Page 33 of A Kiss to Stop a Wedding

Flora grasped the thin linen and swiftly lifted it up over her head.

Before she could pull off the shift, Matt caught her hands in the material and held them against the wall.

She was a prisoner, the shift still covering her face, and she gasped when she felt his lips close on one breast. Flora moaned, almost swooning as his tongue teased the nub, slowly circling, while his fingers worked a similar magic on the other breast and drawing an unbearably delicious ache from somewhere deep between her thighs.

She almost cried out in despair when he stopped, but as soon as she was free of the shift he captured her mouth in a kiss that was slow and deep, drawing up the fire he had kindled and she responded, her mouth open against his, their tongues tangling in a dance as old as time.

She slipped her arms around his neck and plunged her fingers into his silky curls.

His hand caressed her neck while he covered her face in hot kisses.

She threw back her head, eyes closed as his lips travelled on, leaving a heated trail on her neck to fix again on her breast, licking and sucking until the breath caught in her throat and she was arching against him.

Still he did not stop and she shifted as the relentless pleasuring continued. His hand caressed her waist and then her stomach, gently moving lower until she was trembling, almost swooning as his fingers slipped between her thighs.

He was stroking her, slow rhythmic movements that sent bolts of pleasure coursing through her, one after the other.

She felt herself opening, pushing against his fingers.

A moan broke from him and a sudden anxiety for his injured arm made her think they should stop, but even as the thought occurred it was blown away by the relentless movement of his fingers, which caused her body to convulse.

She cried out and clung tightly to Matt as her body shuddered out of control.

At last the juddering convulsions eased and she became aware of the hard, aroused body pressed against her. She slipped her hand down between them.

‘Careful, I am not yet done!’

‘I know.’

Matt sucked in a breath when she gently touched his arousal. As her fingers explored, his good arm tightened around her until, shuddering, he released his seed against the soft swell of her belly.

With a groan he lowered his head, resting his cheek against her hair as they held one another. After a few moments Flora stirred.

‘Why did you not…?’ Her words trailed away.

He growled. ‘Do you think I would risk giving you a child for Whilton to call his own?’

‘No.’ She cupped his face with her hands and smiled up at him. ‘Thank you,’ she said, kissing him. ‘And thank you for making me feel so… alive !’’

Matt hugged her against him, marvelling at the passion he had aroused in her. It was far more than his clumsy caresses deserved.

‘Did I hurt you?’ he asked.

‘No, you didn’t hurt me.’ She nuzzled into his neck and said shyly, ‘Oh, Matt, I have never felt anything like that before.’

The awe and wonder in her voice made his heart swell. For a moment he felt almost tearful, but he concealed the unfamiliar emotions with a light quip.

‘I should hope not.’

Flora saw his crooked smile, heard the amusement in his voice, but she was not deceived. His eyes glowed with a silent message that made her heart ache. There was so much she wanted to say, but could not.

Instead, she became practical.

‘I need to wash before I dress.’ She walked across to the stand and touched the jug. ‘It’s warm enough.’

She used the water to clean herself before putting on her shift. When she looked around, she saw Matt sitting on the edge of the bed, his arm back in its sling.

‘Is it hurting? I hope we have not done more damage.’

‘No, it aches a little, that is all.’ He grinned. ‘It was distracting, keeping it out of the way. Next time will be different. ’

Her attempt at a smile failed. She said, ‘I pray every day for a miracle that will allow us a next time.’

‘Prayer and miracles!’’ He scoffed. ‘Two things I do not believe in.’

His bleak tone caught at her heart.

‘You should rest now, Matt.’

‘Will you come and join me?’

That teasing note was back in his voice, but she shook her head.

‘You know I must get back.’

‘Yes, you must.’

His sigh was even harder to resist, but Flora resolutely turned away and began to dress. When it came to her stays, she was obliged to ask for his help again. She walked over and stood with her back to him while he tightened the laces.

‘What did you mean?’ she asked him. ‘About not believing in prayers and miracles?’

‘They are lies, peddled by the church, which tells you to have faith and all will be well.’ He sounded so bitter that she looked at him with concern.

‘Is this about your experience in the army?’

‘In part. But it goes back a long way before that. My mother was a pious woman and little good it did her!’

‘Will you tell me?’

‘It is not an edifying story.’

He had somehow managed to fasten the stays, but instead of pulling on her skirts she sat down on the bed beside him and took his hand.

