Page 6 of An Uncertain Road

Trying not to let too much sadness tinge her smile, Flora shrugged. “There’s much to consider before answering that question.” As usual, she would have to be practical. If racing wasn’t going to provide enough secure income to support the two of them, she would have to give it up.

Flora’s gaze roamed the magnificently appointed shop. As much as she wanted to protect Owen’s business from her choices, a team with the financial support and clout of Albert Harrison behind it might be the only one that could convince the racing world to allow a woman into their ranks. The Harrison Goods racing team might be her best option, after all.

That truth niggled in the back of her mind for the rest of the shop tour.

It shadowed her thoughts for the next several days.

The hours she spent helping Aggie finish preparations for her wedding were all eclipsed by the realization that Flora’s choices were as limited here as they had been in France. Few teams would choose to hire a woman. If Mr. Harrison wanted her to drive for him, she would be a fool to refuse the opportunity.

But what would Owen say?

With only a few busy days remaining until his wedding and honeymoon, she’d barely seen her brother through most of the week. Owen hadn’t made any effort to return to the subject when they were together. Flora would have to make the time and confront him with her plan before Saturday, or she might lose the chance altogether.

On Thursday evening, Flora, Owen, and Isabelle went to the Harrisons’ home for a garden party celebrating the arrival of Fred Harrison and his wife. It wasn’t a long ride, but the differences in the neighborhoods were clear. Flora was admiring a lovely park Owen called Rittenhouse Square when the carriage slowed in front of one of the largest homes, a towering mansion built out of pale marble with large arched windows lining the front.

The driver stopped the carriage under one of the pavilions that flanked either side of the home, letting them out in the covered entrance. Flora hadn’t realized quite how well Aggie’s family had done with their sporting goods store, but it was clear that Owen was marrying into the kind of fortune Flora had enjoyed. Before Henri squandered it all, anyway. This home could stand alongside any of the most fashionable houses in the Paris district where the Montforts used to live.

The door opened to reveal a stately but kind-looking butler. “Good evening, Mr. Lewis, ladies. Please follow me.”

The three of them followed the butler through the house and out to the backyard, where the party had been set up to take advantage of the warm evening. The back of the house was much more relaxed than the front, with bay windows, a curved balcony, and a beautiful octagonal greenhouse that led to sprawling gardens.

Owen strode straight to his bride’s side, Aggie’s cheeks flushing when he dropped a kiss on her lips. For a few moments, Flora found the nearby beribboned fabric awning sheltering a group of musicians to be the most fascinating thing in the world.

Finally, the couple put a little space between themselves, and Flora could stop feigning interest in the decorations. She smiled as Mrs. Harrison came forward with her hands outstretched. “Flora, it’s a delight to see you again.”

The Harrison matriarch was fully in the present this time, not slipping in and out of the past as she had been at Owen’s house last week. She let Mrs. Harrison take both of her hands and draw her toward the clump of family members. “The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Harrison. Your home is quite lovely.”

Mrs. Harrison beamed at the praise. “I’m so pleased everyone can be here to greet our dear Fred and his wife, Beth. They’ll be out to join us in a few moments.”

The whole family seemed excited about the prospect of seeing the youngest brother and his wife.

Mr. Harrison put his arm around his wife. “Of course, we can’t begin until Jensen arrives home from the store either.”

“Well, wait no more.”

Heat crept up Flora’s neck when Jensen’s deep voice rumbled close behind her. Her heart fluttered in a disturbing way, one that reminded her of the intense infatuation that led her to impulsively marry Henri. She turned to find Jensen standing inches behind her, dashing in a navy-blue sack coat and straw hat. His eyes met hers for the briefest moment before he stepped around her, a warm spark evident as he took in her pale-green lingerie dress. His arm brushed her shoulder, the contact so quick she would have missed it if not for the lingering tingle that made her breath catch in her throat.

The men greeted Jensen while Aggie and Mrs. Harrison chatted with Isabelle, so Flora took the chance to slip off to the side, allowing a few extended family members who had arrived to take her place. She watched the Harrisons welcome a variety of aunts, uncles, and cousins with smiles of genuine delight.

She’d never seen a family where every member was as loving and joyful as the Harrisons. After her messy childhood, marrying Henri had seemed like a dream, with his doting mother and his initial kindness to Flora. But it hadn’t taken long at all to discover he was only kind when he got what he expected from people. Henri was used to getting his way, Flora was discovering what it was like to get hers for the first time, and neither ever wanted to give in. It had been a terrible combination. Any disagreement turned into an explosive argument.

The Harrisons cared for those around them with a generosity Flora admired. That was the type of person she knew God wanted her to be. Finding a balance between giving to others and not being used by people like Clement was the problem.

As a few more family and friends streamed into the garden, footsteps on the brick path alerted Flora to Jensen’s approach.

He stopped in front of her, shifting his weight from one foot to the other as he spoke. “I’m glad I found you alone for a moment.”

He paused and cleared his throat, looking as though he was struggling to find the words he wanted. Curiosity nearly got the best of Flora as she waited. What on earth could he have to say to her that was so important?

Several family members reached them and stopped to greet Jensen, who then introduced Flora to them. Finally, they were alone again and he found his voice. “I couldn’t help noticing your interest in the Glidden Tour when we were all at the shop the other day.”

That was not at all the opening she’d expected. “Yes, it’s a delightful concept. I’m sure you heard me say that my late husband and I raced together, so the sport is near to my heart.”

Jensen’s gaze roamed the garden, never once coming near to meeting hers. She took a moment to examine him, from blond hair that was almost but not quite perfectly in place to large scarred hands that spoke of years of hard labor. That detail caught her by surprise. She’d assumed his work at Harrison Goods meant he was accustomed to sitting behind a desk or greeting customers all day. What had led him from physical labor to a career in the store?

For a moment, his eyes landed on her, and the intensity of them brought her mind right back into the conversation. “It seemed as if you might be thinking of driving in the tour yourself.”

Was he worried about her? Or did he disapprove of a woman driving? “I must admit, the idea appeals to me. I would love to build a career in racing. But I’m striving to make wiser decisions moving forward, and I don’t want to rush into racing again at the first opportunity if it isn’t the best choice.”