Page 13 of A Sense of Fate
‘You are a single gentleman, aware that I live here alone, and yet you presume to call.’
‘Well, I…’
‘Do you think I don’t know how it will look, or do you assume that your presence will go unnoticed? I can assure you that it will not. Do you imagine that I do not care about my reputation simply because I choose to live alone?’
He sighed and spread his hands. ‘Miss Latimer, you are misinterpreting both my words and my intentions.’
Possibly, Flora conceded, but only because she knew that his intentions were not romantic, despite his charm offensive. He had another reason for attempting to befriend her and she was no nearer to deciding what it could be, other than that it had to do with her father.
‘What business are you engaged in?’ she asked, curious to see how he responded.
‘I occupy a senior investment position at Coutts Bank.’ He flapped one hand in a casual gesture but also sat a little straighter. ‘You may have heard of it.’
‘I am aware of the bank’s existence and its purpose, but if you have come here in the hope of encouraging me to invest then I fear you have had a wasted journey. My money is tied up very profitably.’
‘I am not here to beg for business,’ he replied with a condescending smile. ‘That is not my style.’
Flora found his superior attitude infuriating and could already understand why Archie disliked him. He was trying a little too hard to be a gentleman. Flora had spent the majority of her time since leaving Cathedral Close in the company of the real thing and Mr Conrad did not bear comparison.
‘How reassuring.’
Her sarcasm appeared to be lost on him. Flora folded her hands in her lap and said nothing more, glancing at Remus’s image as it floated into view. She expected him to be influenced by Mr Conrad’s pretty face, as Remus so easily could be when he saw a member of either sex who appealed to his eclectic taste. She was surprised when instead of making dreamy faces, her spirit guide recalled his duties and repeatedly shook his luminous head, making shooing motions in the direction of the front door.
‘This is a charming cottage,’ he said, appearing a little taken aback by her continued coolness.
‘I believe we have already exhausted the subject of my living arrangements, Mr Conrad. Be so good as to tell me why you have come.’ Flora allowed a momentary pause. ‘I cannot conceive that a woman of my relatively lowly status will be of any interest to a man of your ambition.’
His mouth gaped in response to her outspokenness but he quickly recovered his poise. ‘I had hoped to enjoy a pleasant half-hour in your company, getting to know you a little better.’
‘Why?’
‘Why?’ He appeared baffled by the question. ‘Well, I am an acquaintance of your father’s, whom I admire and respect—’
‘How are you acquainted with him?’
‘How?’
‘That is the second occasion upon which you have thrown my own question back at me.’ She offered him a smile that lacked warmth. ‘Is an answer beyond your capabilities?’
‘I say!’
‘If I was rude I make no apology. You called upon me without an invitation. We are not acquainted and your visit, if observed by my neighbours, will have a detrimental effect upon my reputation; a possibility that doesn’t seem to have occurred to you. Therefore, I think it natural to ask about the reason for this call.’ Her tone would have left even a man with his thick skin in no doubt that she was not honoured by his attentions.
‘Salisbury is part of my area,’ he said, his attitude no longer quite so indolently self-assured. ‘I had occasion to negotiate with members of the synod regarding the church’s investments. That is how your father first came to my attention.’
There was something contrived about the response. ‘I was not aware that my father had any involvement with the church’s accounts.’
‘He is now the dean, so all matters of administration are his concern.’
‘I see.’
‘We found we had interests in common and became friends.’
‘Friendly enough to attend my sister’s wedding.’ Flora frowned. ‘I find that odd.’
‘Your father talks about you a great deal. He is inordinately proud of your achievements.’
Flora wanted to laugh aloud but somehow retained her composure, keen to keep the wretched man talking. ‘Really?’ she asked innocently.
