Chapter 5:

'Damn the woman.' Walter Corey thought over and over again as he heaved the wood axe. 'Damn her and double damn her.' Firstly for showing up and causing him all this confusion and secondly for the rather unattractive jealousy she had brought out in Cecilia. Of all the places to meet, it had to be Cecilia's party. When he turned and caught sight of her for the first time he had felt his stomach flip beautiful just wasn't the word, stunning, breathtaking possibly. Then she had smiled and he felt like a clumsy youth again, it was all he could do to keep from tripping over his own feet as he stumbled over to her.

The red dress had been a vision, clinging to that exquisite figure revealing the most perfect set of shoulders he had ever seen, and those eyes, those dark pools had drawn him in and he had been a man lost, adrift barely able to mutter replies his natural wit deserting him. Then Cecilia had intervened and it had been like a bucket of ice water had been thrown over him and the cold edge of reality had bit in, he loved Cecilia, he had always loved Cecilia and yet for the first times doubts had crept in. He had always compared other women to his intended and found them lacking so it was quite a shock when he found one who did not pale by comparison and he found himself irritated by the lack of graciousness it highlighted in his beloved. Still there was clearly something going on beneath the surface that he was unaware of as when he later asked Cecilia about the meeting at Jessops she had clammed up and refused to elucidate further.

However if understanding Cecilia was difficult, trying to gage Flora's thoughts were nigh on impossible. So flustered and unsure what to do he had made the decision to introduce Flora to his mother and that had probably been his greatest mistake of the evening as Cecilia had gone mute with rage and his mother, being the unpredictable woman that she was, had taken an immediate liking to the enigmatic Mrs Forester and talked of little else since the party.

Sighing Walter rested the axe down before taking a seat on the grass and sipping from the tankard of water that was set-aside for him. Rubbing his hand across his sweaty brow and into his hair he wondered for the hundredth time that morning just what he was going to do to resolve things. Clearly there was one obvious solution and that was to stay as far away from this siren as possible; she was a complication he did not need or care for in his life. In fact it was a path he was already committed to, a decision made easier by Flora's unexpected open criticism of Cecilia something that had immediately made him defensive of his love and caused him to act in a manner he now regretted. His behaviour had been polite but perhaps more than a little cruel, his coldness had certainly seemed to pierce the armour that Flora kept wrapped around her as for a moment he could have sworn he caught a flicker of pain in those lovely eyes and to his shame at the time he had felt a measure of satisfaction. It was a feeling that had faded faster than he expected as before he had finished his first glass of champagne his eyes were searching the room for her, intent on asking for another dance and a chance to make amends but she was nowhere to be found, just like in the station she had vanished and the opportunity had passed him by.

It was probably for the best.

Resolved that it was fate, things clearly were meant to work out the way there were, Walter headed back into the house. Fortunately his mother had gone into town and so he was free to wash and change in peace, choosing a rather dashing dark green coat for his meeting with Cecilia. So prepared he tried to summon the normal light-hearted anticipation that precipitated such meetings, a chance for them to walk and talk and hopefully the lady would grant him a chaste kiss at the end; and yet try as he might he could not shift the heavy heartedness that had dogged him all day. He just could not shake the image of Flora Forester from his mind for longer than a minute, what would it be like to court her, to take her for walks along the promenade, to talk over his future plans with that enigmatic woman and….

Shaking his head to try and dislodge the image that he had conjured, kissing was one thing and he was certain he was correct about her passionate nature under all those protective layers but his mind had jumped ahead at him, revealing the disturbing desires of his own sub-conscious. Taking control of himself Walter marched sharply down to the waiting trap, swinging up into the seat and urging the pony forward with a sharp flick of the whip, producing images of Cecilia's lovely face he tried to exorcise the imaginings that cavorted on the very edge of his consciousness. Eventually he was successful but part of him dreaded the thought that even as he greeted and lavished his attentions on his intended it would be thoughts of Flora Forester writhing beneath him that captured his real attention.

