Page 37 of A Sense of Paradise
Archie shook his head. ‘So much insecurity, my love.’ His hand roamed down her back and slid beneath her bottom. ‘But it is quite misplaced. You will be more than enough for me. You have my word on the matter.’
‘Very well then. Let’s be married in the autumn,’ she said. ‘I love that season. We must wait for Luke and Violet to return. You need to tell him before the entire world knows. That will give you time to put the renovations in place and then we can throw the betrothal party that you mentioned. The countess would approve, I’m sure, if Melanie and I stay overnight before you and I are married.’
‘Darling!’ He took her in his arms and kissed her with intensity. ‘You have made me the happiest of men.’
‘I won’t confide in Melanie. It isn’t fair to expect her to keep our secret, although I don’t suppose she will be that surprised when we eventually tell her.’ Archie delighted in Flora’s excited chatter as she finally spoke of plans for their wedding day. ‘She will want to be a bridesmaid, but I am not sure who else I can invite to attend me. I suppose a future marchioness will have to have at least a dozen.’
‘You can have as few or as many as you like, darling. I will have eyes only for you.’
‘Just as well, since my other two unmarried sisters have made it plain that they want nothing to do with me and Pamela is increasing.’
‘There is plenty of time to consider the guest list. I will have words with the bishop about marrying us, but not yet. He will still be mourning the loss of his son.’
‘We are planning our future happiness while he must be very upset. It doesn’t seem right.’
‘We are not to blame for Yardley’s demise, and I cannot help but think that the world will be a better place without him in it. Life goes on, my love.’
‘Harsh but fair.’ Flora smiled up at him and instigated a brief kiss herself. Then she jumped to her feet, and Archie was delighted to see that the cloud of uncertainty had been banished from her eyes. ‘Now then, what shall we do to these rooms to stamp our own mark on them?’
Chapter Ten
Eloise smiled at Louis as he helped her into his hired curricle, insisting upon delivering her to Miss Latimer’s cottage despite the fact that he had a train to catch.
‘I do not know how I would have managed in this strange country without your help, my friend,’ she said, touching his hand.
Louis nodded as he drove away from the Stag and Hounds’ mews. ‘I think you hoped for a warmer welcome,’ he replied, not looking at her.
‘If you are suggesting that I hoped seeing me again would stir something in Archie, to make him realise what he had given up, then yes, I suppose I did.’ She gave a careless little wave that probably failed to disguise the level of her hurt and humiliation. ‘You warned me not to get my hopes up but I was too stubborn to listen. I have been very selfish,non? I should be thinking only of Maurice.’
‘Maurice is tougher than you give him credit for being. I am sure that no lasting harm will come to him. For all we know, he may already be back in France, wondering what all the fuss was about.’
‘He would not have returned without at least trying to see Archie, his idol. Besides, if Lord Avery is as manipulative as Archie implied, then I cannot help worrying that Maurice is being used for reasons I fail to comprehend.’ She tapped her fingers against her thigh in a state of heightened agitation. ‘I just wish I knew what that reason could be.’
‘You were Lord Avery’s first choice, and you had the good sense to reject him.’
Eloise twitched her nose. ‘Lord Avery’s ardour cooled when he realised that I had no money and was unwilling to share his bed. No, this is about Archie; I am convinced of it.’
Louis grunted. ‘He is more than capable of protecting his own interests. You should return to France with me, where you will not be able to make a fool of yourself—’
‘A fool of myself?’ Eloise’s head snapped round. ‘Whatever do you mean?’
‘You know what I mean. You lose all sense of perception when you are anywhere near Felsham. No man wants a woman who makes herself too available.’
‘He did once,’ Eloise replied, tossing her head, refusing to acknowledge the truth behind Louis’s words, wondering why he was being so deliberately brutal.
‘You were a distraction when he was stranded in France, unable to move very much. Now he is back in England and in possession of his vast estate. He has made it abundantly clear that he doesn’t want you anymore. He told you as much, to be fair to him, before he left France.’
‘Yes, I know, but—’
‘Come back with me with your dignity intact, and leave Felsham to find Maurice and send him home.’ Louis glanced at the stubborn set to Eloise’s features and shook his head. ‘I don’t know why I bother. I am wasting my breath. You are obsessed with the man and nothing I say will alter that situation. I had thought when you saw him and realised I was right…But it seems I have underestimated your selfish determination.’
‘You are angry with me.’ Eloise touched Louis’s arm but he showed no reaction and kept his gaze focused on the road. ‘Please don’t be cross, Louis. I cannot bear it if you frown at me too. Papa told me not to come. He said the same thing about Maurice as you, but I know my brother. I know he is easily led and cannot…’
Her words trailed off when she saw the anger and hurt glistening in Louis’s eyes. Anything she said when he was in such an uncompromising mood would only make matters ten times worse, so she allowed an uncomfortable silence to ensue.
‘I cannot always be at your beck and call, Eloise,’ he said eventually through gritted teeth. ‘I have a life of my own, in case it had escaped your notice.’
Eloise felt tears threatening. Louis had never been anything other than patient and understanding and she couldn’t figure out why his attitude had suddenly undergone such a dramatic change.
