Page 43 of A Sense of Paradise
‘If that was the plan then she would have been disappointed.’ Archie took a moment to reflect, wondering if Eloise could really bethatconniving. Had she really encouraged Maurice to come to England? Her brother was impulsive and impressionable, but even so… ‘I don’t see it,’ he eventually said, shaking his head. ‘If this is a ruse, then why involve Avery? As far as I’m aware, she barely knows the man.’
Pawson shrugged. ‘Perhaps her friend really is engaged to the rogue, which put the idea into Eloise’s head. You know how malleable Maurice can be. If Francois had been invited to accompany Celine to England, it would be easy enough for Eloise to persuade Maurice to go with him, which in turn would afford her an opportunity to come to you for help in finding him.’
‘Which she could have done on her own, simply by going to his London home and enquiring after her brother. How could she have known that Avery wouldn’t be there?’
‘Well, I’m good, I’ll be the first to admit,’ Pawson said, spreading his hands in a gesture that failed to imply modesty, ‘but even I don’t have all the answers.’
Archie rolled his eyes and sent Pawson a look of amused forbearance. ‘I think we both agree that Eloise’s motives are suspect.’
‘We can’t even be sure that Maurice has crossed the Channel. For all we know, he could be safely back in France, helping with the vines.’
‘That would require collusion on Louis’s part. If it’s all a ruse to push Eloise back into my arms, I doubt Louis would help facilitate our reunion.’
‘He might if he thought it would bring Eloise to her senses. Louis could have been gambling on the fact that you really had put her from your mind but Eloise couldn’t accept the fact. She had dreams of becoming an English marchioness and wasn’t willing to go back to her mundane existence as the future wife of a vintner. She kept suggesting that she come to England to bring you to your senses and Louis saw an opportunity. He offered to help reunite her with you in the name of friendship, counting upon a man of your stature rejecting her for a second time so he could be there to pick up the pieces. Never underestimate the levels a man desperately in love is likely to stoop to.’
‘Warning heeded.’ Archie knew all about the power ofamour.‘It’s all speculation though, and anyway Louis has gone back to France, leaving Eloise under the same roof as Flora. Now thatdoesconcern me. I should have prevented it.’
Pawson chuckled. ‘You think you can stop Flora when she gets an idea into her head?’
Archie scowled. ‘I would have found a way.’
‘No harm will come to Flora. Eloise isn’t aware that the two of you are engaged to be married, and is too full of herself to imagine that Flora represents any sort of competition to her ambitions, especially since I’m sure Flora will play your relationship down.’
‘Even so, I don’t like it.’ Archie threw back his head and roared with frustration. ‘Damn my incapacity. If it weren’t for that, I would be out there myself, scouring the country. I don’t believe in coincidences, Pawson, as well you know. Avery is doing Flora’s father’s bidding, you just mark my words, and there’s every possibility that Eloise is playing into his hands, wittingly or otherwise. Avery will never feel safe until he has neutralised the threat to his reputation—which is me. I am aware of his involvement with the exorcisms, and if that knowledge became public then it would cast yet more doubt over his already tarnished reputation. No one worth knowing would ever receive him again.’
‘Flora knows as well, and he isn’t attempting to destroy her.’
Archie shuddered. ‘As far as we are aware. We left the church to deal with her father’s transgressions. It came as no surprise when the synod covered up the exorcisms and pretended not to know that orphaned children had died during the course of them for fear of damaging the church’s standing in the community. Flora doesn’t like it, but she won’t speak out for her mother’s and sisters’ sakes. I think Latimer feels safe as far as she’s concerned, but I am the unknown quantity who gives him sleepless nights.’ He scowled. ‘Hopefully.’
‘Well then, perhaps you should tell the man that you and Flora are engaged. He would realise that you’d never do anything to blacken your future wife’s name and the threat would go away.’
‘Ha! Men like Latimer have no heart and they wield absolute control over the females beneath their care. He’d never be comfortable in that situation. Besides, I don’t want him crawling around me asking for favours. We have to finish this business once and for all. Speculating will get us nowhere.’ Archie banged his stick against the floor for emphasis. ‘We might be doing Eloise a disservice. She might be here precisely for the reasons that she gave us, unaware that Avery is manipulating her.’
Pawson nodded. ‘She doesn’t seemthatworried about Maurice, I’ll grant you. Besides, what possible reason could Avery have for luring Maurice to this country?’
‘I suspect that he will level threats against Maurice. If Avery is engaged to Celine, he will have heard all about my time in France and how fond I became of Maurice. He will use him as a bargaining tool if his attempts to discredit my reputation fail. It’s a sign that he can get to anyone who matters to me if I don’t keep silent about his depravities.’
‘Well, he will fail now that Lord Riley’s on his tail. The might of Scotland Yard’s Detective Department will save the day. We just have to exercise a little patience.’
Archie grunted. ‘I still want to know who’s paying Baldock to stir up discontent in the village.’
‘Ah, I have some news in that respect.’
‘And I am just hearing about it now?
‘Baldock was in the Cat last night, spending lavishly and bad-mouthing you. Thompson was having none of it and threw him out on his ear. He then told those who’d been sponging off him that anyone saying anything against you wouldn’t be allowed in his tavern. The silent majority then rose up in your favour and Baldock and a couple of hangers-on went scurrying away with their tails between their legs.’
‘Where did they scurry to, though? I wish in some respects that Thompson had let him run on, then we might have found out who’s behind it all. And where did he get money to throw around on ale?’
‘Don’t fret. I have people watching him. Once he’s slept it off and surfaces today, I have a feeling that we will know more.’
‘He will have to venture further afield if he wants to carry on doing his paymaster’s dirty work and the nearest place is the Stag in Lyneham.’ Archie glowered at Pawson. ‘Which is right on Flora’s doorstep.’ He thumped the surface of his desk in frustration. ‘I don’t like it. I don’t like any of it.’
‘Well you ought to be pleased. No one would dare to lay a finger on Flora, and it will be easier for my people to keep an eye on her and Baldock if they are in the same village.’
Archie grunted, wondering if that was supposed to reassure him. ‘Go and visit Flora,’ Archie said on impulse. ‘Get her alone and tell her that I have a senior representative from Harrods Department Store visiting on Monday with samples of wallpapers and fabrics for her to make her selections from.’
‘Blimey, that was quick.’