- - -

Christmas had been and gone all too quickly and without the distraction of the festivities Flora felt flat and empty. A slight cold had kept her indoors for days and really she shouldn't be out risking her health but the prospect of spending another day cooped up with an increasingly morose Evelyn proved so great a motivation that she was prepared to brave the elements. Besides today was special, there was a certain private ritual that she needed to fulfil and a mere cold would not keep her from it when a military coup had not. So dressed in a simple black dress and coat, a warm bonnet and discreet veil Flora headed into town, intending to search out the place in the churchyard where Evelyn had erected a plaque to her son's memory beside his late father's.

It had become a small tradition, and although she doubted she would find the wild blossoms that she had dutifully tended on her husband's grave back in India they were similar enough to roses that she could accept them as a fitting substitute. So after stopping in the market for a dozen long stemmed white roses Flora made her way to the church. Stepping inside the boundary she was relieved to find it deserted and began her search in earnest for the Forester family graves. Passing by the large and ancient monoliths of the Ferguson family that dominated the small cemetery she soon came to a section of simpler graves, some of the names lost worn away by the elements or covered in a growth of fine moss. Then set against the side of the church she found the plaques dedicated to those loved ones buried far from their home soil.

There seemed to be a great number dedicated to Foresters but considering the family's long military history that was to be expected. She spotted Stephan's fathers plaque first.

'Captain James Forester 1792-1815, Died at Waterloo a true son of England, Beloved husband and father.'

Only Twenty-three it seemed like a true travesty that both Stephan and now her William had been robbed of their father's before they truly knew them. Had Evelyn once been like her, had her bitterness only developed from loosing her husband at the tender age of twenty? Had she too thrown her entire life into raising her only child only to have him ripped away from her too?

Moving on Flora quickly spotted her husband's plaque, it stood out, the stone still looked new compared to the weathered tombs beside it.

'Captain Stephan Forester 1814-1853, Taken by our lord the 1st day of January 1853, Died in the line of Duty defending the Empire, Beloved son, husband and father.'

He had been a good man and had given her the son she adored and for that she marked his passing, six years ago that very day. Kneeling down Flora ignored the muddy ground and placed the flowers by the plaque, saving one to place below Captain James's. Shivering as the chilly easterly wind whipped through the graveyard she knelt and muttered a small prayer of thanks for the man that had once been her husband.

- - -

It had been a successful afternoon and it seemed the entirety of Eastbourne society was out celebrating the New Year. Cecilia had been in a playful mood and insisted despite the cold January temperatures that they extend their walk back into town as she had a few errands to run and new years greetings to pass on and Walter's assistance would of course be essential for such duties. Anxious to indulge her when it seemed such a small thing Walter readily agreed genuinely enjoying the affection that Cecilia was liberally bestowing on him. He was therefore not surprised when after leaving the last acquaintance she had to call upon Cecilia suggested they take the route back to the Ferguson mansion that took them through the churchyard, with its solitude and privacy it had become the ideal place for courting couples to exchange small demonstrations of affection away from the prying and disapproving eyes of their elders.

Leaning against his arm Cecilia giggled when Walter took the lead pulling her into a concealed arbour where he took her quickly into his arms and moved in for a kiss. Responding at first Cecilia soon pulled away blushing furiously with a mock look of outrage on her face. "Walter Corey!"

"Miss Ferguson." Walter replied knowingly before pulling her against him running his fingers through her ringlets as he increased the fervour of his embraces surprised when she did not push him away but wrapped her arms around his neck and encouraged him to more reckless behaviour. Running his hands down her corseted frame Walter explored her generous curves, encouraged when his caresses elicited the gentle moans he had been hoping for. Breaking away from her lips he began to enthusiastically map the curve of her neck with his mouth; closing his eyes as he savoured the taste of her and the desire that flared, he had waited so long for this and in his mind he pictured acres of exposed soft porcelain skin. Nuzzling into the flush of her breast he barely controlled the desire to rip at the offending clothing, moaning as delicate fingers stroked through his hair, "Oh Flora…."

"What did you call me?" Cecilia exclaimed pushing Walter away so suddenly that he tripped over a nearby tree root and went sprawling over the floor. "You called me FLORA…Flora Forester? How dare you be here with me but thinking of her?"

