A Sense of Misgiving (Perceptions Book 3) Page 8

  ‘Flora didn’t actually make the admission, but I got the impression that Redfern took an interest in her too, but for reasons that have nothing to do with financial gain.’

  ‘The devil he did!’ Luke scowled at his reflection as he dried his face. ‘Damned impudence! I don’t want the cove anywhere near Mary, breaking her heart, and I don’t want Flora inconvenienced by his inappropriate attentions. The girl has more than enough to worry about as things stand.’

  ‘Too late. The invitation to Mary’s party has been issued and accepted. Mrs Arnold and her brother will be here. There’s no escaping that.’

  ‘What does Flora suggest we do about it?’ A faint smile touched Luke’s lips. ‘I cannot persuade myself that she didn’t express an opinion.’

  ‘She wants you to see Mary and Redfern together on Saturday so that you can make up your own mind.’ Paul finished brushing down Luke’s coat and hung it in the closet. ‘She doesn’t feel she has the authority to make an arbitrary decision about something so important, even though Mary has expressed private doubts to her about Redfern’s real reason for noticing her.’

  Luke felt both relieved and frustrated. ‘I am glad Mary’s not lost all sense of reason. Well then, you and I will watch the two of them on Saturday and then decide whether to warn Mary off him.’ Luke finished his ablutions and slipped between the sheets, still naked, yawning. ‘Thanks, Paul. Hold the fort tomorrow while I’m in Salisbury. Hopefully, I won’t be gone all day.’

  ‘When don’t I?’ Paul responded as he extinguished the light. ‘Good night.’

  Luke left Beranger Court early the following morning, driven to the railway station by his coachman. He installed himself in a first class carriage that would take him into Salisbury with just one change, and hid himself behind the morning edition of the Times to avoid conversation with his fellow travellers. He reflected with wry amusement that his brother Charlie had visited the offices of his now wife’s attorneys when he suspected that her assets had been embezzled by her father’s second wife. There were similarities in that both he and Charlie were determined to protect women who were being manipulated. Sadly though, there was little possibility of Luke making Flora his countess.

  Did he actually want to? The possibility almost caused him to drop his newspaper. He liked and admired Flora. She was endlessly entertaining, and failed miserably to behave deferentially in his company, which was a refreshing change. She was witty, intelligent, pragmatic and always challenging. As the daughter of a senior cleric, she was also respectable. But she was not of his class, and therein lay his difficulty. His father had been a stickler for maintaining the distinction that separated the aristocracy from the hoi polloi.

  ‘We have a duty to maintain standards, boy,’ he could hear his father’s booming voice in his imagination. ‘Give me your word that you will only marry a lady of quality who will enhance our family’s standing!’

  Luke had been fifteen at the time and had given his word without a second thought. What did a fifteen-year-old care about a future that seemed years away? Times had changed since then and his father was dead, but even so, a promise was a promise. With a heavy sigh, he returned his attention to his newspaper and the latest political infighting.

  He arrived at Farthingale’s offices just after they had opened for the day. Unsure of Farthingale’s true allegiance, Luke had not sent prior notice of his intended call. For all he knew, the man could handle Latimer’s personal affairs as well as those of his late mother, or have dealings with the wealthy Church of England to protect. However, upon giving his card to a senior clerk, a man of his stature was not kept waiting and was conducted immediately into the senior partner’s office.

  ‘Lord Swindon, this is indeed an unexpected pleasure.’ A bespectacled man with a wide girth and a halo of white hair stood up from behind an ugly mahogany desk and scrutinised Luke’s person. ‘Please to take a seat and tell me how I can be of service to you.’

  ‘I shall not take up a great deal of your time,’ Luke replied, taking the offered chair and reaching into his inside pocket, where Flora’s authority lay nestled. He extracted it and handed it to Farthingale without a word. The solicitor read it quickly and elevated both bushy brows.

  ‘You consult me on Miss Flora Latimer’s behalf? I confess to being surprised.’

  ‘You were not aware that Miss Latimer has been in my employ for the past six months?’

