Revenants (24)

Had given her a deal to think about

Flora had not known quite what a weight had lain upon her heart until it had been lifted. Hannah’s letter had been entire definite that Jimmy had concluded that it would by no means answer for him to carry off Jamie. His fatherly feelings and paternal anxieties were entirely soothed by observing the excellent care that Jamie received, the first-rate introduction to the rudiments of education he was about acquiring from Miss Hudson, the friendly relations he enjoyed with the other children –

Hannah added that she had felt it diplomatic to concede that Jamie might go receive instruction from Father Flaherty at the nearest Romish church in the locality.

Flora snorted a little at that, then leaned back in her train seat – she was alone in the compartment – and closed her eyes. She had been entirely shocked at the depth of her anguish at the prospect of losing Jamie – and yet, his father? was it not the right thing to give him up, did Jimmy come about to manifest paternal feelings? Even did one wonder a little as to Jimmy’s full comprehension of the responsibilities that might involve?

She sighed. Hannah had once said that sure Flora was somewhat like unto the paterfamilias of their little family – the one that was most often away on business – less concerned with the quotidien matters of child-rearing. But sure it was thus in many households – children mewed up in the nursery in the care of servants –

That was not the way with them! – they took a deal of an interest in their orphans – of course it was only prudent and sensible to give the care of the infants into the hands of such an expert in nursery management as Betty – to have a governess to give 'em lessons – and, Flora took the thought, to have Verrie be the one ever there to whom they ran with all their little joys and sorrows and hurts.

But she loved 'em all – Hannah’s dear three, and Ellen’s Theo, and now Julia’s pretty little Hari – quite as much as Kate and Jamie. It would hurt her heart was the same thing to come for any of 'em.

Here they were, coming into the station – and now her spirits were eased about how matters stood at Yeomans, she thought she might break her journey, momentarily, and go call to see whether Mr MacDonald had any fresh intelligence concerning affairs in Europe, that he might wish to communicate verbatim rather than in a letter. For she was a little perturbed that she found herself so put about by these personal matters when there was so much ado in the wider world.

She found it a little – disturbing – to enter Tiger’s pretty house when she was not there and when she herself had evaded an encounter at Norleigh Hall – but – o, surely 'twas but some passing fancy. Yet it was tiresome to feel that one must just wait it out until Clorinda came to her senses once more.

William answered her query as to whether Mr MacDonald were upon the premises by saying he was in the library, and she should go through, he would surely be entirely pleased to see her, and he would have fresh coffee sent up. Mayhap she would stay for a little nuncheon?

Flora apprehended that she was unlike to leave the house without being fed by Euphemia!

So she went through to the Library wing, and up the stairs to the library, hearing from Belinda’s quarters in the basement a faint sound of girlish shrieks and giggles.

Entering in the Library she observed Sandy MacDonald seated at the table, a coffeepot at his elbow, a cup in his hand, as he addressed his attention to certain documents before him. He looked up, put down the cup, pushed his spectacles up his nose: Flora, he said, with a slight frown.

I looked in, said Flora, on my way back to Yeomans, to see did you have any fresh intelligence –

He groaned and said, so, you have insulted one of your oldest friends, because you are still sulking at Clorinda.

Insulted!

O, I am sure Sallington makes excuses for you, but it must seem uncivil and lacking in that antient friendship you have not to stay over a day or so to see the accomplishment of an enterprize in which he has been so active.

At this moment came in William with fresh coffee and shortbread.

After he had gone, Flora helped herself to coffee, seeing that Sandy was not about to do so, and took a shortbread to nibble at. He did not say anything –

Sandy snorted and said, one would hardly expect him to! It is not his way. But I think it is time I had words with you over this behaviour towards Clorinda, that she finds exceeding distressing –

It is not intended to gratify her!

I will concede that I was taken somewhat aback myself when I discovered how matters lay.  Mayhap I found myself more in sympathy through having had my own heart surprized, and by one of not dissimilar origins.

