A Sense of Injustice (Perceptions Book 4) Page 2

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  Luke Beranger laughed at Archie’s outrageous account about a female who’d gone to extraordinary lengths to gain admittance to Felsham Hall, his ancestral home.

  ‘She claimed she was my childhood sweetheart in France and that we were forcibly separated when her family took her to Italy,’ he said. ‘I might have believed her, given that I am not my cousin and wasn’t in France at the time she referred to, but for the fact that I spoke to her in French and she didn’t understand a word I said.’

  ‘For my part, I would feel some sympathy for you,’ Luke said, ‘if you hadn’t let us think that you were dead and buried for the last ten years.’

  ‘I still want to know who was in that coffin we broke our backs carrying into the church,’ Alvin added.

  ‘Probably full of rocks, a bit like Archie’s head,’ Paul suggested.

  The door opened and Charlie strolled in. He greeted everyone, including his and Luke’s two younger brothers, Henry and Sam.

  ‘I have been sent to fetch you all,’ he said. ‘The ladies are down and wondering where you’ve got to.’

  ‘You’ll not be wanting a taste of Luke’s excellent whisky then,’ Archie said.

  ‘Well, perhaps just a quick one.’

  ‘So,’ Archie said, draining his own glass and holding it out for a refill, ‘your grandmother’s little companion has come of age, and has also come into money of her own. I dare say you’ll lose her now that she has independent means.’

  ‘She hasn’t said anything about leaving as far as I am aware,’ Luke replied, affecting a casualness at the prospect that he didn’t feel.

  ‘I hope not,’ Henry said with feeling. ‘Flora’s the only person who can handle Grandmamma. She more or less behaves herself nowadays.’

  ‘She has told Mary that she doesn’t have the least intention of leaving,’ Paul said.

  Luke was very glad to hear it. He had been wondering, but hadn’t asked Paul to make enquiries. Nor had he asked Flora directly. He had become very attached to her—perhaps a little too attached. Common sense suggested that it would be better if she did leave. He’d soon get over his mild interest in her if he didn’t have to see her almost every day. Then, without Flora around to constantly distract him, he’d be more likely to summon the enthusiasm to keep his promise to his father and start look more seriously for a bride from within the ranks of the aristocracy. He could not procrastinate indefinitely.

  It had been important to the pater; very important. Luke was an earl, and standards had to be maintained. Flora wasn’t even from the landed gentry, although the fact that her father was a senior cleric at Salisbury Cathedral made her highly respectable. He allowed himself the suggestion of a smile. His grandmother’s forthright character had rubbed off on Flora, and he suspected that she would hate to be considered respectable.

  ‘She hasn’t received the right incentive to leave your employ yet, Luke, that’s all it is.’ Archie grinned at him. ‘Have a care or I might supply her with an alternative.’

  Luke scowled. ‘The devil you will!’

  Archie threw back his head and laughed. ‘We ain’t all as selective as you, my friend. Or more to the point, perhaps we are. Flora’s a fine filly, with great good sense and a mind of her own that she’s not afraid to use. A definite cut above the average females that get thrust upon us, even if she isn’t top drawer.’

  ‘Precisely. She has great good sense,’ Luke replied, ‘which means she’d never look twice at you.’

  ‘Care to have a wager on that?’ Archie asked, his eyes gleaming with speculative interest.

  ‘Don’t be such an ass. Leave my servants alone, and find some other way to counter your boredom, if you don’t mind.’

  ‘Oh, I don’t mind in the least.’ Luke knew that Archie was being deliberately provocative, but his jesting was in danger of rubbing Luke up the wrong way. ‘It seems a bit unfair that Flora shouldn’t have her share of fun just because you’ve gone all possessive, but don’t intend to do anything about it.’

  Did Luke’s appreciation for the spirited chit’s abilities appear that apparent to his family and friends? He found her a lively and interesting conversationalist, and rejoiced in the knowledge that she was capable of keeping his grandmother entertained. She was worth her weight in gold for that alone, leaving aside the consideration that she had saved him from the wiles of a woman who’d been fiercely determined to trap him into matrimony.

