Page 67 of A Sense of Paradise
Archie smiled. ‘Louis is in love with Eloise; always has been. He assumed that once I left France their union would become inevitable. But unbeknownst to me, she had not given up on securing my affections. Avery persuaded her to talk about me and quickly realised it. It was he who suggested to Louis that he bring her to England. Louis knew that I really had no further interest in Eloise, and he hoped that once she saw me again, she would be obliged to accept defeat and turn to him for consolation.’
‘What did Avery hope to gain from bringing you and Eloise together again?’ Luke asked, looking justifiably bewildered.
‘Well, there’s a question that only he can answer, but if I was asked to hazard a guess I would say he hoped Eloise’s obsession would turn to the desire for revenge when she realised that our affair really was over. She could have made public all sorts of wild accusations about my treatment of her, which would have helped to destroy my reputation.’ Archie spread his hands. ‘The thin dividing line between love and hate, and all that. Eloise is used to being admired and getting what she wants. Her pride would have been irrevocably damaged by my rejection, even though I had never made her any promises. Not to put too fine a point on it, she instigated our affair.’ Archie flashed a puerile smile. ‘You know me. I never could resist a pretty face, especially when incapacitated and with nothing but time on my hands. Too much time to think isn’t good for a man. Anyway, that’s the way I imagine Avery hoped she would react.’
Luke nodded. ‘Avery really doesn’t like you, Archie.’
‘I can assure you that the feeling’s mutual.’
‘He sounds rather desperate, but tell me, did he kill Yardley?’
Archie shrugged. ‘If he did then Rochester will be unable to prove it.’
‘Latimer?’ Luke asked, scowling.
‘He could well have been behind it. He knew the truth about Yardley’s parentage, was aware that the bishop doted on his son and wanted his revenge following his humiliating demotion. But he can prove that he was miles away in his new parish at the time of the murder.’
‘He wouldn’t have carried it out himself,’ Paul said.
‘Precisely. Anyway, we think that he and Avery were planning to continue with their exorcisms, free from the influence of the church. That won’t happen now, of course. Avery has crawled back home with his tail between his legs, Celine de Bois has broken the engagement and returned to France and Avery will have his work cut out fending off his creditors. Yardley’s murderer will likely never be brought to book, but at least Avery failed to blacken my name by pretending that I had anything to do with it. And as for Latimer, well, the bishop is sending him off to do missionary work, expanding the Christian community in an Australian penal colony, well out of harm’s way. His wife and two single daughters will accompany him.’
‘How does Flora feel about that?’
It was the first mention that Luke had made of Flora since Archie’s arrival, but Archie had sensed her presence coming between them.
‘She is relieved, I think. He has, as you know, been a perpetual thorn in her side ever since she found the courage to break free from his control.’ Archie drained his glass and put it aside, fixing Luke with a penetrating look. ‘Anyway, I think you know what I have come to tell you.’
Luke paled and nodded. ‘That you and Flora are engaged. Congratulations.’ He swallowed once then stood, holding out his hand. Archie hauled himself to his feet and took Luke’s hand in a firm grasp. ‘She is too good for you, of course. Play fast and loose with her and you will have me to answer to.’
‘Far too good,’ Archie agreed, relieved that Luke had taken the news on the chin, ‘but I will take good care of her, never doubt it.’
‘Congratulations, Archie.’ Paul stood too, pumped Archie’s hand and thumped his back. ‘She is about the only woman in England capable of controlling you.’
‘I cannot disagree with that.’
‘When is the big day?’ Luke asked, refilling their glasses again and, Archie noticed, taking a healthy gulp of his own before resuming his seat.
‘In the autumn. You’ll stand as my best man?’
‘I would be honoured.’
‘I shall need your support too, Paul, as well as Alvin’s. I won’t feel married without my oldest friends there to participate in the event.’
‘You may depend upon it,’ Paul replied.
‘I am giving Felsham Hall a long overdue revamp and we would like you all to come to a celebratory dinner next week. I will accommodate you, of course. After all she has been through, Flora deserves to be the centre of attention.’
‘Try keeping us away,’ Luke said, but his smile looked strained.
‘You look divine.’ Beaming, Melanie clapped her hands in admiration as she observed Flora decked out in bronze satin trimmed with Spanish blonde lace and a ribboned bustle that led to a demi-train.
‘The chemisette, whatever that is, is trimmed with crepe lisseandcrepe lisse plisse, whatever that means,’ Flora replied, staring at her image in stupefaction. ‘Is this really me? Miss Flora Latimer, the plain and respectable clergyman’s daughter?’
‘No, darling,’ Melanie replied impatiently, ‘You are now Miss Flora Latimer, soon to be the Marchioness of Felsham, who wears such garments as a matter of course. Besides, you were clearly not paying attention during our sojourn in London. Madame Tuville would be highly offended if she realised that you had not hung on her every word. We were very fortunate to gain an appointment with her at such short notice, as she never tired of reminding us, all the time we were being fitted for our new finery. And the gown you are wearing now, by the way, took ten yards of satin, six yards of wide lace, ten of narrow lace and two of crepe lisse.’ Melanie grinned as she counted off the components on her fingers. ‘But you are showing it all off beautifully, so stop looking so unsure of yourself.’
‘You look lovely as well, and very grown up.’
‘I am so excited.’ Melanie bounced on her toes whilst Flora sat still, allowing Polly to dress her hair. She fingered the countess’s pearls, which she had roped around her neck for good luck, and held up her hand so that the huge emerald and diamonds on the ring finger of her left hand caught the light from all angles. ‘Mrs Finch is as well. I have seen remarkable changes in her already since she moved into her cottage here. She gets along so well with Lord Felsham and was a godsend whilst we were in London spending obscene amounts of his money on our wardrobes. She didn’t allow anyone to intimidate us and was generally in her element. Not that I can imagine anyone intimidating you, dearest, but still, it was so new to us that it would have been easy for us to lose all sense of propriety. I was grateful for Mrs F’s sound common sense.’
