Page 19 of A Kiss to Stop a Wedding

F lora woke to bright sunshine and a feeling of happy anticipation.

The hotel maid assigned to wait upon her brought in her breakfast and helped her to dress and then, after checking on Betty to make sure she was no worse, Flora left her room and went downstairs.

Yesterday’s doubts had been put to rest. She liked Matt, she felt happy and comfortable in his company—surely there could be no danger in that.

None at all, she decided as she skipped down the stairs. She would enjoy this little break from her dull, predictable life and return to Whilton refreshed. Then she would be ready to take up her role as Quentin’s wife.

Or so she told herself.

* * *

Matt saw her on the stairs just as the long-case clock was chiming eleven. He smiled and touched his hat as she came up to him.

‘Good morning, Miss Warenne. I understand your maid is unwell. Nothing serious, I hope?’ He added, when she looked surprised, ‘I make it my business to know what goes on in my hotel.’

‘Yes, of course. I think Betty is exhausted from all the hours we spent in the carriage on Monday and she has contracted a slight chill. However, she does seem a little better this morning, thank you.’

‘I hope my people have been looking after you.’

‘Why, yes. Your manager, Mr Cripps, has been most helpful and supplied me with a maid to take Betty’s place.

’ She read a question in his eyes and lifted her chin a little as she went on, ‘She will attend me later, but I think, at six-and-twenty, I do not need a chaperon for a mere stroll with you in a public garden.’

Matt nodded. Her trust in him was gratifying, but misplaced.

It was going to be difficult to resist the temptation to flirt with Flora when she was looking particularly lovely.

She was wearing a dark green spencer over a cream-coloured muslin gown, embroidered at the hem with acanthus leaves, and perched atop her flaming hair was a jockey cap in the same colour as her spencer.

She unfurled her lace parasol and smiled at him.

‘Shall we go, Mr Talacre?’

Silently, Matt offered her his arm. Difficult? It was going to be well-nigh impossible!

* * *

For Flora, the hours flew by. The sun was shining even brighter than yesterday, dappling the tree- lined paths and intensifying the colours of the flowers and foliage in the gardens.

Once they had made a full circuit Matt escorted her up to the viewpoint, from where they could look out over Bristol with its gleaming spires.

Then he invited her to turn back and admire the view of the pleasure gardens.

‘From here you can see how we are renewing parts of the gardens, replanting flower beds, restoring walls and adding more saplings.’

‘It is quite wonderful,’ she told him, ‘and impressive. To have made so much progress in just a few years.’

‘It is hardly a gentlemanly occupation.’ He grimaced and stripped off a glove. ‘You can see here the results of my labours.’

Flora tightened her grip on the parasol to prevent herself from reaching out and touching the scars and calluses on his hand.

‘No, it is much, much better,’ she said fiercely. ‘You should be very proud of what you are doing here. Not only are you rebuilding the gardens and making them a success, you have given employment to so many former military men.’

She was looking up at him, fire sparking in her eyes. Matt felt as if an iron band was tightening around his chest.

‘Do you really think that, Miss Warenne?’

‘I do. It is a very fine achievement. I only wish I— ’

Flora broke off, her lashes falling quickly over her eyes, shielding her thoughts.

‘You only wish…?’ he prompted her.

‘N-nothing,’ she muttered. ‘I only wish everyone was so concerned for their fellow men.’

They made their way back down the hill and gradually Flora began to relax again. Listening to him talk of his work in the gardens, she had suddenly been frustrated with her own small existence.

I only wish I could help you with your plans, was what she had wanted to say, but that would imply criticism of her fiancé.

And I am being disloyal enough, she thought, as they approached the Pavilion. I am enjoying the company of a man Quentin might well consider an adversary.

She pushed that thought aside. She wasn’t here to take sides, but to find out the truth about Matt Talacre’s claim to the statue and to do what she could to mediate between the two men.

She had hoped Betty might be able to find out something of the man’s character, but now she would have to rely upon her own judgement.

That was why she had accepted Matt’s escort, she told herself. The fact that she very much wanted to spend more time with him was purely coincidental.

That thought set her inconvenient conscience ringing with something that sounded very much like hollow laughter .

When they reached the Pavilion, Matt explained they would not be taking tea in the original tea rooms.

