Page 31 of A Kiss to Stop a Wedding
Wise? Flora thought sadly that so far in her life she had been allowed to do nothing that wasunwise. She was tired of it.
She said, ‘Perhaps not, but what harm can it do?’
Her friend looked so concerned that Flora’s resolution faltered, but only for a moment.
‘Let us wait until we get to Bellemonte before making a final decision,’ she said, smiling. ‘Who knows, the hotel may well be full, in which case I shall beobliged to make a day trip to the gardens from Hotwell House.
‘Now, I can see that the postillions are waiting to set off. We had best return before we make them late for the next change!’
* * *
It took several hours to reach the village of Bellemonte, but it was still daylight and the summer sky was a clear blue, painting everything in the best light. Flora had to admit she was pleasantly surprised when they turned off the main highway on to a well-maintained road and drove past the Dallamire Arms with its fresh paintwork and a cheerful sign swinging above the door.
From there the carriage entered a large cobbled square and slowed as the horses walked around, passing glossy black railings with a pair of large gates at the centre and, above the gates, a metal arch withGrand Pleasure Gardenspicked out in gold.
‘Well, I must say that looks very enticing,’ remarked Jenny, impressed.
‘Enticing.’ Flora savoured the word. ‘Yes, it does, doesn’t it?’
She leaned forward to get a better look out of the window. Beyond the railings she could see shrubs and colourful flowerbeds lining a wide path which eventually curved away into the trees and out of sight. There was already a fair number of people movingthrough the gates, some branching off on to a second path and she caught sight of a large building through the trees before their carriage swung around and came to a halt outside a large and imposing house built of creamy sandstone.
‘And this must be the hotel.’
As she waited for the footman to climb down and open the door, Flora surveyed the building, the tall sash windows, each one topped with a neat stone triangle that echoed the grander pediment over the central door. It looked more like a private house than an hotel, except for an impressive doorkeeper who had stepped out as soon as the carriage drew up and was already making his way down the path towards them. Flora looked at Jenny.
‘Would you like to come with me, while I make my enquiries?’
* * *
‘Well, that was surprisingly easy,’ said Flora, when their mission was accomplished and they were on their way again. ‘How fortunate that they have sufficient rooms available—they appear to be extremely busy. And you will have a room to yourself, Betty.’
Her maid, sitting opposite, did not look particularly pleased with the news. She turned to share a disapproving glance with Jenny’s maid before addressing her mistress.
‘It ain’t right, Miss Flora, I’ll tell you that now. Ishould be sleeping on a truckle bed in your room with you.’ She gave a disparaging sniff. ‘After all, ’tis nothing more than a public inn, when all is said and done. Who knows what might happen in the night?’
‘It is a very respectable hotel, Betty,’ Flora corrected her, but gently. She knew her maid’s grumpiness stemmed from anxiety for the safety of her mistress and she was careful not to tease her. ‘Miss Albright and I were both very impressed with the hotel and its servants, were we not, Jenny?’
‘I would prefer you not to be staying there, if I am honest,’ replied Jenny, ‘But since you have made up your mind to it, I cannot see that any harm will come of it. Not when you have the estimable,sensibleBetty to look after you.’
Flora’s heart swelled with gratitude for her friend. Jenny had said exactly the right thing to put Betty in a better mood. The maid’s plump cheeks grew even rosier and she preened herself a little.
She said gruffly, ‘Well, that’s as may be, miss, but I do know how to go on in such an establishment, even if I do say so myself. And I’ll make sure Miss Warenne comes to no harm.’
Having smoothed the maid’s ruffled feathers, the two young ladies sat back and watched as the fields gradually gave way to houses. Before long they were bowling through the city of Bristol towards the village of Hotwells.
‘We shall soon reach our destination, I think,’ said Jenny, ‘As soon as we are shown to our rooms I shall send a note to my aunt, telling her I have arrived. Aunt Elvira moved here because the waters taste so much better than Bath, but I believe she is so ill she rarely leaves her room now. I hope she will be well enough to see me this evening, but I think it far more likely she will prefer me to call in the morning.’
‘I would very much like to come with you to see her, if I may,’ said Flora. ‘Either this evening or tomorrow, before I set off for Bellemonte. And when I return, we will have a day to explore the delights of Hotwells and Clifton!’
Jenny gave a rueful smile. ‘I am not sure what delights we shall find here. From everything I have learned, Hotwell House is full of those who are chronically ill and have no appetite for the entertainments on offer in Clifton village. However, it suits me very well to stay here, since all I want to do is be with my godmother.’
By this time the carriage had descended a narrow and winding road to the banks of the River Avon. When it came to a stop, the ladies stepped out and looked up at Hotwell House, towering above them.
Built a century earlier, it was a tall, stuccoed building, rather austere in aspect and constructed on a rocky ledge protruding slightly over the river. Tree-covered cliffs rose steeply behind it and cut into the rock wasa series of steps that led up to the village of Clifton, which boasted a pump room, theatres and assembly rooms.
Flora could not imagine many of the Hotwell’s residents making the steep climb up the steps to the village and she said as much to Jenny.
‘No indeed, poor things,’ replied her friend. ‘I cannot help but think they would be better living in Clifton, where there is more to divert them.’