  He failed to understand the determination of such a level-headed female to insist that she possessed the gift of second sight. He would have considered her obsession with the occult as little more than deliberate rebellion against her strict and joyless upbringing but for the fact that she seriously believed in her so-called powers. Luke conceded that everyone had quirks for which they could offer no explanation, and saw no reason why she should not be entitled to hers.

  Luke felt mildly concerned when it occurred to him that if his brothers and friends had misinterpreted his interest in her, Flora herself might have done so too. He didn’t want her to feel let down or disappointed. But in actual fact, it was he who felt a twinge of disappointment. Being a man in a position of authority and responsibility, shackled by promises made in another lifetime that prevented him from doing as he pleased, was damned restrictive.

  ‘Come along,’ he said, draining his glass and setting it aside. ‘It’s time to perform.’

  ‘Who are we expecting?’ Sam asked. ‘This is Flora’s celebration. I hope Grandmamma hasn’t gone overboard and invited people whom Flora either doesn’t know or doesn’t care for.’

  ‘She invited Archie,’ Luke pointed out with a grin.

  ‘Good point,’ Sam conceded, chuckling.

  Archie pushed himself awkwardly to his feet, leaning heavily on his cane. They all adjusted their pace so that he could keep up with them. ‘Make fun of a cripple, why don’t you?’ he said caustically.

  ‘Oh, don’t worry, we shall,’ Luke assured him. ‘And to answer your question, Sam, I think just a few neighbours. Oh, and Grandmamma’s friend Mrs Pearson and her granddaughter. Granddaughters, as a matter of fact. I gather Marianne Pearson has an older sister who’s down from London. Never met her myself.’

  Luke and his two unmarried brothers subconsciously walked a little closer to one another. Charlie and Paul shared an amused look.

  ‘Don’t worry, marriage is not contagious,’ Charlie assured them.

  ‘Easy for you to say,’ Henry replied. ‘I’m far too young and irresponsible to become leg-shackled.’

  ‘The irresponsible part is quite right,’ Archie said. ‘And I speak for myself as much as Henry.’

  They were still laughing when they strolled into the drawing room. The guests had not yet arrived, so it was still a family affair. A family that wouldn’t feel complete without Flora forming a part of it. It still surprised Luke just how quickly she had settled in, and how hard it would already be for any of them to manage without her.

  Especially him.

  His breath caught in his throat when he glanced at her in her sparkling bronze gown. She looked svelte, self-assured and truly beautiful. Luke hadn’t thought of her as a beauty before. It was as though her coming of age and independence had lifted a weight from her shoulders and she had now grown into the person she was destined to be. She looked up, caught him watching her and smiled.

  ‘There you are at last.’ Luke was almost grateful when his grandmother’s voice intruded upon the moment, affording him the strength to look away from Flora. ‘We thought you had forgotten all about us.’

  ‘As if you would ever let us do such a thing,’ Sam said, kissing their grandmother’s cheek.

  ‘Ha!’ she responded, pretending to be disgruntled.

  ‘Happy birthday, Flora,’ Archie said, limping slowing towards her, taking her gloved hand in his and flamboyantly kissing the back of it.

  ‘Thank you, Lord Hardwick. And thank you as well for the lovely flowers. It was most
thoughtful of you. My room is now delightfully filled with the fragrance of roses.’

  ‘Flowers?’ Luke muttered, scowling at Archie’s back. ‘You sent her flowers?’

  Archie heard him, glanced over his shoulder and sent Luke a smug grin.

  ‘You are very welcome, my dear,’ Archie said suavely.

  ‘I cannot begin to imagine where you found rosebuds at this time of year, Lord Hardwick,’ Mary said disingenuously. ‘And so many of them too.’

  ‘Money talks, little sister,’ Henry said.

  ‘Did you send her all of Covent Garden market?’ Emma asked.

  ‘Just relieved it of a couple of dozen blooms,’ Archie responded flippantly.

