Page 15 of A Kiss to Stop a Wedding

F lora busied herself with arrangements for the wedding, but by the end of a week all the immediate work was complete. She had helped her aunt to write the invitations and ordered several new gowns, which now had to wait for the seamstress to obtain the fabrics from the London warehouse.

Flora had also called at Whilton Hall, but her attempts to plan any changes were thwarted by the housekeeper, who insisted that everything had already been done in accordance with the Viscount’s wishes.

Flora curbed her annoyance at Mrs Goole’s insolent tone, but she resolved to speak to Quentin about the woman as soon as he returned.

With little else to do, Flora found other thoughts were creeping back into her mind.

The Viscount had assured her the statue of Ares in his garden was rightfully his and Matt Talacre was a fraudster.

She should believe that. Quentin was, after all, her fiancé and she had known him far longer than Mr Talacre.

But that was the problem: from what she knew of Quentin, she did not doubt that he might have suspected that the Rysbrack was illegally obtained, but it would not stop him keeping it.

* * *

For a week Flora tried to ignore the niggling doubts. It was not her concern. Then, when she and her aunt and uncle were dining with the Albrights, a chance remark sparked an idea.

‘I am in such a quandary,’ announced Mrs Albright, just before they went in to dinner. ‘My poor sister has written to me. She is in a very bad way. Her heart, you know,’ she informed her visitors. ‘She is not expected to last much longer.’

‘Oh, my dear ma’am, how dreadful,’ said Mr Farnleigh. ‘Is Mrs Boscombe living very far from here?’

‘Sadly, yes. Near Bristol.’ Mrs Albright sighed. ‘Elvira has rooms at Hotwell House and has written asking if we might visit. She is Jenny’s godmother, you see, and would very much like to see her one last time.’

‘And I should dearly like to see Aunt Elvira,’ put in Jenny. ‘Do you remember her, Flora? She was so kind to us when we were younger.’

‘Yes, I remember. She visited Whilton frequently when we were children. She was very kind to me, always ready to include me in her treats and outings.’

‘But alas, we cannot go!’ exclaimed Mrs Albright, pressing a hand to her chest. ‘My doctor has told me that I must rest. Such a long coach journey is out of the question and Mr Albright has sworn he will not go away and leave me while my health is so precarious.’

‘I am quite happy to go on my own, Mama,’ said Jenny. ‘I can take Maria with me.’

‘Do you think I would have a minute’s peace if I allowed a slip of a girl like yourself to travel with only a maid for company?’ cried her mother. ‘It is unthinkable.’

‘Mama! I am five-and-twenty,’ Jenny protested, casting an amused glance across at Flora. ‘Besides, I would be travelling in our own carriage—we would be perfectly safe.’

‘But it would take you days to get to Bristol! No, no, it is out of the question.’

Flora had been thinking rapidly and she now addressed Mrs Albright.

‘Perhaps I could go with Jenny. How would that be, ma’am, would it set your mind at rest?’’

‘Well, yes, of course, if there were the two of you… But your wedding preparations, my dear, you must have a great deal to arrange.’

But Flora had already thought of that.

‘It is going to be a quiet wedding, because of the Viscount’s recent bereavement.’

She was no longer sure that was the whole truth, but it stopped her friends and neighbours speculating upon why Quentin had insisted they should be married in Whilton’s small parish church. She went on.

‘The wedding is not until July, plenty of time for all the arrangements.’

‘No, no, my dear, you cannot possibly go so far without us,’ cried Aunt Farnleigh, looking alarmed. ‘It is not to be considered.’

‘But we would not be gone very long,’ said Flora. ‘If Uncle Farnleigh will allow us to use his travelling chariot, we could go post and do the journey to Bristol in a day. I remember you telling me that it has a removable coachman’s seat, did you not, sir?’

She looked an enquiry at her uncle, who nodded. ‘Well, yes, that is a possibility, I suppose…’

‘I could take Betty with me, too, as well as Jenny’s maid, because it carries four passengers,’ added Flora, forestalling her aunt’s next objection. ‘We could also take our own footman, on the back.’

‘And I would happily pay the cost of them travelling post,’ put in Mr Albright, relieved to see a solution to the dilemma of how to transport Jenny to her godmother.

‘There you are then,’ cried Flora. ‘We would be gone only a few days. All I need now is for my aunt to give her permission.’ She smiled across the table at Mrs Farnleigh.

