Page 4 of A Sense of Turmoil
She paused on the threshold to the morning room, taking a moment to gather her thoughts.
‘Come along, Romulus,’ she said. ‘I can’t do this alone.’
She turned the handle and walked in, the dog still beside her. Her mother and Pamela, the eldest of her four sisters, stood gazing out the window, but turned to look at her as she entered. Both were respectably but drably dressed. Pamela gasped at the sight of Flora’s pretty gown and Flora immediately sensed her jealousy.
‘Flora, I would never have recognised you,’ Pamela said, making it sound like an accusation as she drew away from Romulus’s enthusiastic desire to make her acquaintance. ‘You look sophisticated, like a proper lady.’
‘Mama, Pamela, an unexpected pleasure,’ Flora said, not offering her hand or a more affectionate form of greeting.
‘This is like a palace,’ Pamela said, her eyes round as saucers in an otherwise plain face, her features pinched with envy.
‘Perhaps. I have grown accustomed to it.’
Flora indicated the arrangement of chairs in front of the fire. ‘Can I order you some tea?’ she asked, once her mother had seated herself.
‘You cannot take it upon yourself to order refreshments in the earl’s house, Flora,’ her mother said, an edge to her voice.
‘I am sure you didn’t come here to criticise my domestic arrangements, Mama, and you clearly take little pleasure from our being reunited, so perhaps you’d have the goodness to tell me why you are here.’
Pamela’s mouth fell open at Flora’s abrupt tone.
‘You have not asked after your father’s health,’ her mother said, frowning.
Flora fixed her mother with a look of mild censure. ‘My father, and indeed all of you, made it abundantly clear that you have no interest in my wellbeing by not even acknowledging my coming of age.’ Flora folded her hands neatly in her lap. ‘I have overcome my disappointment.’
‘You always were outspoken, Flora, but living in such opulent surroundings has quite made you forget the duty that you owe to me, your own mother.’
‘On the contrary, Mama, I received you only because I recalled that duty.’
Pamela looked rather awe-stricken. Flora had never been close to her sisters. They had, all four of them, been a little too obedient and incurious for her taste.
‘I came to tell you that your father has been appointed Dean of Salisbury Cathedral.’
‘Send him my congratulations. I know he has long wanted the position and that it will make life for you and all my sisters that much more comfortable.’ Flora frowned. ‘But I fail to understand why you felt the need to come all this way to tell me. A letter would have sufficed.’
‘Your father will be installed in a service in the cathedral in two weeks’ time. He particularly wants you to be there.’
‘Why?’
‘Why?’ Flora’s mother looked confused. ‘What do you mean, why?’
‘It’s a straightforward question, Mama. Papa has washed his hands of me. He told me himself that he does not approve of my living here and was furious when I defied him by declining to marry Mr Bolton. Presumably he is ashamed of me, so why is it so important that I should be there to see him installed as dean?’
‘I told him you would make difficulties,’ her mother said, giving a disapproving sniff.
‘I am not trying to be difficult, but merely trying to understand. I shall attend if my presence is so important to Papa, but I should dearly love to know why he wants me there.’
‘Family unity, I suppose. He is not a bad man, Flora, despite what you appear to think of him.’
‘You are no doubt aware of the circumstances of our last meeting—which makes me wonder how you can defend him,’ Flora said, shaking her head.
‘You mistake the matter,’ her mother said coldly. ‘You are his eldest child and he is proud of your achievements.’
Flora sighed, aware that was the only answer she would get. She also understood now why Papa had sent his wife to press the invitation upon Flora. If he had come himself, she would have insisted upon an explanation. This sudden olive branch was highly suspicious, and yet so reasonable that she couldn’t refuse it.
‘Very well. Send me the particulars and I shall be there if I can. The countess is very weak,’ she added, ‘and I cannot leave her for long.’
‘What shall you do when she dies?’ her mother asked bluntly.
