Page 14 of A Kiss to Stop a Wedding

‘Alas, Flora, I cannot. I have much to do.’ She heard him approach and felt his hands on her shoulders. ‘I wish I could remain in Whilton longer, but there is business in London that requires my attention.’

‘ More business?’ She sighed as she tweaked an errant dahlia back into place ‘I thought Whilton Hall was to be our principal home, but you seem to spend most of your time in the capital.’

‘I must be there when Parliament is sitting.’ She felt his lips rest briefly on her bare shoulder. ‘When we are married I shall spend a great deal more time here, I promise you, but this business will not wait.’

‘Would that business concern Mr Talacre?’ she asked, knowing full well the question was unwelcome.

‘That need not concern you, Flora.’

‘But it does concern me, Quentin.’

‘Talacre is nothing, my dear.’

‘I do not agree. Having met him—’

Smiling, he put a finger on her lips to silence her.

‘Forgive me, Flora, but you have spent your life here in Whilton. You really must give me credit for possessing a little more worldly knowledge than you. I have met men like Talacre before. He is a fraudster, a charlatan. Why, who is to say that these gardens he talks of even exist? Or, if they do, they are probably nothing more than a patch of boggy land. No, no, my dear, you should put the fellow out of your mind. Will you do that for me? ’

When she did not reply he said again, ‘Flora?’

She turned back to face him. ‘Why did you invite Mr Talacre to dinner, if you think so little of him?’

‘To punish his audacity. The man deserved to be put in his place.’

‘You were most impolite to him, Quentin. You were picking at him all evening.’

He looked amused. ‘Is that what you thought I was doing?’

‘I know it was,’ she said firmly. ‘Little barbs, designed to disparage.’

‘No one else thought so, but then, they do not take such a great interest in Mr Talacre as you do.’

She looked him in the eye and said, coolly, ‘It is merely that I abhor bad manners, Quentin. You demean yourself and your name.’

Her words hit home, as she had known they would.

The Viscount was very proud of his lineage and he flushed angrily.

Flora waited, wondering if he might lash out at her.

She had never been afraid to speak her mind and until now the Viscount had always said how much he admired her for that, but she had never before criticised his behaviour.

He said coldly, ‘You are being ridiculous, Flora. I was merely exchanging friendly raillery with our guest.’

‘You were mocking him at every turn. It was subtly done, but Mr Talacre knew it, only he was too much of a gentleman to show affront.’

‘He is no gentleman!’ the Viscount sneered. ‘The fellow has no birth, no breeding, and he came to me with lies and false evidence, hoping to take from me what is rightfully mine! That I will not allow.’

She shook her head. ‘Then why did you invite him to dine, when you are clearly at odds?’

The brief angry outburst was over and he merely curled his lip before replying.

‘Because it amused me. I want to show Talacre I am not to be trifled with.’

‘Is that wise, my lord?’

‘The man is a nonentity,’ he said dismissively. ‘If he challenges me, I shall squash him. Like an insect.’

‘Quentin!’

Flora could not quite hide her repugnance at this callous response and he quickly replaced his sneer with a look of concern.

‘Have I shocked you, my dear?’ He reached out and cupped her cheek. ‘Really, Flora, you should not be surprised. Can you not understand that my dislike of the man is borne of jealousy?’

She stepped away, saying coldly, ‘I have given you no reason to be jealous, Quentin. If you mistook my friendliness towards Mr Talacre as anything more, then I am sorry for it. I have never been in the habit of flirting with other men, whether or not you are present.’

‘Ah, I know it, my love, I know it,’ he said, catching her hand and pressing a fervent kiss upon it. He continued to hold her fingers between his own as he gave her a rueful smile. ‘You must make allowances for a man who is impatient to make you his wife.’

Flora was tempted to say she had seen little sign of that impatience in the past two years, but held her tongue.

Receiving no response, the Viscount moved closer, pressing her hand against his heart and saying ruefully, ‘Dear Flora, I am a brute to doubt you and I cannot leave for London until you tell me you forgive me for being a jealous fool!’

