Page 28 of A Kiss to Stop a Wedding
‘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 willbe 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 ofTheLady’s MagazineorAckermann’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 languishingin 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 alittlejealous of me, too.’
Flora turned and walked on, determined not to respond to the wicked glint of laughter in his sable-brown eyes.
