Page 75 of A Sense of Fate
‘No, I’d like answers. Tell me what happened with Conrad.’
Flora’s mouth fell open when he did so.
‘It explains a lot. Papa used God’s work as an excuse to indulge his own perversions.’ She shook her head. ‘And Grandpapa recognised the cruel trait long before it got out of hand, which cost him his life. It’s so very sad. What happens now?’
‘The bishop came to see me yesterday and I told him everything.’
‘Ah.’
‘I rather suspected that he wouldn’t want the church to lay itself open to criticism, especially given that your father occupies such a high position in it. So it’s my understanding that your father will be offered the opportunity to resign from the clergy and retire somewhere quietly.’
‘You did that for my sake,’ she said, blinking up at him, her heart overflowing. ‘And he doesn’t deserve it. He doesn’t deserve to get off so lightly. Those poor children.’
‘It won’t be that comfortable for him, darling,’ Archie said. ‘He will be asked to make a very large charitable donation to the foundling home that supplied the children. All the money he amassed from his deprived actions will at least do some good.’
‘That’s something, I suppose.’
‘The woman Latimer cultivated, and who supplied the most troublesome children, has been arrested. She will be charged with neglect and the bishop has promised that the entire management of the home will be overhauled.’
‘I’m glad to hear that. But what about all the men who participated in the exorcisms?’
‘I’ve left them to the bishop. He will be visiting them all, telling them he is aware of their perversions and frighten the life out of them. They care too much about their public images to ever involve themselves in anything similar again.’ Archie sighed. ‘It’s not satisfactory but it’s the best outcome we could have hoped for. At least no more children will be tortured to satisfy those men’s carnal needs.’
‘And Conrad?’
Archie sighed. ‘He can’t be charged without the whole sorry business being revealed. His new employers will be told partial truths and he will lose his position. The bishop intends to strongly encourage him to leave the country, since his safety cannot be guaranteed. He will never use his arm again as he once did. The disability I inflicted will cause him pain and inconvenience, as the disability he inflicted upon me does. Poetic justice, if you like.’
‘You are leaving it all to the bishop to tidy up?’
‘At his request. Your father’s threat to expose his own secret has been neutralised. No one will believe him since they will assume he is making up stories to save his own hide or as a form of revenge for losing his position.’ Archie smiled. ‘I think the bishop is enjoying cleaning up his own house.’
‘I am sure he is.’
A long silence descended upon the room.
‘Tell me again why you cannot marry me.’ When she paused, he pushed his case. ‘I’m not Luke. I don’t deride your psychic powers. In fact, I fully approve.’
‘You do?’
‘I do. Melanie has them too, and they helped you both when you were at Conrad’s mercy.’
‘She does. That’s how I found her so quickly yesterday. Remus, our spirit guide, relayed her thoughts to me.’
‘He’s here now?’ Archie asked, brushing the side of his face.
Flora gasped. ‘You can see or hear him?’
‘No, but I can sense him.’
‘He’s impossibly nosy and wouldn’t miss this moment, not even to watch the lions devouring the latest serving of Christians at the Coliseum.’
‘I love you, Flora,’ Archie said softly. ‘Every disobedient inch of you, and I wouldn’t change any part of you.’
‘All well and good, Archie,’ she replied, wondering if she dared, ‘but this house—’
‘Is a mausoleum, well overdue to be updated. I’ve never seen the point, living here alone, but you can have a free hand…’
‘I can?’ She smiled at him. ‘You are making it very difficult for me to reject your proposal.’