  ‘I have been thoroughly spoiled,’ Flora said, perhaps sensing Luke’s tension and seeking to ease it. ‘Look at the lovely shawl that Miranda so thoughtfully embroidered for me.’ She held up her arms in order that the garment might be admired. ‘Emma gave me very extravagant silver-backed brushes. Mary a wonderful drawing of Zeus that I intend to have framed.’ Zeus was their grandmother’s unsociable cat. ‘Sam gave me a first edition of Jane Eyre because he recalled me once saying how much I enjoyed the book. Henry gave me perfume and—’

  ‘And Grandmamma gave her a beautiful brooch,’ Emma said, pointing to the discreet jewel nestling between her breasts. Luke found himself scowling again when Archie leaned in much closer than necessary in order to admire it.

  All eyes turned towards Luke, since he was the only person not to have presented Flora with a gift. He fully intended to do so, but his gift was not for public scrutiny. At least not yet. It had only arrived an hour or so earlier, which had precluded him from presenting it to Flora. Now it would have to wait until later.

  He was saved from the trouble of making excuses by the arrival of the first guests, all of whom fussed over Flora and presented her with more gifts. Luke stood back, glad that his family had made a point of spoiling Flora, since it was evident that her own had not marked the occasion in any way. Idiots!

  Luke’s grandmother was in fine form, holding court and making herself the centre of attention, as if it was her birthday they were celebrating. Archie had taken the chair beside her and the two of them laughed like naughty children. Archie encouraged the dowager’s eccentricities, and she responded by flirting with him quite shamelessly.

  Luke paid his respects to Mrs Pearson, one of the few locals for whom his grandmother had any time. Her young granddaughter, Marianne, was with her. And another lady too, who was presumably the older granddaughter.

  ‘A pretty little thing,’ Sam said, standing beside Luke and watching the newcomers greeting their grandmother. ‘How come we haven’t met her before?’

  ‘Henry looks as if he wants to alter that situation,’ Luke said, watching his brother, who despite his earlier loudly proclaimed aversion to matrimony had lost no time in approaching Mrs Pearson. ‘I clearly don’t give him enough to do around here if his thoughts are turning in that direction at his young age.’

  Sam grinned. ‘Henry is twenty-three. You’re just worried that his natural interest in an eligible female will draw attention to your disinclination to lead by example, big brother.’

  Luke fixed Sam with a droll look. ‘Not at all. But I do share your curiosity about the sudden appearance of an elder Miss Pearson. I didn’t know there was one.’

  ‘Mrs Pearson’s son resided permanently in London up until his death. I would imagine the elder daughter still lives in his property there.’

  ‘Perhaps.’ Luke gave an indifferent shrug. ‘I am not sufficiently interested to ask. Hopefully, having two granddaughters to keep in her sights will distract Mrs Pearson and prevent her from encouraging Grandmamma’s more outrageous behaviour.’

  ‘I doubt it. They’re as bad as one another.’ Sam grinned. ‘You’re not embarrassed by her, are you? It’s only family and close friends here tonight. No one will judge her. I for one rejoice in the fact that she must be free of pain in order to behave as flamboyantly as she now does. We have Flora to thank for that, and so much more besides. She bullies Grandmamma into drinking potions she makes up for her in the stillroom. Grandmamma protests, of course, and says they make no difference, but it’s obvious that they do. The changes in her are quite remarkable.’

  ‘I agree. Grandmamma can be cantankerous when she’s in pain or bored. Flora has worked wonders with our family matriarch. I am not ready to part with her yet, as I feared we might have to when her health was so poor before Flora came to us.’

  ‘Well then, Flora deserves to be spoiled this evening.’

  ‘That she does, little brother.’ Luke allowed his gaze to rest upon Flora as she laughed at something Archie had just said to her. She must have sensed him watching her since she turned her head and met his gaze, and was slow to return her attention to Archie. ‘That she does.’

  Chapter Two

  Being the centre of attention and having a fuss made of her was a new experience for Flora. She felt the sincerity behind the best wishes directed her way by the Berangers and their friends. She knew that they really did wish her the very happiest of birthdays, which was a great deal more than could be said for her own family, who had not been in contact at all. Her father did not approve of self-indulgence, but Flora would not be made to feel guilty for enjoying her day.

