Page 34 of A Kiss to Stop a Wedding
Flora stopped, thankful that the arrival of a maid with the tea tray obliged them to pause their conversation. She then elected to pour tea for them both, giving herself a few extra moments to compose her reply.
She would have liked to appear nonchalant, to admit to nothing but idle curiosity bringing her to Bellemonte, but that was impossible. Far better to tell the truth.
‘I wanted to find out if all you had told me was true.’ His brows went up and her cheeks grew even warmer. She said, ‘Lord Whilton said you were trying to trick him. I did not know who to believe.’
‘Since you are going to marry the Viscount, surely you should believe him.’
‘His Lordship might have misunderstood the situation.’ She knew she was clutching at straws and expected him to say so. When he remained silent, sheburst out, ‘I thought you would still be in London, or I should never have come!’
‘No, I can believe that. But what did you hope to achieve?’
‘I hardly know. I just thought, if I could see Bellemonte for myself, inspect the statue of Aphrodite and compare it to the one at Whilton…’
‘And have you seen it?’
‘No. Not yet. I took a short walk there when I arrived, but the gardens are much larger than I envisaged…’
He drew out his pocket watch. ‘I am free for a couple of hours. I could take you to Aphrodite now, if you wish? When you have finished here, of course.’
Flora sipped her tea. It was out of the question. She must subdue this new, wayward spirit that had been kindled within her these past weeks. Coming alone to Bellemonte was quite reckless enough. Besides, she was here on Quentin’s behalf and to accept Matt Talacre’s escort would be tantamount to consorting with the enemy.
She did not even need to consider her answer—she must refuse.
‘Unless you think your Viscount would not like it.’
He was smiling, a faint challenge in his dark eyes. Flora put down her cup.
‘I will fetch my pelisse.’
Flora hurried up to her bedchamber, telling herselfthere would be no impropriety in touring the gardens with Matt Talacre as long as Betty was there as a chaperon. However, when she entered the maid’s room she found her faithful servant sleeping soundly. Flora quietly closed the door again and, quickly donning her pelisse, she ran back down the stairs.
Matt was waiting for her in the hall.
‘No maid?’
‘She is asleep and I did not have the heart to wake her.’ Flora avoided his eyes. ‘She was exhausted by our earlier walk in the gardens, even though we did not make a full circuit.’
‘Has Miss Albright’s godmother visited the gardens?’ he asked her. ‘As you have seen for yourself, it is within easy reach of Hotwells.’
‘I do not think so. Certainly not recently. She is too ill to go out now. I went with Jenny to visit her this morning and she is very frail.’
‘I am sorry to hear that,’ he replied, sincerely.
‘Yes, it is very sad. She wrote to ask if Jenny could come and see her, only with Mrs Albright herself in poor health, her parents could not come. That is why I offered to accompany her.’
‘And Bellemonte just happened to be on your way.’
‘Yes. It seemed too good an opportunity to miss.’
‘Even knowing I would not be present?’ he teased her.
‘Especiallysince you would not be present!’
Flora tried to sound severe, but it was difficult when she was so at ease. It was as if she had known Matt Talacre for years, rather than a few weeks. She discovered that he was an excellent guide, too, very knowledgeable about the shrubs and trees as well as his plans to make the gardens more profitable.
‘I beg your pardon,’ he said, after a while. ‘I have been talking non-stop at you since we set off.’
‘Not at all, I am finding it all very interesting. It is a pleasure to walk here with someone who knows so much.’ She chuckled. ‘My poor maid found the whole thing so tedious, when we came here earlier.’
