Page 32 of A Sense of Injustice
Henry laughed. ‘It is a bit like a cattle market, I suppose, which is one of the reasons why I don’t go up to town much myself. We keep a house there but none of us spends much time in it. Luke can’t ignore his obligations altogether, of course, but he is a prime target for the matchmakers you just referred to, so he has to be especially careful.’
‘I can certainly understand his disinclination to leave such a wonderful estate as this, even for a short period.’
Henry almost spoke of his intention to purchase an estate of his own, but held back for fear of giving her the wrong impression. Besides, it would be a fraction of the size of Beranger Court, and certainly nothing to boast about.
‘If you enjoy riding,’ he said instead, ‘then you and Flora have something in common. Perhaps she told you?’
‘No actually, we had other things to discuss.’
A shadow passed through her eyes. Henry sensed that she was deeply disturbed about something, and was filled with a desire to be of use to her. Desire was the word that sprang frequently to mind whenever his thoughts dwelt upon his charming companion. He didn’t know how to offer his assistance without seeming presumptive, so he remained silent, glad that she had at least confided in Flora, who seemed capable of achieving anything she set her mind to.
‘Luke purchased a very spirited gelding for Flora as a birthday gift.’
‘Did he indeed?’ Miss Pearson elevated one brow. ‘How very generous of him.’
‘I think he wants to make sure that she doesn’t quit her position. She came into a small legacy recently and may decide that she would prefer to be her own mistress. We none of us quite know what we would do without her. Anyway, if you have a horse at your disposal, Flora would be glad of the company, I am absolutely sure of it.’
‘Unfortunately I do not have a horse here in Wiltshire. Mine is eating her head off in the mews in London, and grandmother only keeps carriage horses.’
‘Well, our stables here are full of decent saddle horses. Do make arrangements with Flora. And if you can stand it, I will happily bear the two of you company.’
‘That is a very generous offer, Mr Beranger, but I cannot commit myself to anything at the present time.’
Henry blinked, not having expected an outright rejection. ‘Excuse me. I can assure you that I have no intention of placing the type of pressure on you that you left London to avoid.’
She blushed, looking conflicted. ‘I did not suppose for one moment that you did.’
Their walk had brought them to the front of the house.
‘Will you come in and take refreshment?’
‘Thank you, but no. I told my grandmother that I wouldn’t be gone for long, and I have already overstayed my welcome.’
‘In that case.’ He conducted her to her carriage and offered her his hand to help her into it. He kept possession of it until she had seated herself and was slow to release it even then. ‘I wish you a good afternoon.’ A thick lock of brown hair blew across his eyes and he pushed it impatiently aside. ‘It has been a great pleasure. I hope we shall see one another again very soon.’
‘I hope so too. Good afternoon, Mr Beranger.’
?????
Louise lifted a hand to Henry Beranger as her carriage moved off. He stood watching it go until the driver turned around a bend in the drive and she lost sight of him. Louise appreciated his gentlemanly conduct, his physicality, his lack of artifice, the effort he made to put her at her ease, his interest in her—she liked everything about him. But she couldn’t afford to lose sight of the fact that he would despise her if he knew the truth about her behaviour.
Relieved to have confided the lurid particulars of her association with Darius Cleethorp to Flora, she remained to be convinced that there was anything she or the earl could do to protect her from the odious man if he chose to be vindictive. He possessed the power to destroy her—and worse, to disappoint her grandmother and sister. She cared little for her own future. As Flora rightly pointed out, she possessed financial independence and was indifferent to society’s view of her. Henry Beranger’s handsome features flashed through her mind and she knew momentary regret. Had things been different, she could so easily have…but no, she couldn’t afford to dwell upon regrets.
Her sister didn’t deserve to be tainted by association, so for her sake she would fight Cleethorp tooth and nail. And for her grandmother’s, too. She had allowed herself to become estranged from her by people who had put their own interests ahead of Louise’s at a time when she was too young to know her own mind. She had long regretted the separation but was now in a position to do something about it.
But not even Grandmamma, so non-judgemental as a general rule, would want to know Louise if the particulars came out.
Louise sighed and gave her attention to the passing scenery. The carriage took her through the village of Ashton Keynes. She felt nervous when several people stopped to stare as it passed them. Some raised hands in acknowledgement but Louise was so intent upon examining faces, reassuring herself that Cleethorp’s was not amongst them, that she did not return their greetings. She would rather be considered aloof than let her guard down, which was just plain idiotic, she decided as the carriage made its way out of the village. If Cleethorp came to the district he would know exactly where to find her. Louise didn’t doubt that her aunt would keep him fully informed of her whereabouts.
She shuddered at the thought of the duplicity of a woman who had been the closest thing to a mother she had known these past ten years and upon whose guidance she had depended until quite recently. It was now clear to Louise that she had only ever considered her own wellbeing.
Once she was safely returned to her grandmother’s abode, Louise alighted from the carriage and found Marianne wandering in the gardens.
‘There you are,’ Marianne said, smiling and linking her arm through Louise’s. ‘I was beginning to worry. Grandmamma didn’t want to tell me where you had gone.’
‘There was no reason why she should not have.’ The two girls sat on a bench beneath the shade of an arbour. It would be covered in dog roses in the spring, Louise imagined, and the air would be filled with their pungent aroma. She pulled off her hat and gloves and threw her head back, enjoying the freedom of that simple gesture. Divesting oneself of one’s hat in London, even in the relative privacy of a garden, would cause its gatekeepers to have a collective fit of the vapours. ‘I went to call upon Flora Latimer.’
‘And caught a glimpse of the delightful earl, I would imagine,’ Marianne said, her eyes sparkling.
