Page 6 of A Sense of Misgiving
‘I bring the most delightful news!’ Mary cried. Flora’s heart skipped a beat. ‘Emma is expecting a baby. Isn’t that wonderful?’
‘Watson wasted no time,’ the countess replied, cackling.
Luke simply raised a brow and said nothing.
Flora assured Mary that it was delightful news, aware of her cheeks flaming when she became conscious of Luke studying her again with an expression of faint amusement. She had thought that Mary was about to say her brother had become engaged to be married, and worried now that her horror had been reflected in her expression. That would have been truly mortifying.
‘I shall be an aunt, and you a great-grandmother. It’s too exciting!” Mary exclaimed, her excited chatter covering Flora’s embarrassment.
‘Away with you, child. Your babbling makes my head hurt.’ The countess, Flora could tell, was as excited as Mary by the news. ‘Ring for Sandwell, Flora. I shall dine downstairs this evening since my family has deigned to remember I’m alive. I wish to hear all their news in more civilized surroundings.’
Flora smiled and did as she had been asked.
‘I will leave you to Sandwell’s care then, ma’am, and call back for you a little later.’
‘Do as you please. You usually do.’
‘As cantankerous as ever,’ Luke said, smiling at her as he opened the door and ushered her and Mary through it ahead of him.
‘I shall see you later, Flora,’ Mary said, as she scampered off to her room, eyes glowing with newfound awareness. ‘I have so much to tell you.’
Flora was left alone with the earl.
‘I rather think that she has been introduced to a fellow who took her fancy, judging by her bright eyes and pink cheeks,’ Luke said. ‘See what she has to tell you and let me know if you think I should be concerned.’
‘Certainly not! If Mary chooses to confide in me I shall keep her confidence.’
‘Infuriatingly honourable woman!’ He shook his head. ‘Never mind. I doubt whether Alvin would have introduced her to anyone unsuitable,’ he added, referring to Emma’s husband and his own close friend. A friend who had been with him during his Oxford days and who had shared Luke’s joy, Flora knew, at the unexpected survival of their friend Archie Hardwick. ‘But if you have concerns, Iknowyou will share them with me.’
Flora conceded the point with a nod. ‘Perhaps,’ she agreed, taking pity on him. It couldn’t be easy for him, she thought, becoming head of this family long before he had expected to assume that responsibility. His parents had died crossing the Atlantic five years previously when they had still been comparatively young.
‘How is Grandmamma really?’ he asked.
‘She’s frail, I won’t deny it. But my tinctures do help with her aches and pains. Not that she will ever admit it. And the walks I bully her into taking each morning are beneficial, too.’ She impulsively touched his arm. ‘Don’t worry too much about her. She has more years left in her yet.’
‘And you? Does she try your patience?’
‘Not in the least. I am inordinately fond of her, and she is not nearly as senile as she would have you believe. She behaves outrageously sometimes simply because the devil gets into her and she feels inclined to temper her boredom by making mischief. Of course, it doesn’t help that I am not afraid to stand up to her and never allow her to shock me.’
‘I am so very glad that she has you beside her. You can have no idea how much your presence eases my mind.’
‘You pay me well enough.’ She smiled up at him, feeling a little dizzy when he focused the full weight of his dark, intense gaze on her face. ‘How was the shooting?’
‘Interesting. Archie enjoyed it, which is the main thing. He asks to be remembered to you, by the way.’
Flora’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Good heavens! You talked about me? I am surprised he even remembers who I am.’
‘Stop fishing for compliments, wench. Once met you are not easily forgotten.’
Flustered, Flora looked away from him. ‘You had best excuse me if I am to change and collect the countess. Time is getting on and she’s a stickler for punctuality.’
‘And for a glass of sherry.’
‘That, too.’
Flora smiled, bobbed a curtsey and took herself off to her room. A cold blast of air whistled past her ear as she entered it.
‘Ah, Remus, there you are,’ she said, plonking herself down on the side of her bed, all thoughts of changing and making herself presentable for the earl temporarily forgotten. ‘I wondered what had become of you.’
