Chapter 8:
Sometimes Flora wondered just why the almighty inflicted children on poor unsuspecting parents. The other day had gone so well, over tea William had seemed truly excited at meeting his cousin Edward and at having a decorated war hero in the house and yet during the evening he had been sullen and uncommunicative. In order to coax the reason out of him Flora had suggested that the next day after church they go for a walk just the two of them, head down to the seafront and enjoy the winter sunshine whilst it lasted. William had of course wanted to head into the countryside and take Mr Corey his picture but Flora had hastily reminded him that it was a Sunday and the poor man deserved a day off to himself.
However first they had to endure the weekly ritual that was the Sunday service. Dressed in her favourite green muslin and with William in his best suit, the Forester family made quite the impression; even Evelyn had made an effort and the smart blue dress seemed surprisingly fashionable in place of her normally dowdy attire. In Flora's eyes there could only be one possible motive for this sudden change and that was Captain Edward, who in his uniform made quite the dashing impression. However Flora had been surprised when Edward appeared without any of his medals or commendations on his uniform, this hadn't gone unnoticed by Evelyn either but unlike Flora who chose to keep her own counsel Evelyn insisted on him wearing them. Blushing furiously Edward had stammered his excuses but when faced with an adamant Evelyn even Captain Edward quailed under her scrutiny and retrieved them from his room.
"What's that one?" William asked as they sat in the carriage his eyes scanning the assorted medals and ribbons that decorated an embarrassed Edward's chest.
"Campaign medal…The Afganistan conflict…This one for the Crimean war…and this for my last campaign."
"What's the silver one?"
"Ahhh that's for Distinguished conduct in the Crimean."
"And the little bronze one?"
At this Edward blushed deeper as both Evelyn and a curious Flora lent in to examine the unfamiliar medal. "VC?" William asked in confusion.
"It's the Victoria Cross William." Flora replied somewhat awestruck glancing across at Edward who seemed to prefer to stare out of the window rather than meet their gaze. "You must be very proud."
"Indeed Edward why did you never mention it…And to meet the Queen well I cannot believe that you didn't tell anyone."
"It wasn't anything much." Edward mumbled.
"Wasn't anything much!" Evelyn practically screeched and Flora winced in sympathy as Edward practically shrank back further into his seat.
"It was over in minutes she didn't say anything other than congratulations but I got off lightly compared to poor old Commander Raby she only went and pinned the medal into the poor chaps chest. I'll give him credit he didn't flinch even though by the time we got back his shirt was stained to high heaven."
"Well I never…" Evelyn muttered the fact that one of her own relatives had been so decorated had clearly gone to her head and Flora could tell she was itching to be at church and spreading that particular piece of gossip about. In fact when the carriage arrived Evelyn was the first out having spotted her old dear friend Mrs so and so who she just had to speak to that very moment and somehow slip into the conversation a mention of Edward's Victorian Cross.
"It's not very flashy is it?" William suddenly cut in causing a tense Edward to burst out laughing. "You'd think they'd at least make it out of gold if it's so important!"
"Aye you would, not brass from some stolen cannon which probably wasn't even Russian in the first place and so it's totally pointless but some people are easily impressed aye William!"
Nodding the lad continued to stare in interest at the medals a frown on his young face before he turned to face Flora. "Mother where are father's medals? Can I have them?" He asked in all childish innocence causing Flora to blush in embarrassment as Stephan had had no such awards to speak of, and the long service commendation had gone with him to Afghanistan never to return.
As if sensing Flora's embarrassment Edward suddenly spoke up. "Here why don't you borrow mine, they'll look much better on you anyway!"
"Really?" William explained in glee as Edward only too eagerly unpinned the medals from his chest and fastened them on to William's puffed out chest. "Now soldier forward march!" He added quickly as the congregation headed into the church offering Flora his arm, which she gratefully accepted.
"Thank you." Flora muttered softly so that only Edward could hear, smiling as he nodded his head whilst they took their seats and so missing the curious looks the two of them were drawing.
- - -
"Oh Evelyn...Evelyn..." Mrs Ferguson's voice called out from across the church as the virtuous people of Eastbourne filed out bidding the Reverend good boy. "Evelyn my dear you simply must introduce us to your handsome companion."
Taking one look a Mrs Ferguson's rather flushed face and bright smile Flora had to smother a snigger, if it wasn't impossible for a woman of Mrs Ferguson's age she would have sworn she was eyeing poor Captain Edward with distinct interest. It seemed Edward was not himself unaware of the older woman's interest as he pointedly took Flora's elbow stepping closer possibly for protection and avoiding Mrs Ferguson's appraising gaze as much as possible.
