Page 54 of A Sense of Paradise
It took Melanie a moment to take in the ramifications of Flora’s question, then her eyes widened and her mouth fell briefly open before a smile stretched wide across her face. ‘You are to marry Lord Felsham?’
Flora nodded. ‘He proposed a while back. I did not take him seriously at first. I didn’t see how I could ever be enough for him—’
‘Oh, Flora!’ Melanie threw up her hands.
‘I couldn’t bear it if he came to regret his decision and a distance grew between us. But he has managed to convince me.’
‘I am so happy for you.’ Melanie jumped to her feet, dislodging a disgruntled Zeus from her lap, and flung her arms around Flora’s neck. ‘If anyone deserves to find her heart’s desire, then it is you, dearest sister. When will you make your announcement?’
‘We have delayed it because I want Archie to tell Lord Swindon before it becomes public knowledge, and because I didn’t want to overshadow Violet’s big day by announcing our news—and, I suppose, because I had lingering doubts.’
‘Lord Swindon was in love with you as well?’ Melanie nodded in response to her own question, her eyes as wide as saucers. ‘Which shows great good sense on his part, but since he is now married, I do not see the difficulty.’
‘Such things are never that simple. Luke knew about my psychic abilities, such as they are, and didn’t approve, despite the fact that I used them on several occasions to help him out of difficult situations. I cannot marry a man who refuses to accept me for the person that I am supposed to be. Not that Luke actually proposed, but I sensed that he intended to. Archie however has no concerns about Remus. He can even sense his presence sometimes, although he can’t actually see him. Remus is most put out about that. He says that he’s supposed to be a phantom whom only specific people can sense. But he also drools after Archie so I don’t think his bluster is genuine.’
Melanie laughed. ‘Remus! Good heavens, he is a law unto himself.’
‘The next world is more lenient about such things—although father would have difficulty believing it. Anyway, I am going to Felsham Hall tomorrow. Archie wants to renovate the main rooms before we are married and I have to choose the new fixtures and what have you. I shall not tell Eloise where I am going, and if I leave you with things to do in the stillroom it will keep you out of her way.’
‘Oh, I shall not mind her company now that I know the truth, and I will try very hard not to let my joy be too apparent.’
‘How will you enjoy living at Felsham Hall? You must come over with me once Eloise has gone and choose your bedchamber so that we can have it redecorated to your taste.’
‘That will be lovely.’ Melanie’s eyes shone. ‘Whatever will Papa think when he realises that his eldest daughter is to be a marchioness?’
‘It is none of Papa’s affair. I don’t want him at my wedding—but you, my love, I depend upon to be my bridesmaid.’
‘I am so very happy for you, Flora. For us both. We will finally be beyond Papa’s reach. I have never felt entirely safe all the time I have lived with you, aware that he would be within his rights to insist upon my return to the family fold. He would too, if only to spite you for defying him.’
‘All that is behind us now.’ Flora squeezed Melanie’s hand. ‘As soon as Luke returns from his wedding journey, Archie will call to see him and break the news. But before that, we need to find Eloise’s brother and send her back to France with him.’
Flora eventually sent Melanie back to her room, glad to have eased her mind, and fell into a fitful sleep.
The following morning she told Eloise that she would be gone for much of the day on business relating to her herbs.
‘Ah, you are visiting the apothecary in Felsham village that you told me about,’ Melanie interjected.
Flora smiled at her sister’s inventiveness. ‘Quite, and I shall make some calls on my return. Expect me later this afternoon. You have enough to occupy you this morning in the stillroom, and you know what is to be done.’
‘Don’t give it another thought,’ Melanie said.
Eloise looked dubious about Flora’s plans, but refrained from comment.
Flora set off an hour later on a lively Amethyst, but had not travelled five hundred yards along the track behind Fox Hollow before she encountered Mr Pawson on horseback, waiting for her.
‘Let me guess,’ she said, rolling her eyes. ‘Archie didn’t want me to ride over alone.’
‘You know what he gets like. I almost had to tie him down when he heard about Baldock bad-mouthing you.’
Flora resisted a second eye-roll. ‘I can well imagine.’
‘Did you find Avery at the address Mrs Finch gave me?’ Flora asked, as they trotted their horses along.
‘Unfortunately not. The guv’nor put me straight on it when I got back yesterday. Couldn’t wait a single day and didn’t want to pass the information onto Rochester until he knew it was genuine. Unfortunately, it was not. The person who’s taken the lease is a respectable merchant with no connections to Avery.’
‘Ah, that’s a shame.’
They broke into a canter and continued their ride mostly in silence. Flora was unsurprised to find Archie in his stable yard, awaiting their arrival.
