Page 25 of A Kiss to Stop a Wedding
‘Now do not be too hasty,’ purred the Viscount. ‘Surely there is no need for lawyers to be involved just yet.’
‘There is every need, my lord. If we cannot cometo an agreement, then I must take measures to recover Bellemonte’s property.’
‘A costly lawsuit.’ Whilton grimaced. ‘Allow me a little more time to think about the matter.’
‘You have had time, my lord. I first wrote to you some months ago.’
‘Your letters were received and read by my secretary. Now you have brought the matter to my attention and I would like to consider your arguments.’
‘They are very clear, my lord. It should not take you long.’
The Viscount looked pained. ‘My dear sir, you do not understand. I am in the middle of arranging my nuptials. Tomorrow I hold discussions with Mr Farnleigh and then I must go to London to arrange matters there. I am sure you will agree that my new bride deserves my full attention.’
Matt listened, outwardly impassive, but he thought that if he was engaged to Flora Warenne, he would not have left her languishing alone in Whilton for the past two years.
He could hardly say so, of course. It was none of his business. Restoring the Rysbrack to its rightful place was.
‘I do not think the matter can wait until after your wedding, Lord Whilton. Two weeks should be ample time for your lawyers to study the evidence and agree that I have a legal right to that statue.’
‘A month,’ the Viscount suggested. ‘The end of June.’
It was a delay, but Matt could live with that.
He said, ‘Very well, my lord. I shall expect to hear from you by the last day of June.’
With that he took his leave and rode back to the inn in the moonlight.
* * *
‘What—am I to have no further part in the discussions for my marriage?’ cried Flora, incensed.
She was in the drawing room with Mr and Mrs Farnleigh and Lord Whilton, and her uncle had just invited the Viscount to join him in his study.
‘Flora, my dear child, we are already agreed on a date for the ceremony,’ said Mr Farnleigh, spreading his hands. ‘You and your aunt may now go ahead and make all your plans for the wedding itself. Lord Whilton and I are merely agreeing the financial settlements. It will be tedious stuff, nothing to interest you.’
Flora wished to say it was of great interest to her, but her aunt, who was beside her on the sofa, put her hand on her arm.
‘Yes, yes, sir,’ she said brightly. ‘Off you go with His Lordship. Flora and I have plenty to occupy us now, July will be upon us before we know it!’ Once the door had closed and they were alone, she went on, ‘Let the gentlemen have their way on this, Flora. Your uncle will make sure everything is done correctly and to your benefit, you need have no doubt of that.’
‘I know that, Aunt, but I should still like to be privy to the discussions.’ She laughed suddenly. ‘It is not as if they will be discussing anything that I do not know already!’
‘No, no, my dear. Goodness, of course not!’ cried her aunt, looking flustered. ‘What a strange thing to say! Now, I really must go and speak to Cook, in case the Viscount can be persuaded to change his mind and stay for dinner.’
She hurried away, leaving Flora shaking her head and smiling. Clearly, Aunt Farnleigh did not want anything to upset the Viscount at this late stage in the engagement. Flora could understand that. She had been more surprised than anyone when Lord Whilton had proposed and the Farnleighs had been overjoyed when she finally accepted. It was such an excellent match for their niece.
She knew that one of the reasons they were so keen that she should be chaperoned at all times was to avoid any risk of impropriety before the knot could be tied. She remembered challenging them about it, shortly after the betrothal, and asking what harm could come to her in Whilton, where she had lived for the past sixteen years.
‘A lady can never be too careful of her reputation,’ Aunt Farnleigh had told her. ‘It only takes a little thing to stir up all sorts of malicious gossip.’
Flora had thought it an odd thing to say, but she hadnot let it upset her then and she dismissed it again now as prenuptial anxiety, wryly amused to think that her aunt should be so much more nervous about the coming wedding than the bride.
* * *
Flora was alone in the drawing room, engaged in arranging a vase of spring flowers, when the Viscount returned nearly an hour later.
‘Well, my lord, it is all settled to your satisfaction?’
He surprised her by pulling her into his arms. ‘And to yours, too, I hope,’ he said, kissing her lightly on the lips. ‘You have two months to buy your wedding clothes, is that enough for you?’
