Page 9 of A Sense of Injustice
Flora took a seat a little away from the rest of the company, requiring a moment to herself. Miss Gregory had spoiled her mood. But solitude was denied to her when Miss Pearson joined her almost at once.
‘May I?’ she asked, indicating the vacant chair beside Flora.
‘Of course.’
‘I had forgotten how pleasant local society here in Wiltshire actually is,’ she said in a reflective tone as she stirred sugar into her coffee. ‘Not that I ever really experienced it. I was quite young the last time I was here, and not really out.’
Recalling her reluctance to talk about her background, Flora refrained from asking any questions. ‘I myself have been well received by almost everyone, despite my status as a servant,’ she said with a significant glance at Miss Gregory. ‘Oh dear!’ she added, when she saw that person approaching the countess. ‘If you dislike blood sports, look away now.’
‘What is your name? Speak up.’ The countess cupped her ear, feigning deafness, but Flora knew that she had the hearing of a bat. Miss Gregory gave her name in a syrupy sweet voice that Flora could have told her would grate on the countess’s nerves and bring out her devilish side. ‘Ah. The chit who clung to my grandson all through dinner. You’re wasting your time there, child. Aim lower. You have nothing to offer him.’
The countess’s voice was loud enough to carry to all corners of the room, cutting through the other conversations. Miss Gregory’s cheeks flamed, she stuttered something facile and left the countess’s side so fast that she almost tripped over her own skirts.
‘Ah.’ Miss Pearson smiled at Flora. ‘You knew that was likely to happen and didn’t attempt to warn the girl.’
‘If she hadn’t been quite so insufferably rude to me earlier I might have put her on her guard, but she deserved everything she got.’ Flora put her cup and saucer aside and covered her mouth with her hand. ‘That didn’t sound terribly charitable of me. Hardly the appropriate response from a cleric’s daughter. But then again, having seen as much as I have of the in-fighting among the clergy, perhaps I let her off lightly.’
‘Grandmamma told me something of your history. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I can assure you that I am delighted by what I have found.’
Flora smiled. ‘Thank you, Miss Pearson. And in return I can assure you that you won’t be in any danger from the sharp side of the countess’s tongue. She is a very good judge of character and extremely fond of your grandmother. She’s unlikely to want to offend her, and not nearly as senile as she likes to make out.’
‘What a relief. And please call me Louise. Actually, we are of similar age and I am in urgent need of a confidante and friend.’
‘Then you have found one. And call me Flora.’
‘I would like to unburden myself,’ she said reflectively, ‘although I don’t know what I hope to gain by visiting my problems upon someone else.’
‘I thought you seemed distracted. A trouble shared often makes it seem less…well, troublesome. You can depend upon my discretion and rest assured that I am almost impossible to shock, despite my background—or indeed perhaps because of it.’ Flora sent the young woman a reassuring smile, full of curiosity about her circumstances. ‘I sense a great sadness about you.’
Louise looked taken aback. ‘You do?’
‘I am very perceptive, which is sometimes a blessing but often a curse.’
‘I think I can hear the gentlemen coming. May I call upon you, Flora?’ Louise lowered her voice but there was a note of urgency in it. ‘I am in trouble and need to talk to someone I can depend upon. I am aware we have only just met, but I simply must…’
She looked very worried and on the verge of tears. Flora squeezed her hand. ‘Please do. I am usually free during the early part of the afternoon.’
‘Then I shall come tomorrow, if that is all right.’
‘I look forward to it.’
Flora stood and returned to the countess’s side. Miss Gregory, who had been seated alone and sulking since her ladyship’s acerbic comments, perked up immediately the gentlemen rejoined them. She rose to her feet and attempted to attach herself to Luke, but Emma intercepted her before she could reach him and engaged her in conversation. Miss Gregory looked furious, but short of offending Luke’s sister there was nothing she could do.
‘Did you put her up to that, ma’am?’ Flora asked her charge, nodding towards the two women.
‘Certainly not, but I like to think my granddaughters have eyes in their head. Luke is too well-mannered to put that irritating young woman in her place. He needs to toughen up. I won’t always be around to help him out.’
‘Where are you thinking of going?’
‘It’s beyond time I revisited India. My maharaja insists that we reacquaint ourselves. I might oblige him yet, and you shall accompany me.’
Since Flora knew that no letters had arrived for the countess from India, she felt safe in promising to do so.
‘Shall we have some music?’ Sam suggested.
All the ladies hung back out of politeness, except for Miss Gregory who almost ran to the piano, keen to demonstrate her skill. Luke joined Archie Hardwick at the back of the room, where they were almost hidden from the instrument and able to conduct a conversation in low tones that involved a great deal of muted laughter.
‘This should be interesting,’ the countess said in an unnecessarily loud voice.
