Page 16 of A Sense of Injustice
Luke looked away from her, his expression guarded. ‘And if he was serious? What then?’
Flora shook her head, sending the plume in her velvet bonnet dancing across her eyes. ‘I am not in the market for a husband, Luke. I enjoy Lord Hardwick’s society. Indeed, he is very entertaining, so it would be hard to resist such a proposal. But the last thing he needs is me making his life difficult.’ She chuckled. ‘You can be sure that I would not be a biddable wife and would certainly not put up with his philandering ways. I am convinced that he hasn’t changed those habits, despite almost paying for his predilections with his life.’ She grinned. ‘Some men just can’t help themselves.’
‘Poor Archie does seem to have met his match.’
‘Poor Archie is a scoundrel, and well you know it.’ Flora sent him a mischievous look. ‘Since the two of you are the closest possible friends, I wonder what that makes you?’
‘Fortunately, we are back at the house and that saves me from having to formulate a response that won’t make you blush.’ They rode into the stable yard side by side. On a previous occasion when they had encountered one another, Luke had made a point of returning ahead of her to avoid unnecessary gossip. Now it seemed that he didn’t mind who saw them together. And why should he? No one could possibly read anything into it and Flora would be quick to set them straight if they attempted to. She had the security of her position to consider. ‘We are agreed then. We shall keep Amethyst for your exclusive use.’
‘I have been outmanoeuvred,’ she said playfully, slipping from the saddle before he could lift her from it in front of the grooms. ‘You knew the moment I rode him that I would fall in love and would not be willing to part with him.’ She nodded her thanks to the groom who came to take the gelding from her and watched as he was led away to be rubbed down. ‘You are very kind, Luke. Thank you.’
‘It’s entirely my pleasure.’ They walked back to the house together. Romulus was still full of energy and expended a little by foolishly chasing the stable yard cat, earning a scratch on his nose for his efforts. ‘Will that silly dog never learn?’
They parted in the back hallway. Flora scampered up to her room in order to change and wash the smell of horseflesh from her limbs. She thought about breakfast but had eaten a large dinner late the night before and wasn’t hungry enough to bother. Instead she slipped into a plain day gown and then made her way to the stillroom.
‘Now then,’ she muttered to herself as she absorbed the aroma of dried herbs in the neatly arranged room that she had made her own, ‘how best to help Lord Hardwick?’ She pulled an apron from the peg behind the door and covered her gown with it. ‘Not that he deserves any help, given his outrageous behaviour, but still…’
She searched through her own grandmother’s book of old remedies and smiled when she happened upon an obscure entry that just might give Archie Hardwick a little relief.
Aaron’s rod seed bruised and boiled in wine, then laid on swollen joints previously broken and reset is known to take away swelling and pain, she read.
Flora had inherited her supernatural powers and way with herbs from her beloved relative, and knew from experience that most of her cures were effective. She would insist upon Lord Hardwick trying this particular one, even though it was too late to expect a complete cure. The bones in his legs and hips had not set right and now never would. Even so, Flora suspected that any small respite from the pain would be welcome, even if it just enabled him to walk more comfortably. A man most likely didn’t feel like a proper man if he couldn’t walk unaided, or provide simple gentlemanly services for a lady. Flora had seen how much effort it had taken him simply to pull her chair away from the table the previous evening.
She carefully ground the seeds, set her burner alight and boiled up a little sweet wine. She added the seeds and stirred carefully, judging when the potion was ready by its smell. She then left it to cool and carefully wrote out the method so that it could be replicated in Lord Hardwick’s own stillroom. Once she had done so, the potion had cooled sufficiently for it to be transferable into a glass bottle. She set the stopper firmly in place and then went in search of Lord Hardwick’s man. She found him below stairs, breaking his fast. He seemed surprised to be accosted by the countess’s companion but listened politely to what Flora had to tell him.
‘Make sure he uses it regularly,’ Flora instructed as she handed over the potion and the written instructions. ‘It must be applied as hot as he can bear it like a poultice to his afflicted limbs and left in place until it cools. Tell him not to expect overnight results.’
‘It’s right nice of you, miss, but I doubt whether his lordship will bother. He tried all sorts when he first had his accident, but nothing worked and now he’s given up caring.’
‘Tell him, Mr Pawson, that I have gone to considerable trouble and that he will have me to answer to it if he doesn’t at least give it a chance.’
Pawson chuckled. ‘Right you are, miss, but don’t hold your breath.’
Flora assured him that she didn’t have the slightest intention of so doing. Having satisfied herself that she had done all within her power to help Lord Hardwick, she glanced at the clock in the hall and decided it was beyond time that she checked on the countess.
Chapter Four
Louise Pearson spent a largely sleepless night wondering if she had done the right thing in asking Flora Latimer, a young woman with whom she was barely acquainted, if she could confide in her. Wondering too if she had done the right thing in returning to Swindon and visiting her problems upon her grandmother. Not that she had actually done so…yet, since Grandmamma had not asked about the reason for her visit. Instead, she had seemed delighted by it. Reacquainting herself with her sister was proving to be a more delicate task, and Grandmamma was kind enough not to put pressure on Louise by demanding explanations that she wasn’t yet ready to offer. She had come here to lick her wounds and examine her options. Her grandmother was demonstrating infinite patience and a decided lack of curiosity by allowing her the time she needed to readjust.
Dearest Grandmamma! Louise felt wretched for having ignored her for so long, even if that situation had not been entirely of her own making.
Deciding that a guilty conscience would prevent her getting much rest, Louise rose with the dawn and took a turn in her grandmother’s gardens—her pride and joy. Louise could see that the gardeners knew their business and everything that needed to be cut back ready for the winter had been suitably pruned, and there was not a weed in sight. She threw back her head, enjoying the feel of the fresh country breeze infused with a nip of approaching autumn biting into her cheeks. It was so different to the stale air of London to which she had become accustomed, and a great deal more agreeable.
‘Why did I allow myself to be manipulated into staying away for so long?’ she asked aloud, already knowing the answer to her own question. She wished that her circumstances could have been different, or that she could have found the strength to assert herself.
She wished so many things.
She returned to the house and was surprised to discover her grandmother already breaking her fast.
‘Grandmamma.’ Louise kissed her cheek. ‘It’s still very early. I did not expect to see you for a long time yet. Are you quite well?’
‘Perfectly so, my dear. I don’t need much sleep at my age.’ She patted the seat beside hers at the small table in the dining parlour. Louise perched on the edge of it and smiled her thanks to the footman who poured coffee for her. ‘Now you really must eat. You’re far too thin.’ She waved the footman from the room. ‘You have only been back for two days and we haven’t had a proper opportunity to talk alone yet.’ Louise’s heart quailed.Not now, Grandmamma. Please!‘Tell me how you really are. You are so very lovely. So much like your mother, but I expect you get tired of hearing that.’ Grandmamma smiled at her. ‘It is a pleasure to have you here at last and I know Marianne is pleased to see you.’
‘Is she? She seems quite withdrawn, but then I hardly know her. We wrote to one another all the time, but that’s not the same thing at all.’
‘I think she is a little in awe of you, but you will bring her out of herself, I’m sure. Now, did you enjoy last night’s party?’
‘I did, thank you. You were right to force me into attending, and I am glad that you are still so friendly with the countess.’ Louise smiled. ‘She is quite a character, and certainly not afraid to speak her mind.’
