Page 33 of A Kiss to Stop a Wedding
‘It’s all very pretty, ma’am.’
This was said so woodenly that Flora almost laughed.
‘But you have seen enough for today, is that it?’
‘Aye, well, I’m not as young as I was,’ said Betty, ‘and we had a full day’s travel yesterday. It fair takes it out of a body.’
‘Very well,’ said Flora, taking pity on her maid. ‘We will go back now.’
* * *
When they reached Flora’s bedchamber, a glance at the little carriage clock she had placed on the mantelshelf told her it was still early.
‘Goodness, we were out for little more than an hour!’
‘It seemed a lot more than that,’ muttered Betty, following her into the room. ‘And in the heat of the day, too!’
She sounded aggrieved, which Flora realised wasdue to tiredness. She sent her maid off to lie down, saying she was quite capable of removing her own pelisse.
‘There is a good two hours until dinner,’ she added, when Betty hesitated. ‘I dare say we shall both feel better for the rest.’
However, when she was alone, Flora did not lie down upon her bed. She pottered about the room, then tried reading her book, but she could not settle. Perhaps the hotel could provide her with a newspaper, or a lady’s magazine, something to pass the time. From the adjoining room came the faint sound of snoring and she decided not to wake Betty. She would go down herself and enquire.
She had reached the landing and was halfway down the final flight of stairs when she saw Matt Talacre in the hall, talking with the manager. She froze and was about to retreat, when he looked up and saw her.
There was no escape. His eyes held hers and although her brain told her to turn and flee, her body would not obey. She watched as his initial surprise gave way to a warm smile.
‘Miss Warenne.’
He walked across to the bottom of the stairs and there was nothing she could do but carry on. The way his eyes crinkled when he smiled had set loose a net full of butterflies inside and she gripped the handrailtightly as she made her way down the last few steps, afraid her legs might give way.
‘This is a delightful surprise,’ he said, reaching out to take her hand when she was at last standing on the tiled floor of the hall. ‘Welcome to the Bellemonte Hotel.’
‘Thank you.’
Flora’s cheeks were flaming and she was aware that the manager and at least two other servants were in the hall, watching them. Matt was still smiling and gripping her fingers. Then he suddenly seemed to realise their situation and released her.
‘You are here with Mr and Mrs Farnleigh?’
‘No. But I have my maid,’ she said quickly. ‘She is upstairs.’
‘Of course.’ He looked around. ‘Will you take some refreshment with me? Tea, perhaps. We have a very comfortable morning room here, overlooking the square.’
‘Tea would be very…refreshing,’ said Flora, although she would have liked to ask him for wine, or brandy, to steady the tumult inside her.
After a word to a hovering footman, Matt escorted her into the room and to a small table by one of the windows. She was relieved to see they were not alone—there were two other couples on the far side of the room.
‘Now,’ he said, sitting down opposite. ‘Tell me whatbrings you to Bellemonte and without your aunt and uncle.’
Why, oh, why did I come here?
Flora breathed deeply, struggling to regain her composure and maintain some sort of dignity.
‘Miss Albright is visiting her godmother in Hotwells.’
‘And is she staying here, too?’
‘No. She is putting up at the Hotwell House. I stayed there with her last night, but I thought, since we were so close…’
