Page 31 of A Sense of Turmoil
A maid would sit with the countess all night and Sandwell would relieve her in the morning. Even so, Flora worried about her and wished there was more she could do to make her charge comfortable.
Chapter Nine
Flora tossed and turned all night, her sleep disturbed by images of Luke smiling down the table at her and Archie watching her with unnerving stillness, compelling her in direct contrast to the way that George’s speaking looks made her blood curdle. She reached out to Remus in her mind, asking him if George was the problem when all along she had imagined it must be Ottilie and her determination to have Luke. But there was no response. Either her message didn’t get through, or more likely Remus was indulging his love of blood-thirsty sports and hedonistic pleasures.
Sighing, she thumped her pillows into a more comfortable nest and eventually fell into a restless sleep.
She woke at her habitually early hour to find that whoever predicted the weather for Archie had got it right. The rain had cleared and a brisk wind that bent the branches outside her window heralded the dawning of a crisp, dry autumn day. Flora pulled a robe over her night attire, belted it tightly and slipped next door to the countess’s room. She was relieved to find her charge still sound asleep. Her breath rattled through her chest each time she exhaled, but Sandwell informed her that she had slept tolerably well.
‘I’ll sit with her, miss,’ Sandwell said. ‘She won’t wake for a few hours yet. Best if you take some time for yourself while you can.’
‘Thank you, Sandwell. I shall not be gone for long.’
Flora returned to her room, attended to her ablutions in the bathroom across the hallway and then dressed in her riding habit. She didn’t have time to fuss with her hair, so she brushed it out and tied it back with a ribbon before plonking her hat on her head. Regardless of whether or not Archie put in an appearance, she fully intended to clear the fog from her brain by giving Amethyst a fast workout. As she walked towards the stables, she found herself hoping that Archie would be there. She didn’t pass him along the way and quelled her disappointment, thinking it might be best if she rode alone. She had come to depend upon Luke’s friendship and the prospect of parting from him tore at her insides. It wouldn’t do to replace one type of agony with another.
To her utter astonishment, she walked into the stable yard to find Archie already perched on the gig’s seat and Luke astride Onyx, his black stallion. He chatted to Archie as Mabel stood placidly between the shafts, unimpressed by Onyx’s prancing and dancing.
‘Good morning, gentlemen,’ Flora said.
‘Morning,’ Archie replied, raising his whip in greeting. ‘This fellow heard of our plans and insisted upon joining us,’ he added, indicating Luke with the handle of his whip. ‘Nothing I said about Mabel and me lowering the tone would deter him.’
‘Well, since this is his estate and these are his horses, I suppose we shall have to put up with his company.’
‘I am here, you know,’ Luke said, sounding more like his relaxed old self than he had since returning from Boston. Romulus appeared from nowhere, barked a loud agreement and bounded up to Flora, demanding attention and making them all smile.
‘I won’t hold you two up,’ Archie said, watching Flora as she slipped into Amethyst’s saddle and the gelding tried to emulate Onyx’s prancing. She struggled to keep him in check. ‘I can see that those two need to stretch their legs.’
‘If we go to the reservoir again,’ Flora said, ‘we can give them their heads for a while and then wait for you. Mabel won’t try to keep up with us.’
‘Very well then. If you don’t mind taking the same route again.’
‘Not in the least. Besides, the rain hasn’t been heavy enough to churn up the ground, so it won’t be uncomfortable for you in the gig.’
‘Your concern for my wellbeing is appreciated but unnecessary,’ Archie replied, his smile belying the steel in his tone. Flora knew that he disliked being reminded of his physical limitations, which she though a little petulant of him, since he was well aware that she was attempting to help him. It all came down to pride, she supposed, and if a man didn’t have that, what was he left with? She returned his smile with a small nod, indicating that she understood his meaning.
‘How is Grandmamma this morning?’ Luke asked.
‘Still sleeping. She appears to have had a comfortable night—well, as comfortable as is possible for her nowadays.’
‘I am glad you managed to persuade her to go up immediately after dinner, although we missed your company, naturally.’
‘I am surprised you noticed I was gone,’ Flora said, wishing the words back as soon as they slipped past her lips. They made her sound like a jealous harpy.
‘You do yourself a disservice, Flora,’ Archie said softly. ‘The sunshine leaves a room whenever you quit it.’
Luke sent Archie a look of mild disapproval, making Flora smile.
‘You will cause my head to swell with your nonsense,’ she said, picking up her reins. ‘Shall we, gentlemen?’
They left the yard, riding either side of the gig. Flora could see that Luke was delighted with Archie’s physical rehabilitation, such as it was. He was a far cry from the crippled man who could barely walk when he returned from the dead eighteen months previously. Flora took a great deal of credit for bringing that situation about, thinking not for the first time that the narrow-minded individuals who governed the medical profession and refused to accept that herbal remedies had any place in their world could have learned a lot from Flora’s grandmother’s expertise on the subject.
Satisfied that Archie was comfortable, she sent frequent glances at Luke, wondering why he had insisted upon joining them. His attitude appeared almost territorial, which was ludicrous.
‘I thought you would be anxious to accompany Miss Fleming and her brother on their search for a property, Luke,’ she said, sending Archie a mischievous smile.
‘I have better things to do with my time.’
‘Well, since you appear to have decided to spend it with us,’ Archie replied, winking at Flora, ‘I suppose we’re in no position to disagree with you.’