His words and manner disarmed her.

She smiled, ‘There is nothing to forgive, Quentin.’

‘Angel!’ He kissed her cheek. ‘I wish I did not have to leave you again so soon.’

‘Perhaps I will come to London,’ Flora suggested. ‘Aunt Farnleigh and I can go there to buy my bride clothes and we might meet. What could be better?’

‘Oh, my love, if only that were possible, but alas I shall be extremely busy.’

She laughed. ‘So shall we, Quentin! I am sure we can find some time—’

‘But how can I concentrate on my business, knowing you are in town and going into Society without me? I should be in a constant state of anxiety that one of my rivals will steal your heart!’

‘Surely not!’

‘I think you will find your aunt agrees with me. Once we are married I shall take you to London myself and you may shop at all the most fashionable haunts to your heart’s content.

But consider, my dear: we agreed, did we not, that this wedding is to be a very quiet affair.

I am sure you will be able to find everything you need without making the long and exhausting journey to the capital. ’

‘But, Quentin—’

‘No, no,’ he interrupted her. ‘I give you carte blanche to invite any modiste you wish to come to Birchwood House and dress you—you may send the reckoning to me!—but I should far prefer you to remain here in Whilton while I am in town. That way I shall rest easy, knowing you are safe.’

‘Safe?’ She frowned at the word, but he shook his head and continued.

‘And I shall be returning to Whilton in a few weeks, for the Condicotes’ ball.’

‘Really?’ She blinked at him. ‘Why have you not mentioned this before?’

He beamed and flicked her cheek with a finger. ‘It was to be a surprise. But you must see how our returning in three weeks’ time for the Midsummer Ball would greatly curtail your shopping expedition to London.’

‘It would, but I should not mind missing the ball, just this once. After all, we can attend routs and dances in the capital.’

‘Ah, my darling, I see what it is, you crave a larger society! You told me you had lived very secluded here and it is beginning to prey upon you, is it not? But that will change when you are my Viscountess. Then I shall make sure you go to all the best entertainments that London has to offer.’

He was smiling at her, but there was something in his voice and his face that told her everything was arranged and further argument was pointless.

‘If I am to stay here, perhaps I might go to Whilton Hall and make preparations? It has been a bachelor establishment for so long I am sure some changes will be necessary.’

‘You may look at it, by all means, but Whilton Hall is an ancient house filled with my family history. I would not have it changed, except to install you as its mistress.’ He laughed and squeezed her hand. ‘You will be the jewel, in a perfect setting.’

‘Thank you, Quentin, but—’

He silenced her with an impatient hand.

‘Dear Flora, when we are married there will be time and to spare to discuss all these little matters. Go and speak with Mrs Goole, if you wish. I am sure she will be only too pleased to give you a tour of the house and explain how everything is done.’ He smiled at her.

‘So, Flora, are we agreed? You will stay here and prepare for your wedding and I shall conclude my business as quickly as possible and hurry back to you.’

She could see he was eager now to get away. He gave her another swift kiss on the cheek and was gone.

After a few moments to gather her thoughts, Flora went off to the garden. There was still some time before dinner and she hoped a stroll in the fresh air would help to clear her head.

She was disturbed by the Viscount’s rough dismissal of Matt Talacre and if it did spring from jealousy then she was sorry for it and must share some part of the blame.

Quentin’s decision to attend the Midsummer Ball was a surprise, and very flattering, but Flora could not help feeling a little disappointed not to be going to town.

It was not so much the thought of visiting the fashionable modistes, for she knew her aunt’s local seamstress was more than capable of making up gowns similar to those featured in the most recent editions of The Lady’s Magazine or Ackermann’s Repository .

No, it was a need to meet with Quentin in town, to quash the growing suspicion that Quentin did not wish her to join him in London.

To allay her fear that, once they were married, he would leave her languishing in Whilton while he enjoyed himself in the capital or visiting his other country estates.

