Page 39 of A Kiss to Stop a Wedding
‘I have been no further than the gardens,’ she replied, handing over her parasol before removing her cap and spencer. ‘Since you are in no condition to talk to the servants for me, I must make my own judgement about Bellemonte and its owner.’
‘Aye, well, it ain’t your place to be making judgements,’ Betty told her. ‘It is no business of yours and you should leave all that to Lord Whilton.’
Flora held her tongue. She knew that one word would silence her servant, but she would not utter it. She was sincerely fond of Betty, who had looked after her since she was a child. She knew that the older woman had her best interests at heart, so she meekly accepted these strictures and set about coaxing her maid out of her ill humour.
She was in part successful, and Betty was furtherreassured when Flora confirmed she would be dining alone in her room again.
‘I am that glad to hear it, miss. If I am honest, just getting up and dressed has quite tired me out. I shall be glad to get back into my bed again. And an early night will do us both good.’
‘I am sure it will,’ Flora agreed, although the idea of retiring while it was still light was more than a little depressing, particularly when she thought of the dancing that would be taking place almost within sight of her window.
‘And there’ll be no need for you to change out of your day dress, Miss.’
‘Oh, but I think I should,’ said Flora, surprising herself as much as her maid.
‘But why, miss, if you are dining alone again? You didn’t do so yesterday.’
Flora had quite decided she would not go to the Pavilion Ball tonight, but somehow she was not quite ready to give up the idea. Her maid gave a long-suffering sigh and went over to the linen press.
‘Very well, then, Miss Flora, there’s the sarsenet, or perhaps the green cotton.’
‘No, the Venetian gauze, I think.’
Betty looked at her, aghast. ‘Surely you would not waste your new evening gown on a solitary dinner in your bedchamber!’
But Flora would not be moved, and with a tut ofdisapproval the maid fetched out the gown and helped her mistress to dress.
‘There.’ Betty stood back with a grudging nod of approval. ‘It does look very well on you, miss.’
Flora turned back and forth before the mirror to observe how the tawny gown with its gauze overdress caught the light as she moved. She turned to give her maid a kiss on the cheek.
‘Thank you, my dearest Betty.’ She put a hand to the row of pearl buttons down the centre of the bodice. ‘And the advantage of this gown is that I can undress myself. It means you need not worry another moment about me. No, no, I will brook no arguments on this. In fact, Iorderyou to go to bed and rest, as soon as you have finished your dinner!’
* * *
Throughout her solitary meal Flora battled with her conscience. Her sensible self was adamant that her resolve was as strong as ever. She would not go out. But another, more rebellious spirit was eager to kick over the traces of her dull, conventional life. Just a little more.
Why else did you choose this gown, she asked herself, if not to prove that you can make a choice and resist temptation, when the time comes? If Mr Talacre should call you will see him, face to face, and refuse.
Yes, exactly that, she decided, signalling to the hotel servants to clear away the remains of her dinner. In afew weeks she would marry Viscount Whilton. She would go with him to London and take her place in Society, where there would be far greater lures and enticements than she faced here, tonight. She needed to be prepared, to know she could face temptation and not weaken.
However, when the servants withdrew and Flora was alone, with only the faint sound of Betty’s snores for company, the truth crept back in and would not be ignored. Shewantedto go to the ball tonight and dance the night away.
More specifically, she wanted to dance with Matt Talacre. One last time.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Would he come?
The hands of the little carriage clock were moving ever closer to the hour. Ten o’clock. Flora paced the floor, her silk skirts whispering in the silence.
If he did not call for her, then the decision was made, she would not go to the Pavilion Ball. She would go to bed and return to Whilton tomorrow without seeing Matt Talacre again. That was what sheshoulddo, but she did not think she would be strong enough to refuse, if he came to her door.
She was caught up in a giddy excitement she had never known before. It was as if, by leaving Whilton, she had slipped the leash, at least for a few days. She had an opportunity to dance in a glittering ballroom with a man she had come to look upon as a friend. It would all be quite harmless, but she knew that was not how others would see it, and if Quentin found out, it was very likely that he would call off the marriage.
She was playing with fire, but she could not stop now, even if it consumed her.
* * *