  ‘It is so very kind of you to include me in the invitation,’ the elder Miss Pearson said to Flora in a quiet aside, ‘given that we have not met before.’

  ‘It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance,’ Flora replied. She had taken an immediate liking to the personable young woman. ‘I was unaware that Marianne had an elder sister. The countess hasn’t mentioned you to me. Where have they kept you hidden?’

  ‘My home has always been with my aunt in London. Marianne was planning to join us next season, but I doubt whether that will be possible now.’ A shadow passed through Miss Pearson’s eyes and Flora sensed that something unpleasant had happened to bring the young woman scampering back to Wiltshire. ‘But I am still very glad to be here. It’s been too long since I spent time with my sister. And Grandmamma, of course. She may not always be the best influence but is the greatest possible fun.’

  They both smiled as they watched Mrs Pearson and the countess giggling like schoolgirls at something Lord Hardwick had just said to them.

  ‘They egg each other on,’ Flora said.

  ‘How long have you held your position here?’ Miss Pearson asked.

  ‘For about six months. Shall you miss London?’

  ‘My grandmother says that you have worked wonders with the countess. I am aware that she is not always easy, but you seem to know how to handle her.’

  Flora smiled at the artful avoidance of her question. There was something about Miss Pearson’s recent history that she would prefer to keep private. Flora was well acquainted with that desire and would not probe, despite the fact that her curiosity was piqued.

  ‘I am not intimidated by her ladyship’s desire to shock,’ Flora explained, ‘which rather spoils her fun. She bores easily, you see, and counters that boredom by behaving mischievously. It is her way of gaining attention. She told me once that people become invisible as they age, but there isn’t the slightest possibility of anyone overlooking the countess.’ Flora gave an indulgent smile. ‘She is nothing if not forthright in the expression of her views and if she takes a dislike to a person, you can be sure that they will not be left in ignorance of her feelings for long.’

  ‘She is certainly memorable, and clearly enjoys being the centre of attention,’ Miss Pearson said, tactfully avoiding making any reference to the fact that the countess was attired in bright, clashing colours topped by a turban with a rapidly wilting plume.

  ‘For my part, I refuse to be outraged by her conduct and we rub along very well together as a consequence. I have become inordinately fond of her and I hope she returns my affection to some small degree.’

  ‘It is immediately evident to me that the entire
family does.’

  ‘Because they have thrown this party in honour of a mere paid companion?’ Flora smiled to show that she was not offended by the observation. ‘Yes, I admit that it is unusual—and you can be sure that I didn’t ask for the occasion to be marked. It was the countess who insisted. Do you have any immediate plans for the future?’

  ‘Well, you are very lucky.’

  ‘Oh yes, I am well aware of that.’

  She sent a swift glance in Luke’s direction, conscious that Miss Pearson had once again avoided Flora’s question. Flora’s perception that she was deeply uncomfortable about something and had come here to hide herself away intensified, but once again she adjured herself not to pry.

  Henry joined them and struck up a lively conversation with Miss Pearson. Flora wandered away, sensing that Henry’s behaviour transcended the merely polite and that he would prefer to have the pretty young woman’s company to himself. Perhaps she would open up to him. She could see that the countess and Mrs Pearson were deep in conversation and that her charge had no need of her. Free to please herself for a few minutes, she joined Emma and Mary at the side of the room.

  ‘What are you two looking so glum about?’ she asked with a smile. ‘It is my birthday and I absolutely forbid anyone to be miserable.’

  Emma returned her smile. ‘We were watching Miss Gregory attempting to monopolise Luke,’ she said with a disapproving twitch of her nose.

  ‘I haven’t met her before,’ Flora admitted, ‘and I had no idea she would be here this evening. I assumed the guests would be people with whom I am already acquainted. Who is she?’

  ‘Squire Exton’s niece,’ Mary replied. ‘Apparently Sam ran into the squire in the village this morning. The squire told him that his niece was here for a prolonged visit, so Sam felt obliged to extend this evening’s invitation to include her. I hope you don’t mind, Flora. After all, this is your party.’