Page 40 of A Sense of Fate
‘Right, good. I want you to go into the village, Polly. Call at the modistes. They have some pretty readymade skirts that I noticed the other day. Purchase two for my sister please, along with everything else she is likely to need, and have them put the items on my account. Melanie will be staying indefinitely and we need to get enough things for her to feel comfortable straight away. We can add to them at our leisure.’
‘Leave it to me, miss. I have an idea of her size.’
‘We will allow her to sleep until you return, and then we can surprise her with her new wardrobe. Oh and, Polly, choose bright colours. Anything but grey. She and I have worn enough grey to last us both several lifetimes.’
‘Of course, miss.’
Polly took herself off and Flora attended to her ablutions. Once washed and dressed, the smell of frying bacon lured her downstairs.
‘How is the poor mite?’ Beatrice asked, as Flora seated herself and Beatrice placed a substantial breakfast in front of her.
‘Still asleep.’ Flora glanced at her plate. ‘Are you trying to fatten me up?’
‘Someone needs to. There’s nothing of you.’
‘I suspect this is the best night’s sleep Melanie has had in a long while.’ Flora scowled as she sipped at her scalding coffee. ‘Lying about in bed in my family home was discouraged.’
Beatrice sniffed. ‘Sounds like a right den of fun and laughter.’
Flora rolled her eyes. ‘You have no idea.’
‘Anyway, I’ll leave you to enjoy your breakfast. You’ve sent Polly out on an errand, she told me, so call me if you need anything else.’
‘Thank you, Beatrice, but I can fend for myself.’
‘Doesn’t mean you have to. I enjoy spoiling you.’
‘And I am very lucky to have you.’ She glanced out of the back window and noticed Will driving off in the gig with Mabel between the shafts. ‘Where’s Will going in this weather?’
‘Oh, I expect he has things that need to be done.’ Flora glanced up at Beatrice, frowning. She sounded evasive, but Will had never given her any reason to question his loyalty so she let the matter go. ‘It will take more than a spot of inclement weather to prevent my Will from carrying out his duties.’
Left alone, Flora ate slowly, her mind dwelling upon Melanie’s situation and how best to deal with it. She wondered if she should send a telegram to her father, reassuring him that Melanie was safe, but dismissed the idea just as quickly. There was only one place that Melanie was likely to run to, and Flora realised that she could expect the dubious pleasure of a visit from her father before the end of the day.
She squared her shoulders; ready for a confrontation that was long overdue, an idea taking shape at the back of her mind.
Polly returned just as Flora finished her breakfast.
‘I got all the things your little sister will need, miss,’ she said breathlessly. ‘They will be delivered within the hour.’ She pulled off her bonnet and shrugged her arms out of her coat, shivering with cold. ‘The whole village is talking about her dramatic arrival, I’m afraid. There’s no help for that. Mrs Gregory knew who I must be shopping for immediately. She asked all manner of questions but I didn’t tell her much.’
‘Don’t worry, Polly. I know it’s impossible to keep such scandalous activities quiet in a village like this. Or any other village, come to that.’ She chuckled. ‘Papa won’t be pleased about it, but the fact that his daughter was scampering about in such a terrible state will help my cause no end.’ Flora pushed back her chair. ‘I shall go and see if Melanie is stirring. Bring her new things up the moment they arrive. They will help to distract her.’
Flora returned to her bedchamber, where Melanie was still sound asleep and didn’t appear to have moved in the past hour. Perhaps hearing Flora enter the room, she stirred, blinked the sleep from her eyes, looked momentarily alarmed and then sat up.
‘Flora!’
‘It’s all right, darling, I’m here. You were sound asleep and I didn’t want to wake you.’ Flora pulled the curtains aside and allowed weak winter sunshine to flood the room. ‘How do you feel?’
‘Better, I think. I didn’t have dreams for the first time in ages.’
‘I’m glad to hear it,’ Flora sat on the edge of the bed and squeezed Melanie’s good hand. ‘How’s your poor hand?’
‘Not so painful now.’
‘Excellent! We will dress all your wounds again in a moment—but first, are you hungry? Would you like some breakfast?’
Melanie nodded. ‘Yes please.’
Flora rang the bell for Polly and asked for a breakfast tray to be sent up.