Shaking his head so as to shed the passion fuelled fog from his brain Walter stared up at the fuming Cecilia. "I didn't…I wasn't my love!"

"You called her name! Tell me Walter just how far have things gone between you and that little slut?"

"Cecilia!" Walter suddenly snapped getting to his feet and grasping the hysterical woman by the arm. "I have told you nothing is going on…It was nothing, just an innocent mistake."

"Just a mistake?" Cecilia asked incredulously. "You expect me to believe that it was just a random coincidence?"

"Yes!"

Shaking her head so violently her ringlets trembled with every movement Cecilia turned sharply on her heel, storming out into the graveyard a concerned Walter a few steps behind her before suddenly coming to a halt as she caught sight of a familiar figure. Glaring momentarily at Walter as if he had known and had planned for Flora Forester's presence Cecilia crossed the cemetery in a few easy strides surprising Flora who had been lost in her own thoughts.

"Mrs Forester what a surprise only it isn't!" Cecilia spat bearing down on the pale Flora Forester who stared out from under a veil in confusion glancing between Cecilia and Walter who refused to meet her gaze instead he tried to reach out to calm his intended muttering soothingly. "Cecilia."

"I beg your pardon Miss Fergu..."

"Oh please as if you don't know, how long have you been following us?" Cecilia demanded ignoring Walter's attempt to sooth her and Flora's excuses.

"I haven't been following anyone." Flora exclaimed turning to Walter surprised when instead of intervening he allowed such ludicrous accusations to go on unimpeded.

"You expect me to believe that, you seem to capable of throwing yourself at any man you who takes your fancy..."

"How dare you!" Flora gasped unable to believe that today of all days she was having to deal with such lunacy.

"Stay away from us!"

Choking back a retort Flora glanced across at Walter horrified to see him studiously studying the path, obviously he wasn't the man she thought he was if he would stand by and allow this verbal attack. "I would be only too delighted!" Flora spat back, her voice wavering tellingly as she turned to leave but at that moment Walter glanced up his blue eyes widening in concern as he caught the flash of pain in her eyes but he made no move to stop her as she strode towards the gate.

"Cecilia you shouldn't have said that!" Walter muttered flinching as a gloating Cecilia launched into another tirade, trying to block out the spiteful comments Walter turned and strode away and then his gaze fell on the fresh flowers. Glancing up he briefly glimpsed the name on the plaque, doing a double take as he realized just what he and Cecilia had intruded on. "Oh god."

"What?" Cecilia asked genuinely confused as Walter turned and strode past her to the gate and out into the street. Stopping he stared up and down the street but there was no sign of Flora and the sick feeling in his stomach increased ten-fold, they had driven her way from her husband' grave.

"What?"

However Walter couldn't answer, couldn't find the words to make Cecilia understand. So instead he offered her his arm muttering under his breath that it was late and they should be getting back, but with every step all he could think of was the look on Flora's face when she realized he was as flawed as the next man. He didn't know what stung the worst the look of anger and contempt on her face, or the disappointment, a pain so raw that he couldn't help but flinch as he recalled the last few moments. Gritting his teeth as he fought the very real bile that caught in his throat Walter vowed then and there that before the day was out he would have found someway to set it right, a way to erase his fall from grace and find some balance. His original plan was unworkable, he couldn't just ignore her and even if it was never more than friendship he realized he simply had to have Flora Forester in his life.

- - -

Furious was not the word, it couldn't do this feeling justice, it was anger, disappointment, betrayal and something else something she just couldn't name but that sat at the bottom of her stomach like a stone and weighed her down till every step was painful. She hadn't been paying any attention where she had walked when she left the churchyard; she had just needed to put as much distance as possible between Cecilia Ferguson and herself. It was only when she had looked up and found herself in a part of town that was completely unfamiliar and rather rundown that she decided to head home, however when she tried to retrace her steps she quickly found herself confronted with a maze of alleyways all of which led her further into the docks and not back into town. Pulling her cloak tighter round herself as evening set in and the temperature dropped even further Flora decided to head down to the dock and walk along until she came to Bishop's Bridge then at least she would be on the main thoroughfare and would know which direction to head in.

