Page 22 of A Sense of Paradise
Flora pushed aside the torrent of insecure thoughts that wormed their way through her mind, wondering how she could feel sympathy and a natural affinity with Eloise while also looking upon her as a rival for Archie’s affections. Perhaps it was because Archie had not treated her as well as he ought to have done. She could understand that at the height of his convalescence he would have welcomed the distraction—and more—provided by such a lovely and compliant female. It would not have occurred to him that a willing and attractive woman had been the cause of his injuries. Archie was a ladies’ man through and through, a fact that formed the bedrock of Flora’s diffidence. It was very obvious that Eloise still carried a torch for Archie. How long would it be before he succumbed to the charms on offer?
Leave him alone, he’s mine!
‘Why do you suppose Maurice didn’t ask your permission to accompany his friend?’ Archie asked, his deep voice rousing Flora from her reverie.
Eloise shrugged, a typically Gallic gesture that she executed in an elegantly casual fashion. ‘Probably because he knew it would not be forthcoming. His friend Francois, Celine’s brother, is not a good influence. He is a little wild and unpredictable and Maurice is easily led.’ She fixed Archie with a mildly condemning look as she spoke. ‘Do you really think that Lord Avery persuaded Francois to come to England and bring my brother with him?’
‘It is certainly possible, but I cannot think why.’
‘You do not like the man?’
‘He is a libertine,’ Archie replied shortly. When Flora cleared her throat, Archie smiled intimately in her direction. ‘You are thinking that those who live in greenhouses…’
‘Something of that nature,’ Flora replied sweetly.
‘Perhaps I deserve your censure, sweetheart, but I hope there are marked differences between my past behaviour and the manner in which Avery continues to conduct himself.’
Flora wondered if she had unjustly accused him. Mindful of how important gentlemanly conduct was to him, she inclined her head. ‘I am sure you are right. I have never met Avery myself, but if he was involved in my father’s debauchery then I have no difficulty in believing that he must be very odious indeed.’
‘You are probably needed at this time of year in France,’ Archie said, caressing Flora for a prolonged period with his eyes before turning to address his remark to Louis.
‘Oui,I must return soon.’
‘Then take Eloise with you. I will find Maurice, you have my word on it, and return him to France, where he belongs.’
‘Non!’ Eloise leapt from her chair. ‘I want to be here when he’s found. I must stay. He is very impressionable and if he has got himself into trouble then he will need me.’
‘You cannot put up at a tavern alone,’ Archie pointed out.
Flora knew that much was true and wondered why Eloise hadn’t brought a maid with her, if only for propriety’s sake. Then she recalled that Eloise was a vineyard manager’s daughter and probably did not have a maid of her own.
‘She can stay with me.’ Eloise looked almost as shocked at Flora’s declaration as Flora herself felt at making it. She hadn’t reached a conscious decision to offer Archie’s former lover hospitality. The words had come from out of nowhere. She reached out to Remus with her mind, wondering if he had influenced her. He was a demon when it came to a lovely face—male or female—so she wouldn’t have put it past him to interfere. But Flora couldn’t detect his presence, and as her powers had increased Remus found it harder to hide his mischief from her.
‘Miss Latimer.’ Eloise blinked at her. ‘Are you absolutely sure?’
‘Perfectly so. I have plenty of room, and Archie will know where to find us both should he have need of one or the other of us.’ She sent Archie a playful smile, earning herself a suspicious frown by way of reward.
‘That would set my mind at rest, Miss Latimer,’ Louis said. ‘I knew she would not agree to return home with me, and yet I must…’
‘You must go, I quite understand.’ Eloise smiled at the young man who was clearly head over heels in love with her. Flora had become something of an expert on affairs of the heart since removing herself from the stifling confines of Cathedral Close and recognised the signs.
‘I have engagements tomorrow,’ Flora said, glancing mischievously in Archie’s direction, ‘but you are welcome to move into Fox Hollow on Saturday.’
Arrangements were agreed upon in that regard. Archie promised to instigate enquiries and run Lord Avery to ground, and for now there was nothing left for them to discuss.
‘Time is getting on and I must get back,’ Flora said, refusing to show her insecurity by lingering so that Eloise wouldn’t be left alone with Archie.
‘As should we,’ Louis said. ‘I must make arrangements for my return voyage.’
Archie escorted them all to the stable yard in person, walking slowly but placing only a little more weight than usual on his stick. He had still not completely recovered from the physical strain of the wedding, Flora realised.
‘Make more use of your steam room,’ she said in an undertone, glancing significantly at his left leg before standing on the mounting block and slipping nimbly into Amethyst’s sidesaddle.
‘I fully intend to.’ Archie patted the gelding’s neck and smiled up at her. ‘Stay out of trouble if you can manage it, and I will see you tomorrow,’ he said in a low drawl as Eloise and Louis climbed into their curricle. ‘I have a feeling that when we find Avery we will also discover exactly what your father is plotting this time.’
‘I am a dreadful trial to you, Archie. I wonder that you put up with me.’
‘You fill my life with love and laughter, my darling,’ he said in a softly seductive tone. ‘Besides which, you challenge me in a quite disrespectful, provocative and yet charmingly inspirational fashion.’
