Page 11 of A Sense of Turmoil
‘If he is so enthusiastic, I wonder why he felt such a pressing need to return to England,’ Flora mused. ‘After all, Boston has been his home these ten years. He must feel comfortable there.’
Luke lifted a shoulder. ‘He wants his sister to have the opportunity to mix in English society.’
‘And wants her to marry well too, I suppose.’ She sent Luke a speculative sideways glance. ‘Is she pretty?’
‘Very, and sweet-natured and charming.’
‘Well then, in that case, I am surprised she hasn’t been snapped up.’
Luke felt uncomfortable discussing Ottilie Fleming with the woman who had prevented him from proposing to her himself, so he changed the subject. ‘As to the Boston estate, Sam was very keen to get to grips with it, which is partly why I decided against selling. He is very sharp-witted, as you know, and needs something to do that will test him.’
‘Well,’ Flora said, turning back towards the house as a few spots of rain began to fall upon her hatless head, ‘it sounds as though he has got his wish, but I shall miss his good humour and lively wit.’
*
Flora, still with time on her hands before she was due to return to the countess, retired to her room to consider her exchange with Luke. Remus hadn’t put in an appearance since popping up during her conversation with Mary and the countess over a week previously. She had been unsure at the time if he was warning her about the impending visit from her mother or about the Flemings. But the moment Luke mentioned the invitation he had issued to his old friend and his sister, Remus again hovered into view, leaving Flora to conclude that it was the Flemings who concerned him.
Luke was preoccupied with his grandmother and hadn’t noticed that Flora had been distracted by the apparition. Now that she was free to try and ascertain precisely what it was that Remus wanted to warn her about, he was nowhere to be seen. Flora sighed. Remus was not the most attentive of spirit guides.
‘Botheration, Remus, where are you when I need you?’
Did someone shout?
‘There you are.’ She watched Remus’s features materialise and hover close to her as the rest of his body slowly took shape. He looked hot and irritated. ‘What have you been doing?’ she asked.
Watching the gladiators.
Flora shuddered. ‘I’d hardly call it sport.’
What would you know? I had a heavy wager on the challenger.
‘I still don’t understand how the dead can strike wagers.’
That’s because you are still too narrowminded.
‘You’ve been trying to warn me about something, but you chose the wrong times to pop up. What is it that I need to know?’
I keep telling you. You don’t have to speak aloud to me. Reach out with your mind and I will hear you.
‘I can’t do that when people are around. I have to concentrate, or my facial expressions will change and they will think I have run completely mad.’
Remus gave an otherworldly and highly expressive sigh. So limited. But still, I’m glad to see that your handsome earl is back. His fear of crossing the Atlantic proved unfounded.
‘He isn’t mine. Besides, he has invited a young lady to stay.’ The prospect caused Flora a pang of regret. ‘Something about the way in which he spoke about her leads me to suppose that he has serious intentions, which means that he will soon be hers, since I don’t suppose she will reject him.’
It’s you he really wants.
‘Don’t be ridiculous!’
Have I ever been wrong?
‘Frequently, I imagine.’ Flora didn’t want to hear the truth about Luke’s feelings for her. Even supposing they existed, nothing could come of them. ‘What were you trying to warn me about?’
The Flemings.
‘What about them?’
You should encourage your earl. It wouldn’t take much for him to settle upon you, promises be damned.