But –

Sandy got up and walked towards the window and looked out, clasping his hands behind his back. He was silent for a considerable while and then said, Flora, you are a fine friend to humanity, you go about the world doing work intended for good, but there are times I fear you are like unto those fellows that are champions of all the oppressed in the world, but somewhat neglectful of those closest to 'em. You yourself were brought up in exceeding comfort and security – 'twas one reason why, for all she loved you to extremity from the day of your birth, Clorinda gave you to your other parents to raise – though also because she could see that they loved you too –

Flora gave a little sob.

I fancy she has always glided over the difficulties of her life whenever she mentions her antecedents to you –

She was a crack courtesan! cried Flora. Admired for her beauty, her taste and her wit –

Sandy turned to look at her with a sober expression. It was still a precarious living, he said. I first came to her acquaintance when G desired me to assist her in legal matters over that wretch Evenden seducing Seraphine –

Seraphine!

While he was undertaking investigations into the chemical properties of foodstuffs and kitchen matters, that bore heavily upon the household budget. That, he added with a small smile, we brought all to an agreeable conclusion out of court. But shortly afterwards Clorinda was the subject of a very nasty libellous satire implying that she had a noxious ailment that could have been very deleterious to her living – And it was before my time, but G told me of it, that she had been viciously attacked by a Prussian Junker that had been introduced to her by the Old Duke of Mulcaster, and might have been killed but that very fortunate, Hector – that was not in service in her household in those days – had been visiting Phoebe the e’en. So just because she did not die in a gutter, riddled with the pox, afore her thirtieth year, does not mean that she was free from dangers and fears.

Flora got up and paced up and down the library. But, she said at length, turning at the far end and looking at Sandy silhouetted against the window, then she became Marchioness of Bexbury, and entirely accepted in Society –

Do you suppose that that has not required the skills of a rope-dancer? She was fortunate to have ladies that would sponsor her, but even so, was somewhat of a campaign demanding the most delicate strategy. He paused once more.

Flora felt the silence like the silence of an impending thunderstorm. What, she said – I feel there is somewhat you are about to disclose –

Sandy looked down at his hands and said, he was recalling the greatest falling-out he had ever had with Clorinda, in this very library, quite shortly after she had annexed this house as a wing to her original establishment. He knew that Flora called Clorinda Tiger but he did not suppose she completely apprehended the extent to which she was a tiger’s heart wrapped in a woman’s hide when one threatened those she loved.

I will be brief, he went on. She shot a man – a creeping insinuating government informer – that had discovered the facts of your birth, though was somewhat out in his further speculations, and wished to use that knowledge to prevail upon her to disclose the secrets she had concerning members of our circle.

Flora knew, as a matter of distant history, that there had been a time when, instead of being merely a particularly radical set among a reforming party in power, the Raxdell coterie had been regarded as verging on the dangerously seditious. No doubt of interest to government informers in the day. And indeed they had had secrets –

Was it not discovered upon her?

He gave a snort of half-laughter. She had the body conveyed to Mr Hacker’s back-door, where 'twas well-known that fresh corpses would be received with no questions asked and a dissection undertaken for a select audience.

Flora broke into hysterical giggles, covering her mouth with her hands. A device, she spluttered, quite out of a tale by A Lady Anonyma!

Sandy raised his eyebrows and then grinned. Much about the like! But perchance you may see why, of all the young women that have been at Clorinda’s feet, here she has found one that is up to her weight –

William came in to say, that Euphemia was about to serve a nice little nuncheon for 'em in the parlour.

We will come very shortly, said Sandy.

He came across the library to where Flora was standing and laid a hand upon her shoulder. Flora, I know the entire goodness of your heart – you are a credit to all your parents – this present brangle hurts all concerned –

Flora took out a handkerchief and blew her nose and said, she would strive to be a better Miss Flora: while feeling that he had given her a deal to think about that she would wish to disclose to her other self Hannah and her fine judgement.