Page 6 of A Sense of Paradise
Choose me!
‘There’s no help for it,’ Louis, who had accompanied her and acted as her friend and protector in this godforsaken country, said with sympathy in his tone. ‘He will go back to Beranger Hall and you won’t be able to get anywhere near him.’
‘I am aware of that,’ Eloise replied, more acerbically than had been her intention. Louis had seen the manner in which Archie had ignored her when he emerged from the church, and was probably pitying her as a consequence. Pity was the last thing she needed and so she took her embarrassment out on her loyal friend, which was unpardonable. ‘I’m sorry, Louis.’ She touched his arm briefly. ‘I cannot believe the difference in him. He can walk, and seems taller.’And beyond my reach.‘He has probably forgotten my name.’
Louis harrumphed but passed no comment.
‘I should have listened to you and not come here to witness this spectacle, only to be humiliated. Never mind. I am sure my pride will recover, given time. But now we will return to Lyneham and if there is no news awaiting us at the tavern then I shall have no choice but to go to Felsham Hall and beg Archie to listen. We cannot resolve this problem on our own.’
‘You shouldn’t have to beg, not after what you’ve been to him,’ Louis said, an edge to his voice.
Eloise nodded as she walked away from the church amidst a throng of cheerful villagers. She understood that the earl had laid on free ale for the locals, doubtless accounting for the carnival atmosphere.
She followed Louis to the mews, where he had left their hired conveyance. Louis was in love with Eloise; she had known it for years but pretended not to notice. All the time the matter wasn’t discussed between them there was no need for Eloise to reject him and harm their friendship. She glanced at him now, tall and lean and intense—a good prospect, steady and reliable. He had inherited a vineyard from his own father and was making a modest living.
And yet he had left it all in the hands of his manager at a time when he ought to be thinking about his harvest—the busiest time of the year for any vintner—in order to come to England with her. She discussed her problems with him, of course she did, she told Louis everything. They had no secrets from one another. He agreed that she needed to go to England but wouldn’t hear of her travelling alone.
‘You are a good friend to me, Louis,’ she said when they had retrieved their curricle and Louis was driving them towards Lyneham. ‘I don’t think I tell you that often enough, but never doubt that I depend upon you. Indeed, I wouldn’t know how to manage without your sound common sense.’
Louis took his attention from the road and sent her a brief sideways glance imbued with a wealth of emotion. Eloise cursed her insensitivity, aware that the last thing he wanted from her was friendship. She felt the need to apologise, but she knew that anything she said would only make matters worse. With a sigh, she watched the passing scenery as their single horse trotted along at a leisurely pace. Her mind returned to the enticing prospect of Archie in his exquisitely tailored suit, his rugged features so handsome, so familiar and so very endearing, and felt like crying with regret.
Instead she turned her thoughts to the bridesmaid who had enjoyed his complete attention and wondered who she could possibly be.
‘Wasn’t that lovely?’ The wedding breakfast had been consumed and the speeches delivered when Luke’s sister Mary glided up to Flora, smiling broadly. ‘I am so glad that Luke has finally settled down. It’s not before time. I only wish Grandmamma could have lived long enough to see the day.’
‘Oh, I think she is well aware,’ Flora replied.
‘Yes, but it’s not quite the same thing, is it? Anyway, I hope Luke will be as happy as Paul and me.’
‘That would be a difficult ambition for him to achieve,’ Flora replied, returning Mary’s smile. ‘Since you presented your husband with a healthy son, I doubt whether either of you have stopped smiling, for which I do not blame you in the least. Angus is the best baby in the world. I have yet to hear him cry.’
‘I must confess that he seems remarkably contented with his life and doesn’t seem to want to go to the trouble of giving us any…well, trouble. He much prefers to eat and sleep.’
‘You would know. I hear you spend so much time in the nursery that his nanny is left with nothing to do.’
‘I cannot seem to help it.’ Mary grinned. ‘I look at Angus and still find it impossible to imagine that Paul and I…’
‘Yes?’ Flora sent Mary a wicked little smile. ‘What precisely is it that you and Paul did that you find so remarkable?’
Mary laughed. ‘If you were not so stubborn,’ she said, lowering her voice, ‘you would be the one at Luke’s side as we speak, and would soon be finding out for yourself.’
‘Don’t, Mary!’ Flora held up a warning hand. ‘There is nothing to be gained through speculation. What is done is done and I am delighted for the happy couple. Content yourself with the knowledge that Violet will make an exemplary countess.’
‘Oh, I don’t doubt it. I like her very much, but she will not challenge Luke in the way that you so easily can. That is all I meant to imply.’
‘Here comes Emma,’ Flora said, grasping the approach of Mary’s sister as an excuse to change the subject. ‘You and she can compare notes on babies and remark upon how they come about.’
‘I can see that you are in a mischievous mood, Flora,’ Mary replied, grinning. ‘I am glad about that. I did worry that you might regret…’
‘Luke looks very relieved,’ Emma said, joining them. ‘Alvin tells me he was terrified that Archie would embarrass him in his speech by bringing up particulars of their youthful indiscretions.’
‘And shock the bishop?’ Mary shook her head. ‘Even he would not go that far, would he?’ Mary and Emma both looked to Flora for clarification.
‘I rather think the embarrassing took place last night when the gentlemen drank Luke’s cellar dry,’ Flora replied. ‘I have to say that I admire their powers of recovery. To look at them, you would have no idea that any of them are nursing sore heads, but I am absolutely sure that they must be.’
‘It’s traditional, Paul tells me.’ Mary and Emma exchanged a resigned look.
Flora took the opportunity to steal a glance at Luke, something she had avoided doing since catching the pathos in his expression when their gazes had met in the church. It would not be fair to Violet if he allowed his true feelings to show—always supposing that he still harboured any feelings for Flora, although she suspected that he very well might—especially not today of all days.