"Oh this is My Late Husband's brother's boy, Captain Edward Forester...Edward this is my dearest friend Mrs Ferguson."
"Charmed Madam." Edward replied politely bowing slightly but stiffly and for a moment Flora caught the whisper of a wince cross his scarred but handsome face. Clearly sitting for over and hour on the hard wooden pews had not done his injured body any favours but as she was learning he was far too polite to say anything. Yet neither Evelyn nor the ever attentive Mrs Ferguson seemed to notice as the poor man struggled to stand and listen to their prattle. Realising that if the two old woman had their way then Edward would be forced to stand until he fell down and that would be humiliating for him Flora decided to take matters into her own hands.
"Do excuse us ladies...I am sure you have lots to catch up on and I'd better find William." Flora cut in before Evelyn could accept Mrs Ferguson's invitation to tea for all of them, and that earned her a glare from her mother in-law and a snooty look from Mrs Ferguson as she proposed to drag the handsome captain away with her but the muttered thank you from Edward made the prospect of enduring Evelyn's ear bashing a mere inconvenience by comparison. Yet if she had thought they would be able to flee the church in relative peace then she was proved wrong as the moment they stepped outside another member of the Ferguson family descended but at least this one dragged her own man with her.
"Oh Mrs Forester and this must be the heroic Captain Forester the other Captain Forester...Oh my how confusing." Cecilia tittered, laughing at her own joke as she offered a flustered Edward her hand, clearly expecting him to kiss the back of it as so many of her beau's had done but Edward merely smiled politely nodding in her direction. "I'm Cecilia Ferguson... Oh and how lax of me this is my fiancé Mr Walter Corey."
"Mr Corey." Edward replied politely before offering the gentleman his hand surprised when Walter scowled at him before briefly grasping his hand, shaking it then dropping it a moment later as if the Captain's touch had burnt him. If Edward noticed Walter's lack of courtesy then he didn't react but Flora noticed and she also noticed the way his ire seemed to have transferred to her, as he now glared at her as if she just mortally offended him somehow.
"How long have you two been engaged." Edward asked pleasantly breaking the tense silence that had decided.
"Oh months...Well we've had an understanding for months but officially only the last week...Look isn't it the most beautiful ring you've ever seen!" Cecilia gushed literally forcing the diamond into Flora's face her blue eyes focused on the older woman's face for any reaction. Biting her cheek slightly as she felt her heart clench, the finality of their engagement now sealed Flora feigned a polite yet detached interest in the ring, which was she had to admit gorgeous but then knowing Walter as she seemed to do that was hardly surprising.
"It is lovely." Flora managed softly surprised when Edward's grip on her elbow increased for a moment as he was reassuring her for some reason. Fortunately she didn't need to gush for long as the Vicar suddenly arrived smiling at both couples.
"Lovely day...Ah Mr Corey Miss Ferguson come to set a date yet?"
Flushing slightly Walter pulled on his collar ignoring Cecilia's tugging on his arm as she clearly wanted nothing better than to set the date here and now yet under the all watchful eye of Flora Forester he suddenly felt unsure, of himself, of this entire arrangement and the last thing he wanted to do was disappear inside the church and leave her out here with him. "Perhaps next week or so...We still have to make up our mind don't we Cecilia."
"Ahhh and this is Captain Forester...I just spotted one of your squadron leading the rest of the troops on an assault in the graveyard, the young commander seemed very well decorated for his age."
"William!" And as he had been summoned out of the thin air the young boy in question came running full pelt round the corner slamming into a few parishioners until he found his mother and Captain Edward he didn't even seem to notice Walter and Cecilia's presence as he began to blabber at full pace.
"Captain we got them cornered will you come and take the surrender!"
Laughing deeply Captain Edward gladly relinquished his hold on Flora's elbow to take Williams hand and allowed himself to be pulled towards the mini war that was taking place in the graveyard and now over the green.
"It most be so nice for you son to have a man about for a change." Cecilia suddenly exclaimed. "In fact if I didn't know different I'd say you were quite the little family ehhh Walter?"
"Yes." The word seemed to be ripped from him but he couldn't deny the truth when it seemed to be staring him in the face, he couldn't expect her to remain unattached forever just to ease his pain and besides he had made his choice hadn't he? Yet watching as Flora bade them a quick farewell and hurried to follow the Captain and her son he couldn't swallow down the very real bile that he found in his throat, and all of Cecilia's smiles or her mother's compliments couldn't shift that sour taste from his mouth for the rest of the day.
