Page 17 of A Kiss to Stop a Wedding
There was nothing she could do but accompany him as he negotiated a way through the crush of dancers milling around the dance floor. It was so crowded shewas not able to see her aunt until they had crossed the room and when she did have a clear view, she saw both her aunt and uncle were talking with the Albrights and Sir Roger and Lady Condicote.
And beside them, watching her approach on Matt Talacre’s arm, was Lord Whilton.
CHAPTER SIX
Flora’s heart sank. With the Viscount’s eyes upon her, she wanted to pull free from her partner, but that would make her look guilty.
‘Oh, dear.’
She was hardly aware of speaking until Matt replied, ‘I take it that is the fiancé?’
‘Yes.’ She summoned up a smile and stepped away from her escort, holding out her hands to the Viscount. ‘Quentin. What a wonderful surprise!’
‘Is it, my dear?’ He bowed low over her hand.
‘Indeed, it is, My Lord. We had not thought to see you for a se’ennight yet.’
He kept hold of her fingers and pulled them into the crook of his arm, keeping his hand possessively over hers as he turned a haughty gaze upon Matt.
‘My servant informed me that someone had called, looking for me,’ he drawled. ‘Mr Farnleigh now tells me it is you, sir.’
‘Yes, it is.’ Uncle Farnleigh stepped closer. ‘Allow me to present Mr Talacre to you, my lord.’
The Viscount inclined his head in the slightest of greetings. ‘You have been here for almost a week, sir. You must be mighty eager to meet with me.’
‘Since I have had no response to my letters, I thought I would try my luck at Whilton Hall.’
Flora could almost see the tension swirling around the two men, although they were both at pains to be polite. The Viscount was irritated. He looked at ease and sounded relaxed, but his grip on her hand, where it rested on his sleeve, was vice-like.
‘My secretary must have overlooked your correspondence,’ he said in a tone of studied indifference. ‘I am most sorry you have had to tarry here so long.’
‘Oh, it has been no hardship, my lord.’
Matt’s eyes flickered towards Flora and she held her breath. He was deliberately taunting the Viscount and that would not help any future meeting between them. She needed to stop this, now.
‘Quentin, the next dance is a waltz. Now I have you here, will you stand up with me?’ She turned towards him and placed her hand against his coat, smiling up at him and saying playfully, ‘If you refuse, I warn you Mr Makerfield will find me another partner. He can be quite a tyrant at these balls, you know.’
‘But of course I will dance with you, my dear,’ he murmured, his gaze never wavering from MattTalacre. ‘Call at the Hall tomorrow, sir. At noon. I shall be waiting for you.’
Matt gave a small bow. ‘Thank you, my lord. I shall be there.’
With that the Viscount turned and Flora gave a sigh of relief as she accompanied him to the dance floor.
‘You were sitting out the dance with Mr Talacre.’
His tone was reproving, but Flora would not be cowed. She responded cheerfully, ‘Yes. We were resting after dancing a very lively Scotch reel.’
‘What did you talk of?’
‘Nothing very much, once I had told him I would not flirt with him.’
The Viscount glanced down at her. ‘He tried to flirt with you?’
She laughed. ‘Nearly every gentleman tries to flirt with his dance partner, Quentin, you know that. I gave him a set down immediately, there was no harm done.’
The Viscount was silent and she said sharply, ‘Whatever the business is between you and Mr Talacre, I will not allow either of you to involve me in your quarrel. Do you understand me, my lord?’
Flora met his gaze and held it, allowing him to see her annoyance, and after what felt like a very long moment he smiled.
