‘Of course. May I help you to your room?’ she asked, holding a decidedly green Aurelia by the elbow as she rose.
‘Please do, yes. And I am always better in the afternoon.’
Flora walked upstairs with Aurelia. As she called for her maid and asked for the tea, Flora pulled wide the sheet and blanket on the enormous canopied bed in which Aurelia – and no doubt, Archie – slept.
‘Thank you,’ Aurelia said as Flora helped her up onto the mattress. ‘I am told this nausea will pass very soon. And it helps so enormously that you are here.’
Flora sat in the chair close by until her sister’s eyes closed and she fell asleep. She tiptoed out and went to her own room to freshen up, but felt herself drawn to the window, where she could see the sun illuminating the garden. Even though she knew pregnant women could feel ill in the first two or three months, Aurelia was now over that time, at almost four months. Flora only prayed all was well.
The comforting bulk of Sarah arrived the next day, looking overwhelmed and red-faced after the long journey from Esthwaite, but overjoyed to see her two girls.
‘Mama has said she will come down for the birth, but Sarah is a godsend,’ Aurelia said as she joined Flora in the dining room for dinner that evening. ‘She seems very pleased with her new lady’s maid uniform, although it will have to be let out. I do hope the other staff won’t bully or look down on her. They seem to think that everybody born in the north is inferior, including me.’ She gave a small, false laugh.
‘Don’t be silly, Aurelia darling. I’m sure that you are imagining it.’
‘And I am sure that I am not. Even my own husband calls me a mouse and tells me I mustn’t allow the servants or Arabella to order me around so. Perhaps I am not cut out to run a household.’
‘Being sweet and gentle hardly precludes authority, or, in fact, respect. You are simply feeling vulnerable because of your condition, that is all.’
‘And again, I say I am not. It’s very odd because – forgive me for saying this – at home you seemed to be the shadow, whereas here in this house it’s me. How things have changed in the past year.’
‘But you are happy with Archie?’
‘Of course. You know how I adore him, but now, because I am with child, he does not visit me any longer. And . . .’ Aurelia sighed. ‘It is difficult to explain, but that is the only time when I feel I possess him fully. You will understand soon enough what I mean when you marry Freddie.’
‘Yes. I am sure I will,’ Flora replied, repressing the usual shudder. ‘And if you believe you have problems with your household, you should see my future home. I am only too glad to let the Countess continue running it, for I will barely know where to begin.’
‘My sister, the Viscountess . . .’ Aurelia shook her head. ‘Who would have believed it?’
‘Who indeed?’
Flora was relieved that Sarah had brought with her some much-needed fresh Lakeland air, both metaphorically and physically. And in her capable, caring hands, over the following days, Aurelia brightened considerably.
‘I never thought I’d see the day when I had my girls back. One married and expecting a child, and the other about to be . . . almost royalty!’ Sarah exclaimed as she tucked Aurelia up in bed for her afternoon nap. ‘I always liked Lord Vaughan, I did, such a pleasant gentleman. Do you remember, Miss Flora, when he came to visit you at Esthwaite last summer and you got half drowned climbing Scafell?’
Flora’s blood froze in her veins at Sarah’s remark. She had not uttered a word to Aurelia – or anyone else for that matter – of where she’d been that day when she’d appeared back in the kitchen at Esthwaite, soaking wet.
‘And you in your pa’s breeks and cap! I’d never seen ’owt like it! Me and Mrs Hillbeck laughed and laughed at the sight of you.’
‘Archie came to visit you at Esthwaite last summer?’ Aurelia looked at her sister, puzzled.
‘Yes.’ Flora recovered her composure. ‘He was on his way back from shooting in Scotland and decided to drop in. I’m sure I told you, darling.’
‘If you did, I don’t remember it.’ Aurelia’s lips were set tightly. ‘You climbed Scafell together?’
‘That they did, and she went to sleep before I’d even drawn her bath that night,’ Sarah cackled. ‘In them funny clothes, looking like a man, and her going to be a viscountess in a few weeks’ time!’
‘You definitely didn’t tell me that,’ said Aurelia.
‘No. I was embarrassed, as you can imagine. Sarah is right, I did return home in rather a state, but Archie wished to see the mountains, and I had no choice but to show him. Now, are you all settled? We will leave you in peace.’ Flora went over to the bed and kissed her sister on the cheek. ‘Rest well, and I’ll be in my room reading.’ Before the slightest look could betray her, Flora headed for the door.
Safely in her own room, she put her head in her hands, breathing heavily and pacing across the wooden floor. Now she wished that Archie was here, so she could talk to him about what had just happened. No doubt Sarah knew the publican in the village who had lent Archie his clothes for the journey, or perhaps someone had seen her step into Archie’s motor car at the gates – it was a small community. It hardly mattered how Sarah knew she’d been with Archie that day. What mattered was explaining why she hadn’t ever told Aurelia about it.
At dinner that night, Aurelia made no mention of Sarah’s revelation. Neither did she ask for further details when Flora escorted her upstairs to bed and kissed her goodnight. Yet – and perhaps it was her imagination – she had felt a coolness in her sister’s manner.
Flora did not sleep well that night. One way and another, she was grateful when a letter arrived for her from the Countess, asking her if she could spare a few days to travel to Selbourne and discuss wedding plans.
Aurelia hardly murmured when Flora asked if she would mind if she took her leave to go to Hampshire.
‘Of course you must. And I am feeling much better already.’ Aurelia looked at Sarah fondly, as she tidied the room. ‘And Archie will be home soon.’
‘I am leaving early tomorrow morning, so I may not see you before I depart. But I will be back in three days, I promise.’
‘Thank you. Now Sarah is with me, all will be well. Do send my love to the Countess and Freddie.’ Aurelia gave her a tight smile, then rolled over in preparation for sleep.
Flora left, knowing without a doubt that her sister was suspicious. Entering her room, she went straight to her writing desk, and drew out a sheet of writing paper and her ink pen.
High Weald
Ashford, Kent