Page 7 of A Sense of Paradise
Her gaze roamed the room and came to rest on Archie, who was in conversation with Charlie, one of Luke’s brothers. She tutted beneath her breath. He was standing again, and although he had been seated for the wedding breakfast and therefore able to rest his injured leg, it was too soon for him to be testing it again and he would pay the price. As though sensing her watching him, he looked over Charlie’s head and winked at her. She responded by fixing a significant look at his leg and shaking her head. Really, was this how married life would be? Would she spend all her time watching out for his interests and worrying about his pain?
Flora smiled to herself, suddenly in a massive hurry to find the answer. Or she would be if the sight of the beautiful lady calling his name outside the church in a foreign-sounding voice had not unnerved her and resurrected all her doubts and insecurities. Her head told her that she had no need to feel unsettled but her heart disagreed. She still found it hard to imagine that a gentleman as suave and sophisticated as Archie, a marquess with the world at his feet, would settle for an inconsequential nobody such as her. Despite her curiosity, it would probably be best not to mention the lady to him—but she smiled ruefully, aware that she wouldn’t be able to help herself.
Of more immediate concern was her father’s presence. She told herself repeatedly that there was nothing he could do to harm her, and that he would not be able to even if she was not secretly engaged to be married to a marquess. Even so, she had destroyed her father’s ambitions, which had been hisraison d’être.He would blame her for bringing his misdeeds to the attention of the bishop, thereby ensuring his downfall, even though he had nothing to blame but his own depraved character.Be that as it may, he was out to unsettle her and wanted her to know it.
Flora smiled as Melanie bounded up to them, bouncing with excitement. ‘Is this not the most wonderful occasion?’ she asked, beaming at Flora and then at Luke’s two sisters. ‘I never thought that I would get to be part of anything half so grand. Thank you so very much for making me feel at home here, ladies.’
‘You are entirely welcome,’ Emma replied on behalf of herself and her sister. ‘Flora is so very dear to us and you are quickly becoming equally precious.’
‘Goodness, you are very kind. Mr Sam has just been telling me all about his time in America. It sounds fascinating.’
‘Not so fascinating that Sam intends to return,’ Mary said. ‘He told Luke that he would like to remain permanently in England so he will live here at Beranger Court with us until he decides what to do with himself. Or until Luke finds him something to do to be of use.’
‘Sam is very clever. He certainly got to the bottom of the misdeeds of the former managers of our American estates,’ Emma pointed out. ‘There will be no shortage of things for him to do here at Beranger Court, but he might want to set himself up on his own account, much as Charlie and Henry have done.’
‘Our other brothers are married, which means they have responsibilities and not just themselves to think about.’
‘True.’ Emma grinned at her sister. ‘Perhaps we should set about finding Sam a suitable wife.’
‘Best not. He will only fight against our interference,’ Mary advised.
‘Very likely. Anyway, he is still young.’
‘I was not aware that he had decided to return permanently,’ Flora remarked, ‘but I am glad. As you say, he will be able to shoulder some of Luke’s responsibilities, leaving him more time to spend with his new wife.’
The others agreed but as Flora again glanced in Luke’s direction, she wondered if she was the only person present who had noticed just how little of his attention he was currently bestowing upon Violet. She sighed, hoping that his reticence was due to nothing more lasting than the pressures of the day. She vowed not to visit Beranger Court for a while and give the newlyweds an opportunity to become accustomed to the changes in their respective positions. She would not for the world carry the burden of responsibility for Luke’s unsettled frame of mind by constantly being under his feet.
‘You let him off lightly,’ Alvin remarked, as he joined Archie and Charlie. ‘I know you had to temper your revelations, given mixed company, but something a little spicier about Luke’s youthful misadventures should have been aired.’
Archie laughed. ‘I didn’t want to discourage poor Violet by making her realise what she’s taken on,’ he said.
‘I doubt whether anything could discourage her,’ Charlie replied, his own smile fading. ‘She has achieved her heart’s desire which, unless I miss my guess, is not a claim that my brother can make.’
Archie raised a hand to Lord Baverstock, an old friend of his and Luke’s fathers whom he had not seen to speak to since his return. He was surprised when Baverstock turned away without acknowledging him. Archie was absolutely sure that he’d seen him. He shrugged off the slight and returned his attention to Charlie.
‘Not all marriages are made in heaven,’ Archie said lightly. ‘I know you two are quite disgustingly contented in your respective unions but we cannot all expect such good fortune.’
‘Your turn now, Archie,’ Charlie said, appearing to shake off his introspective mood. ‘You’re the last man standing.’
Archie flashed an enigmatic smile, wanting to shout from the rooftops that he had secured a promise from the lady who lit up his life and could melt his heart with just a smile, a particular look or gesture. He felt her watching him and winked at her. She responded by frowning at him, presumably because he was standing again and she knew that he would pay the price for putting too much weight on his injured leg. She failed to understand that sometimes it was necessary to suffer pain in order to save face. To be a whole man, or as much of a one as he would ever be. None of the gentlemen were seated now that the breakfast was over and they were instead milling around, waiting for the bride and groom to depart.
Archie could not—would not—sit.
He was mildly curious about the appearance of her father outside the church. He would use his position to frighten him off if needs be, but Eloise’s presence was less easily explained away. He’d managed a brief word with Pawson a little earlier. He had seen her too and was of the opinion that Archie should have responded to her letters.
‘She was devoted to you, as well you know,’ Pawson reminded him. ‘I warned you about letting her get too close, even if I can understand why you did. A man in your position needed a distraction, something to take your mind away from the pain, but I do wonder if you were entirely fair to her.’
Archie flexed a brow, accustomed to Pawson’s frank mode of expression. Indeed, he wouldn’t have it any other way. ‘Not sure what you mean by that. She knew from the outset that it wasn’t a lifelong commitmentandI rewarded her well, both at the time and before I left. I don’t feel I have any reason to castigate myself for my behaviour. She knew what she was getting herself into.’
‘All true, as far as it goes, but ladies aren’t as sanguine about matters of the heart as we are. Indeed, your heart didn’t play much of a part in the arrangement, but you can be sure that hers did. Anyway, all I’m saying is that she wouldn’t have written to you without good reason.’
Perhaps not, but she hadn’t stated what that reason was. Archie knew Pawson was right. She had developed feelings for him and he didn’t want to encourage her, even by entering into pointless correspondence. And so he had not. But now she was here, clearly with the intention of tracking him down and speaking to him face to face, and he wondered if he had been impolite by ignoring her letters. Worse, Flora had seen her and would demand an explanation. Archie rubbed his chin, thinking he would have to tell her the whole truth if there were to be no secrets between them. He had already told her that a young woman had acted as his nurse during his agonising years in France. She didn’t know what other services she had provided for him, but she might well have guessed.
‘They are leaving,’ Mary said, bouncing up to them.
‘Then we had best send them on their way to Scotland,’ Archie replied, finding Flora and placing her hand on his sleeve. They went to the vestibule and applauded as the Earl and Countess of Swindon descended the stairs in their travelling attire. It did not escape Archie’s notice that Luke bestowed a lingering look on Flora as he reached their position and shook Archie’s hand.
Violet called to the single ladies, turned her back on them and threw her bouquet over her shoulder. There was a mad scramble to catch it, in which Flora did not participate. Instead, she stood back and sent a mischievous look Archie’s way, implying that she didn’t need to catch the flowers in order to achieve her marital ambitions.
