Page 51 of A Sense of Paradise
‘The state of your parents’ marriage is not that uncommon.’
‘A husband’s word is law, and that is the best reason I can think of to decide against matrimony.’ Melanie’s expression turned speculative. ‘I suppose if one doesn’t have the means to support oneself then marriage is the only answer. Even if it means placing oneself at the mercy of one’s husband—who naturally always knows what is best for one and will refuse to listen to the opinion of a mere woman.’
‘But there is a stigma, I think is the word you use, attaching to unmarried females, is there not? They are looked upon as objects of pity, or charitable causes to be endured by their brothers’ wives, who have a duty to take them in to prevent them from starving.’
‘We do not have any brothers.’ Melanie smiled. ‘Anyway, I don’t think the stigma will worry Flora in the least, or me either for that matter. We are modern young women, willing to defy convention in preference to sacrificing our hard-won independence for no good reason.’ She frowned and brushed at the side of her ear, as though trying to ward off an irritating fly. Her lips moved in silent reproach, but Eloise couldn’t see anything buzzing around her. ‘Anyway, Eloise, how about you?’ she asked in a more cautious tone. ‘You are very lovely and must have received a dozen offers, I am absolutely sure. Will you accept any of them?’
‘Oh, there is plenty of time,’ Eloise replied, having clearly underestimated Melanie, who had told her frustratingly little about Flora’s relationship with Archie and instead turned the conversation back onto her own matrimonial ambitions, or lack thereof. ‘Are you quite all right, my dear?’ she asked, when Melanie stared off into the distance, a slight frown creasing her brow.
Perhaps Melanie resented the intrusive questions. She had seen Flora adopt that exact same faraway look from time to time, and wondered if insanity ran in the family. Perhaps they were witches, she thought, feeling hysteria bubbling up inside of her. It would explain the remarkable difference that Flora had made to Archie’s mobility in such a short space of timeandthe fact that he seemed spellbound by such an unremarkable creature.
She almost smiled at the thought of Archie’s shocked reaction to that possibility. Now, if she were to carry carefully worded warnings to him, relating and perhaps exaggerating very slightly some of the idiosyncrasies she had noticed while living here…
‘Well, I have had enough sun for now,’ Melanie said, packing away her sketching equipment. ‘I think I shall return to the house and work on my embroidery until Flora returns. I expect there are things to be done in the stillroom and I am perfectly willing to make myself useful if she tells me what to do.’
‘As will I. Just say the word. But in the meantime, I shall take a stroll through the village.’
‘You won’t mind if I don’t join you?’
I would mind a great deal more if you did.‘Not at all. I shall not be long.’
Eloise waved to Melanie, afraid that her forced smile would crack her face if she was obliged to hold it in place for too much longer. She wanted to dislike Flora and her delightful sister for usurping her in Archie’s affections, but they were both being so kind and generous, treating her like an old friend rather than a new acquaintance, that she found it hard to cling to any feelings of disaffection.
Archie’s intentions were not matrimony, she decided as she set off on her walk. A walk that was intended to accidently cross Mr Pawson’s path as he entertained Polly and her daughter. Quite why she was so anxious to see him was less obvious to her. If there had been anything he wanted to say to her, he would have said it before leaving Fox Hollow. She and Pawson had got on well in France, drawn to one another by their mutual need to help Archie, to say nothing of their affection for him. If she were to remind him of their past camaraderie, she might learn more specifics about Archie’s interest in Flora.
‘Desperate times call for desperate measures,’ she muttered.
Eloise set off at a brisk pace, suspecting that she would find Pawson on the village green, where a makeshift swing had been set up from a stout tree branch for the children’s pleasure. Sure enough he was there, crawling about on all fours with the little girl riding on his back and screaming with laughter. Polly stood to one side, watching them with an expression of deep affection.
‘Oh, hello,’ she said, when she noticed Eloise. ‘Did Miss Latimer send you to find me? Am I needed?’
Eloise wanted to point out that she was not an errand girl, even though she was the daughter of a servant, which she supposed actually made her a servant too. But there were different classes of servants. Her papa was a highly skilled vintner, respected throughout the region for his knowledge and experience. Respected but not especially wealthy. Eloise didn’t want to admit that Lord Avery accepted her disinclination for his company more easily than might otherwise have been the case when Louis obligingly mentioned in his hearing that she had little in the way of a dowry.
It was Louis who also just happened to remark that Celine was much better placed in that regard. Avery transferred his affections with a speed that was almost insulting, especially since Celine wasn’t nearly as pretty as Eloise.
Eloise felt relieved to be rid of his attentions. Outwardly charming, there was a determination of will, a dark side to Avery’s character that she’d caught glimpses of and which terrified her. Avery would be a dangerous man to cross or when roused to anger; he would also be violent in the bedchamber for no reason other than because he enjoyed inflicting pain, she guessed, and Celine was welcome to him.
‘Non,Polly. Miss Latimer has gone to see one of her old ladies.’
‘Ah, she wouldn’t let the sabbath stand in her way if one of them is suffering.’ Polly’s smile lit up her lovely features. ‘She is a paragon and I am very lucky to be in her service.’
If one more person preached to Eloise about Flora’s good qualities, she would scream. She had to havesomeflaws. No one was that perfect.
‘Mr Pawson seems very fond of Alice, and she of him.’
Polly’s face was too small to comfortably accommodate the width of her smile. ‘He has been very kind to us both.’
‘That would be no hardship for him when you are so pretty.’
Polly blushed. ‘Life has taught me not to trust men. However, Mr Pawson has shown us nothing but kindness and consideration and I have gradually come to realise that he is a cut above the rest.’
It belatedly occurred to Eloise that Polly would be a better source of information when it came to Archie and Flora, but before she could voice her questions, Pawson joined them with a giggling Alice now riding on his shoulders.
‘I intended to wear her out,’ he said with a broad grin, ‘but she has turned the tables and is still bursting with energy, whereas I am exhausted.’ He lifted Alice from his shoulders, swung her through the air and placed her on her feet at her mother’s side.
‘You spoil her,’ Polly said, with no real conviction in her tone.
Pawson winked at her. ‘Nothing’s too much trouble for you.’ He turned to Eloise. ‘What brings you out here?’ he asked.
