Page 59 of A Sense of Paradise
‘Oh, thank you! Archie insists that I must go to London and order my trousseau. Frankly, I haven’t the first idea where to begin.’ She leaned forward and smiled at Mrs Finch. ‘Will you help me with that too?’
Mrs Finch took little persuading once she had been made to feel needed, and it was agreed that she would move at the end of the week.
‘Archie will send two of his men to remove all the possessions you want to take with you and drive you to your new abode. I will make sure that I am there to welcome you and help you to settle.’ Flora stood and leaned over to kiss the old lady. ‘Thank you so very much. You are more of a mother to me than my own ever was, and I do not know how I would have managed if you’d said no.’
‘Get away with you now.’ Mrs Finch flapped a hand, but Flora could see that she was moved by her words.
‘Yes, I must be getting along. I shall call again in a day or two and we can finalise arrangements.’
Flora returned to Fox Hollow and joined Melanie, whom she had set to work in the stillroom.
‘Will is going to accompany you on your rounds, or should I say my rounds, this morning,’ Flora told her sister as they finished preparing the ointments and tinctures for delivery to the villagers in need of them.
‘I can go alone. He doesn’t need to put himself out.’
‘It will give me peace of mind to know that you have company, at least until this business with Lord Avery is resolved, which I hope will be very soon. As it is, I don’t trust him not to do something desperate, especially if our father is egging him on.’ Flora smiled at her sister. ‘I don’t mean to frighten you, but it’s best for us to be on our guard.’
‘Very well. I am sorry that Eloise will be with you today. I think you would have preferred to be alone with Pamela, especially now that she is being more agreeable.’
‘Well, Pamela invited her and I could hardly object. Anyway, since Pamela will be there, she won’t be able to spend the entire day asking me intrusive questions about Archie. Speaking of whom, we are to have new wardrobes, you and I, and it seems that only the best London modistes can supply them.’
‘Oh!’ Melanie’s eyes came alight with pleasure and she bounced on her toes. ‘How very generous of his lordship.’
‘I think it more a case of him not wanting us to disgrace him.’
Melanie laughed and shook her head. ‘I think he would use his stick to decapitate anyone who dared to criticise you in such a way.’
Flora laughed too. ‘Very likely. Now, are you sure you know what’s what?’
‘Don’t worry. I have done these rounds with you often enough and watched what you do. I shall be fine. You had best get yourself ready, or you will keep Pamela waiting.’
‘Heaven forbid!’ Flora replied, grinning.
A short time later, Flora left Fox Hollow in the gig with the obliging Mabel between the shafts and with Eloise squashed onto the seat beside her.
‘The distance is a little less than nine miles. It will take us over an hour to cover it at Mabel’s pace but I don’t like to hurry her. Besides, it is such a lovely day that we ought to enjoy the fine weather and the scenery while we can.’
‘I am happy to have something with which to occupy my time,’ Eloise replied. ‘It hangs heavily on my hands. You have been very kind to me but I cannot help but feel anxious about Maurice. Everything is taking longer than I imagined it would and is playing havoc with my nerves.’
‘You assumed that Archie would be able to use his influence and make things happen, I suppose. And so he would, I dare say, if we could find Lord Avery. It seems highly suspicious that he has disappeared so completely. Anyway, I am sure that the matter will be resolved within the next few days and you will be able to take your brother home.’
‘Yes, let’s hope so,’ Eloise replied, with no real conviction in her tone.
Flora paid more attention to her driving than was necessary after that, her concentration deterring Eloise from peppering her with questions about Archie.
She slowed Mabel to a stately walk when they approached Bradenstoke, affording Flora the opportunity to take an interest in her surroundings.
‘I have only been here once before,’ she told Eloise, ‘but it looks to be a prosperous village, and as you can see,’ she added, taking one hand from the reins and pointing directly ahead, ‘the church dominates the town square. I think Pamela and Mr Janson will find the place agreeable.’
Flora turned Mabel into the tavern’s mews and left the cob in the care of the ostler who ran forward to take her head. The man paid considerably more attention to Eloise’s ankles when she lifted her skirts higher than Flora considered necessary in order to descend from the gig than he did to his duties. He looked decidedly flustered when Eloise treated him to an absent smile. Eloise, it seemed, enjoyed creating a stir.
‘We agreed to meet Pamela outside the church,’ Flora said, glancing at the bell tower when the clock struck the hour. ‘And we are precisely on time.’
Heads turned in their direction as they made their way along the street, with appreciative glances lingering upon Eloise. The Frenchwoman walked a little taller, clearly revelling in the attention that she pretended not to notice. Vanity or the natural reaction of a handsome woman who knew she was being admired? Flora, never having been in that position herself, was unable to decide.
‘There’s Pamela and Mr Janson.’ Flora raised a hand in greeting to the couple who stood beneath the church’s entrance porch.
‘Miss Latimer, Flora.’ Mr Janson stepped forward, his face wreathed in smiles, with hand outstretched. ‘I am very much obliged to you for procuring the marquess’s interest in my career.’
