Page 36 of A Sense of Paradise
Flora looked away from him, biting her lip as she inclined her head. ‘The possibility crossed my mind.’
‘I agreed to help her in the spirit of friendship and because I feel responsible to a degree for Maurice’s disappearance. I did spend an amount of time with the lad during my convalescence and spoke a lot about England. I just didn’t realise that my words had made such a deep impression upon him, although perhaps I should have. I’m afraid I was rather self-obsessed at the time, given the condition of my body and the relative immaturity of my mind.’
‘It was Avery who was responsible for his coming here, not you, but I do know without a shadow of doubt that Eloise used her brother’s presence in England as an excuse to renew her friendship with you.’ She sighed. ‘I hate behaving like a jealous shrew but you did press me for an explanation.’
‘I assure you that you have absolutely no cause for jealousy. I will help her to find Maurice and then send them both back to France. It is possible that she had hopes, I suppose, but they are groundless.’ Archie softened both his expression and his tone. ‘You are all I want, darling, never doubt it for a moment.’
‘Has it occurred to you that…’ She paused. ‘Well, the thing is I took a liking to Eloise, and know a woman who’s madly in love when I meet one. I recognise the signs in her because I am in the same situation. I am sure she is not devious, but I have to ask. Could it be possible that her brother is not really missing, or that she knows where he is and has simply used it as an excuse to renew her friendship, for want of a better word, with you?’
‘The possibility occurred to me when she first arrived,’ Archie conceded. ‘Like you, I have a suspicious nature, partly because people always seem to want something from me and aren’t too particular how they go about getting it. However, Louis would not have agreed to go along with a deception of that type.’
‘He is in love with Eloise.’
‘He is, and I hope she will eventually come to return his regard. Perhaps my making it clear that I won’t rekindle our affair will help to convince her in that respect. Besides, the business with Avery rings true. She wouldn’t know anything about him or his need for a wealthy wife, to say nothing of the fact that none of the heiresses in this country will receive him due to his appalling reputation. It all fits.’
‘Good, because I don’t want to think of her as being that devious.’
He smiled at her. ‘There’s something else on your mind, I think. Tell me.’
‘Well, it’s just that…’ She spread her hands and sent him a conflicted look that tore at his heartstrings. ‘If a lady who looks as lovely as Eloise couldn’t hold your attention, a lady who understands…understands how to please a man in the bedchamber, then what hope is there for me?’
‘Is that all?’ Archie felt relief flood through him. ‘Darling, I have matured. My wild days are behind me and would be even if I was still a whole man. I know what I want, and that is you.’ He fixed her with a look of unguarded passion, desperate for her to believe him since he spoke the absolute truth. ‘Only you. Never doubt it because I have never been more certain of anything in my entire life.’
Flora swallowed. ‘Oh,’ she said breathlessly.
‘Indeed, oh. I think I felt that indefinable, elusive something that I hadn’t known I’d been seeking the first time I saw you at Beranger Court, standing up to the countess and spoiling all her fun. I was very impressed by what I saw, but I sensed Luke’s interest in you and didn’t want to poach on his turf, so to speak. Waiting for him to make up his mind about whether or not to propose was torture. I felt convinced that he would and that you would accept him. You and he seemed so close.’ He caressed her with his eyes and then gently kissed her lips. ‘I am so very glad that he didn’t come to his senses. I yearn for you with every fibre of my being, my love, and intend to spend the rest of my days proving it to you. Something that feels so exquisitely right couldn’t possibly be wrong.’
‘I know you do.’ She paused. ‘Now. But what if I fail to…’ She nodded in the direction of his father’s bedchamber. ‘All those paintings. What if I don’t want to do those things?’
‘I am not my father,’ he said softly, pushing her shoulder gently so that she fell back onto the pillows. ‘However, I’m willing to wager that you have a passionate soul and an inquisitive mind. I very much doubt that there’s anything you won’t be willing to try.’ He chuckled. ‘You will probably want to try things that are physically no longer possible for me and then I shall feel as though I am lettingyoudown.’
‘Lord Felsham! I will have you know that I am a respectable vicar’s daughter.’
They both laughed.
Archie glanced down at her, looking so wary, her eyes wide and shining with curiosity, and wondered for the hundredth time how she could possibly have such a low opinion of herself. He knew the answer, of course. Her father had ruthlessly crushed her spirit and whenever his mind dwelt upon that reality, he admired her courage in defying him anew, to the point that she’d carved out a life for herself independent of her family.
‘We should find out now, before we commit to one another,’ she said with determination, blushing furiously but gamely holding his gaze.
‘Oh no!’ On the point of kissing her witless, Archie sat bolt upright, resolutely determined. ‘You need to trust me. This is my area of expertise and I know that you will be responsive when the time comes.’
‘Have you any idea how incredibly arrogant you sound?’ she asked, clearly fighting a smile.
‘That’s because I know what I say is true.’
She was still supine and he stopped fighting the urge to reassure her in a more direct manner. One hand slowly ran down the length of her side, pausing to cup the underside of her breast. She gasped, then let out a little moan of protest when his hand continued its downward journey. He followed the contour of her slim thigh through the fabric of her riding habit, then moved on to her calf, his fingers probing and teasing, before delving beneath her hem and reversing direction. Her little moans grew louder as his fingers drew dangerously close to the apex of her legs. It took all the strength he possessed not to touch her in the place where she most wanted him to and instead withdraw.
‘Point proven, I believe,’ he said, unable to keep the smug edge out of his voice.
‘You…’ She swallowed and made another effort to speak. ‘You cannot leave things there.’
‘It isn’t easy for me but you have to understand.’ He straightened her clothing and gently pulled her back into a sitting position. ‘For once in my life, I want to do the right thing. To treat you with respect and reverence and wait until we have exchanged vows in the eyes of God before I truly make you mine.’
‘Respect is overrated,’ she complained, sending him a dazzling smile. ‘But I feel better now. I’m sorry that I had a wobble, Archie. I must be a terrible trial to you, what with all my inexperience and insecurities.’
‘You are perfect just the way you are.’
‘Well, I hope you still feel that way after we are married, since I shall not take kindly to your keeping a mistress when you discover that you have made a terrible mistake.’
