The Portrait (5 page)

Perry started forward, alarmed at the sudden change. "I
say, Ned, you all right? Can I get you anything?"

"Nothing. Nothing. I'm fine. I need to rest, that's all. Now
go. I shall do well enough"

With lagging steps, Perry made his way out of the room,
finding it necessary to keep checking over his shoulder that
his brother was indeed only tired. As he reached the door, he
took one final look before entering the corridor and, calling
quietly to Caesar, headed toward the stairs to join his friend in
the kitchen to sample Rose's cooking.

As December neared its conclusion, Lady Flora Carlton, a
small, vivacious brunet dressed in the height of fashion, arrived at Fly around midday to be informed that her brothers
had taken a walk to the stables.

"That is no problem," she assured Croft. "If you would but
arrange for my trunks to be taken to my old room, I will make
myself comfortable in the small salon until they return"

"You intend to stay, madam?" inquired a mystified Croft.

"I do indeed. I will not have it said that I neglect my brother
when he has so much need of me. I've told Carlton not to look
for my return. I will nurse my dear Edward."

"The master needs no nursemaid, Miss Flora," Croft retorted with a familiarity born of long association. "He does
very well. Indeed, he's much improved."

Lady Flora looked contemptuously at the retainer. "When I
want your opinion, Croft, I will ask for it. Until then, you may
rely upon me to know what's best for my dear brother. I alone
shall tend him."

"You mark my words, he'll have none of your `tending.' He's no need for petticoats," Croft, muttered, sotto voce, as he
went out to the steps to supervise the lady's luggage.

Lady Flora looked fondly around the small salon as she sat
sipping her tea. She loved the antiquity of this old house. Although, upon the event of her marriage, she'd been conveyed
to Ravensby Hall, at times she still longed for the familiarity
of her former home. She had been in Lancashire when news
eventually reached her of Edward's return to England, and she
begged her husband to conclude his business as quickly as
possible so that she could leave for Fly Hall. Seeing the retraction in the Gazette made her even more determined to
hurry to the earl's side, not wishing him to be alone in what
she perceived as his hour of disappointment. Upon her return
from Lancashire, she but waited to supervise the Christmas
Day festivities at Ravensby before hastening to Fly.

She heard voices in the hall and, putting aside her cup, rose
to her feet in anticipation of her brothers' arrival. As Sinclair
entered the room, the sight of him affected her deeply, and she
ran forward to cast herself, sobbing, onto his breast.

Standing uncertainly in the doorway, Perry looked decidedly uneasy at Flora's show of sisterly concern. Relieved that
he was not the recipient of such feminine emotion, he silently
sympathized with his brother.

"My dear Flora, there's no need for tears. None at all," said
the earl, laughing and attempting to hold her away from him.
"As you see, I do very well."

"Your poor arm," she said, fluttering her hand over the empty
sleeve, and she was again shaken by a fresh bout of weeping.

"I've told you, I do very well, Flora," stated Sinclair, finally
disengaging himself from her clasp. "There is absolutely no
need for you to be so distressed on my account" He patted her
shoulder reassuringly. "Does Carlton accompany you?" he
asked, looking around the room.

Eyes awash with tears, Flora sniffed inelegantly. "I've left
him at home; I come to nurse you, to be with you in your time
of need"

"'Nurse' me? I can assure you, my dear, I am in no need of
a nurse. Behold, do I seem a man who needs coddling?"

"Wretch!" she cried, stamping her foot. "When I heard of
your injuries, I was beside myself. I couldn't bear the thought
of your wounds. Now you mock my regard"

"I say, steady on, Flora," cried Perry, stepping forward.
"Hasn't Ned enough to contend with without you flying off
into one of your starts?"

"Enough! Enough!" cried the earl, raising his hand. "I am
gratified by this excessive concern on my behalf, but I assure
you, there is no need. Indeed, I am exceedingly pleased to see
you, Flora, and should you wish to stay for a little while, I
would be more than grateful for your company. However, now
that I am returned home, I improve daily and have little use
for a nurse. Now come and tell me, how fares Carlton?"

Much mollified by his change of address, Flora took hold
of his hand and led him to the chaise, ever eager to chatter on
a subject so close to her heart.

Finding himself ignored, Perry decided to make good his
escape, quietly calling Caesar to his side and muttering, "Never
could understand females. Well, not that one!"

Once the subject of her husband had been exhausted, Flora
took the opportunity to raise the subject of the betrothal.

"I had not thought Jenny so cruel as to reject you at such a
time," she said reprovingly. "Not at all what I would have expected from her."

"You must not lay the blame at Jenny's door," replied the
earl quietly.

Flora came upright in her seat, casting her brother a look of
incredulity. "What? I cannot believe it was you who ended the
engagement"

"It ended by mutual agreement. We had grown apart"

"Then I can see it was your fault," she said with scorn. "You
should have made more of an effort to attach her. You cannot
expect to leave a young girl waiting on your return from war
without some attempt on your behalf to maintain her interest. You are my brother, and I love you dearly, but I'm only too
aware of your defects. You have no romantic turn of mind whatsoever. I have seen many of society's beauties setting their
caps at you, and you took none seriously. You made no endeavor to set up a relationship. I lose all patience with you!"

"Read me no lectures, Flora," he said wearily. "I've no
mind to be considering the state of matrimony. Besides, who
would have me?"

"I would have expected that Jenny would. At least, she gave
me no reason to suspect otherwise."

He rose impatiently. "Then I would not wish myself upon
her. I've more sense than that. Now if you will excuse me, I
will go to my chamber to change for supper. Might I suggest
you do the same?"

Lady Flora's visit became a protracted one. So long was
she away that her husband found it necessary to come in search
of her.

