Page 66 of A Sense of Fate
‘They’re in a barn on the edge of Saunders’ farm,’ Trench said. ‘Miss Latimer sent us back. Said the man would harm her sister if anyone other than you interfered.’
‘Let’s give him his wish, Pawson,’ Archie replied, icy rage roiling through him as he set off at a greater speed than would have ordinarily been comfortable for him to maintain. Concern for Flora’s wellbeing banished all thoughts of his own abilities to the back of his mind. Were he not so worried about the ladies, he would almost welcome this opportunity to prove himself the whole man he would never be again.
‘It’s a trap,’ Pawson said, striding alone beside Archie. ‘He’s probably got a pistol and won’t play fair.’
‘I would be surprised if he did.’ Archie rubbed the bridge of his nose with his free hand. ‘I’m not much of a man anymore, Pawson, but my instincts are still sound. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to those young women because I was worried about my own hide.’
Pawson flashed a resigned grimace. ‘I know you have no choice in the matter and, unless I miss my guess, you’re spoiling to prove yourself.’
‘I dislike Conrad intensely, but I will not risk the ladies’ lives in order to settle an old score.’
They reached the barn in question and Archie held up a hand to prevent Pawson from entering it. They loitered instead and listened as Flora’s voice ran out louder than seemed necessary, probably because she hoped to be overheard.
‘You really are a very stupid man, Mr Conrad. Either that or you are too conceited for words. Do you really imagine that confining two females against their will in this muddy hovel is likely to work out well for you? You might have a dagger but I can see you have no other weapons about your person and you can hardly stab us both.’
‘Good girl,’ Archie muttered approvingly.
‘Besides, what would my father have to say if you harm either one of us? What would that do for your close friendship and lucrative partnership?’
Archie sent Pawson a bemused look. ‘How the hell does she know?’ he whispered.
‘I think she’s guessing. But at least we know that he only has a dagger.’
‘Which he’ll hold to one of the girl’s throats if we go barging in there.’
‘Aye, more than likely.’
‘We need a distraction. Go round the back of the barn, Pawson, but don’t come in unless I’m at death’s door.’ Archie fixed Pawson with a merciless look and ground his jaw. ‘And Conrad is mine.’
‘Right you are.’
Pawson disappeared on near silent feet. Archie could hear the distant murmur of the enraged crowd in the street way behind him, drawn to the unfolding drama of their lame marquess’s rescue of ladies in distress.
‘I hope you are not expecting Lord Felsham to arrive any time soon.’ Flora’s voice sounded haughty, disinterested. ‘I know you resent him and want to be more like him, but that will never happen, no matter how much money you manage to amass through your dishonest means. Gentlemen are born, not made, don’t you know that?’
Oh, Flora. Don’t taunt him.
‘He will come to rescue his mistress.’ Conrad chuckled. ‘How the mighty have fallen, or been obliged to adjust their sights, more like. He could have had anyone he smiled at when he was a whole man. Now he has to make do with you.’
‘Oh, I can assure you that he has no complaints about the service I provide for him.’ Flora’s voice sounded smug and superior, causing Archie to wonder what game she thought she was playing. She had just made it sound as though they were lovers; the very situation she had taken him to task for allowing people to assume.
He got his answer when Conrad bellowed like a raging bull. Conrad had taken a liking to Flora, she’d picked up on his interest and implied that Archie had beaten him to the spoils—yet again. Elroy was now blinded by jealousy and Archie would never have a better opportunity.
He pushed the door open and stood in the aperture.
‘Did someone mention my name?’ he asked indolently.
Chapter Fifteen
Conrad’s grudge against Archie had obviously unsettled his mind. Flora suspected that he and her father had a mutually lucrative arrangement of some sort in place that was neither ethical nor legal. That explanation made sense of such an unlikely friendship and Conrad’s willingness to pay court to her.
Papa had been worried that she would make sense of her grandmother’s diaries. He knew that his mother faithfully recorded everything in writing and that her journals had remained with her lawyer after her death, forming part of Flora’s inheritance. Her father had probably assumed that she would still be at home living beneath his absolute authority, when that time came. And so he had exercised patience, no doubt planning to appropriate the books and destroy them.
No wonder he had worried so much and gone to such extreme lengths to get her to return home. When that strategy had failed, he had tried not once but twice to marry her off to men of his choosing. Conrad probably intended to oblige Papa by returning Melanie home and avenging himself on Archie by stealing what he thought was his property.
Ah, if only!
Flora was proud of Melanie. She knew nothing of Conrad’s motives and remained unaware that they were both pawns in Conrad’s ever more desperate quest for revenge. She must have been terrified, yet she had kept her senses about her and reached out to Remus. Their spirit guide was now more visible, although luminous perspiration glistened on his brow and Flora could sense his mental exhaustion.
