Page 47 of A Kiss to Stop a Wedding
She was laughing up at him, looking radiant in her blue gown, her cheeks flushed, eyes bright. Matt told himself to bow and walk away. Flora was marrying Whilton in a few weeks’ time, everyone here knew that. If he danced with her again, tongues would wag.
He glanced towards the orchestra.
‘The next is the last dance before supper. A waltz. Will you dance it with me?’
The reel had left Flora dizzy and elated. She could barely keep still, eager to dance again. The waltz was well accepted now. Even her aunt and uncle had learned it and had been known to join in.
She gave Matt her hand and a beaming smile. ‘Of course I will!’
They joined the dancers forming a circle about thedance floor, ready for the first section,la marche.It was slow and sedate, the couples promenading around the floor in stately fashion. Then came thepirouette.Matt’s arm went around Flora’s waist, holding her close. She raised her hand to clasp his in an arch above their heads and slowly they began to move around each other.
* * *
Flora had often danced the waltz, most recently with the Viscount at the assembly, but this time was different. Her heart was singing, she felt more alive, more aware of every breath, every beat as she moved around her partner. Then she glanced up to find Matt’s eyes fixed on her, his gaze dark and intense, and she could not look away. Her steps never faltered. They were as one, circling, hearts beating, oblivious to everything and everyone. Time stopped. It was just the two of them, and the music.
The tempo changed. Their gazes still locked, they performed the final dizzying steps. Matt pulled her around until they were dancing breast to breast and her heart was hammering as they whirled about in one last, frantic circuit of the dance floor.
The music ended and everyone came to a stand, laughing and chattering, applauding the orchestra and each other.
Everyone except Flora and Matt. She felt his arms drop away from her, but she could not move. Coupleswent off towards the supper room, but still she gazed at him, her eyes questioning. Matt was staring at her as if he, too, was unable to comprehend what had just happened.
‘Well, well,’ drawled a cold, sneering voice. ‘Mr Talacre. I do believe you have plans to steal my lady as well as my statue.’
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Lord Whilton’s icy tones cut through the fog in Flora’s head. She saw Matt’s brows snap together and she was suddenly alert to the very present danger. She summoned all her inner strength to face the Viscount, head up and smiling.
‘That is nonsense, Quentin. We have merely been dancing.’
‘But it was a waltz, my dear.’
Matt heard the menace behind the words. His hand itched to move, to reach for the sword he no longer carried, but that might be construed as an admission of guilt.
‘A waltz, yes,’ said Flora. ‘And if you had been present, I would have danced it with you.’ She stepped closer and took Whilton’s arm. ‘Now, shall we go into supper? I take it that is why you came to find me.’
‘Yes, it was.’ His cold gaze swept over Matt. ‘We will speak later, Mr Talacre. That is, unless you are leaving now?’
* **
Despite the storm raging inside him, Matt conjured a smile of disdain.
‘Leave, before the ball has ended? I see no reason to do that. Until later, my lord.’ He gave a little bow and strolled away.
Confound it, I should not have come tonight! he thought, walking off the dance floor. Lady Condicote’s invitation had presented him with an opportunity he could not resist: the chance to see Flora again. Since their meeting at Bellemonte he had not been able to get her out of his mind. He had thought—hoped—it was a mere flirtation, but tonight, dancing with her, holding her in his arms for the waltz, had proved him wrong.
Flora had felt something, too, he would stake his life on that. He had seen it in her eyes, but whether it was infatuation, or something more, he did not know. Lord, what a coil!
* * *
‘What did you mean by dancing with that man?’ demanded the Viscount, as he escorted Flora out of the ballroom.
‘It would have caused comment if I had not.’
‘I forbid you to dance with him again.’
‘Then I suggest you quit the card room and dance with me for the rest of the evening,’ she retorted. ‘That was the reason for your coming, was it not? To dance the night away with me.’
‘It was, yes.’