‘But it is about you,’ she said softly. ‘And I should like to know as much as I can about you.’

Before it is too late, she added silently, knowing they would soon say goodbye for ever.

For a while she thought he would say no more. Then she heard him sigh.

‘My parents were both God-fearing people and they dragged me to church every Sunday and holiday. But despite his faith, my father was a gambler. He ran up huge gaming debts, although my mother and I knew nothing of it until he blew his brains out.’

‘Oh, Matt!’

‘Our priest was reluctant to bury him, even though the magistrate decreed it was not suicide. The fact that my parents had rarely missed a Sunday service since they were married counted for nought.’

He fell silent and Flora waited, clasping his hand between both of hers, and at last he continued.

‘We persevered and with the support of the squire my father was finally buried in the local churchyard. But his debts left us all but destitute. It was too much for my mother, she joined him in the ground a few months later.’

She rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, imagining the horror of those dark times. ‘I am so sorry. ’

‘Don’t be. It was a long time ago. I took the King’s shilling and have not done too badly for myself.’

‘But it still hurts you and I am sorry for that.’

‘Yes, it still hurts.’

Flora sat with him as long as she dared, trying to comfort him with her presence, but at length she knew she must leave. Giving his hand a final squeeze, she went off to finish dressing in what was left of the twilight. She was fastening her skirts when he spoke again.

‘I haven’t told anyone about my father, other than you and Conham.’

‘I shall not divulge it to another soul, Matt, I promise you.’

‘No, no, that’s not why I mentioned it. I mean I feel better for talking about it.’

‘I am glad.’ She buttoned her jacket and walked back to him. ‘I must go now. I hope I do not look too disreputable.’

‘You look adorable.’

She averted her eyes, unwilling to let him see how much she wanted to stay.

‘Betty will not be fooled,’ she said, with forced cheerfulness. ‘But she is well rewarded for her loyalty. With the extra I have been paying her since I met you, she will soon be a woman of means!’

He reached for her hand and pulled her closer .

‘Have I been a bad influence on you?’ he asked, kissing her.

Flora closed her eyes, savouring the taste of his lips, but broke off quickly, while she still could.

‘Shameful!’ she said brightly. ‘Now you must go back to bed and let me finish dressing.’

Matt remained sitting on the edge of the bed. The sun had already set and the room was full of shadows. He could not see her clearly until she walked over to the mirror and fixed her curly brimmed hat atop her burnished curls.

‘There, will I pass muster?’ she asked, turning towards him.

‘You look beautiful.’

Her smile was strained. He put out his hand and when she took it, he rose and pulled her closer. Sadness hung around her, palpable as a cloak.

‘Come with me,’ he said urgently. ‘Come back to Bellemonte with me and we will find a way through this!’

She lifted his hand and pressed the back of it to her cheek.

‘Oh, Matt, if only there was a way, but I have thought and thought about it. Too many people will suffer if I do not go back. Not only my aunt and uncle. Quentin will make sure my parents’ treachery is known by everyone and not just in Whilton.

Not only would I be a traitor’s daughter, but a jilt, too.

Quite beyond redemption. That is why I cannot come to Bellemonte with you.

We both know your respectable investors and patrons would turn their backs on you. ’

He wanted to deny it, but the truth of what she was saying held him silent for a heartbeat too long. She sighed.

‘It was madness for me to come here. But I had to see you. I could not help myself.’

‘You regret it, then?’

‘No, not for myself. Never!’ Even in the deepening gloom he could see her eyes shining, glistening with unshed tears. ‘I shall remember this for ever.’

‘But if Whilton finds out—’

‘He won’t. Those who know of my indiscretions are very loyal. They have been keeping my secrets since I was a girl.’

‘And you are still going to marry him, even though he is such a monster.’

‘Yes, I shall marry him.’

Matt clung to her hand, silently willing her to stay.

‘Let me go, Matt.’ She reached up to give him one final kiss, then gently freed her hand.

‘There is four weeks yet until the wedding,’ she said, pulling the veil down over her face, ‘Who knows what might happen? We— I— will pray for a miracle.’

With that she turned away, picked up her gloves and riding crop from the side table and left the room.

Matt listened to her footsteps growing fainter.

He strained his ears until there were only the usual sounds, the muffled laughter from the taproom below, the creak of the walls as the building cooled down.

His room overlooked the fields to one side of the inn with no view of the road so there was no point going to the window to see her ride away.

She was gone and they would not meet again.