Page 17 of A Sense of Turmoil
‘I wish it was that simple. My mother swallowed her pride and came here to issue the invitation in person, and against my better judgement I have agreed to attend. I will not go back on my word. Besides, it would be better to know what it is that they expect of me, rather than indulging in wild speculation.’
‘Just don’t let them bully you into doing anything that you would prefer not to.’
‘I am of age and can do as I please, which I shall not hesitate to remind Papa if he attempts to make plans for me.’
‘I must thank you again for your tinctures,’ Archie said after a brief pause. ‘They are definitely making a difference.’
‘Then I am glad to have helped.’
‘Helped? Ha!’ The countess had been quiet for a while, following the conversation between Archie and Flora without contributing to it. ‘She forces the wretched things on me and bullies me into drinking them. They don’t make a blind bit of difference, but she stands over me like an ogre and enjoys watching me suffer.’
‘You know very well that they ease your aches and pains, ma’am,’ Flora replied, sharing a smile with Archie. ‘And you also know that nothing and no one on this earth will make you do anything that you would prefer not to.’
‘You see what I have to put up with?’ the countess said, turning to Archie for support. ‘Everyone thinks they know what is best for me.’
‘Don’t expect sympathy from me, ma’am.’ Archie held up at hand, as though warding off an attack. ‘I wouldn’t dare to disagree with anything Flora does.’
‘Ah, what’s the point. No one cares about my opinion anymore. When you get old you become invisible.’
Archie’s gaze swept the countess’s colourful person. ‘Hardly invisible.’
‘Come along, child.’ The countess glanced at her empty wine glass. Sandwell would be pleased to know that she had declined several refills. ‘Let’s leave these men to their port.’
Flora stood to help the countess from her chair, waving Archie back into his when he pushed himself to his feet along with the rest of the men, but it was clear to her that he had no intention of resuming it until the ladies had left the room. She smiled at him, appreciating the effort he had taken, and offered the countess her arm so that they could leave the dining parlour together.
Chapter Five
Archie had been glad to receive Luke’s invitation. He was doing his very best to live up to his new responsibilities, painfully aware of his physical limitations and the need to surround himself with reliable people to prevent his immobility from being abused. He had organised matters as best he could, and time would tell if the arrangements he had put in place were enough to ensure the continued profitability of the marquessate. Only now did Archie fully appreciate the manner in which his much-respected father had managed the smooth running of the estate and discharged his duties as aristocrat and landowner with such apparent ease.
His were large shoes to fill.
Being in mourning had left Archie feeling isolated. He was aware of the enormity of his inherited duties – duties which even an able-bodied man would find daunting. But Archie knew he only had himself to blame for his physical impediments, had no time for self-pity and was grateful just to be alive and restored to his place in English society.
Luke had returned from Boston, and from Alvin’s correspondence Archie gathered that their friend was dithering about tying the knot. The idiot must be able to see that Flora was head over heels in love with him. Damn it, didn’t he realise how fortunate he was to have engaged her affections? She was a highly intelligent, spirited and opinionated female who would keep a man on his toes. Archie knew of dozens of marriages that thrived on indifference—unions that had been entered into for financial security or social ambition. Luke was not limited by such necessities and was free to please himself.
What had possessed him to invite this Fleming creature to stay if he returned Flora’s regard? Archie had watched them together and was pretty sure that he did, but close as he was to Luke, he hadn’t felt able to ask. He would wait to meet Miss Fleming, watch Luke with her and then decide whether or not to knock some sense into his stubborn friend.
Archie lay awake for much of the night, mulling things over. He had noticed signs of strain in Luke’s interaction with Flora during the course of dinner. Where they had once been relaxed in one another’s company and Flora hadn’t hesitated to speak her mind, they now seemed distant and overly polite. Something had changed, and he was fairly sure that the tension between them was not solely attributable to the deterioration in the countess’s health.
He rose early, as was his habit, the pains he suffered making it hard for him to linger in bed. Too long in one position cost him dearly. He dismissed his man once he was dressed, and seeing that the rain had given up he wandered outside slowly, leaning heavily on his stick. It helped if he walked a little, no matter how much his joints had stiffened. He breathed fresh clean air deep into his lungs, taking in the scents of autumn carried on the breeze as he crunched a rainbow of leaves beneath his booted feet.
His solitary ramble was interrupted when he turned a corner and encountered Flora, dressed in a bronze velvet habit and muttering to herself as she walked briskly towards the stables. She wasn’t looking where she was going and almost walked straight into Archie. He placed the hand not holding his stick on her shoulder, jolting her to a halt.
‘Oh, Lord Felsham, good morning. I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going. There’s not usually anyone else around this early, which is no excuse at all for my inattention, but true for all that.’
‘Good morning,’ he replied, amused by her need to explain herself. Her cheeks had turned pink and he thought she looked delightful when embarrassed. ‘And it’s still Archie, even during daylight hours. You’re up early.’
‘I could say the same about you. I seldom lie about in bed. I suppose it’s a throwback to my upbringing.’ She flashed him an impish smile from beneath the brim of her wide hat. ‘The daughters of important clerics, in case you were not aware, have better things to do with their time than to languish in their beds. Laziness is a sin.’
He flexed a brow. ‘Is it? I thought there were only seven and I don’t recall laziness being one of them.’
She grinned at him. ‘It probably comes under the heading of sloth. You’d be surprised how many things do.’
‘The categories do offer a fair bit of latitude, I’ll grant you that. Must make life easier for your father. Anyway, thank you for correcting my theological ignorance,’ he replied, smiling.
‘The countess will sleep late this morning,’ Flora said, as Archie fell into step with her. ‘She enjoyed last night. Thank you for making her laugh. She is very fond of you.’
‘As I am of her, and it was my pleasure to entertain her.’