- - -
However if Flora had thought after the pleasantness of the morning that Evelyn was going to let her rudeness pass then she was mistaken. They had barely stepped through the doors and removed their coats when her mother-in-law asked to see her in the morning room, smiling politely at Edward and William who were so caught up in their military discussions that they didn't notice Flora's face pale slightly as she followed Evelyn into the room.
"Sit down Flora I think you have some explaining to do."
"Please Evelyn let us not fight over this I saw Edward was becoming fatigued that was shy I interrupt..."
"I was not referring to your rudeness in the church, that compared to your recent behavior well..." Evelyn broke off shaking her head in disgust as she moved to sit in her fireside chair fixing Flora wither her glimlet gaze. "I referred to you recent behavior with regard to one Mr Walter Corey!"
"Walter?" Flora asked clearly perplexed yet even her mentioning the man in questions name had Evelyn bristling.
"Brazen." Evelyn muttered her face flushing red as she struggled to contain her fury. "You dare to sit there as if butter wouldn't melt and yet all the time you;ve been wantonly throwing yourself at that man. Oh don't even try to deny it I know you;ve been going behind my back befriending Helen Corey even after I specifically told you not to, using any excuse to go round to his house, even using your own son!"
"What I never!"
"You deny every being to his home?"
"I was invited for tea, once!" Flora retorted angrily.
Shaking that fact off as it were immaterial Evelyn continued with her case. "And William I suppose he just decided to spend his every spare our at the Corey farm."
"Yes he did, I didn't even know about it till a few weeks ago!"
"And you did nothing to stop it when you did I note." Evelyn countered smirking victoriously.
"Why I should I? Walter Corey is an honorable man and William took to him of his own volition, it is only natural that a boy without a father around would find his own rolemodels."
"He has a rolemodel, his late father and grandfather and now Edward he has no need for any other!"
"I..."
"That is an end of it!" Evelyn snapped. "William will not go there again and I will leave you to deal with it, as for yourself well I despair. What sort of woman throws herself at an already engaged man. No don't try and deny it Mrs Ferguson told me everything and she heard from her daughter who was informed by her fiance. Honestly what a position you put that poor man in, if Cecilia was an unreasonable and jealous sort of person well I hate to think what might of happened, or perhaps that was your intention all along?"
Bowing her head as the implications of Evelyn's words sank in Flora tried to hold back the tears that threatened. Walter had told Cecilia about her visit and he had clearly been embarrassed and regretted all that had passed between them, no wonder he hadn't made any efforts to see her since and had hurried through his formal engagement. "I will do as you ask." Flora muttered softly getting to her feet when Evelyn told her she could go only pausing on the threshold when her mother-in-law called her back.
"I have noticed Edward looking at you Flora, I suppose despite your many faults you are still an attractive woman, he is a good man of character and wealth. It would be well for our family if you were to consider his attentions in a favourable light..."
Too surprised to answer Flora backed out the door heading towards the garden to break the news to William.
- - -
"You've been very quiet Walter."
Surprised by the sudden question Walter was jarred out of his internal musing, his handsome face creased in confusion as he stared dumbfound at Cecilia. "Pardon?"
Sighing Cecilia sat down her porcelain teacup fixing him with a most affronted expression. "I knew it! I knew you didn't hear a word I said, honestly Walter sometimes I wonder why you bothered to ask me to marry you since you barely spend any time with me and when you do you hardly pay me any attention!"
Inwardly sighing Walter schooled into an expression of sincerity and apology. "I am so sorry my love, please forgive me but this week has been especially tiring for some reason and I found myself dozing."
Huffing as she fussed with her skirts Cecilia took his explanation as truthful but it clearly hadn't done him any favours. Smiling painfully Walter stood and moved to sit scandalously close to her on the chaise taking her delicate hands in his own and kissing the knuckles playfully. "However I am wide awake now and determined to flatter you with my attentions."
Biting back a smile Cecilia reluctantly removed her hands from his and moved to place a more respectable distance between them clearly unwilling to allow him off the hook so easily not when she had another far more satisfying way for him to buy his forgiveness. "I've been thinking about after we are married…."
"So have I!" Walter countered playfully closing the distance between them before wrapping an arm round her waist.
"Walter behave I am being serious!" Cecilia retorted prying loose his grip on her and standing so as to maintain some distance and keep him off balance for long enough.
"Come now love let us no fight about this I told you I have been busy lately."
"Not busy enough to stop you entertaining members of the Forester family!" Cecilia retorted sharply watching in smug satisfaction as Walter both flushed and winced guilty, a reaction that confirmed her suspicions that there was still more going on between Walter and that Flora woman than he would care to admit. Not that she gave two hoots really save for the damage it might do to her position and for the delightful prospect of emotional blackmail it presented.
