Page 32 of A Sense of Paradise
It was Archie’s turn to pause for reflection. He leaned an elbow on the table and rested the side of his face on his clenched fist, watching her with a probing intensity that made her feel hot all over. ‘I explained to Rochester that we are engaged to be married.’
Flora’s head shot up. ‘I wish you had not done that.’
‘Are you ashamed of me?’ he asked in a mocking tone, but she could see the uncertainty now reflected in his eyes. It was so unusual to see her forthright marquess unsure of himself that her anger deflated.
‘We agreed not to make the announcement quite yet.’
‘Sergeant Salter gave the impression that he disapproved of your unchaperoned visits to Felsham Hall. I was not about to haveyourreputation tarnished.’
Flora grinned. ‘That’s sweet of you, Archie, but I dealt with the sergeant’s disapproval well enough when he expressed it at Fox Hollow. I don’t need you to fight that particular battle for me.’
Archie laughed. ‘I don’t doubt it.’
‘I was almost tempted to share our news with Melanie this morning when she made some remark about my always being here.’
Archie shook his head, his expression charmingly reprehensible. ‘Do you really think she hasn’t already guessed? Pawson knows, which means Polly does, so…’
‘It’s a huge assumption to make. The marquess and the vicar’s daughter,’ she said, rolling her eyes. ‘It sounds like the title of a farce one might expect to see in Drury Lane.’
‘How about the cripple and the goddess?’
Flora giggled. ‘That’s just silly.’
His expression sobered. ‘Point made, I believe.’
‘Will society really believe you capable of murder on the strength of nothing more than rumour and tattle?’ she asked pensively.
‘Oh good heavens yes. I have blotted my copybook in the eyes of more than a few families simply because I survived that fall and then hid myself away in France. Some would argue that I should have remained here and faced the music.’
‘That’s ridiculous! You were nearer to death than anything else. You needed the expert care that you initially obtained in Switzerland, which undoubtedly saved your life. After that, the more temperate climate in France aided your recovery—as did Eloise, I’m sure. It is far too damp and cold in the winters in this country for someone as badly injured as you were and the only reason you aren’t suffering more now that you are back is because of the steam room I bullied you into building.’ She huffed indignantly. ‘Even if you had remained in England, it’s not as if Simpson could have called you out in the state you were in. Really, people can be so judgemental when they are not in possession of all the facts.’
Archie laughed and softly touched her face with the tips of his fingers. ‘Remind me never to upset you.’ He paused. ‘As to not being destroyed by rumour, read this.’ He reached into his inside coat pocket and produced a letter, which he handed to Flora. ‘This came today by express from Scotland.’
Feeling curious, she glanced at the handwriting. ‘From Luke?’
‘Read it,’ he repeated.
Flora opened the letter and quickly scanned its contents. ‘Rumours of your being responsible for Yardley’s demise have reached his ears in Scotland.’ She lowered the letter, opened her eyes wide and stared across the table at Archie. ‘How can that be possible?’
‘I told you, theton’sgossip machine works like a well-oiled locomotive, and is as unstoppable. Besides, there are people who are making it their business to ensure that I ampersona non gratain certain circles.’
Flora tapped her fingers on the tabletop as she thought the matter through. ‘I described our father to Melanie as being a wounded and trapped animal only this morning. We both know that in such situations the wounded creature has only one course of action open to him, which is to fight back. He has nothing else left to lose.’ Flora glanced around her. ‘You have a great deal of material wealth, but as a gentleman nothing matters to you more than your reputation. Take that away and you would be a shell of a man, so it stands to reason that you will fight back, perhaps exposing Avery and his ilk for the depraved individuals that they are.’ She wrinkled her brow. ‘My father and his friends are playing a dangerous game and I cannot see what they hope to achieve by it. Well, I know what my father wants, but the others…’
‘If I start telling the truth about them, it will be seen as a desperate attempt to regain my own position, and the rumour mill will work against me for that very reason. No one will believe me and I hold no definitive proof, so I will no longer pose a threat to Averyet al.’
‘The only way you could have destroyed Avery is to do to him what he’s doing to you, so if my father propositioned him, he saw an opportunity to get in first and put his disobedient daughters in their place. He assumes—quite wrongly—that without your friendship, we will be more malleable.’
‘Precisely.’
‘Well that’s as maybe, but he’s overlooked one important consideration.’
‘And what is that, my lovely little spitfire?’
‘Well, it’s obvious. You have me fighting your corner, and when someone threatens something that I love then they usually live to regret it.’
‘My darling…’
Archie looked deeply moved by her words as he reached for her hand, but the moment was spoiled when Draper entered the room, cleared his throat and informed them that luncheon was served. Archie dropped her hand and hauled himself to his feet, sighing as he did so and sending her what could have been anything from a warning look to a signal of intent.
