People will gossip for a week or so, but does it really matter?’
‘You and I both know that society enjoys raking over scandal, which will be become more exaggerated with every telling. It will last longer than you think. You are young, rich and powerful, so there are some who will resent those attributes and enjoy contributing to your downfall. There are probably people still alive who remember the incident Latimer refers to, willing to embellish it for spiteful reasons. Latimer must have access to one of them, otherwise he wouldn’t have risked dropping hints to you. He hasn’t said much, but what he has said is sufficient for you to sue for libel.’
‘And if I don’t, it would be tantamount to admitting he’s got it right.’ Luke slumped in his chair. ‘I wish I knew why he wants Flora back so badly. Threatening a belted earl is extreme behaviour, and smacks of desperation. There has to be more to it than wounded pride because she defied him and took a position here.’
‘It’s her birthday in a few weeks and she will be one-and-twenty. After that she’ll be beyond Latimer’s control.’
‘Will she?’ Luke fell to momentary contemplation. ‘I will have to talk to her. She needs to be made aware.’
‘Be careful, Luke. I know you want to keep her here, but she might decide that she’s more trouble to you than she’s worth and give notice, if only to protect you.’
‘I shall make it very clear that I won’t release her. Her wretched father is not the only one willing to fall back on blackmail, if necessary. I shall remind her just how fond of her Grandmamma is and how unkind it would be to desert the old lady at this stage of her life.’
Paul chuckled. ‘I thought you might say that.’
‘We’d best have a party to celebrate Mary’s birthday,’ Luke said, abruptly changing the subject. ‘Speak with Mrs Kemp for me please, Paul, and arrange it for Saturday evening. Sorry to burden you. You already have enough to do, but I got used to Emma taking care of those duties and I can hardly ask Mary to arrange her own party.’
‘Don’t worry. I’ll see to it.’
‘I’ll send notes to our intimate friends, and Emma and Charlie, of course.’
Paul nodded and took himself off, leaving Luke to read through the rest of the urgent correspondence that Paul had left for him to make decisions upon. But he couldn’t concentrate, and his mind kept drifting back to Flora’s father and his crude attempts at blackmail.
Luke stood at the long window, watching the leaves blown across his lawns by a gusty wind, grimly determined. He was accustomed to men from all walks of life attempting to dupe him in some way. He’d only met Latimer once, and then briefly, but he had taken him in instant dislike. He represented all that Luke disapproved of in the rigid mindset of senior clergy, who seemed to think that their calling set them on a higher level than the rest of mankind.
But his threats were not idle, and Luke knew better than to underestimate him since he did indeed have the power to tarnish the Beranger name.
Chapter Three
Flora, lost in speculation after Remus’s visit, was obliged to rush her preparations for dinner, reminding herself that no one would take much notice of her appearance. Even so, she wore her finest evening gown, a simple garment fashioned from green shimmering silk—the best of four that she now owned. Four! And all thanks to the countess’s generosity.
Her heavy copper curls were in disarray as usual, and refused to cooperate when she attempted to restore them to some sort of order. Time constraints obliged her to leave more spirals than usual dangling around her shoulders. They would only fall down again before she reached the drawing room if she attempted to pin them in place.
‘Are you ready, ma’am?’ she asked, returning to the countess’s room and trying not to groan when she saw that her charge had settled upon one of her more flamboyant outfits. The gown had supposedly been made for her in India, after the earl’s early death and during the steamy affair she insisted she had conducted with a maharajah. The rainbow of clashing colours hurt Flora’s eyes. ‘I can see you are in a cheerful mood this evening. Pleased at the prospect of welcoming Emma’s baby into the world in a few months’ time, no doubt.’
‘You look rather elaborate yourself.’
‘Since your ladyship insists that I only have the finest of evening gowns, even someone as unremarkable as me cannot help looking smart.’ She squeezed the old lady’s arm. ‘You are very kind, and far too generous.’
‘I keep telling you, irritating child, that I am never kind.’ She linked her arm through Flora’s. ‘Now come along. That’s quite enough of standing there admiring yourself and fishing for compliments. We had best go down. My throat is parched.’
‘Water is the best remedy for a dry throat,’ Flora told her with a wry grin as they descended the stairs at a sedate pace. The countess clung to Flora’s arm and leaned heavily on the bannister. Flora wanted to tell her that she would never permit her to fall, but knew that the old lady would dismiss that assurance as sentimental nonsense.
‘You can drink water if you want to.’ The countess sent her a scathing look. ‘It probably suits your puritanical soul.’
Flora smiled. ‘Oh my lady, how you misjudge me.’
‘On the contrary, child. I understand you better than you understand yourself.’
‘Am I so very transparent?’
They reached the drawing room before the countess could respond. The rest of the family—including Paul, who like Flora was treated as one of them—was already assembled there. Mary bounded up to them, beaming.
‘Look, Grandmamma, Luke has given me the most delightful bracelet as a birthday gift. My first grown up piece of jewellery. What do you think of it?’
Flora declared that it was delightful.