‘Do say I may go, Aunt. It would mean the world to Mrs Boscombe to see Jenny once again and I should like to do all I can to help. ’

It took some time for Jenny and Flora to persuade Mr and Mrs Farnleigh to agree, but at last Flora’s arguments won the day and she was able to sit back while the dinner table conversation moved on.

There were a few details to her plan that she did not intend to divulge until she and Jenny were on the road, but for now she was very well satisfied with the outcome of the evening.

She hoped that by the time she and Jenny returned to Whilton, she would have learned everything she needed to know about Mr Matthew Talacre and Bellemonte Pleasure Gardens.

* * *

Having agreed upon the trip to Bristol, events moved quickly.

While Flora and Jenny decided what clothes to take, Mr Albright made arrangements for the postillions and horses at the various posting houses.

He also sent a man to bespeak accommodation for the two ladies at the Hotwell House or some respectable lodging close by.

Mr Farnleigh, meanwhile, gave orders for his travelling chariot to be dragged out of the coach house and prepared for the eighty-mile journey with hired post boys.

* * *

Within days everything was ready and it was on a fine June morning that Flora waved goodbye to her aunt and uncle and set off to collect Jenny Albright. Her maid, Betty, was beside her in the carriage and Edwin, one of the Farnleighs’ footmen, was sitting up at the back to provide extra protection.

* * *

It was not until they stopped for the second change of horses that Flora informed Jenny of her plans.

She invited her friend to step out of the carriage and take a short stroll along the lane to stretch their legs.

Then, once they were out of earshot of their maids, she announced they would be making a short stop later.

‘I shall advise the postboys to divert to Bellemonte,’ she told her astonished friend. ‘It is in Gloucester and only a few miles north of Bristol.’

‘Bellemonte!’ exclaimed Jenny, round-eyed. ‘Did not Mr Talacre mention such a place?’

‘Yes,’ said Flora, her eyes dancing. ‘He owns the pleasure gardens there. And a hotel, where I hope to bespeak a room. I would like come back and stay there for two nights, once I have seen you safely to Hotwells.’ She saw that Jenny was looking horrified and went on quickly, ‘There is nothing improper in it, Jenny. Mr Talacre said he was going to London on business, so he will not even be there! I merely wish to see the gardens for myself and I know my aunt and uncle would never agree to a visit.’

‘I am surprised Betty has agreed to it,’ retorted Jenny.

‘Well, she hasn’t yet,’ Flora admitted. ‘But she is such a dear, loyal soul that I know she will not fail me. I shall give her something to ease her conscience, of course,’ she added thoughtfully, ‘And perhaps it would be wise if I paid your maid something, too.’

‘No, no, I shall take care of Maria,’ said Jenny. ‘She may be a little shocked at your behaviour, but she would no more give you away than she would me. But why must you stay overnight? Can you not visit there for a day while I am with Aunt Elvira?’

Flora hesitated, wondering how far to take Jenny into her confidence.

‘The Viscount has some business dealings with Mr Talacre, which have reached an impasse, and I want to help,’ she said at last. ‘I thought if I stayed at Bellemonte I could see the place for myself. And if I could talk with the people who work there, I would be able to glean a little information about the man’s true character. ’

Jenny put a hand on her friend’s arm. ‘Flora, is that wise?’

Wise? Flora thought sadly that so far in her life she had been allowed to do nothing that was un wise. She was tired of it.

She said, ‘Perhaps not, but what harm can it do?’

Her friend looked so concerned that Flora’s resolution faltered, but only for a moment.

‘Let us wait until we get to Bellemonte before making a final decision,’ she said, smiling. ‘Who knows, the hotel may well be full, in which case I shall be obliged to make a day trip to the gardens from Hotwell House.

‘Now, I can see that the postillions are waiting to set off. We had best return before we make them late for the next change!’

* * *

It took several hours to reach the village of Bellemonte, but it was still daylight and the summer sky was a clear blue, painting everything in the best light.

Flora had to admit she was pleasantly surprised when they turned off the main highway on to a well-maintained road and drove past the Dallamire Arms with its fresh paintwork and a cheerful sign swinging above the door.

From there the carriage entered a large cobbled square and slowed as the horses walked around, passing glossy black railings with a pair of large gates at the centre and, above the gates, a metal arch with Grand Pleasure Gardens picked out in gold.

‘Well, I must say that looks very enticing,’ remarked Jenny, impressed.

‘Enticing.’ Flora savoured the word. ‘Yes, it does, doesn’t it?’