However after a few minutes Flora began to doubt the soundness of her plan. There was a very good reason that people steered clear of the docks at any time of day, during the day it was so busy that you risked being mowed down by any number of carts but at night all the lowlifes that slept during the day came out and they gravitated towards the waterfront. Passing a tavern that was so busy it's patrons spilled outside even in this weather, Flora noted with some distaste the provocatively clad girls who hung off the sailors, drunk on gin they took their clients round to the side alley and although Flora averted her eyes the sounds were unmistakable. Hurrying her steps as she caught sight of the bridge Flora sighed loudly in relief, reassured by the sounds of civilisation.

"Lost your way have you sweetheart?"

Ignoring the rather slurred query Flora quickened her steps not looking back, but she could tell from the stumbled footsteps that she was being followed.

"Why don't you come in out of the cold…Or let me warm you up?"

"Eh Tommy I don't think she heard ya…"

"Perhaps she's foreign?" Tommy replied making a grab for Flora's arm, which she managed to shake off, this time grabbing her skirts as she made a run for it not even stopping when her bonnet came loose.

"Eh love I only want to talk to ya!" Tommy muttered bitterly but a frightened Flora didn't stop she found the steps up the side of the bridge and forced her way past the canoodling couple who were blocking her path ignoring their cries of outrage as she darted out onto the road right into the path of a passing trap.

"Whoa!"

Trembling from the adrenaline Flora didn't recognise the person who had almost ran her down, her fright had disorientated her and for a moment she glanced around as if she couldn't remember where she was then when someone unexpected tapped her shoulder she leapt out of her skin.

"Mrs Forester? What on earth were you doing down there…"

Whirling round Flora sobbed in relief at seeing a familiar face flinging her arms round a stunned Walter, mumbling incoherently against the soft fabric of his coat as she buried her face into his chest.

"Shush….It's alright I've got you…." Walter muttered soothingly drawing her closer to him as he rubbed her back. "You're safe now." He added his fingers going up to caress the jumbled curls that now free of her bonnet twisted in the January wind before he pressed a chaste kiss to her forehead. "I won't let anyone hurt you…" He mumbled against her hair, moving her into the shadow of the trap and away from prying eyes. Resting his other hand on her waist he held her tightly intending only to comfort her but shuddering slightly at the sensation of her body pressed flush against him.

Sobbing against his shoulder Flora's fingers tightened on the lapels of his coat twisting the fabric between them, she wasn't even sure where the tears were coming from. She had never been a hysterical woman but the incident had triggered similar memories, of running and hiding from marauding soldiers, of a night spent hidden in a concealed spot with her son whilst the air was filled with the noise of raping and pillaging in the surrounding city. She cried for the friends who had suffered, her husband who had died and for herself and the future she couldn't have. However slowly the tears began to slow and Flora became more and more aware of the gentle caress of Walter's fingers through her hair and the heat from his body, which she was pressing herself so scandalously against. And with her returning senses was the memory of only a few hours ago, when he had stood aside and did nothing when she was so vilely slandered. Now very angry she pushed him away, it was all his fault, none of this would be happening if it wasn't for him; she would have been home hours ago and be putting her son to bed right now instead of standing trembling and frightened on an unfamiliar road.

"Flora?" Walter asked clearly confused by her sudden change of mood. "Where are you going?"

"Home!"

"But you can't…" Walter gasped turning and following the stubborn woman. "It's far to late for a lady to be out unaccompanied…It's dangerous anything could happen." Catching up with her he caught her arm forcing her to stop. "Or has whatever close shave you just escaped from not convinced you of that?"

Clenching her jaw stubbornly Flora was about to argue with him, to put her foot down and insist that she had no need of his assistance but she had reckoned without Walter's own stubborn nature. "That is my decision."

"Unfortunately it is one that I cannot live with!" Walter retorted stepping in front and blocking her way. "Either you walk back to the trap yourself or heaven help me Flora I will carry you there myself!"