"I thought we had settled this?" Walter began softly surprised at his own anger at Cecilia's obsessive need to return to that woman.
"All save one thing my darling, it has come to my notice that that woman's visit was not as unplanned as it first appeared, she was there on your mother's invitation was she not?"
"Yes." Walter replied unsure just where Cecilia was going with this one.
"And of course your mother's enmity towards me has been of some standing, do you really think I am such a fool as not to see her hand behind this?"
Shaking his head Walter tried to deny what she said and yet there was an element of truth there that was hard to dismiss and knowing his mother as he did and the less than hidden hints she had been making since Mrs Forester's arrival he knew exactly where her preferences lay but to be so underhand as to arrange things…
"Cecilia…"
"I am not finished Walter, you and I both know she doesn't like me and whether you believe me or not I simply won't put up with our being interfered with."
"I am my own man Cecilia." Walter replied tersely and for a moment his gruff tone seemed to bring Cecilia to her senses as she paused to eye him warily. "If I were my mother's pawn than I would not be sitting here with you now nor would you be wearing my ring."
Sighing dramatically Cecilia sat down quickly pulling out her handkerchief as she paused as if to dab at tears. "I'm sorry Walter it's just so hard…..I love you so much and the thought of someone trying to ruin it, of not sharing our joy well it is sometimes too much…."
"Shush love it's alright she'll come around once we're married." Walter replied soothingly his defences crumbling when he saw her in tears and he pulled her into his arms.
"But what if she doesn't….." Cecilia muttered in between sobs. "I'll be stuck out on that farm with her alone whilst you work…None of my friends will be nearby, it's just too much Walter!"
"What do you suggest I do throw my mother out!" Walter asked aghast, surprised when Cecilia shook her head and muttered her denials.
"It's just…Well wouldn't it be easier if we got a little place in town, somewhere just for the two of us. That way it wouldn't seem like too much of a wrench and…"
"No…I mean we can't love surely you can see that." Walter replied soothingly surprised when a suddenly irate Cecilia jumped out of his arms and stalked over to the fireplace her delicate hands balled into fists.
"Can't…Why can't we…I don't see why not Walter, I don't see why not at all."
"But my work, I have to be up at absurd hours and during certain months have to be available to stay up with the animals. To have to travel back and forth from town every morning and night well we'd never see each other, you already complain you don't see me often enough but under your arrangement you'd barely see me any more than that."
"Well if stopped doing all that primitive work then you'd be home more often." Cecilia countered sharply turning her pert nose up at the very idea of the manual work he regularly undertook. "I do have a certain position to upkeep Walter."
"No I happen to like my business the way it is, it is a hands-on sort of business Cecilia surely you must realise that…" Walter added crossing the room to try and calm the stubborn Cecilia who was not a bit mollified by his words. "No I mean it now love this is non-negotiable we must live on the estate and besides your concerns are groundless as soon as we move into the main house Mother has agreed to retire to my cottage. She is looking forward to it I assure you, so there will be no one to trend on your toes, you will be mistress of all you survey you have my word!"
"Your word." Cecilia muttered her blue eyes alight at the prospect before she slowly nodded her agreement. "I will think about your suggestion." She muttered magnanimously and considering her previous outburst Walter chose not to push his luck by reminding her it was not an offer but what would be.
"Perhaps I should be going you look tired my love." Walter muttered inwardly cursing himself for commenting on her less than perfect appearance but surprisingly for her Cecilia didn't pick up on the less than flattering appraisal and merely smiled vacantly as he kissed her cheek before retrieving his hot and coat from a footman. "I will see you on Wednesday when I pick you up for the Hargrove's dinner."
"Wednesday." Cecilia repeated softly her sly smile turning brilliantly as clearly she had stumbled on a solution to her problem. Yet Walter didn't seem to notice her sudden change of heart for what it truly was and instead congratulated himself on a masterful display of tact and reasoning that had clearly returned her bright mood. So he departed looking forward to the dinner party that he was certain would bring him the new business contacts he needed; ignorant of the fact that Cecilia was looking forward to the party but for very different reasons.
