Page 18 of A Kiss to Stop a Wedding
‘Acquit me of any such intention, my dear. I think perhaps it is Mr Talacre who wishes to cause trouble between us.’
They had taken their places for the waltz and Flora reached out for his hands, ready to begin. She put up her chin and smiled at him.
‘He won’t do that, Quentin. I promise you.’
* * *
The melodic waltz music filled the room. Matt moved back against the wall and watched the dancers as they slowly circled the dance floor. Flora was smiling up at her partner and although Matt was too far away to see her expression clearly, she seemed to be enjoying herself.
He hoped he had not caused any discord between Flora and her fiancé. The Viscount had given Matt a very cool reception, possibly because he was jealous, or maybe he knew why Matt wanted to see him. Flora had said she told no one of their encounter in the garden. If that was so, then the only way Whilton could know of Matt’s errand was if he had read his letters.
Matt regretted now that he had baited the Viscount. It might make things more difficult for Flora, although if the man was that jealous, why on earth did he leave his fiancée alone in Whilton for long periods of time?
Ah, well, that was no business of his. Tomorrow he would have an opportunity to put his case to the Viscount about the Rysbrack statue. If things went well and the Viscount agreed to return the statue for the price he had paid for it, then Matt would go back to Gloucestershire and not bother the happy couple again.
* **
As the last strains of the waltz died away. The Viscount raised Flora from her curtsy and pulled her hand on to his sleeve.
‘You do not wish to remain for a second dance?’ she asked him as he led her away.
She already knew the answer. His fair hair was ruffled from the dancing and he would want to withdraw and restore its immaculate appearance before disappearing into the card room. In the past she had shrugged and let it pass, but tonight, inexplicably, it annoyed her.
He said, ‘I am afraid I do not have your insatiable appetite for the exercise, my dear.’
Flora managed to quell an impatient huff. ‘I wonder you should have bothered to attend, if you did not mean to dance with me.’
‘Alas, my dear, tonight you were not the main reason I came here. Goole wrote to tell me Talacre had called at Whilton Hall.’
Hishousekeeperwrote to him? she thought, with a flash of resentment. Quentin insisted that all her messages should be included in Uncle Farnleigh’s letters, yet a servant was allowed to write!
Flora knew she was being nonsensical and berated herself for her shrewish temper. What was wrong with her tonight? Surely she was not jealous of his housekeeper, just because Mrs Goole was a handsomewoman? If so, then she really could not blame Quentin if he objected to her standing up with another gentleman.
‘Are you angry with me for dancing with Mr Talacre?’
‘Let us say I am…concerned to see you upon such good terms with the man.’
‘Good terms?’ She laughed and shook her head. ‘My uncle brought him to dinner and I danced once with him this evening, that is all.’
‘But you also sat out a whole dance with him, in a secluded corner.’
‘It was hardly secluded, Quentin. We were sitting in the window because it is cooler.’
‘And far more private.’
‘Nonsense. We were in plain sight of everyone.’ She sighed. ‘I am sorry if I have upset you, my lord, but I was trying to be hospitable to a stranger.’
‘I would prefer you not to become too friendly with Mr Talacre.’
‘Are you in dispute with him?’
His lip curled. ‘That would be beneath me. The man is merely an irritation. You are frowning, my dear. Do you disagree?’
‘No, but I do not like it when you dismiss people so lightly.’
‘But, my dear Flora, he is nothing.’
‘And are my aunt and uncle nothing?’ she asked, bristling.
