Page 50 of A Sense of Paradise
Upon their return from the dreary church service that lacked the soothing ritual of a full Catholic mass, Mr Pawson’s appearance at Fox Hollow cheered Eloise’s jaded spirit. He had obviously come with news regarding Maurice’s whereabouts, implying that Eloise would be needed at Felsham Hall. The summons would be issued at any moment and so she remained in her room, waiting patiently for Polly to deliver it.
But like Archie’s invitation to join her in England, it was not forthcoming.
She glanced out of her window and noticed Pawson and Flora strolling in the gardens together, laughing about something, perfectly at ease in one another’s company. Were they laughing at her? Cold fury ripped through Eloise. How dare they! Eloise wanted to grab something heavy and hit the pair of them over their heads with it. She could not, of course, so instead she took several deep, calming breaths and went out to join them.
Before she could cross-question either of them, Pawson took himself off with Flora’s pretty maid.
Once Pawson had departed, Flora also excused herself. ‘I have a tincture that I need to deliver to one of my special old ladies,’ she said. ‘I shall not be long. It’s a lovely day. I am sure you will be able to occupy yourself.’
‘Of course. I keep telling you, you must not put yourself out on my behalf.’
Eloise watched as Flora collected something from her stillroom and departed. She didn’t for one moment believe that Flora’s intended destination was an old lady’s cottage. Only pride held her back from following Flora and catching her somewhere close by with Archie. Knowing that Flora had stolen her place in his affections was one thing. She didn’t need to torture herself further by actually seeing them in one another’s clutches.
She glanced at the paddock, where Melanie sat with her sketch book, and headed in that direction. The younger Miss Latimer was open and forthright and would probably tell her as much as she knew about her sister’s friendship with Archie at a time when Flora wasn’t there to prevent her from being indiscreet. Whether she understood the true nature of that friendship, Eloise had yet to decide. The time had come to do a little probing. She had not exercised so much patience only to be usurped by a vicar’s not-so-pious daughter.
‘Hello.’ Eloise summoned up a smile as she looked over Melanie’s shoulder at her sketch and raised a brow. ‘That’s very good.’
‘Is it? I wish Amethyst would have the goodness to keep still, just for a minute or two. I cannot get the shape of his head exactly right.’
‘I think you have captured it beautifully.’ Eloise settled beside Melanie on the bench she occupied and allowed a momentary silence to develop as Melanie concentrated on her sketching. ‘Amethyst is a very handsome horse—expensive too, one imagines. Was he a gift from Lord Felsham?’ she asked, well aware that he was not, but thinking it a convenient way to bring Archie’s name into the conversation.
‘Oh no. Lord Swindon gave him to Flora for her one-and-twentieth birthday.’ Melanie beamed. ‘Wasn’t that generous of him?’
Eloise struggled to find her voice. Melanie hadn’t told her anything that Flora hadn’t already admitted, but only now did it occur to her that Lord Swindon must be obsessed with the girl too. In the name of God, why? What was it about her? ‘I thought your sister was employed by Lord Swindon.’
‘She was. She was companion to his late grandmother, who was a crotchety old lady who frightened all her companions away with her bizarre behaviour. Flora wasn’t so easily intimidated, and they became good friends. She said that the countess was simply lonely and amused herself by pretending to be unbalanced.’ Melanie chuckled. ‘She used to evade her maid sometimes and wander out onto the roof to commune with the moon.’
‘Goodness,’ Eloise said faintly.
‘I wish I had known her.’ A note of envy had entered Melanie’s voice. ‘She sounds lovely and I know that Flora misses her terribly. Anyway, Flora was treated as a member of the family.’
‘That would explain why she was bridesmaid to Lord Swindon’s new wife.’ Eloise had been wondering about that.
‘I expect so. They were all very grateful to Flora for making the countess’s last days so happy. Anyway, all the Beranger family gave Flora gifts on her name day and…well, I think Lord Swindon wanted to marry her, although Flora has never said. It’s just the impression I’ve been left with.’ Melanie frowned and made an adjustment to her sketch. ‘However, he is married to someone else now, so perhaps I got it wrong.’
‘How did your sister come to live here in such comfort?’ Eloise asked casually, not sure if she wanted to hear the answer.
‘I believe she came into some money. I don’t know the particulars.’
Yes you do, Eloise thought, wondering if she had underestimated Melanie, who had clearly been told to keep Flora’s affairs a secret. Her family was not wealthy—and even if they were they would not support her lifestyle if they had disowned her. It was a paltry explanation that only served to increase Eloise’s suspicions.
‘I do know that Flora was determined not to return home to live beneath Papa’s rigid regime after the countess died,’ Melanie continued. ‘So she started looking for a cottage. Anyway, I am very glad that she did and that she’s had the goodness to take me in. Flora is the kindest, most considerate sister in the entire world.’
‘It must be a coincidence that she found a cottage so close to Felsham Hall.’
‘Oh, I don’t know about that. Flora and Lord Felsham have always been on friendly terms and she helps him, a bit like you did in France, I expect. The two of you should compare notes.’
Eloise turned a gurgle into a cough. Was the child reallythatnaïve. ‘He was in a far worse state when I knew him.’
‘Well then, I expect you deserve some of the credit for his improvements. But Flora’s herbal cures have eased his pain considerably since he came back to England—once she could persuade him to take them, that is. She said that he was inordinately stubborn and disliked anyone showing sympathy for his plight, or offering to help him. She thought it probably made him feel less like a man, which is silly. Anyway, I think Flora joined forces with Mr Pawson and Lord Felsham couldn’t resist them both. Now he himself admits that Flora has been a godsend. She bullied him into having a steam room constructed on his estate and the heat helps his poor joints too.’
Eloise thought that if she heard one more word about the saintly Flora’s magical abilities, she would not be responsible for her actions. ‘Your sister’s thoughts will be turning to matrimony, I dare say. I don’t suppose she inherited sufficient funds to remain independent indefinitely. Besides, all young ladies dream of love and marriage, do they not?’
‘Flora doesn’t, at least as far as I am aware. Or if she does she never mentions it. That’s hardly surprising, given that we only have our parents’ example of marital disharmony to guide us. Our mother’s spirit has been squashed by Papa, who is formidable. She is incapable of thinking for herself and obeys him absolutely. It is as though she no longer has a will of her own, and we five girls were being brought up in her image, until Flora found the courage to break away and be herself. If she had not…’
‘Your sister clearly inherited some of your father’s determination.’
Melanie shuddered. ‘Don’t let Flora hear you say that. I know you meant it as a compliment, but she would not see it that way.’