"'Tis most unkind of you to expect me to desert my dear
Edward," she complained, turning a pouting countenance toward her long-suffering spouse as they sat on the chaise in the
morning room. "I've been out of your sight for no more than
three weeks, and you find it necessary to seek me out. I am
mortified."

"Come, Flora, you would've been even more mortified had I
left you to your own devices," cajoled Lord Carlton, a floridly
handsome man of middle years who doted unashamedly on his
young, effervescent wife. "Admit it-you would rather I
missed you than have no care of your whereabouts"

"You are quite right, my love," she agreed penitently. "I
would so much rather you sought my company, and I have indeed missed you"

With an indulgent chuckle, he raised her hand to his lips.
"You know exactly how to manipulate me. I came here full of
righteous indignation at your desertion, and still you find a
way of turning it to your advantage"

"I'm so pleased you came," she said, bending forward to place a kiss on his cheek, but as he would have drawn her into
his arms, she braced her hands against his chest. "You must see
that I need to be with Edward. I could not rest if I were not"

"I am sure Edward is quite able to care for himself. It is I
who have need of you"

She appeared much pleased by this answer and allowed her
husband to catch her to his breast, but when they drew apart,
she was still reluctant to relinquish her cause.

"Though he will not admit it, I fear Edward is much downcast. Physically, he improves daily, but I fear his spirits do not
revive as one would expect. I've a mind to invite him to accompany us to London at the beginning of the season in the
hope it might prove a diversion."

"Do you think it would serve?" asked Carlton. "He's been
through much, and to expect him to rally too soon could have
an adverse effect. Perhaps he would be better waiting until the
season is well under way, and his arrival would draw less attention."

"Perhaps you are right," agreed Flora after a moment's
thought. "He was ever a favorite among the hostesses, so one
need not fear that he would be overlooked."

A clock chiming on the mantel brought her to sudden recollection. "It's five, and they will be returning for tea. We can
put it to him then." Almost as an afterthought she added, "You
will stay and bear us company, won't you, my love? Perry returns to Oxford, and I would not leave dear Edward alone just
yet. Oh, and I must tell you, Perry has acquired the most amusing dog. A real clown, very friendly but quite uncontrollable.
Although I cannot help but hope he takes it back with him. I
would not have it that he leaves it here"

At that moment the aforesaid animal found it necessary to
burst its way into the room and deposit its length before the
hearth, its master following in its wake along with his brother.

Smiling, the earl came forward, his hand extended in welcome. "My dear Carlton, 'tis exceedingly good to see you."

Carlton returned his brother-in-law's firm grip and grinned
in return. "You may be less than pleased when you know that I've been commanded to stay," he said. "I trust it finds favor
with you, or do you feel you are being invaded? If you do, I
swear I will go"

"Not a bit of it," replied the earl. "Though I must tell you
that, contrary to my esteemed sister's belief, I don't need to be
constantly attended by members of my family. I do very well.
Perhaps you can help me to persuade her that I am quite able
to continue as normal."

"A chap should be allowed his independence," agreed Carlton. "But perhaps, if you have no objections, we should stay for
a few days more, if only to make our minds easy on the score"

The maid entered with the tea tray, and when she withdrew,
they all settled themselves comfortably by the fire while Flora
attended to the filling of the cups.

"If you've a mind to stay, perhaps you would like to cast your
eye over some of the young stock in the stables," said the earl.
"There's a particular piece of blood I wouldn't mind bringing
on. Excellent conformation and showing some spirit .. "

"Edward! You are not to be thinking of horses," remonstrated Flora. "In your state of health ..

Sinclair cast her a scornful glance. "My dear sister, are you
proposing that I walk for the rest of my life? It's only my arm
that's missing, nothing else, and with a little modification to
the aids, I shall manage very well, thank you. You must become reconciled to the fact that I intend to recommence my
life as normal. I am no puling invalid who needs to be forever
fussed over."

Flora bridled, her displeasure showing in every line. "Obviously! Then perhaps you would prefer it if Carlton and I return home, and then you can do whatever you please without
having us worry over you"

"That's hardly called for," interpolated Perry, hastening to
his brother's defense. "You know as well as I, that isn't what
Ned meant. You smother him, Flora. You must allow him some
freedom"

"Peace! Peace!" cried the earl, raising his hand to silence
his siblings. "I am extremely grateful for your concerns on my behalf and promise not to attempt anything that might jeopardize my recovery. Will that suffice? Do I now find favor
with you?"

"You always do," said a penitent Flora. "Indeed, 'tis only
our affection for you that prompts our concern."

"Then, my dear sister, you will find me ever mindful of
your wishes"

"Faradiddle!" was her unconvinced reply as she confined
her attentions to refilling her cup.

London in season was a veritable hive of entertainment, and
Lady Jennifer Lynton cast herself into the midst of the gaiety
with enthusiasm, no amusement seeming beneath her notice. Indeed, she appeared tireless, and it was the common consensus
that she had recovered admirably from what was termed her
"disappointment" She had a refreshing naivete about her that
appealed to both hostesses and guests alike, ensuring she spent
very few nights at home, this being the first season she had experienced without the restraints of a betrothal.

However, entertaining her would-be sister-in-law one fine
afternoon, she found it difficult to keep her equanimity on the
subject of engagements. Miss Amelia Cheviot was a young
lady with such a directness of manner and soberness of demeanor that Jennifer often wondered at her brother's desire to
take her to wife. However, while she bore no great liking for
her, she attempted to tolerate her company as best she might.
To that end, she offered to accompany her on an expedition to
choose the material for her new ball gown, and upon their return they repaired to the small salon for refreshments.