Page 67 of A Sense of Turmoil
‘Then thank you, I’ll risk it.’
Flora found a full decanter on the sideboard and vaguely wondered where it had come from. She had told Beatrice to order whatever supplies were necessary to feed them all and hoped that the appearance of the whisky didn’t imply that she expected Flora to drink it. She smiled at the possibility, aware that the countess in her younger days would not have hesitated. Flora was not quite that lost to respectability yet.
She poured a generous measure in a heavy crystal glass, presumably supplied by Archie along with the rest of the furnishings, and handed it to him. He saluted her with the glass, a glint of amusement in his eye as he watched her and simultaneously took a long swallow. A predatory spider or a loyal friend? Well, Flora decided, even if it was the former, she trusted him and felt relatively safe in his company. Which given her terror of spiders was a refreshing feeling.
Flora left him to his drink and his devious thoughts and ran upstairs. Polly awaited her in her chamber, looking anxious to please and asking no questions about Archie’s unexpected arrival. Her servants must realise that his visit had not been anticipated, and that she was not expecting to enjoy a liaison with her paramour, otherwise she would not have received him in her gardening clothes and made no effort with her appearance.
‘What shall you wear in order to dine with the marquess, miss?’ Polly glanced longingly at Flora’s array of evening gowns neatly arranged in her armoire.
There was no prescribed mourning period that Flora was required to observe, since the countess had been no relation. Flora knew as well that her former charge would have despised people wearing black and resembling a murder of crows. Even so, Flora had adhered to the formalities and worn sombre colours since arriving in Lyneham.
She hadn’t had reason to change into an evening gown before now, not with just herself for company, but she knew the countess would approve if she made an effort for Archie’s benefit. The old lady’s conviction that Archie had her in his sights ran through her mind but she as quickly dismissed the notion. Flora was not interested in entering into an affair, and even if Archie’s thoughts did run in that direction, he was too gentlemanly to force the issue.
‘The bronze figured silk, Polly,’ Flora said, raising her arms and then standing still as Polly helped her out of her day gown.
Twenty minutes later she returned to the drawing room, with her hair neatly piled on top of her head, wearing the gown that Archie had once admired on her. He was taking a final sip of his whisky as she entered the room. Zeus, the most unsociable cat in the universe, had taken a liking to Archie and now sat draped over the arm of his chair as Archie absently stroked his back. Feeling nervous suddenly, Flora worried that he would think she had gone to too much trouble and be left with entirely the wrong impression.
He turned his head at the rustle of silk and a slow, appreciative smile invaded his rugged features. ‘You look ravishing,’ he said softly.
‘Thank you. I am glad you think so since I feel rather awkward. I have never dined alone with a gentleman before.’
‘We are not alone. Your servants will attend us and you can be sure that I shall behave myself.’ He grinned. ‘Probably,’ he added, making her smile and breaking the tension.
Polly emerged from the kitchen to inform them that dinner was ready to be served, at which point Archie leaned heavily on his stick and hauled himself to his feet.
‘Miss Latimer,’ he said, proffering his free arm and sweeping an elegant bow.
‘Lord Felsham.’ She smiled, placed her hand on his sleeve and together they walked slowly into the dining parlour. Two places had been set across from one another at one end of the table. There was an abundance of candles—more than Flora considered strictly necessary—crisp white linen and sparkling crystal. She hadn’t seen the white bone china plates with the gold leaf decoration before either. Beatrice, with little notice, had pulled out all the stops.
Archie helped her with her chair before assuming his own. Brought up from the cradle to excel at dinner table conversation he would, Flora knew, be as comfortable in the company of a clergyman’s daughter as that of a duchess, and would adapt accordingly. He amused her throughout the meal, making her laugh aloud more than once with undoubtedly exaggerated tales of his exploits during his university days when he, Luke, Paul and Alvin had run amok.
‘I refuse to believe that you broke into the chancellor’s rooms and stole his cap and gown. That would have seen you all sent down, had you been caught.’
‘Not us.’ Archie smiled across the table at her, his rugged features, all planes and angles, enhanced by the flickering candlelight that cast them in light and shadow. She admired his strong jaw and straight, aristocratic nose, wishing that permanent lines, the result of years of pain, were not etched quite so deeply in his forehead. She felt her cheeks flush when she realised that she was staring at him and he winked at her. ‘We were too well connected. We would have been chastised, the prank would have been put down to high spirits, and that would have been that.’
‘Well, if you were there now you would have to be more careful. The powers that be have finally decided that we mere women are entitled to higher education, too.’
‘Lady Margaret Hall, you mean?’
‘I do, and not before time either.’
‘Ladies at Oxford.’ Archie waggled his brows at her. ‘Now there’s a charming prospect.’
‘Behave yourself!’
‘Have a care, Flora.’ Archie pushed his chair back from the table when he was replete and patted his stomach. ‘That ragout of veal was quite superb. The best I have tasted in a long time. So too was the sack posset. If your cook can whip up such an excellent meal without notice then I might well steal her from you.’
‘You will do no such thing, Lord Felsham. You must have a dozen cooks of your own. Leave mine alone!’
He chuckled. ‘If you insist. Please send my compliments to the cook,’ he added to Polly, who had served them and remained in the room throughout. Her ears had doubtless been flapping as a result of Archie’s skill as a raconteur, and she would be bursting with curiosity about Flora’s intimate friendship with a man of the marquess’s stature. Flora would have to decide how much to tell her but felt assured that details of Archie’s visit today would not find its way into the public domain because of anything that Polly let slip.
‘I will, my lord. She will be very pleased to know she gave satisfactory service.’
‘Will you come to Felsham Hall and take luncheon with me?’ he asked when Polly had left the room to take plates back to the kitchen. When Flora hesitated, Archie pushed his case. ‘I will send Pawson to collect you and I have even more servants to protect your honour than you have here. You can depend upon my discretion and good behaviour. I would never do anything to compromise your reputation.’
‘I know that, but society does not. No one here in my service will mention your visit; I am absolutely sure of it. But I dare say there’s the odd loose tongue within your army of retainers.’ She grinned at him. ‘The reclusive Marquess of Felsham entertaining an unchaperoned young woman.’ She adopted a shocked expression that made him smile. ‘The locals would have you leg-shackled before our luncheon had been digested, and I couldn’t do that to you.’
‘You are concerned aboutmyreputation?’ He raised both brows. ‘Good heavens, that’s a first.’
