Page 35 of A Sense of Misgiving
‘Well, there is that,’ Archie agreed, his grin firmly back in place.
‘I asked Mary to keep her suspicions to herself,’ Paul said, ‘and I am sure she will. My concern is that if she’s made the connection, you can be sure that Magda Simpson will.’
Everyone looked at Archie. ‘Don’t worry,’ he said, draining his glass and handing it to Paul for a refill. ‘I am not quite as blind to Magda’s faults as you all imagine. You have good cause to think that way, I suppose,’ he conceded, lifting one shoulder. ‘I know you believe I was obsessed with her, and I can’t deny it, but there’s a few things you don’t know.’ Archie paused, nodding his thanks when Paul handed him his replenished glass. ‘During my long months of recovery, when I had nothing much else to do other than to think too much, miss my old life and feel sorry for myself, I wondered why Simpson had made such stringent demands for satisfaction.’ Archie shrugged. ‘He must have had suspicions about Magda’s constancy early into the marriage. I wasn’t her first, and she wasn’t always discreet. Rumours abounded, as they always do in such situations and would have reached Simpson’s ears.’
‘True, but he was also a hard-nosed soldier, accustomed to both fighting for what he believed in and having his orders unquestionably obeyed. You stole what was his and Magda disobeyed…well, if not direct orders then at least her wedding vows,’ Paul pointed out.
‘Even so, quite why he wanted to humiliate me, before I diedwhen he must have known that I would never walk again…at least not properly? Couldn’t make it out, so I mentioned the matter to the pater and he told me Simpson had warned Magda to expect his return that night.’
Luke exchanged a look with Alvin and Paul. His friends looked as shocked and outraged as he himself felt.
‘The conniving little madam!’ Luke said, appalled. ‘She wanted Simpson to catch you with her? Why the hell would she…The scheming bitch!’
‘Even you wouldn’t have gone to her that night if you’d known,’ Alvin said.
‘Exactly. Believe it or not, her charms were starting to wear thin.’ Archie grinned. ‘You know me when it comes to the fairer sex. I never could be constant.’
‘She sensed that she was losing you and wanted to make some sort of obscure point,’ Luke said, seething.
‘I believe so, yes. That and the fact that she so liked to have men fighting over her.’ He paused. ‘What I have never been able to decide is whether or not she knew Simpson had cut away the vine that I used as an escape route.’
‘She knew you would have to use it again if Simpson caught you, so I hope she did not,’ Luke said, scowling. ‘However, it wouldn’t surprise me if she did. Her pride was hurt because your interest was waning, but that form of revenge was somewhat extreme, even by her standards.’
‘Precisely,’ Archie said. ‘Which is why, gentlemen, I can assure you that if she does try to contact me, she won’t get past the gates of Felsham Hall.’
‘I am relieved to hear you say so,’ Luke replied with asperity. ‘The woman is pure poison, but I suspect that whispers of her behaviour have reached the ears of those she’d like most to impress. Hostesses will be reluctant to invite her but the lady herself will be desperate to be seen out of her widow’s weeds and get her hooks into her next unsuspecting victim. She is still beautiful, no one can deny that, but she’s not getting any younger, looks don’t last indefinitely and since Simpson didn’t leave her well provided for, she will be wanting to secure her future through marriage.’
‘So, will you follow Alvin’s example, find a biddable wife and procreate, Archie?’ Paul asked, grinning. ‘We none of us believe that you’ve sworn off matrimony. Besides, you have a duty to sire the next Felsham heir.’
Archie grimaced. ‘I’m too young to settle down. Anyway, as I already said, I’m pragmatic, and who’d want a damned cripple for anything other than his wealth and title?’
‘Just about every eligible female this side of London,’ Paul replied. ‘So stop trying to invoke our sympathy because you brought your situation on yourself.’
Archie laughed. ‘You’re right, and despite everything I’d probably do it all again given my time over.’ He spread his hands, the same old, incorrigible Archie who had got them all into endless trouble during their younger days. An unstoppable force of nature, always game for the next escapade. Their best and closest friend from whose “death” they had none of them properly recovered. ‘The ladies still take an interest. The French accent gets them every time.’
Luke and Alvin shared a look, then laughed. ‘Of course it does,’ Luke said.
‘Anyway, I’ll consider taking the plunge after Luke does.’
‘Unlike you, I have brothers who can marry and produce sons and no father alive to remind me of my duty. There’s no pressure on me,’ Luke said. ‘I see no occasion to rush. I still have you and Paul, eligible and single, and there’s safety in numbers. Anyway, gentlemen, I suppose we’d better show ourselves.’
Archie hauled himself slowly to his feet and leaned heavily on his cane. ‘Lead the way,’ he said in a thick French accent that sounded entirely genuine.
Luke led his friends into the drawing room, where Mary and Emma stood together in their finery, speaking with Luke’s three brothers.
‘Well, look at you, Lady Mary,’ Archie said, limping forward to take her hand and kiss the back of it. ‘All grown up and pretty as a picture. Happy birthday.’
‘Thank you, Lord Felsham.’ She bobbed a curtsey. ‘I trust I find you as well as can be expected.’
Before Archie could respond, the first of the guests were announced and Luke and Mary stepped forward to greet them.
‘You do look very grown up,’ Luke told his sister in a quiet aside. ‘Should I be worried?’
‘You would be better advised to worry about yourself,’ Mary replied with a playful smile. ‘I happen to know that several of my friends who will be here this evening have you in their sights.’
Luke rolled his eyes. ‘The agonies I suffer for the sake of my family.’
‘Oh, here’s Lucy and Captain Redfern.’
