Page 37 of A Sense of Injustice
A trickle of fear ran down Flora’s spine. Remus didn’t take his second life too seriously and she had seldom heard him sounding worried. ‘What can he possibly do to me?’
I’m not psychic.
Flora laughed in spite of herself. ‘Yes you are, otherwise how would you know that he’s on his way?’
It’s too complicated for your simple mind to comprehend.Remus sounded lofty, as he often did when he couldn’t explain something or chose not to.I can tell you he’s coming, that’s all.’
‘He doesn’t know me, nor does he have any reason to associate with me.’
And nor will he if you avoid Miss Pearson.
‘I can’t do that! What sort of friend would that make me?’
A sensible one who knows how to mind her own business.He flapped a translucent hand.All right, even I can see that would be asking a lot of you. Just remember what this man did to your friend. He has no morals whatsoever and you are notthatunattractive. Not that I understand what all the fuss is about. Virginity is considered an inconvenience to be done away with as soon as possible where I come from. You English, with your limited vision and rigid standards. No wonder you don’t know how to enjoy yourselves.
‘If by enjoyment you refer to those gladiator fights you are so fond of, or your sexual liberation, then I think I prefer our civilization.’
Remus shook his lustrous head.There’s no accounting for taste. Anyway, I must go. If you will insist upon involving yourself, try to avoid getting yourself in trouble next Tuesday. I have plans and I would not be best pleased if I had to change them for your sake.
‘Heaven forbid!’
His image faded. Flora sat staring at the window ledge, the place where he had materialised and then evaporated like dissipating mist, thinking about his warning. He was never wrong, and she had learned to heed his advice. But her hands were tied. She could not, would not, abandon Louise in her hour of need. Flora knew how it felt to be abandoned. Then the Beranger family had generously embraced her, and she would do the same for Louise. Her Christian faith had never been as strong as her father’s but she did live according to her conscience, and deserting a person so badly in need of her support would most certainly cause her sleepless nights.
If a single female who had lost her virginity out of wedlock went to her father for help, he would brand her a fallen woman and advise prolonged periods of prayer and reflection upon her wayward behaviour. There would be no understanding or compassion. So much for the forgiving nature of Christianity, Flora thought, twitching her nose. Louise was blameless. If anyone should be cast out of the church it was Cleethorp. Better yet, he should be publicly branded as a scoundrel and have what was left of his reputation destroyed in the eyes of the people who mattered to him the most. But how could she achieve that aim without also destroying Louise, Flora wondered.
There had to be a way.
Flora glanced at the clock. Time was getting away from her. She tidied her hair and returned to the countess’s room. The old lady was out of bed and back in her chair, still wearing a robe and looking worryingly frail.
‘Are you feeling any better?’ Flora asked, resuming her seat on the footstool and nodding to Sandwell to indicate that she could leave them. ‘I’m sorry to have been gone for so long. Louise Pearson called. We talked for longer than I realised.’
‘I was not feeling unwell in the first place, child, so stop fussing. What did Louise have to say for herself?’
‘She is being pursued by a gentleman whose affections she does not return.’
‘In which case he is no gentleman.’
‘That’s what I tried to tell her. He’s making a bit of a nuisance of himself. His name is Cleethorp. Do you know him? His brother is the Marquess of Somerset.’
‘I knew Somerset’s father. Now hewasa scoundrel, but had better manners than to inflict his company upon an unmarried gel. Which of the brothers is causing the trouble? There are several but I think they are all married.’ She cackled. ‘Not that that situation ever stopped the old marquess.’
‘This is the youngest, Darius. A bit of a black sheep by all accounts.’
The old lady gave a sapient nod. ‘And in need of a wealthy wife, I dare say.’
‘Quite. Louise realises that and won’t be taken in by him. Best not mention anything to Louise’s grandmother though, ma’am. She doesn’t know anything about it and Louise is worried that if she tells her, her grandmother will blame her from encouraging him—which she admits that she did, to begin with.’
‘None of those Cleethorps know the meaning of constancy. That’s fine if the wife knows what she’s getting herself into. But if she has romantic notions, like my silly granddaughters do, and expect their husbands to be faithful, then she would be disappointed with Cleethorp, charm notwithstanding. She’s right to have backed off.’
‘I am glad to have his character confirmed by you. I don’t like the sound of him either, but it occurred to me that Louise’s account might have been clouded by the reversal of her feelings for him.’
‘The current marquess ain’t a bad lot, but the rest of ’em are a smug bunch, if you want my opinion. Not that I’ve seen any of them for years. Don’t think I’ve met Darius at all.’
‘I don’t suppose you have. He’s a good fifteen years younger than the marquess. I had a word with the earl. He knows him. They were at school together and Darius had a bad reputation then, even amongst his peers.’ She grinned. ‘And I’m told that they weren’t exactly the souls of discretion.’
The countess rippled her shoulders as she settled into a more comfortable position. ‘Well then, Louise is well shot of the man.’
‘She is aware of that, but she is worried that he will follow her to Wiltshire. He’s very determined, apparently. And she won’t be well protected at her grandmother’s home, which is why she thinks that she should perhaps return to London. But there again, it was her aunt who encouraged Cleethorp to pursue her, and until she comes of age she can’t evict her aunt from her house or prevent the woman from receiving him.’
