Page 68 of A Sense of Paradise
‘Tonight we sleep beneath this roof for the first time, along with all of Luke’s family. It’s really happening, isn’t it?’
‘It really is. And even Pamela is pleased for you since her Mr Janson has been awarded the living in Bradenstoke.’
‘She will be here this evening too. I hope she will not feel overwhelmed. Is it selfish of me to want my sisters around me?’
‘Of course not, and now that Papa has been banished to Australia, you will not have to worry about him either. Or Nora and Judith. I know you hoped to persuade them to stay in England and were generous in your offer to keep them here with us. I thought they were very unkind to dismiss that offer so impolitely. Our sisters are too much like our mama, I’m afraid.’ Melanie shook her curls. ‘Of course, we thought Pamela was a lost cause too but she has changed. Perhaps the others will as they mature. Either way, your conscience is clear.’
‘I cannot regret Papa’s banishment, nor do I feel any sympathy for him. He brought it on himself. I actually feel relieved to know that he cannot interfere in my affairs anymore. I do however feel some concern for Nora and Judith. They are being brainwashed and don’t have the backbone to rebel.’
‘We cannot all be blessed with your strength of character, Flora dearest.’
Flora smiled at her sister, just thirteen and already so worldly wise. ‘You sound more mature and self-assured than I feel.’
Melanie grinned. ‘That’s because I do not have pre-wedding nerves.’
‘That must be it.’ In actual fact, Flora felt like a fraud. She had no business aspiring to be a marchioness, and expected at any moment to be challenged by an anonymous person in authority demanding to know who the devil she thought she was.
‘What do you think, miss?’ Polly asked, standing back with her brush in her hand and grinning.
She had styled Flora’s ordinarily wayward hair in a flattering style that allowed long spiral curls to dance on her bare shoulders. She had done similar things with her coiffure before but this was the first time that the Felsham diamond tiara had nestled within its thickness. Flora had protested when Archie asked her to wear it but he was so charmingly insistent, saying the last time he had seen it being worn had been by his mother. How could she refuse? She opened her eyes wide and blinked repeatedly.
‘Oh!’ was all she could think to say.
‘You are a marvel, Polly,’ Melanie said, ‘is what my sister intended to say. You see, you have rendered her quite speechless with your skill. Anyway, come along, Flora,’ she added bossily, clutching a still astounded Flora’s gloved hand and pulling her to her feet. ‘Your beloved will be anxiously awaiting your arrival downstairs in your beautifully redecorated drawing room. You should be down first to greet your guests.’
‘My guests.’ Flora closed her eyes for an expressive moment. ‘It hardly seems credible.’
Luke and the rest of the party from Beranger Court had arrived that afternoon. Flora had been ridiculously nervous, but Luke had behaved impeccably. If he was disappointed that she had chosen his best friend then he gave no sign, pretending to be delighted. Only the occasional prolonged wistful glance in her direction when he supposed her attention to be engaged elsewhere gave him away.
She had spent the afternoon with the ladies, her friends, showing them over Felsham Hall and listening to their exclamations of delight at the alterations that had been wrought in a very short space of time. Flora still marvelled at the speed with which miracles could be worked when one had the money and authority to make such miracles happen.
‘I am so very glad to see you achieving your heart’s desire, Flora dearest,’ Mary said at the end of the tour, when the ladies took tea in the conservatory. Archie and the gentlemen, predictably, had shut themselves away in his library. ‘Lord Felsham looks so happy and moves so much better than he once did.’
‘Grandmamma referred to him as a scoundrel,’ Emma added, ‘but I have always thought him rather dashing and the greatest possible fun.’
Violet looked pale and didn’t say a great deal. Flora wanted to ask her if married life was turning into a disappointment but couldn’t find the words.
‘Is he? A scoundrel, I mean?’ Miranda asked with a mischievous grin. All the ladies leaned forward, anxious to hear Flora’s response.
‘I regret to tell you that he has behaved impeccably, so I am unable to satisfy your curiosity,’ she said, making them all shake their heads in disappointment. ‘He says that he wants to do this properly. Believe me, I am curious and have attempted to change his mind, but he is having none of it.’
‘That shows respect,’ Louise pointed out.
‘But makes me feel that my charms are easy for him to resist.’
All the ladies protested.
‘It demonstrates the depth of his feelings for you,’ Emma insisted, ‘which is very romantic.’
‘Who wants to be respected?’ Flora demanded to know.
Everyone laughed and the conversation turned more general. Violet, she suspected, would report almost every word directly back to Luke and was glad that she would have nothing to say to imply that Archie had lived down to his reputation.
Dragging her mind back to the present, Flora and Melanie cautiously descended the stairs, careful not to snag their clothing. They walked sedately into a room that had been transformed with restored ceiling frescoes, more comfortably arranged furniture, lighter drapes, artfully placed sculptures and cleaned and restored pictures displayed on the walls. Flowers spilled from vases on every available surface and a profusion of candlelight created an intimate ambience despite the large proportions of the room. Gilt mirrors had been artfully hung to reflect their light.
The French doors had been thrown wide open to allow the warm evening air to infiltrate the room, but Flora barely noticed how different, how magical, everything looked in the evening. Instead, all she saw was her handsome, damaged and oh so precious marquess in his pristine evening clothing seated in conversation with Mrs Finch, laughing at something she had just said to him.
He glanced up as if he had sensed Flora’s approach, and his mouth fell open. He pushed himself to his feet and a slow, appreciative smile graced his rugged features.