‘They are large enough for the quieter winter months,’ he said, as he escorted her through the building. ‘But the number of summer visitors has increased so much that I had tables moved here, into the ballroom.’

He ushered her into the large, bright salon and Flora stopped for a moment to look around.

It was much bigger than the assembly rooms at the Red Lion.

Long windows ran the full length of one wall, most of which were open today, giving a view of a colourful flower garden.

At night the chandeliers would be ablaze with candlelight, making the gilded plasterwork around the ceiling glitter.

Several musicians occupied the small dais, entertaining everyone with a selection of traditional folk songs and country airs, but Flora imagined an orchestra playing there, music filling the air while the dancers twirled and skipped in a joyous, colourful spectacle.

‘It is a magnificent room,’ she remarked as he led her between white-clothed tables where small groups were enjoying refreshments served by soft-footed servants. ‘What happens if you wish to have a ball?’

They had reached an empty table by one of the open windows and he held her chair for her to sit down before responding .

‘You mean when we have one,’ he corrected her. ‘We will be holding our weekly ball tonight, in fact. The tea rooms will close early today and everything will be cleared away in readiness for the dancing.’

‘That must take a great deal of effort.’

‘We have practised it many times. Everyone knows exactly what to do.’

‘Like an army drill?’

He grinned. ‘Exactly that.’

‘I am impressed,’ she replied, twinkling back at him.

‘Thank you. Now let me see if we can impress you with our tea and cake!’

The tea was accompanied by an assortment of small delicacies: sponge fingers and puffs flavoured with lemon or almonds as well as biscuits and slices of fruit cake.

Flora discovered that she was quite hungry and nibbled a macaroon while her escort entertained her with amusing anecdotes about the characters who attended the concerts and balls held in this building.

His passion for Bellemonte shone through, as did the affection in which he held his patrons, from those who could only afford the luxury of an occasional visit to the rich merchants and gentry who had purchased season tickets and attended every ball and concert.

* * *

When at last they made their way back into the square, she thanked him for his time .

‘I cannot remember when I have enjoyed a day so much.’

‘Thank you , Miss Warenne. Bellemonte means a great deal to me and I am glad to have your approval. After I was wounded at Waterloo, I found it difficult to adjust to life in England. I had been a soldier for too long, you see. I was accustomed to being busy. Conham employed me as his aide-de-camp and when he became Lord Dallamire and sold out, he kept me on, but it was never enough. There was no challenge in it.’

She smiled at his enthusiasm.

‘And you find Bellemonte challenging?’

He grinned and waved his arm. ‘Just look about you. The gardens are constantly changing with the seasons and the weather. I work with the gardeners to keep them looking their best throughout the year and with the wardens and the watchmen who keep out footpads, pickpockets and ladies with a more, er, unsavoury reputation. And then there is the hotel. It is proving so successful that I can now consider expanding on to the spare land behind it.’

‘And what of the pleasure baths?’ said Flora, glancing at the tall wall on the far side of the square. ‘Are they successful?’

‘Yes, they are. The swimming pool is popular with young gentleman.’

Flora sighed. ‘I have often thought that I should like to be able to swim. Perhaps you should build a private pool for the ladies, too.’

‘Perhaps I shall, if you promise to come and use it.’

‘I cannot swim.’

‘No difficulty there,’ he murmured. ‘I could teach you.’

She quickly looked away from his smiling eyes. The idea brought images to her mind that made her blush, but it saddened her, too, knowing this would be her only visit to Bellemonte.

When they left the Pavilion, Flora took Matt’s arm as they walked to the hotel, revelling in the solid strength she could feel beneath the fine woollen sleeve.

Being this close she could see that no padding was required to widen the shoulders of his coat and the flat plane of his stomach suggested he was no stranger to hard, physical exercise.

Unlike Quentin.

No. She would not compare the two men. Quentin had many good qualities. Only she could not bring them to mind just now.

Flora released Matt’s arm as they entered the hotel’s elegant lobby.

‘I am obliged to you, Mr Talacre, for giving up so much of your time.’

‘It was a pleasure, ma’am. I should like to ask you to dine with me, but I suspect you would say no.’

‘I should indeed. That would be most improper. ’

‘And you will not come to the ball tonight?’