Flora sighed. Perhaps she was being too critical, she thought, as the scent and beauty of the flowering borders began to have their effect. Perhaps he really did care for her and wanted to wait until they were safely married before taking her out and about.

‘Very well then, so be it,’ she said aloud, reaching out to pluck a peony from the bush growing against a sheltering wall. ‘But all that will change in July!’

‘What happens in July?’

Flora jumped at the sound of Matt Talacre’s voice and turned so quickly that she dropped her flower.

‘What are you doing here?’

‘I came to see you.’ Matt scooped up the peony and held it out to her, smiling in way that did nothing to settle her agitated nerves. ‘I was riding by when I spotted you walking in the garden. I climbed over the wall.’

‘You appear to make a habit of trespassing in other people’s gardens.’ She took the flower from him, taking care not to touch his hand. ‘If word should get back to the Viscount—’

‘I doubt it will, but in any case, we are only standing here, talking, and in full sight of the house. There is no harm in it.’

‘He will not believe that.’

And nor did she, when her heart was hammering so hard against her ribs she thought he must hear it .

His smiled disappeared. ‘You are seriously concerned about talking to me. You need not be, Flora. You know I have no wish to steal you away from your fiancé. I came to say goodbye.’

‘You are leaving?’

‘I am going to London to discuss matters with my lawyers. I would normally consult Conham, too, but his Countess is close to her time. It is their first child and he will not wish to be distracted.’

‘Naturally,’ said Flora. ‘He will want to know if he has an heir.’

‘I do not think he minds if they have a son or a daughter, as long as the child is healthy. He is more concerned for Rosina. He loves her very much, you see.’

Flora found herself wondering if Quentin would show such consideration, when the time came. Or would he have business elsewhere that needed his attention?

‘Lord Whilton is also gone to London.’ She twirled the peony between her fingers, staring down at it.

‘I doubt our paths will cross. We move in very different circles, you know.’

‘Yes.’ But thoughts of the Viscount had reminded Flora of something else that was troubling her. She burst out, ‘I am sorry he was so rude to you last night.’

‘You do not need to apologise for Lord Whilton, Flora. ’

‘Yes, I do.’ She took a deep breath. ‘It was because of me.’

He shook his head at that. ‘No, he is angry because he knows the statue in his garden belongs to Bellemonte. Although I am sure he is a little jealous of me, too.’

Flora turned and walked on, determined not to respond to the wicked glint of laughter in his sable-brown eyes.

‘The Viscount will not give up his property without a fight,’ she warned, when he fell into step beside her.

‘You consider yourself his property, then?’

‘Of course not!’ She blushed, angry at herself for being caught out by his teasing. ‘I was referring to the statue.’

‘Now that is most definitely not his property.’

‘But can you really prove it?’

‘I can, if I need to do so. I have given the Viscount until the end of June to decide. Sell the Rysbrack to me for what he paid for it, or we go to court and let the lawyers settle the matter.’

He reached across and took her hand, obliging her to stop.

‘I should go now. Unless you are going to invite me to come in?’ Even as she opened her mouth to refuse, he laughed. ‘No, you are very wise not to do so. Goodbye, Miss Flora Warenne.’ He kissed her fingers. ‘I wish you joy with your Viscount. ’

Flora watched him stride away, telling herself the man was a rogue, she was glad they would not meet again. But if that was the case, why was she fighting down a strong impulse to run after him?

Squaring her shoulders she turned resolutely away and hurried back to the house.

* * *

Matt left the path and made his way back to the beech tree that marked the spot where he had entered the garden.

He scrambled up through its branches until he was level with the top of the wall before looking back.

Flora had reached the terrace and he paused to watch her run up the steps and through the open door before he jumped down into the lane.

Magpie was waiting patiently where he had left her and he quickly untied the reins.

‘It’s a good thing we won’t be seeing the lady again, old girl,’ he murmured, rubbing the mare’s bony nose. ‘She’s far too fascinating and that can only mean trouble.’