Page 33 of A Sense of Paradise
‘Anyway, Archie, what happens now?’ Flora asked, as she picked up her spoon and tasted her soup. ‘About Yardley’s murder and our quest to find Avery, I mean.’
She listened as Archie explained about his disgruntled ex-tenant talking him down and rousing fellow malcontents in the village.
‘You think Avery would stoop so low as to turn the locals against you?’ Flora asked, widening her eyes and feeling increasingly uncomfortable as the full scale of the organised attempt to discredit Archie became apparent to her. ‘He would surely never succeed, would he?’
Archie lifted one shoulder. ‘The plutocracy is not the only strata of society to thrive on gossip—but no, I hope that the majority will remain loyal. I have given them no reason to behave otherwise.’
‘Even so, how can you seem so unconcerned?’
‘I am very concerned, my sweet, but I don’t intend to spend these precious few hours with you wallowing in self-pity. I much prefer to enjoy your company, especially since we have to discuss the remodelling of our bedchamber,’ he added, flashing a salacious smile that she returned with equal intent, even though she probably shouldn’t be encouraging the wicked side of his nature. The countess had referred to him as the scoundrel for a reason. But then again perhaps she should—encourage him, that is. Her concerns about holding his interest had not gone away and if he wasthatdetermined for them to visit a bedchamber and they had a legitimate reason to do so, who was she to demur?
‘Has Mr Pawson found out who instigated the whispering campaign in the village?’ she asked. ‘Speaking of whom, I feel guilty for not permitting him to come and fetch me, thereby denying Polly the opportunity of catching even the briefest glimpse of him.’
‘Oh, I don’t think they are separated nearly as much as you might imagine.’
Flora blinked at him. ‘Whatever do you mean?’
‘Pawson has taken to going out for prolonged periods once or twice a week of an evening. Not that I keep him tied to me every hour of the day, but it’s unusual, and he’s vague when I ask him where he’s been.’
‘You think he is coming to Lyneham to meet Polly?’ Flora grinned. ‘Come to think of it, since the weather’s improved, Polly has been taking Alice into the village when she finishes her duties. Do you suppose…’ She sent Archie a speculative look.
‘I do, but it is their affair and we must allow them their secrets. Of course, when you and I are married, darling, there is no reason why they shouldn’t be as well.’ He sent her a challenging look. ‘Not that I am attempting to blackmail you into naming the day.’
‘Oh, Archie!’ She threw up her hands and smiled.
‘Youwilltell me why you still hesitate. Eventually. Don’t make me torture it out of you.’ His smile faltered. ‘Of course, if you have changed your mind and decided that I am more trouble than it’s worth sacrificing your precious independence for then I shall try to understand.’
‘Stop being pathetic!’ she cried impatiently. ‘You know very well that’s not the case.’
‘Do I?’ He looked momentarily unsure of himself again. ‘Anyway, to answer your question, Pawson hasn’t discovered who’s behind the campaign yet, but he has the landlord at the local tavern keeping his eyes and ears open. We shall know something soon. As for Avery, Rochester has promised to let me know if, or should I say when, he runs him to ground. He’s very proficient at what he does.’
‘So he will find Eloise’s brother for us, but we still don’t know why Avery was so keen to have him come to England.’
‘No, we do not and I will confess that it bothers me. I would like to find him first if I possibly can. Hopefully Pawson’s enquiries will point us in the right direction.’
The meal came to an end and Archie stood to help her from her chair. ‘Come along,’ he said. ‘We need to discuss the redecorations so that I can put them in hand.’
Chapter Nine
Archie had conducted his now customary vigil whenever he expected Flora from the vantage point of his library window. It afforded him a clear view of the front driveway, and at least if he remained in that room, he could fool himself into believing that he was occupying his time usefully, even though the correspondence awaiting his attention remained neglected. Attempting to fill his mind with thoughts about anything other than the pleasure of Flora’s exclusive company would prove futile, he knew from experience. Terrifying himself by contemplating all the things that could prevent her arrival, on the other hand, including abduction by her desperate father, continued to play havoc with his emotions. Damn it, he should have insisted upon Pawson collecting her!
His patience had eventually been rewarded and he breathed a little easier when he caught sight of her in the distance trotting along on her grey gelding. He tried not to resent the fact that it was Luke who had purchased the horse that she loved so much. It was unworthy of him to resent his friend when it was he, Archie, who had eventually won the ultimate prize of Flora’s hand in marriage, even if she didn’t appear to be in too much of a hurry to name the day.
He went to the stables to greet her in person, aware that she would be too considerate to ride up to the front door and put his grooms to the trouble of coming to collect Amethyst. The weather was perfect. A strong sun beat down on his gardens, showing them off to their best advantage, but it seemed to Archie to shine a little brighter when Flora was at his side. He loved her with a passion that sometimes scared him. There were a lot of men in his class who resented his phoenix-like rise from the ashes of his self-inflicted demise. Men like Avery, who were already thinking up new ways to ruin him. Much as it mattered to him, he would sacrifice his reputation in the blink of an eye if that’s what it took to keep Flora safe.
Flora was still behaving in the reserved manner that had sprung up between them since his proposal, and he was at a loss to understand its cause. He was determined that there would be no secrets between them, no doubts and no regrets, so he would press her on the point today. Archie wasn’t sure if he was strong enough to withstand the pain if she had decided against him. There was little that he wasn’t intimately acquainted with when it came to the subject of pain, but if Flora had undergone a change of heart then it would be akin to having his heart removed from his chest with a blunt spoon.
Even so, he would not have her take him out of a sense of obligation—or worse, pity.
Archie transferred his wandering thoughts to the here and now as he escorted Flora from the table in the conservatory, fully intending to push her into naming the day. His patience was not limitless, and his frustration was growing stronger with every meeting. His hands itched to investigate every enticing dip and curve of her body. How he had managed to resist that temptation thus far he was still at a loss to understand.
‘Shall we start in the drawing room?’ he suggested. ‘After all, when we hold our betrothal party, the room will be filled with our guests.’
‘That will not be for a while,’ she replied, looking round the vast room that wore an air of neglect like a shroud. ‘There is so much to be done here first.’
‘Oh no!’ He wagged a warning finger beneath her nose. ‘Don’t you dare use the condition of our house as an excuse to delay.’
‘Our house?’ She turned and gave him her full attention for the first time since leaving the conservatory. ‘That will take some getting used to.’
