Page 26 of A Sense of Fate
‘Duly noted. Anyway, who has told you of your acceptance?’
‘A lady who has become a great favourite of mine.’ He listened as she enthused about her distressed gentlewoman. ‘Mrs Finch knew your mother apparently, and tells me that she was very refined and delicate. “Not too high in the instep” were her exact words.’
‘Which is precisely how I remember her,’ Archie replied, feeling the years falling away as Mama fussed over a seven-year-old Archie, preparing him for his first day away from home at preparatory school. ‘She had time for everyone and knew how to make them feel comfortable.’ He recalled feeling very grown up yet fearful of the unknown. The gentle touch of his mother’s hand had reassured him; her lingering perfume had pervaded his senses. The next time he returned to Felsham Hall it was for her funeral. He didn’t even get the chance to say goodbye.
‘Mrs Finch remembers your father rather better.’ Archie smiled at her impish expression as she told him of the occurrence at a kissing bow. ‘She said there was no harm in your father, which I privately rather doubt.’ She sent him what was probably supposed to be a disapproving look but spoiled it by giggling. ‘Given that I am aware of the son’s behaviour.’
‘You do me a disservice, Flora.’
‘Do I?’ She blinked at him, still full of mischief. ‘In which case I apologise. Mrs Finch was a pretty woman in her younger days and it seems that your father enjoyed what he saw.’
‘Beauty is supposed to be admired, otherwise what would be the point in it?’
‘Well, of course, you would defend him.’
Archie eased his aching leg out in front of him, wincing as he straitened it as far as it would go.
‘Are you in pain?’ she asked.
‘No more than usual.’
‘I have had some thoughts about that, and I have brought with me an alternative ointment I want you to try.’ She waved aside the protest he hadn’t yet voiced. ‘I know you will say it’s a waste of time, so I have given it to Mr Pawson with instructions as to its use. He is braver than me and won’t allow you to bully him. Let me know if it helps.’
Her matter-of-fact approach to a subject that few dared to voice in front of him eased his tension. ‘Thank you,’ he said softly.
‘You are entirely welcome.’
Draper entered the room, served them with coffee and quietly withdrew.
‘What else have you been getting up to?’ Archie asked as the door closed behind his butler.
‘Violet came to see me, as a matter of fact. She has asked me to be her chief bridesmaid,’ she said with a sunny smile.
‘Luke mentioned her intention to me. Shall you do it?’
‘Of course. Why would I not?’
Archie could think of a dozen reasons. ‘No reason whatsoever, and since I am to be best man, then I shall have the pleasure of offering you my arm when we leave the church.’
‘Goodness, I had not stopped to consider such a requirement.’ She flashed him an impudent smile. ‘Ah well, I have committed myself now, so we shall just have to make the best of it.’
He feigned boredom but could see that she wasn’t convinced by it. ‘That we shall,’ he replied.
‘I have to spend the day at the Court on the tenth to have a dress fitting.’
‘I have business there too. I will take you.’
‘Archie, you can’t keep taking me places. I am sure you don’t just happen to have to be there on that particular day. People will talk if we are continually seen together.’
He flexed a brow in a challenging manner as he leaned one elbow on the arm of his chair and cupped the side of his face in his hand, watching her closely for no reason other than he enjoyed looking at her range of facial expressions that were…well, uniquely expressive. ‘And that bothers you?’
‘Yes…no.’ She threw up her hands. ‘I don’t know. I just want to be myself, do as much good as I can without all the fanfare that my father would consider necessary and without passing judgement on those who fall by the wayside through no fault of their own. I want to do all that and live quietly by myself.’ Archie’s heart quailed at the determination etched into her features. ‘But it isn’t as easy as I thought it would be for a single woman to do as she pleases. Everyone is so judgemental. I sometimes think that—acceptance notwithstanding—the moment I do something that seems…well, forward…’
‘You have something in mind?’ he asked, with a suggestive waggle of his brows. ‘Can I help?’
‘Behave yourself, Archie Felsham! I am pouring my heart out and you are responding by making fun of me.’
‘Never that, my sweet,’ he assured her with a softly intimate smile.
