Page 12 of A Kiss to Stop a Wedding

Flora watched and listened as Matt expanded on his theme.

It was clear that he was very proud of Bellemonte.

His enthusiasm was infectious and around her the other guests began to ask questions, keen to learn more.

Only the Viscount was silent, his expression one of faint disapproval, while any comments he made were couched in friendly terms, but they were invariably critical.

She guessed Quentin had introduced the subject merely to belittle Matt’s achievements, although in her opinion, he had not succeeded.

‘An admirable project, Mr Talacre.’ Sir Roger raised his glass in Matt’s direction. ‘You have given employment to a number of ex-soldiers, too, I believe?’

‘Yes. They are among my best workers. But there is still much work to be done,’ Matt concluded. ‘I want to return the gardens to their former glory. For example, opening up paths that have not been used for many years. And tracking down the missing statuary.’

Flora held her breath. This was clearly aimed at the Viscount and she looked towards him. Quentin, however, remained impassive and waved to a servant to refill his wine glass before making a reply.

‘A daunting task, sir,’ he said at last. ‘I hope you will not be disappointed.’

‘Oh, I don’t think I will be, my lord. I have only one elusive piece yet to recover.’

If Flora had not been watching her fiancé so closely, she would have missed the quick glance he sent down the table to his cousin, who immediately rose from her seat.

‘Ladies, it is time for us to retire to the drawing room,’ she said in her nervous way .

Never had Flora been less eager to leave the dinner table.

There was an undercurrent of malice in the Viscount’s treatment of Matt Talacre.

She did not think it would turn into outright antagonism with her uncle and Sir Roger present, but she knew it did not augur well for any future dealings between the two men.

* * *

Matt knew he had rattled his host with talk of Bellemonte and the missing statue, but once the ladies had withdrawn, talk moved on to politics and rumours that Lord Liverpool was about to dissolve Parliament. It would be the first election since Napoleon’s defeat and the end of the war.

Matthew sipped at his wine and listened far more than he contributed to the discussion.

His views differed widely from those of the Viscount, who clearly saw his rank and standing in Society as his right.

No matter how successful Bellemonte might be, and how much money Matt might earn through his hard work, Whilton would only ever regard him as a grubbing tradesman and not a man to be taken seriously.

Well, as to that, time would tell. Matt was sure that his case for recovering the statue would hold, but he wanted to avoid an outright confrontation.

Dragging the matter through the courts would not suit either of them.

The servants were continually at the table, refilling the glasses, but Matt drank slowly.

He needed to keep his wits about him. It was difficult to remain silent as the Viscount expounded his views on the poor and the slave trade, but if he was to stand any chance of negotiating with this man, he did not wish to quarrel openly with him.

However, it was a relief when at last Whilton suggested they should join the ladies.

* * *

Flora was amusing herself on the pianoforte when the gentlemen walked into the drawing room. The Viscount came over and begged her not to stop, his words echoed by Sir Roger, who professed he always loved to hear her play.

‘As good as anything one can hear in London,’ he went on. ‘Ain’t that so, Lord Whilton?’

‘I beg my lord will not feel obliged to answer that,’ said Flora, laughing. ‘I would not have him perjure himself.’

‘I can say with perfect honesty that your playing gives me great delight,’ replied the Viscount, smiling slightly.

‘Oh, well done, sir, a most tactful answer!’ she said. The other gentlemen were conversing with the ladies and she took the opportunity to ask the question that had been burning in her mind all evening. ‘Why did you invite Mr Talacre to join us this evening?’

Her blunt question surprised him, but he was quick to recover.

‘He has made himself agreeable to everyone in the town, I would not like to be thought backward in my hospitality towards the gentleman.’

Flora glanced across to where Matt was talking with his hostess and Lady Condicote.

‘Your meeting with Mr Talacre yesterday went well, then?’

‘The man has some misguided notions. I was obliged to put him right.’

Flora hoped he would think her frown was due to the difficulty of the piece she was playing. She wished now that she had admitted she knew the reason why Matt had come to Whilton, then they might have spoken more freely. As it was, she needed to tread carefully.

‘I hope you did not quarrel with him.’

He gave a gentle laugh. ‘Not at all. The fellow had some ridiculous notion that the statue of Mars I purchased for my Italian garden belongs to his pleasure gardens. I have made it plain it is not the case.’

‘And…he is content with that?’

‘It is the only answer he will get from me.’

The piece came to an end. Flora let the last notes die away before looking up at the Viscount.

‘Does he have any proof, Quentin?’

‘Of course not,’ he replied, not meeting her gaze. ‘It is nothing to concern you, my love.’

She sat, watching him, and after a few moments he turned back to her, smiling .

‘Now, Flora, your aunt tells me you have learned a new piece of music for me?’

‘Yes. Beethoven.’

‘Then I pray you will play it now and delight us all.’