Page 35 of A Sense of Fate
‘A witch?’ Melanie’s mouth gaped open.
‘She was no such thing, of course, but Papa bore the brunt of their cruelty—which I have often thought is why he turned to a career in the church. He wanted to distance himself from his rather unusual mother and show himself to the world as a God-fearing man of the cloth. Except that she was not touched with madness, as many thought. She was the most wonderfully enlightened woman, and I am privileged to have inherited a small portion of her skills—and so it seems have you. She will know it since she will be watching over you from the next life; never for a second doubt it.’
‘I don’t doubt it, actually. It is a relief to talk about it and get a better understanding of my feelings though. Naturally, I have never dared to air them at home.’
‘Very wise.’ Flora rolled her eyes. ‘No wonder Papa got so cross with you. He tried to beat the rebellion out of me as well, which is why I ran away.’
‘I cried for two days after you left.’
‘And I was too selfish, too wrapped up with my own concerns, to spare you a second thought. I feel thoroughly ashamed of myself.’
‘Oh Flora, there is absolutely no need. Your example gave me courage. If you could escape, then so could I. I just didn’t expect to do it so soon, but then I haven’t, not really…’
‘I am glad that you looked up to me, but also sorry to have neglected you.’ She smiled at her sister. ‘Now, tell me what made you run off in the middle of a snowstorm.’
‘Papa accused me of listening to his private conversation.’
‘Which I am sure you did not.’
She flashed a mischievous smile. ‘Actually, I did.’
‘Ah.’ Flora laughed. ‘I dare say you had your reasons.’
‘I was walking past Papa’s library. He had a visitor—that man who came to Pamela’s wedding whom Papa was so keen for you to meet.’
Flora tensed. ‘Mr Conrad?’
‘Yes, I think that was his name. I heard them mention you, so naturally I stopped to listen.’
‘In your situation, I would have done the same thing. What were they saying? Did you hear?’
‘Papa was berating Mr Conrad, ordering him to try harder. He was not to accept defeat, gracefully or otherwise, and find a way to make you see sense.’ Melanie frowned. ‘What are you insensible about, Flora?’
‘I wish I knew.’ Flora spread her hands. ‘For reasons that escape me, Papa wants me to smile upon Mr Conrad, but I am being most disobliging in that regard. I did not take to the man.’
‘I should be as well. I sense something unpleasant about him, despite his handsome face.’ Melanie sniffed. ‘He is well aware of his handsomeness too, which makes him vain, and since Papa insists that vanity is a sin, I am surprised he tolerates the man’s presence. It seems a little hypocritical to me.’
Flora looked at her young sister with renewed respect. ‘When did you get to be so wise?’
‘It’s probably because of all the reading that I do.’ Melanie waved her uninjured hand in the air. ‘The house was in uproar all the time that Pamela was planning for her big day. I couldn’t abide the fuss and kept out of the way, reading books Papa would not have approved of that I smuggled in from the library. I don’t much care for Mr Janson, and I don’t think he will make our sister happy, but she was determined to be married, so she only has herself to blame if he is unkind to her. Nora and Judith follow Pamela’s lead and are as silly as her, I’m afraid.’
‘I tend to agree with you.’
‘Anyway, I wanted to hear what Papa and Mr Conrad were saying about you so that I could write and give you warning, but I leaned too close to the open door and…well, I quite literally fell into the room.’ The suggestion of a giggle escaped her lips, even though Flora suspected that her sister’s rebellion had given her little to laugh about. ‘After Mr Conrad left, Papa held my hand over a candle flame until I almost fainted from the pain. He was teaching me the value of obedience, or so he insisted.’
‘You poor love.’ Flora hugged her sister, incandescent with rage at this latest example of her father’s cruelty. ‘And he calls himself a man of God.’
‘I ran away without thinking about the consequences for you. I was so angry that I just couldn’t stay. What will happen now?’ Melanie trembled. ‘I am always talking about you, which infuriates Papa. He will know at once where I have run to, and will demand my immediate return.’
‘He can demand all he likes but it won’t get him anywhere. Just you leave him to me.’ Flora stood, her bosom swelling with sisterly indignation and a fierce determination to protect Melanie from any further harm. ‘Come along.’ She took Melanie’s uninjured hand and helped her to her feet. ‘Your bath will be ready, and here’s Polly to help you into it. I shall be up in a moment.’
Melanie looked her age again, momentarily vulnerable and reluctant to leave Flora’s side. But Polly smiled gently, and her compassion reassured. She heard Polly’s voice as they made their way up the stairs. She was telling Melanie all about Alice, which was the best thing she could have done. Melanie loved children and had endless patience with them.
Secure in the knowledge that her sister was safe for now, Flora fell to stewing over the abominable treatment she had been obliged to endure. She felt guilty for abandoning her and vowed to make amends by keeping Melanie away from the family home. Somehow. Melanie was still a child, and her father would be within his rights to insist upon her return, but Flora was equally determined to oppose him every step of the way.
She was still at a loss to explain her father’s connection to Conrad. Perhaps Melanie knew something more but was unaware of its significance. She would ask her in due time. But for now, her priority was to reassure her sister and keep her safe.
Flora made her way up the stairs just after Polly had helped Melanie out of the bath. Melanie looked very young, wrapped in a robe of Flora’s that was too large for her. She sat obediently in front of the glass in the room that Polly had made up for her as Polly brushed the tangles from her wet hair.