Smiling smugly to herself as Walter left Cecilia helped herself to the heavily iced cake she would not dared to have touched in front of him for fear of appearing less than ladylike. She would show him then who the master was in their relationship, she had played the passive for too long and it had gotten her her first objective, she had his proposal and he couldn't retract it without ruining himself socially, something that knowing Walter he would never ever do. Now she would slowly reveal her true hand and watch him squirm as she extracted the stylish town-house, coach and four and dozens of servants she needed to maintain herself. Chewing on her cake she reflected that it was almost a shame the man had no real sense of ambition, true he wanted more money and power, but he had no sense of finesse or desire for the trappings that came with wealth. His fire for more still puzzled her as if it was not to enjoy the fruits of his labours then it hardly seemed worth all the effort he expended. Well whatever his motives were they certainly had accumulated all the wealth she would need to truly make her mark on society, to step out from under her mother's shadow at long last and show them that the Ferguson family was back on top where they belonged.
- - -
However Walter was not the only person who was accused of being quiet that afternoon. It took Captain Edward several attempts before he was able to jar Flora from wherever her thoughts had led her but he commented the delightful flush of her cheeks at being caught daydreaming had been worth every repetition of his question.
"I'm sorry what was it you said?" Flora asked now genuinely flustered at being caught daydreaming about Walter and from the unexpected compliment.
"I just wanted to thank you for early…I have never been good at extricating myself from unpleasant or awkward social circumstances and I guess Evelyn bent your ear about it when we returned, if you would like me to speak to her for you try to explain?"
Smiling Flora shook her head surprised when the professional soldier seemed to breathe out in relief. "It's already settled but thank you for offering Evelyn can be a little frightening."
"You're telling me why as a boy…." Edward began before realising their conversation could be overheard by young William, who was playing with the toy soldiers Edward had recovered from their sojourn in the attic. "Perhaps another time?"
"I'd like that." Flora replied genuinely surprised when her answer seemed to throw the Captain into even more of a fluster. "Edward what is the matter?"
"It's difficult to…We are living under the same roof and well if people were to find out but well I simply have to ask." Edward broke off glancing up at a very confused looking Flora. "I'll come straight to the point Flora, since my arrival I have been aware of something, something I never thought would happen I assure you otherwise I would never have placed you in such a difficult position. From the first moment I have admired you not only for you beauty but also for a gentleness of spirit I sensed from you…" He broke off as if trying to ascertain her reaction but other than surprise he was still no wiser. "What I am trying to say, and making a complete hash of it is…I would like to ask for permission to court you."
If Flora had been surprised by his declaration a moment before even given Evelyn's earlier hints to that effect she was stunned by so sudden a request, they had barely known each other more than a few days and yet his soft almost pleading expression reminded her so much of another Forester gentleman who had touched her with his gentleness which belied his solider status. Yet how could she agree when her affections lay with another, no matter how impossible a relationship between them would be, and yet she couldn't bring herself to hurt Edward. It would be like kicking a wounded puppy. Embarrassed and aware that time was stretching awkwardly in front of her and the longer she delayed the more wretched Edward's expression became she found herself muttering yes.
The moment the words were uttered from her lips she wished she could take them back, unable to believe what she had committed herself too just because she couldn't bear to disappoint him. For a moment she opened her mouth determined to correct the mistake but Edward was already on his feet his entire expression animated in delight as he lent down and kissed her clasped hand gently.
"Thank you….Oh thank you….I didn't dare hope, I mean I hoped but I didn't dare dream you would agree, I mean look at me who on earth would want to spend time with a cripple like me…"
Smiling politely Flora closed her lips, her previous rejection now swallowed down like bile as his words stabbed home. He thought she would reject him because of his disabilities and if she changed her mind now then that was exactly what he would think and it would destroy what little self-confidence the man had managed to scrap together.
"You're not a cripple…you're a very fine gentleman." Flora replied and every word was true. "I am honoured by your attentions." And she was, as despite his physical complaints he was still a handsome vigorous man of wealth, respectability and position, it would be, as Evelyn would put in her condescending tone 'a surprisingly good match' for her.
"Would you like us to keep this to ourselves… Not from Evelyn that wouldn't be appropriate as we both are living under her roof and she must need act as chaperone from now on but perhaps from the boy I would like to have the chance to get to know him properly without him feeling under any obligation."
Smiling at his genuine concern and consideration for young William's welfare Flora felt her apprehension at agreeing to this courtship wane slightly perhaps it wasn't so terrible an idea, after all Walter had made his choice and this might be her last chance at a normal life, a husband and with any luck more children. She had been a soldier's wife before, had married for more convenient reasons before and it had been a success, why should this time be any different. Besides she had only agreed to courtship and despite the normal inevitable outcome she was under no legal or social obligations to agree if over time she found herself unable to take the next step. So it was with a real smile that she accepted Edward's hand and willingly accompanied him to face Evelyn, unable to smother another thought that although wicked was nevertheless true, if she married Edward then she would never again have to crawl to her mother-in-law or bow to her ridiculous demands.
- - -