  ‘I was not, my lord. May I ask in what capacity? You may choose not to answer me if you wish. It is simply a matter of curiosity. Latimer is not the sort of man who would approve of any of his daughters taking paid employment.’

  ‘You do not approve of the man?’

  ‘It is not my place to approve or disapprove.’ Farthingale folded his hands on the surface of his ugly desk and waggled them from side to side. Then he surprised Luke by chuckling. ‘But if I had been told that one of them had found the courage to rebel against such a strict parental regime, I would immediately think of the eldest Miss Latimer. She is the only daughter whom I have had any contact with, just the once when she was much younger, but I have never forgotten the occasion.’ A fond expression touched the older man’s eyes, implying that Flora had charmed him, too. ‘She came here with her grandmother when that lady put her affairs in order. I dare say she has forgotten about it, but I still recall those flashing eyes and her stark determination to help her grandmother to exert her free will. They giggled together like a pair of children—which Miss Flora still was at the time, of course. She held her grandmother in great affection, and it showed.’

  ‘She now serves a similar purpose for my own grandmother, acting as her companion. They are as thick as thieves, too.’

  ‘I am very pleased to hear it, my lord. Miss Flora is a remarkable young woman, but if I may speak freely, her spirit was in danger of being crushed in that austere household.’ Farthingale leaned back in his chair, fixing Luke with a speculative expression. ‘It must have taken courage for her to rebel against her father, but I rather imagine that courage is a commodity she possesses in spades.’

  ‘Latimer is very anxious to have his daughter back.’

  ‘That doesn’t surprise me. He harbours ambitions to rise up within the hierarchy of the church, and I suspect that Miss Flora’s outspokenness could hold him back, much as his own mother’s threatened to. That lady did not have a high opinion of the church and wasn’t afraid to say so. Her eldest granddaughter has inherited her independent spirit.’

  Luke drew comparisons with his own grandmother’s beliefs. ‘So Flora tells me.’

  ‘Quite. However, we have yet to establish the reasons for your visit.’

  ‘Miss Latimer reaches her majority in a few weeks.’

  ‘I am aware of that. And even if I had forgotten, you can be sure that her father has reminded me on several occasions, ordering me to address all correspondence regarding his mother’s bequests to Cathedral Close. That is why I am surprised to learn that Miss Flora no longer resides there.’

  ‘She is her grandmother’s sole beneficiary?’

  ‘She is.’

  Luke frowned. ‘Is she aware of the fact?’

  ‘She should be. I wrote and told her after her grandmother’s death.’

  ‘Latimer presumably intercepted the letter.’

  Farthingale gave a grim nod. ‘It would seem like the most likely explanation.’

  ‘Flora believes her grandmother had little to leave, but Latimer’s interest in the matter suggests that is not the case. You said just now that he reminded you to send all correspondence to his address.’

  ‘The will was most specific. Mrs Latimer was adamant that her son should not benefit in any way whatsoever from her estate. She was happy for me to inform Flora that there was a legacy, but ordered me to refrain from divulging its exact nature so that Latimer couldn’t bully her into giving it up. She is to hear the precise details on her twenty-first birthday. In the interim, I remain the sole executor of that estate and
have been instructed to enlighten Miss Latimer in person on or immediately after she comes of age.’ He gave a wry smile. ‘Latimer does not know of that last instruction, and given his bullish behaviour, I didn’t see any need to enlighten him.’ Farthingale sighed. ‘I am very glad that you are here, Lord Swindon, because at least now I know where to find Miss Flora.’

  ‘I assume that the bequest has value, which is why Latimer is so anxious to get his hands on it.’

  Farthingale gave a half-smile. ‘Valuable yes, but not necessarily in monetary terms.’

  ‘I see,’ Luke said. Although he didn’t, not really. ‘Latimer tried to force Flora into a marriage with his curate, which is what made her decide to look for a position away from Salisbury. Do you know why he would do that? Flora herself has absolutely no idea.’

