Page 63 of A Sense of Injustice
‘I cannot make you quit Swindon,’ Luke said. ‘Only your uncle possesses that power and I will leave the two of you to discuss the situation. However, know this.’ Luke stood, looming over the woman. ‘You will never be welcome in my home and I will ensure that you are not invited to any of the other leading houses in the district if you do somehow manage to persuade your uncle to allow you to remain here. I will not have Miss Pearson subjected to the sight of you, not after what you have put her through. It is only for the sake of her reputation that I am not making public what I know about your behaviour. But if one shred of doubt surfaces about the Miss Pearson’s character then I shall know where the rumours started. If you consider your circumstances to be uncomfortable as things stand, rest assured that my retaliation will give you reason to think again.’
Mrs Brigstock lifted her chin, seemingly unaware of the tear trickling slowly down one cheek. Or perhaps she was not. It was all an act, and Luke wasn’t about to be taken in by it. ‘You do me a disservice, sir. Where is your proof?’
‘I would advise against testing me, madam,’ Luke replied in a steely tone. ‘I have spoken with Brigstock’s solicitors in person.’
‘Oh.’ She touched her tips with the fingers of one hand.
‘Oh indeed. You may not be aware that your husband left a letter with instructions that it be published in the national newspapers if you did anything to disgrace his memory. Anything other than murdering him, obviously. Even he didn’t imagine you would go that far. If you create problems in Swindon or do anything to draw attention to Miss Pearson, I shall ensure that letter is published, your reputation will not recover and you will not be accepted anywhere. And now, Exton, if you will excuse me, I feel a pressing need for fresh air.’
He sent Felicity a look of curling disdain and quit the room. Luke shook Exton’s hand as the squire escorted him to the front door and then accepted his hat and gloves from the hovering butler, who had doubtless overheard the entire exchange between Luke and Mrs Brigstock. He certainly appeared to be having trouble containing a smug, most un-butler-like smile.
‘Will you be all right?’ Luke asked, clasping his old friend’s shoulder. ‘If you would prefer for me to stay—’
‘Thank you, but I can handle matters from here. I will send you a note in the morning to confirm that she is gone. I just wish there was something I could do to make amends to Miss Pearson,’ Exton said, scratching his wispy head.
‘Make sure Mrs Brigstock leaves the district and that you don’t allow Miss Pearson to realise what you know. The kindest thing we can do for her is to treat her normally.’
Exton nodded decisively. ‘Quite so.’
Romulus bounded up the front steps, having been released from Onyx’s stall when the horse was led round. The sight of his uncomplicated adoration restored Luke’s spirits after the unpleasant interlude he had just lived through. He ruffled the dog’s ears, wished Exton good luck and then descended the front steps in order to mount Onyx.
He rode home slowly, still conscious of the weight of his responsibilities and the restrictions they placed upon his freedom of choice. But if his position of authority also enabled him to put the likes of Cleethorp and Mrs Brigstock in their place then at least he could do some good, and really had little cause for complaint.
He sent for Flora and Paul the moment he returned to his library, thinking it better to see them together. As things stood, it would be unwise for him to receive Flora alone. He owed her an apology for his behaviour in the barn, but couldn’t bring himself to apologise for something that had seemed so natural, so subliminally right.
Paul arrived first, but Flora was close on his heels, looking anxious for information.
‘I can confirm that Cleethorp caught the London train,’ Paul said, ‘and think it safe to assume that we have seen the last of him.’
‘I wish we could make him pay for what he did,’ Flora said, scowling and twisting her fingers together in a gesture of frustration. Unlike Luke, her thoughts appeared to be exclusively focused upon justice for her friend and she had forgotten all about the passionate kiss they had shared just a few short hours ago. ‘However, his having to go cap in hand to his brother and offer to work for a living will have to be punishment enough. And as for Mrs Brigstock…well, I don’t want to think about her at all.’
Paul and Flora both smiled when Luke related the substance of his interview with Exton and then Mrs Brigstock herself.
‘She will attempt to convince her uncle that it was none of her doing and that Cleethorp manipulated her,’ Luke said.
‘Exton will have none of it,’ Paul said. ‘He will be mortified, especially because it is you who brought his niece’s behaviour to his attention.’
‘Well,’ Flora said, standing. ‘Thank you for telling me, but if you will excuse me, I must return to the countess. She is determined to come down to dinner this evening, which is good news since it means that her health has improved, so I had best get along and change myself. She dislikes being kept waiting. You can be sure that the moment we receive confirmation that Mrs Brigstock has left Swindon I shall lose no time in setting my friend’s mind at rest. Thank you on her behalf, Luke, since she can hardly thank you herself.’
Luke smiled at Flora. ‘She is entirely welcome,’ he assured her.
Chapter Sixteen
Flora and Louise walked in the grounds of Beranger Park. A month had passed since Luke’s confrontation with Mrs Brigstock and the weather had turned distinctly chilly in the interim. The trees were now almost leafless and a cold wind bent the bare branches back on themselves as the girls scurried to take shelter in the pavilion behind the boathouse at the far end of the lake.
‘I am so very pleased that your worries are at an end,’ Flora said, meaning it.
‘Because I am not carrying that horrible man’s baby, you mean? I must confess it’s a massive relief, as is the fact that Cleethorp and Mrs Brigstock have left the area.’ Louise pulled her cape more tightly about her and shuddered. ‘I hope I shall never see either of them ever again.’
‘I am perfectly sure that you will not. They are both survivors, and they know better than to cross swords with Lord Swindon. He will make good on his threats if they do and denounce them both. There is not enough evidence to accuse them of murder but rumour will be sufficient to destroy them both. They won’t take the chance.’
‘Your earl can be very forceful.’
‘He is notmyearl, Louise.’ Remus materialised in Flora’s direct line of vision, chuckling. Flora sent him away again with a flip of her wrist. He seemed to choose his moments to eavesdrop on her conversations. ‘He is my employer.’
‘If you say so. I did not witness his lordship’s confrontations with my tormentors first hand, but to have made them take to their heels he must have put the fear of God into them. Words cannot express my gratitude.’
Flora shook her head and decided it would be best to change the subject. ‘How was your trip?’ she asked, aware that her friend had just spent a week in her London home.
