Page 71 of A Kiss to Stop a Wedding
She went over to the bed and began plumping and turning the pillows and straightening the covers.
‘I will help you undress, too. As long as you do not make any teasing remarks!’
* * *
Ten minutes later Matt was back in his bed, naked save for the bandage on his arm and feeling much more comfortable. He lay back against the pillows and closed his eyes for a moment.
‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘That is better.’
‘Truly?’
‘All I need now is my wine,’ he murmured.
Through half-closed eyes he watched Flora refillthe glasses and carry them across. She moved with such grace and looked beautiful, even when she was pretending to be cross with him, as she was now, narrowing her eyes and frowning at him.
‘You cannot help being provocative, can you, Matt Talacre?’
He looked at her innocently. ‘You insisted I should tell you if I needed anything.’
She handed him a glass and sat down beside the bed. ‘What youneed, sir, is a servant! You should pay the landlord to have one of his people wait upon you for the remainder of your stay.’
He laughed. ‘It is my intention to leave in the morning. Magpie is very biddable; I shall be able to manage her with one hand.’
‘But your leg, you have just said it is still paining you.’
‘It is not so very bad. And my route has plenty of posting inns. I can travel in stages.’ He added, seriously, ‘I must go, Flora, before the Viscount discovers me.’
‘Yes,’ she said woodenly. ‘You must go and I must marry him.’
Matt’s heart went out to her. It was useless to suggest she should cry off and weather the storm. A scandal like that, where Farnleigh had been complicit in covering it up, would ruin the family. He could offerher his hand, but she would refuse. They both knew that a notorious wife would ruin him, too.
For the past two years he had built up Bellemonte to be a respectable venue not only for the highest Society but for the wealthy tradesmen of Bristol, whose morals were far stricter than those of the aristocracy. Its success depended upon him keeping his reputation as a fair and honest man. If Whilton made it known that Matt had stolen Flora away from him, it would put paid to his ambitious plans for Bellemonte.
And yet I would give all that up if I could be sure she loved me!
Aye, there’s the rub, thought Matt. We have neither of us mentioned love. I am a tradesman and almost a cripple. If Flora was free of scandal as well as the Viscount, would she still look at me?
‘But let us not talk of tomorrow,’ said Flora, breaking into his thoughts. ‘Tell me how you are going on with the improvements at Bellemonte.’
He grabbed at the chance to talk of something else. As the sun moved lower in the sky they talked of his progress with the new stables, his ideas for adding a new wing to the hotel and building a private swimming pool for ladies next to the existing baths.
They finished the wine and broached a second bottle. Dusk fell and still Flora remained in her chair. Matt knew he would have searched for more subjects to discuss, if there had been a lull in the conversation,but there was not. Neither of them was in any hurry to bring the evening to an end.
‘Ow!’ Matt shifted suddenly, his hand going to his weak leg.
‘What is it?’ asked Flora.
‘Cramp in my calf. Nothing serious.’
‘Let me help.’
Matt made a grab for the sheet covering his hips as she uncovered his feet and perched on the side of the bed, pulling his leg on to her lap. He tensed, almost holding his breath as he watched her gently rubbing the calf.
As the stiffness lessened, Matt closed his eyes and sank back against the pillows.
‘There,’ she said. ‘How is that?’
‘Exquisite torture,’ he muttered, trying not to groan. The cramp might be easing, but the rest of his body was reacting to her touch. ‘It’s passed now, you can stop,’ he muttered, trying not to sound desperate.
