Page 4 of A Sense of Injustice
‘You’ll not be wanting a taste of Luke’s excellent whisky then,’ Archie said.
‘Well, perhaps just a quick one.’
‘So,’ Archie said, draining his own glass and holding it out for a refill, ‘your grandmother’s little companion has come of age, and has also come into money of her own. I dare say you’ll lose her now that she has independent means.’
‘She hasn’t said anything about leaving as far as I am aware,’ Luke replied, affecting a casualness at the prospect that he didn’t feel.
‘I hope not,’ Henry said with feeling. ‘Flora’s the only person who can handle Grandmamma. She more or less behaves herself nowadays.’
‘She has told Mary that she doesn’t have the least intention of leaving,’ Paul said.
Luke was very glad to hear it. He had been wondering, but hadn’t asked Paul to make enquiries. Nor had he asked Flora directly. He had become very attached to her—perhaps a little too attached. Common sense suggested that it would be better if she did leave. He’d soon get over his mild interest in her if he didn’t have to see her almost every day. Then, without Flora around to constantly distract him, he’d be more likely to summon the enthusiasm to keep his promise to his father and start look more seriously for a bride from within the ranks of the aristocracy. He could not procrastinate indefinitely.
It had been important to the pater; very important. Luke was an earl, and standards had to be maintained. Flora wasn’t even from the landed gentry, although the fact that her father was a senior cleric at Salisbury Cathedral made her highly respectable. He allowed himself the suggestion of a smile. His grandmother’s forthright character had rubbed off on Flora, and he suspected that she would hate to be considered respectable.
‘She hasn’t received the right incentive to leave your employ yet, Luke, that’s all it is.’ Archie grinned at him. ‘Have a care or I might supply her with an alternative.’
Luke scowled. ‘The devil you will!’
Archie threw back his head and laughed. ‘We ain’t all as selective as you, my friend. Or more to the point, perhaps we are. Flora’s a fine filly, with great good sense and a mind of her own that she’s not afraid to use. A definite cut above the average females that get thrust upon us, even if she isn’t top drawer.’
‘Precisely. She has great good sense,’ Luke replied, ‘which means she’d never look twice at you.’
‘Care to have a wager on that?’ Archie asked, his eyes gleaming with speculative interest.
‘Don’t be such an ass. Leave my servants alone, and find some other way to counter your boredom, if you don’t mind.’
‘Oh, I don’t mind in the least.’ Luke knew that Archie was being deliberately provocative, but his jesting was in danger of rubbing Luke up the wrong way. ‘It seems a bit unfair that Flora shouldn’t have her share of fun just because you’ve gone all possessive, but don’t intend to do anything about it.’
Did Luke’s appreciation for the spirited chit’s abilities appear that apparent to his family and friends? He found her a lively and interesting conversationalist, and rejoiced in the knowledge that she was capable of keeping his grandmother entertained. She was worth her weight in gold for that alone, leaving aside the consideration that she had saved him from the wiles of a woman who’d been fiercely determined to trap him into matrimony.
He failed to understand the determination of such a level-headed female to insist that she possessed the gift of second sight. He would have considered her obsession with the occult as little more than deliberate rebellion against her strict and joyless upbringing but for the fact that she seriously believed in her so-called powers. Luke conceded that everyone had quirks for which they could offer no explanation, and saw no reason why she should not be entitled to hers.
Luke felt mildly concerned when it occurred to him that if his brothers and friends had misinterpreted his interest in her, Flora herself might have done so too. He didn’t want her to feel let down or disappointed. But in actual fact, it was he who felt a twinge of disappointment. Being a man in a position of authority and responsibility, shackled by promises made in another lifetime that prevented him from doing as he pleased, was damned restrictive.
‘Come along,’ he said, draining his glass and setting it aside. ‘It’s time to perform.’
‘Who are we expecting?’ Sam asked. ‘This is Flora’s celebration. I hope Grandmamma hasn’t gone overboard and invited people whom Flora either doesn’t know or doesn’t care for.’
‘She invited Archie,’ Luke pointed out with a grin.
‘Good point,’ Sam conceded, chuckling.
Archie pushed himself awkwardly to his feet, leaning heavily on his cane. They all adjusted their pace so that he could keep up with them. ‘Make fun of a cripple, why don’t you?’ he said caustically.
‘Oh, don’t worry, we shall,’ Luke assured him. ‘And to answer your question, Sam, I think just a few neighbours. Oh, and Grandmamma’s friend Mrs Pearson and her granddaughter. Granddaughters, as a matter of fact. I gather Marianne Pearson has an older sister who’s down from London. Never met her myself.’
Luke and his two unmarried brothers subconsciously walked a little closer to one another. Charlie and Paul shared an amused look.
‘Don’t worry, marriage is not contagious,’ Charlie assured them.
‘Easy for you to say,’ Henry replied. ‘I’m far too young and irresponsible to become leg-shackled.’
‘The irresponsible part is quite right,’ Archie said. ‘And I speak for myself as much as Henry.’
They were still laughing when they strolled into the drawing room. The guests had not yet arrived, so it was still a family affair. A family that wouldn’t feel complete without Flora forming a part of it. It still surprised Luke just how quickly she had settled in, and how hard it would already be for any of them to manage without her.
Especially him.