  ‘None whatsoever, but it doesn’t surprise me. He will lose all authority over his daughter once she reaches her majority, and her outspokenness could hold him back.’ Farthingale pursed his lips as he articulated his thoughts. ‘Marriage to a man below Latimer in the ranks of the clergy would have neatly resolved the problem and ensured that control over Miss Flora’s inheritance passed into her husband’s hands. Or so Latimer probably thought.’ Farthingale chuckled. ‘But Mrs Latimer saw her son for the conniving individual that he is and made her bequest Miss Flora’s in perpetuity.’

  Luke laughed too, thinking he would have enjoyed the old lady’s company, recognising the source of Flora’s independent spirit. ‘In other words, any husband foisted upon her would never have been able to get his hands on it.’

  ‘Precisely.’

  ‘Certain pressure is being brought upon me to release Flora from her position.’

  Farthingale scowled. ‘From Latimer?’

  ‘Indeed. I don’t have the least intention of giving in to blackmail. That is not my style. Besides, my grandmother enjoys Flora’s society. We went through half a dozen companions, all of whom she frightened away, until Flora came along and stood up to her.’

  ‘You think the pressure is a direct result of Flora’s impending inheritance?’

  ‘Without knowing its nature, which I realise you cannot tell me, I don’t know what else to think. Latimer tried to get Flora back shortly after she joined us. When Flora declined, we thought he had given up. Disowned her, if you like. But I underestimated him. He has resorted to very underhand tactics indeed, but I am determined to hold onto Flora’s services and protect my family’s reputation.’

  ‘I did wonder why a gentleman of your stature would put himself out by coming here for the sake of a paid companion. But if your family is under threat…’ Farthingale cleared his throat, obviously curious about the nature of the threat in question. Luke thought him trustworthy and discreet, but decided against enlightening him. He had his own lawyers to handle the matter if necessary, and the less people who knew the sensitive details the better. ‘Is there any way I can help? As you will have surmised, I don’t feel any great loyalty towards Latimer.’

  ‘No, thank you. I will deal with that aspect of this sorry affair myself. Somehow.’ Luke took a moment to consider. ‘Is there any way you can tell Flora what she can expect to inherit without breaking the terms of the will? If we know what is so important to Latimer, it might help us to fight back.’

  Farthingale took his turn to contemplate. ‘I don’t see why not,’ he said slowly. ‘Mrs Latimer did offer me certain latitude, aware as she was of her son’s manipulative nature, and this is a situation in which I feel it would be prudent to exercise discretion. Besides, it is less than four weeks until the birthday.’ He beamed at Luke. ‘Tell Miss Latimer to expect a visit from me at Beranger Court on Monday.’

  ‘Thank you. If you send a cable letting me know when to expect you, I shall send someone to collect you at the station.’

  Farthingale stood and gave a formal little bow. ‘That is very kind of you, Lord Swindon.’

  Having achieved as much as he could have hoped to, and feeling greatly encouraged by Farthingale’s protectiveness of Flora’s interests, Luke stood, shook the man’s hand and took his leave.

  He arrived back at Beranger Court late in the afternoon and explained all that he had learned to Paul. Aware that Flora usually had a few hours off at this time of day whilst his grandmother rested, he had Paul send for her. When she arrived, Paul smiled and left the two of them alone.

  ‘How did your enquiries go?’ she asked anxiously.

  That was Flora all over, Luke thought, smiling at her forthright manner. No social niceties. No flummery. She went straight to the heart of the matter.

  ‘Very informative,’ he responded with equal candour.

  Flora looked astonished when he explained the nature of his discoveries.

  ‘I cannot make it out at all,’ she said, shaking her head and dislodging a few rebellious curls in the process. ‘Grandmamma had nothing of value to leave. I am absolutely sure of it. Certainly nothing that would get my father into such a flummox. If whatever it is will embarrass him though, or cast doubts over his character, I suppose it explains why he is determined to have me where he can control my behaviour.’

  ‘Ha! If that’s what he thinks then he doesn’t know you at all.’

  ‘Thank you, Luke. That is the nicest compliment that anyone has ever paid me.’

  He smiled, thinking he would like to do a great deal better than that. Knowing he never could. ‘You will have to wait until Monday, I’m afraid, for your curiosity to be satisfied.’ Luke grinned at her. ‘Perhaps she had a secret fortune and has left it all to you. You will now be an heiress. A lady of idleness and dissipation.’