"You wouldn't dare…." Flora began but when Walter moved if to carry out his threat she turned and mustering as much dignity as she could scrape together she returned to the trap grudgingly accepting Walter's help to get into it. Then as he jumped up beside her she sat as far away as possible her eyes locked on the road, she might have to endure his company but there was no compulsion on her to talk to him. At first this had the desired effect as her continued silence succeeded in unsettling Walter but then the trap hit a pothole and sent her slamming against him and she had little choice but to lean against him or risk loosing her seat entirely, grudgingly accepting the protective arm he wrapped loosely around her.

"Are you planning on snubbing me for the rest of our lives?" Walter asked trying to keep his wry amusement from creeping into his voice, as that would no doubt irritate her further but it was just so ludicrous she was in his arms and yet she couldn't have been further removed form him. "Or is it just that you enjoy the sound of my voice?"

"Can you give me one good reason why I shouldn't?" Flora snapped more from a desire to wipe that smirk from his face than anything else, her own temper burning hot fuelled by the very real conflict going on beneath the surface as she fought against the part of herself that still trembled at his touch. "If you think I am just going to forgive and forget Mr Corey then you are grossly mistaken! Whatever problems you and Miss Ferguson are having it is nothing to do with me and to be humiliated like that…and you stood by and did nothing…"

"I'm sorry." Walter replied softly, as the elation he had felt when comforting her was slowly replaced with a sense of shame. "I should have stepped in…" He paused unable to bring himself to explain just how she had been the cause of the argument even if she was unaware of it, how could he admit to muttering her name at such a time? If she had any idea of his physical interest in her she would never allow him close to her, certainly never as close as they were now.

"Sorry is not good enough. You helped to humiliate me and foolishly I thought you…" Flora stopped her voice wavering slightly as she turned her face away so he couldn't see the tears that were brimming.

"That I what?"

"It doesn't matter."

"It clearly does or you wouldn't be crying again."

"You!" Flora spat angrily swiping at the tears that betrayed her. "You are a beastly man and I stupidly thought you were my friend."

"I am your friend Flora." Walter replied gently his heart sinking, 'a friend' that was how she thought of him nothing more.

"Friends do not do that to each other!"

"I made a mistake…a mistake I promise never to make again. I give you my word." Walter replied so solemnly that Flora glanced across at him. "I mean it."

"So do I!"

"I am not asking you to forgive me now, or to forget what happened but I am asking for another chance."

Snorting in perverse amusement Flora choked out. "You are asking for a second chance, the man who only ever gives people one chance and then writes them off if they make a mistake?"

Bowing his head as he mulled over the sour truth of Flora's words Walter turned the trap off the main road and onto the Forester drive surprised when Flora suddenly insisted he stop. "Why?"

"Evelyn." Was her simple reply however catching his confused expression Flora added. "Sometimes you can be rather dense Walter, I am late, I have been gone for hours and missed dinner. If you are seen to be giving me a lift home just what exactly will people think?"

"Ahh."

"Ahh indeed and we wouldn't want to give your precious Miss Ferguson anything else to accuse us with." She muttered bitterly not waiting for him help her down but jumping down from the trap all by herself.

"Wait…How am I going to turn around?"

"That is really not my concern and I am late already…Goodnight Mr Corey."

"Well at least you said goodbye this time!"

Now it was Flora's turn to be confused. "Pardon?"

Swinging down from the trap Walter moved to unhitch the horse. "You normally storm away from me without saying goodbye." Then smiling he caught her hand placing a chaste kiss on her knuckles, gazing up at her with his piercing blue eyes he muttered softly. "I believe we may finally be making progress Mrs Forester."

And that was all it took, one smile, one kiss and one utterly charming comment and Flora felt her anger melting away. The skin on her hand was burning from his touch and she could feel the heat gathering in her cheeks. If she stayed much longer she would undoubtedly do something foolish, so pulling her hand quickly from his she turned and made her way up the drive.

"Flora…We are making progress aren't we?"

Later she wasn't sure if it was the tone of his voice or the way his eyes pleaded with her, smiling softly she glanced back at him over her shoulder before replying enigmatically. "Perhaps…"

- - -