Page 40 of A Sense of Turmoil
‘On the contrary, village gossip is often spot on.’
‘So, I am to believe that Father strayed from the marital bed. That’s not so very unusual amongst our set, and probably meant nothing.’
‘It’s certainly not unusual amongst those who marry in order to maintain their family’s standing within society—or those with degenerate characters. Not that I am suggesting your father fell into the latter category,’ Paul added hastily. ‘But I will never be tempted to stray; I can tell you that now with absolute certainty. Mary is everything to me. She makes my life complete and I would never insult her, or hurt her feelings, by looking elsewhere for gratification.Thatis what it means to be married to a woman whom you love and respect. Ask Alvin and he will tell you the same thing.’ Paul paused. ‘Now, hand on heart, can you imagine yourself remaining faithful to Ottilie for the rest of your days?’
‘She is perfection.’
‘Balderdash! That is not what I asked, and you know it. Oh, she is very pretty, and suitable,but does she fire your passions and occupy your every waking thought?’ He held up a hand. ‘No, don’t prevaricate. You should be able to answer without any need to think about it.’
‘Ottilie is biddable,’ Luke said, knowing how lame that sounded.
‘Flora is a lady, for the love of God, and I’m damned sure you wouldn’t need to hesitate if I asked the same question about her!’ Paul replied impatiently. ‘Her father is now the dean of Salisbury Cathedral and you don’t get much more respectable than that.’
‘There’s more that you don’t understand.’
‘Then tell me. I’m your friend, yours and Archie’s. I cannot abide seeing you wrestling with your conscience, nor can I abide the thought of the two of you coming to blows over the same woman.’
Luke stood and strode towards the window, watched by an adoring Romulus who thumped his tail against the fireside rug. ‘Flora claims to have the gift of second sight.’
‘Claims to or does?’ Paul asked, unruffled.
‘What do you mean,does?’ Luke threw up his hands. ‘We all know there is no such thing.’
‘Do we?’
‘Come on, Paul! We are more enlightened nowadays and no longer believe in witches, or ghosts who come back to haunt us. We left all that fairy tale stuff behind us in the nursery.’
‘As far as I am aware, Flora doesn’t claim to be a witch. But she does have a way with herbs. You will be the first to admit that she’s helped your grandmother in that respect and very possibly prolonged her life. She’s helped Archie too, when all the traditional physicians agreed there was nothing more to be done for him.’
‘True, but that doesn’t—’
‘Her skills have nothing to do with the occult. They are just plain, old-fashioned cures handed down from her grandmother that most other people either didn’t ever know how to perfect or have forgotten about. We all have different talents, and Flora just happens to combine hers with a natural desire to help people. She couldn’t even pass that mutt by,’ he added, pointing at Romulus, ‘when she first found him and he was at death’s door.’
‘I understand about her way with herbs, and I certainly approve, but she claims to have premonitions.’
Paul lifted a shoulder. ‘Perhaps she does.’
‘Oh lud, not you too?’
‘Just because something is beyond our understanding, that doesn’t mean it can’t exist. I thought you were more enlightened than that.’
‘Yes well…’
‘Look, you’ve been like a bear with a sore head since you came home from Boston and I don’t accept that’s only because you’re worried about the countess. Make up your mind. Archie is interested in Flora…very interested.’
‘Ha!’ Luke screwed up his features. ‘We all know what Archie’s purpose is.’
‘You do him a disservice, Luke,’ Paul said quietly. ‘And Flora too, if you think she would give herself to any man, let alone Archie.’
Luke turned away from the window and faced Paul with a raised brow. ‘You can defend him after all you gave up for his sake?’
‘It’s because of the sacrifice I made that I feel qualified to voice my views.’
Luke inclined his head, acknowledging his right to do so. ‘You seldom talk about it and I never know how to raise the subject,’ Luke admitted.
‘I will admit that I was resentful for a long time, especially when Archie still couldn’t keep himself away from Magda. But with maturity comes the realisation that some women simply have that sort of hold over a man.’ He fixed Luke with a speaking look. ‘I am not suggesting that Flora is made from the same mould as Magda. Quite the opposite. My point is that animal attraction can spring up unbidden between a particular man and woman without thought of compatibility and paying no heed to common sense. It happens rarely but when it does, it’s so strong that nothing can stand in its way.’
‘True, but you have to—’
