Page 20 of A Sense of Paradise
‘You find this amusing? I was worried out of my mind, which is why I decided it couldn’t wait until tomorrow.’
‘Perhaps he hoped to have a word with you outside the church, explaining his presence there. He knows he is not welcome at Fox Hollow and he would be even less so here.’
‘That is what I assumed too. Anyway, as to his threats, they worried me because Pamela reminded me that Papa still has powerful friends. And now this business with your former mistress’s brother and Lord Avery…’
‘Pamela? You have seen her?’
‘Oh, of course, I haven’t had an opportunity to tell you.’
Archie listened as she explained the nature of her sister’s call. ‘Naturally, I will write to the bishop on her husband’s behalf,’ he said, ‘if you are sure you want them that close to you.’
Flora’s expression turned reflective. ‘I think the gloss of marriage has already worn off and Pamela appreciates the realities of her situation. It has mellowed her.’
‘And since you feel partly responsible for your family’s travails, even though none of it actually is your fault…’
‘Well, yes.’ She offered him a rueful smile. ‘Pamela is right to point out that her husband wouldn’t have known about the exorcisms, but of course no one at Cathedral Close will believe in his innocence, which seems a little unfair.’
‘Leave it to me, in that case.’
‘Pamela is in a difficult position. She has always been the most devout of us all and fiercely supportive of Papa’s ambitions. But now her loyalties are divided, and naturally she has taken her husband’s side, as a good wife should, so I am told.’ She sent Archie a defiant smile. He laughed and shook his head at her. ‘Anyway, if she is willing to mend her differences with me then I am more than willing to meet her half way.’
‘That does not surprise me.’ Archie caressed her with a passionate look. ‘You don’t know how to bear a grudge and have more Christian compassion in your little finger than the rest of your sanctimonious family can collectively claim between the lot of them—Melanie excluded, of course.’
‘I have different priorities, I’ll grant you.’
Archie could see that she was still feeling unsettled, but whether because of Eloise’s sudden appearance or because she felt threatened by the contents of her father’s letter it was hard for him to know. He felt more suspicious regarding Latimer’s machinations than he was willing to let on. He ought to have anticipated that he wouldn’t take demotion lying down and would find a way to retaliate. Archie had been too busy attempting to win Flora’s heart to give the situation the consideration it had probably deserved at the time.
‘My father holds you responsible for his travails, doesn’t he?’ Flora spoke with pathos in her tone. She was, as always, perfectly attuned with Archie’s own thoughts.
‘It looks that way,’ he conceded. ‘Avery and his ilk will be beholden to him for keeping their names out of things. Society could not turn a blind eye to the wickedness that occurred at those exorcisms. We know for a certainty that the children involved were horribly abused by the men’s depraved demands. Some did not survive, which is murder in anyone’s book. They thought they were safe because the children were plucked from the poorhouse, where no one would miss them. Now, they are aware that I know their guilty secret.’
Flora shuddered. ‘And Papa’s silence has ensured that they now owe him a favour, which is just the way he operates,’ she replied, curling her upper lip. ‘He is bound to have something in writing that he can hold against them if needs be to make sure that it isn’t a case of his word against theirs. We know by the way that he manipulated the bishop that he likes to have people beholden to him.’ She frowned. ‘But I still don’t see what he can do to harm you, or why he would be foolish enough to attempt such a thing.’
Archie wasn’t ready to share all his suspicions with Flora quite yet, but knew that Latimer was not the type to accept coming out second best. Archie could speak out at any time, and the likes of Avery would not feel comfortable with that situation, so he would be more than willing to aid Latimer’s attempts to orchestrate Archie’s downfall.
He recalled the way some of the gentlemen at Luke’s wedding had turned away from him. He had dismissed it at the time as oversensitivity on his part, but now he wondered if there might be more to it than that. Rumours abounded in all walks of life. They tended to take on a life of their own when repeated often enough and were eventually established as fact. Society’s elite were no exception to such forms of communication. In fact, they had nothing better to do with their time and were often the worst offenders when it came to repeating unsubstantiated gossip.
He thought as well of Baldock’s determination to stir up trouble amongst the locals. There were bound to be some who resented Archie for perceived slights—failure to arbitrate in their favour in the event of a dispute, refusing to grant a tenancy, so forth. If Baldock rounded up enough of them then they could stir up more discontent. There was always power in numbers. What was less clear to Archie was how Baldock could afford to spend his days in the Cat’s taproom when he had no means of supporting his family.
Was someone funding his efforts to cause dissent?
‘Do you think that Lord Avery deliberately enticed Eloise’s brother to this country?’ Flora asked.
‘I think it entirely possible. We need to ask Eloise how recently Avery paid attention to her friend and when the engagement was agreed upon.’ He sat on the arm of her chair and took her hand in his. ‘I need to ask her more questions. Are you sure you want to be a party to all of this?’
‘Absolutely sure.’ She sat a little straighter and fixed him with a look of firm determination; one that implied there would be no changing her mind on the subject. ‘But, Archie, don’t tell her that we are engaged. There are others who need to be made aware before your former paramour hears the news. Besides…it will upset her.’
Archie shook his head. ‘Your compassion never fails to impress me, my love. Anyway, if you are sure about meeting her.’
She nodded. Archie stole a brief kiss, winked at her and then rang the bell to summon Pawson’s return.
Bring Eloise and Louis in,’ he said when his man responded to it. ‘I want to speak with them both. And stay yourself, obviously.’
Pawson raised a brow, glanced at Flora and then went off to collect their visitors.
‘How are your joints?’ Flora asked.
‘I did as I was told and spent all of yesterday steaming and swimming. Pawson had to haul me out of the river since I swam to the point of exhaustion, but it worked, just as you told me it would. I am feeling greatly recovered today.’
