Page 7 of A Sense of Injustice
‘Thank you, Mary, but I am well aware that no one is indispensable and if I do ever forget to keep my strong views to myself then I shall no doubt live to rue the day.’ She grinned. ‘There is no call for opinionated servants who forget their place in a grand household such as this.’
‘I think Grandmamma would have something to say on the matter if anyone attempted to evict you,’ Emma said. ‘And since we are all terrified of denying Grandmamma when she sets her mind to a particular course, your position here is secure.’
Flora wiped imaginary perspiration from her brow. ‘How very comforting.’
They all smiled.
Dinner was announced. Luke glanced at Flora but Miss Gregory was still clinging to his side. Flora was almost sure that he heard Luke sigh as he offered her his arm. The young woman looked triumphant as she sailed into the dining room at Luke’s side. Flora shook her head and went in search of the countess. Lord Hardwick was still entertaining the two old ladies, making them roar with laughter.
‘I hope you are not encouraging the countess to misbehave, Lord Hardwick,’ Flora said with mock severity as she helped her charge to her feet.
‘She needs little encouragement from me,’ Archie said, winking at her.
Flora shook her head at him as the countess leaned on her arm, walking slowly into the dining room. Lord Hardwick remained with them and, as he had done one before, took the chair beside Flora’s. She glanced down the length of the table and caught Luke ignoring the animated Miss Gregory’s conversation as he met her gaze.
‘The perils of being an eligible bachelor,’ Lord Hardwick said softly, following the direction of Flora’s gaze.
‘Not exactly a hardship. She’s very pretty, and she is certainly vivacious.’
‘Luke prefers to make the running.’
‘Which is all well and good, but well-bred young ladies are expected to marry, and to marry well,’ Flora pointed out as the countess conducted a loud conversation with Mrs Pearson, seated on her opposite side. ‘From my observations, if they wait for the gentlemen who attract their interest to act, they might well die of old age.’
‘I find it hard to imagine that you speak from experience. Any man who ignored your interest in him,’ he addedsotto voce,‘would be too dull to deserve your attentions.’
Lord Hardwick smiled at her, enhancing the deep lines that were etched into his face—an indication of the pain he had endured since his accident and continued to withstand on a daily basis. But the ravages of time and suffering had served only to enhance his rugged good looks. He was still a very attractive man, with a lively wit and a captivating personality. Flora welcomed his company and suspected she would enjoy this particular meal much more than their brooding host. Seated at the head of the table, he sent frequent glances down the length of it, his attention caught by his friend’s frequent roars of laughter.
‘I was speaking of ladies with impeccable pedigrees, Lord Hardwick,’ she replied with an arch smile, flustered by his compliment, ‘not paid companions.’
‘Ha! We both know you are a great deal more than that. And even if you were not, it is not unreasonable to suppose that you have aspirations to marry, and to marry well.’
They both involuntarily glanced at Luke again and Flora was obliged to withhold the smallest sigh of regret. ‘I know my place.’
He raised a brow. ‘Are you sure about that, Miss Latimer?’
‘What of you, Lord Hardwick?’ The conversation was becoming far too personal, too intimate, and she sought to turn it back on him. ‘You must receive your share of attention from the ladies.’
‘Me?’ He gave a careless shrug. ‘Who would want an old cripple?’
‘Self-pity does not become you, and you can be sure that I will not tolerate it.’ Flora took a sip of her wine. ‘Even if you were bad-tempered, ugly and dull-witted, which you are not, your circumstances would make those traits forgivable.’ Flora flashed a playful smile. ‘Or at the very least, excusable. Besides, you don’t share Lord Beranger’s good fortune in that you have no brothers to ease the strain of expectation. If he does not marry, I dare say there will be plenty of male nephews to ensure the succession, whereas you…’
‘Then there’s nothing else for it, my dear Flora. You will just have to marry me and save me from all that tiresome attention.’
Flora’s peal of laughter drew the attention of everyone at the table. ‘Lord Hardwick has just offered to marry me,’ she said. ‘Only imagine the shame it would bring to his family’s name were I to accept him. Fortunately for him, I know very well that he was not serious.’
‘You do me a disservice, cruel woman!’ Lord Hardwick said, clutching at his heart.
Everyone at the table smiled indulgently, with the notable exception of Luke.
‘Marry him after I’ve turned up my toes,’ the countess said. ‘It’ll give you someone else to look after, and I’d like to think of Lord Hardwick being bullied into drinking those dreadful concoctions you will insist upon forcing on me.’
‘Talking of which,’ Flora said to Lord Hardwick when the various conversations around the table resumed, ‘what help do your doctors give you for your pain?’
He lifted a broad shoulder. ‘Not a great deal. I’ve learned to endure what cannot be cured.’
Flora tutted. ‘Let me help you.’
‘Thank you.’ He put his fork aside and briefly covered her gloved hand with his own. ‘But there are some miracles that not even you cannot work. I am a lost cause. I dare say you’ve heard about the circumstances leading up to my apparent deathand must be aware that I only have myself to blame. My one regret, apart from the loss of the full use of my legs, is that I couldn’t tell my closest friends that accounts of my death had been exaggerated.’ He stared off into the distance, the bitterness that briefly clouded his features quickly replaced by his normal rakish grin. ‘You would be better advised to concentrate your efforts on the countess. She at least is worthy of them.’
