Page 66 of A Sense of Paradise
‘He did, but only when it was too late.’ She smiled when Remus materialised and sent her an indignant look. ‘He was with you first, he tells me, although that might be an excuse. He wanted to make you realise that you were needed urgently.’
‘Perhaps that is why I felt so unsettled all day. I knew something wasn’t right.’
‘Well anyway, if you can squeeze me onto your curricle for the short ride back to the village, Mabel is there and I can drive myself home.’
Archie was having none of it, and made Pawson drive behind Mabel until they returned to Fox Hollow, where Archie welcomed the opportunity to sample Beatrice’s latest cake and Pawson took the opportunity to enjoy Polly’s company.
‘Luke returns home in a few days’ time,’ Archie reminded her as they drank their tea. ‘We will establish your Mrs Finch in her cottage and then I will call and see him. No more prevarication, my love.’
Flora smiled. ‘Do that,’ she said, sending him a smile imbued with anticipation. ‘It’s time.’
Chapter Seventeen
Two weeks after the events in Bradenstoke, Archie was driven to Beranger Court. Luke had returned from Scotland with his bride a few days previously and welcomed Archie with considerable warmth.
‘How is married life treating you?’ Archie asked, settling down in Luke’s library with a glass of whisky in his hand.
‘It has its advantages,’ Luke replied evasively.
‘One could have hoped for a more enthusiastic response,’ Paul remarked, sharing a look of mild concern with Archie.
‘What brings you scuttling to my door?’ Luke asked, stretching his arms above his head and yawning. ‘Not that you are unwelcome, of course.’
‘Curiosity,’ Archie replied, grinning. ‘I’m the last of us standing, so to speak.’
‘Ah, so you’ve come to gloat.’
‘Not precisely.’ Archie wondered how upset Luke would be when he imparted his news. Wondering too if he was half expecting it, which would account for his guarded expression. They had all matured and the spontaneity that fuelled their university days had been replaced by a more measured approach.
‘What was behind all the rumours?’ Paul asked. ‘There were whispers everywhere about your involvement in Yardley’s murder.’
Luke and Paul both expressed shock when Archie explained.
‘Avery?’ Luke spat the word as he stood, picked up the decanter and refilled their glasses. ‘Are we seriously expected to believe that he bore a grudge against your father all this time and took it out on you?’ He shook his head. ‘It hardly seems credible.’
‘He had to look abroad for a wealthy wife, since no family worth knowing in this country would allow him anywhere near its daughters. And quite right too. The man really is a degenerate.’
‘We were not exactly saints in our younger days ourselves,’ Luke pointed out.
‘I need hardly be reminded of that.’ Archie spared his injured left side a significant glance. ‘But we did not gain satisfaction through cruelty, nor did we press our attentions where they were unwelcome or inappropriate.’ Archie stretched his troublesome leg out in front of him, wincing at the pain. The carriage journey had given it a jolting. ‘Avery happened upon Eloise either by chance, or else he went to that area of France in the vague hope of learning something to my detriment, since he knew it was where I had spent the majority of my convalescence.’
Luke shrugged. ‘Perhaps. It’s no secret and lends credence to his grudge.’
Archie nodded and took a healthy sip of his drink. ‘He probably couldn’t believe his luck when he found Eloise. She really is a vision but alas, not rich enough to save him from dun territory and not a lady in the recognised sense of the word. Such things would matter to a man with Avery’s pretentions.’
‘She’s the daughter of a vineyard manager, I think you said,’ Paul remarked.
‘Quite. The equivalent of being a steward’s daughter in this country. Anyway, Avery transferred his attentions to her wealthier friend, but saw a way to entice Eloise to England, fairly sure that she would run to me to help find her brother. His intention was to gain revenge upon me for his mother’s death by smearing my reputation.’
‘Astonishing.’ Luke shook his head. ‘Did your pater dabble with Lady Avery, as a matter of interest?’
‘Lord only knows.’ Archie gave a negligent shrug. ‘Perhaps. Probably. But Avery’s hardly in a position to cast aspersions, given what we know him to be capable of. Anyway, I can tell you that he his grievance must have been festering away for a while. He even had a former tenant of mine stirring up the locals. Not that many believed a word he said, but there are always a few willing to think the worst, and as we all know, if a rumour is repeated often enough it eventually gains credence.’
‘Where would any of us be without our reputations?’ Luke asked. ‘Avery clearly realised how important yours is to you. More important than anything else. Credit where credit’s due, Archie, he recognised your weak spot.’
Archie nodded, not yet willing to admit that there was something—someone—more important to him even than his reputation as a gentleman.
‘Miss Garnier’s friend Louis was actually working with Avery?’ Paul asked, frowning. ‘Excuse me if I’m being dense, but it’s all a tad confusing.’
