Page 33 of A Sense of Misgiving
‘I need to talk to you about your grandmother.’
Luke’s teasing expression immediately gave way to one of concern. ‘She has had a setback of some sort? Has a doctor been summoned? What precisely ails her?’
‘Calm yourself.’ She placed a reassuring hand on his arm, but quickly removed it again as the awareness of his imposing presence streaked through her. ‘She is as well as ever, but totally impossible. She sent me into the village to collect a garment from the dressmaker. But it turned out not to be for her. She had ordered yet another evening gown for me, when I specifically told her that I didn’t need one.’
‘Oh, is that all?’ The worry left Luke’s expression. ‘You always manage her so well, and I feared something beyond your capabilities had occurred.’
‘It has! You think her extravagance nothing, but I consider it a very great deal.’ Flora wanted to stamp her foot in frustration when Luke laughed at her, refusing to take her concerns seriously. ‘I cannot afford to repay you for all the clothing she has already insisted upon buying me, and which I don’t need. I thought I had made her understand, and yet she blithely ignores my objections and continues to order more.’
‘Tell me you don’t enjoy wearing it.’
‘That is beside the point. I am a servant, not a member of the family with ideas above her station, which is what it must seem like to your guests when I appear in such finery.’
Luke waved her objections aside. ‘My guests can mind their own damned business.’ He fixed her with a dark, intense gaze that made her blush. ‘Besides, this is my house and I enjoy seeing you being spoiled for the first time in your life. You deserve it.’
Flora shook her head. ‘You are as stubborn as the countess. She won’t listen to a word I say on the subject. You will have to get through to her and make her see that she embarrasses me with her generosity.’
‘Let her enjoy herself, Flora. She deserves to have some pleasure to cheer her advancing years.’
‘I agree, but you don’t pay me enough to enable me to reimburse you.’
‘Then perhaps I don’t pay you enough,’ he said in a considering tone.
‘Luke!’
‘Your difficulty, if you don’t mind my pointing it out to you—’
‘Would it make any difference if I did?’ she asked, folding her arms and giving an elaborate sigh.
‘None whatsoever.’ One side of his mouth curled into an indolent smile. ‘Your difficulty is that you have never been spoiled in your entire life and have been taught to look upon caring about your appearance as vanity.’ He grasped her shoulders, the warmth of his fingers searing through the fabric of her gown, making her feel giddy. ‘There is more of your father’s austerity ingrained into you than you realise, and it manifests itself as guilt. How can I make you understand that you have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about?’
She shuddered, but couldn’t find it in herself to shake off the comfort of his strong and capable hands. ‘Don’t say that.’
‘It’s true, and deep down you know it.’
She looked away from him. ‘Even so.’
‘Enjoy your new clothes, Flora. No one deserves them more. A few yards of silk is a small enough reward for my freedom.’ He lowered his head, sending a shock of hair cascading over his face. ‘Lily Carlton would most certainly have trapped me into marriage, were it not for your quick thinking. And then, the business with Miranda. Charlie has you to thank for his happiness. I won’t pretend to believe in your supernatural abilities, but facts must be faced. You saved the day not once but twice with your quick thinking and courage.’ He finally removed his hands from her shoulders and she immediately felt their loss. ‘You don’t owe me a penny for your new wardrobe. Look upon it as a gift.’
‘But it cost a small fortune! I can’t possibly accept such a generous reward. And what would it make me if I did?’
Luke chuckled. ‘Don’t test my patience, woman, or you might very well find out.’
‘I’m being serious.’
‘You are infuriatingly stubborn. No one need know.’
‘I will think about it,’ she said, aware that she was beaten but unwilling to admit it. ‘But please impress upon her ladyship that I will not accept anything else she deems necessary and will return it if she attempts to order it for me.’ Luke smiled at what they both knew was capitulation, his eyes gleaming with an unfathomable emotion that made her feel warm all over. ‘I am not a charity case.’
‘Indeed you are not.’
The silence that fell between them held the essence of expectancy, increasing Flora’s inappropriate awareness of him. The large room suddenly seemed too small and Flora herself felt breathless. If she did not keep her wits about her, there was every danger that she would make an almighty fool of herself, which simply wouldn’t do. She glanced up at him and he made matters worse by winking at her, appearing to enjoy her discomfort.
‘You ought not to be in here,’ she said crossly.
‘It’s my house.’
‘And my room. The servants will talk.’