  ‘How does one behave dissipitiously?’ she asked with a mischievous smile that lit up her eyes and enhanced her smooth complexion. ‘Is that even a word? I think it would be rather fun to be labelled dissipitous.’

  Luke shook his head, grinning. ‘Stop trying to be outrageous. You might not be able to live up to your father’s expectations, but you are no lightskirt either.’

  ‘No,’ she agreed, ‘I am not. Sometimes I am not sure what I ought to be.’

  ‘Yourself,’ he said softly. ‘Always yourself.’ His expression sobered. ‘Anyway, Paul tells me you are dissatisfied with Redfern.’

  ‘For which I hold you entirely responsible. You should know better than to go around disappointing young women.’ She shook a finger at him, her expression playful. ‘First Lily Carlton, and now Mrs Arnold out to make mischief, unless I have misjudged her. I cannot always overcome my fear of spiders in order to rescue you,’ she chided, referring to her brave sortie into the house’s long unused hidden passageways that she had braved in order to rescue Luke from Lily.

  ‘I don’t do it on purpose,’ he protested. ‘In my defence, I was young and reckless when I first knew Lucy. I thought of her as another very pretty sister, nothing more. I have since learned caution.’

  How gratifying.’ Flora tilted her head as she continued to speak. ‘I gather that Mrs Arnold has spent much of her married life travelling abroad with her husband and has only recently settled back in Wiltshire. Now her brother, the injured war hero, is also back.’

  ‘And penniless.’

  ‘Most likely. With eight children to support, it’s fair to suppose that Mrs Arnold’s father counted upon her engaging your affections, thereby assuring the security of the whole family. When that did not happen, he invented a debt of honour, which your father refused to acknowledge. But before he could take matters further he died, as did your own father, and Redfern’s expectations of a financial windfall expired with him. But one or two of her sons must have known about it, and probably believed the debt was genuine.’

  ‘Added reason for Lucy to resent me,’ Luke said thoughtfully. ‘But that doesn’t explain how knowledge of that debt came to your father’s attention.’

  ‘No, it does not,’ Flora agreed, ‘and you can be sure that I’ve given the problem a great deal of thought.’ She sent him a distracted smile. ‘So, what d
o we do now to neutralise my father’s spite? My offer to return to Salisbury stands.’

  ‘Out of the question!’ Luke said curtly. ‘There has to be another way.’ He paced the length of the room, rubbing his chin. ‘Let’s hold fire on making any decisions, at least until Farthingale has called on Monday and we have a better idea what we are dealing with. In the meantime, there’s Mary’s party for you to look forward to the day after tomorrow.’

  ‘Which will give you an opportunity to watch her with Redfern.’

  Luke scowled. ‘Indeed.’

  ‘Poor Luke,’ Flora said sympathetically. ‘All the responsibility for this estate, and for your family’s wellbeing, and people are constantly trying to get the better of you as well, forcing you to remain always one step ahead of them. It must be exhausting.’

  ‘But I have you and your sixth-sense to protect me,’ he said, making light of his problems.

  ‘You would have, if you believed in my abilities.’

  ‘I believe in you,’ he said, suddenly serious. ‘And I am not ready or willing to let you go.’ He briefly touched her shoulder and just as quickly reclaimed his hand. ‘I hope you and Grandmamma intend to come down this evening.’

  ‘I believe her ladyship plans to.’

  ‘Then you’d best get on,’ he said, glancing at the lock clock ticking away in the corner of the room.

  ‘Goodness, is that the time?’

  She sprang lightly to her feet, smiled at him and was gone in a swirl of muslin and lace petticoats.

  Chapter Six

  ‘I am going into the village on errands for the countess,’ Flora said, putting her head around the door to Mary’s sitting room the following morning. ‘She isn’t having one of her good days and doesn’t feel up to accompanying me.’

  ‘Oh dear. I hope she isn’t unwell.’

  ‘Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious. We have to accept that she is no longer young, and sometimes she overdoes things.’