Page 46 of A Sense of Paradise
She had nothing to fear from Eloise, she told herself, and yet her uncertainties prevailed.
Flora didn’t think Eloise was dangerous. Her aura wasn’t dark. She was simply determined and underhanded, her actions guided by a firm conviction that her future lay with Archie.
Flora would fight tooth and nail to protect the man she loved, and had the advantage of a spirit guide—albeit a rather negligent one—to aid her. Eloise would be made to see that her quest was doomed to failure sooner rather than later. Be that as it may, the lady herself made Flora feel uneasy. She regretted offering the Frenchwoman her hospitality. Why hadn’t Remus warned her against it? He was no use to her if he constantly forgot his duties. But still, what was done was done. It wasn’t as though she could turn her out again. Besides, it was better to have Eloise where she could keep an eye on her. She didn’t entirely trust her. Hopefully her brother would be found soon and she would then have no further excuse to linger.
‘I have absolute faith in Archie’s abilities to find him,’ Eloise said, tossing her head.
‘You would be better advised to place your faith in Scotland Yard. They have the authority to track Lord Avery down. When they do, your brother’s whereabouts will be known and you will be able to take him home. Comfort yourself with that thought.’
Flora could see that the thought in question didn’t give Eloise much comfort. She could also sense Melanie’s confusion at Flora’s brisk tone.
They returned to Fox Hollow and to their rooms, where Flora was thankfully able to rid herself of her hat and gloves. The first to return to the ground floor, she heard laughter coming from the kitchen and smiled when she recognised Mr Pawson’s deep voice and Polly’s answering giggles.
‘Mr Pawson,’ she said, entering the kitchen and causing him and Polly to jump hastily apart. ‘An unexpected pleasure.’
‘I will make the tea, miss,’ Polly said. ‘Beatrice and Will have gone to chapel.’
‘Have you come with a message from Lord Felsham, or to enjoy Polly’s company?’ Flora asked. ‘Perhaps a little of both, in which case Polly is welcome to an hour off.’
‘Oh, miss.’ Polly’s cheeks turned pink.
Mr Pawson’s smile was almost as charming and relaxed as his master’s. ‘A word, if you please, Miss Latimer,’ he said.
‘By all means. Shall we walk in the garden? We will not be interrupted there.’
‘How’s it going?’ Mr Pawson asked as they strolled away from the cottage, accompanied by Zeus with tail aloft. ‘His lordship is keen to know.’
‘Is he now? In that case, it’s best not to tell him that I think Eloise has an ulterior motive for being here. She wants Archie to realise what he gave up, but how she conveniently arranged for Lord Avery to entice her brother over to this side of the Channel is less obvious to me.’
Mr Pawson nodded. ‘We’ve been wondering about that as well.’
‘Whatever you have come to tell me, you’d best make it quick,’ Flora said, glancing back at the house. ‘The moment Eloise sees you here she will pounce upon you, demanding an update. All she really wants, of course, is information about Archie. Fortunately, she thinks I am too insignificant to have attracted his interest, and therefore no impediment to her ambitions.’
‘Then she’s a damned fool, begging your pardon for the language.’
Flora waved the apology aside. ‘I cannot pinpoint any one incident that has aroused my suspicions about this entire affair,’ she said. ‘I suppose it is a number of small things. Most importantly, though, she doesn’t seem that concerned about her brother. I know that if Melanie had run off I would be beside myself and quite unable to think about anything else.’ Flora frowned. ‘It’s almost as though she knows that her brother is safe.’
‘She hasn’t guessed that you and his lordship are engaged to be married?’
‘No. As I say, I am not nearly pretty enough to qualify as a rival in that regard. She seems to think that is the only criteria that signifies. But you can assure Archie that I’ve been duly warned from more than one quarter. He will understand.’
Flora listened when Mr Pawson told her about the contents of Lord Riley’s letter. ‘His lordship wants you to be on your guard,’ he finished by saying.
‘He would be better advised to ask if I can think of any large houses that have recently been let. He seems to forget that I regularly travel all over the village, treating people with my herbs, and I hear all the gossip that’s to be had.’
‘Have you heard anything about a house?’
‘No,’ she conceded, frowning, ‘but at least now I know that I should be asking.’
‘Be careful. His lordship will blame me if anything happens to you.’
Flora smiled. ‘He is impossibly tyrannical, isn’t he?’
‘Only where you’re concerned. It’s driving him demented because he can’t come and see you himself. Talking of which, he requests your presence tomorrow at the Hall. He has the sales representative from Harrods coming down with samples for you to look at.’
‘Goodness, he does make things happen.’
Mr Pawson chuckled. ‘Anything that gives him a legitimate excuse to summon you. I tell you true, I never thought I’d see the day when he’d lose his heart quite so comprehensively, and it gladdens my own heart to see it. He’s been through a lot and deserves to find happiness. Naturally, I shall deny saying so if you repeat what I’ve just told you.’
