Page 84 of A Kiss to Stop a Wedding
‘Ha! He told you that, did he?’ scoffed the Viscount. ‘Where is the villain?’
‘Safe from you, now,’ Matt told him. ‘He told me that you ordered him to kill me and I have his deposition to that effect, signed and witnessed.’
‘And do you think anyone will believe his word against mine?’
‘I believed him,’ said Matt. ‘Are you willing to risk facing him in a court martial? And the others, of course. Think of the scandal, Lord Whilton. The disgrace.’
Flora held her breath. Quentin was very pale andshe knew how much he valued his reputation, his good name. She thought bitterly that her reputation mattered little to him. He needed her only to provide him with his heirs.
‘What is it you want?’ he said at last. ‘Is it that confounded statue?’
‘Of course,’ said Matt.
Flora’s nerves were so on edge that she could not sit still. She jumped up and walked across to one of the windows overlooking the courtyard. It seemed to her now that Matt had come here with Lord Dallamire merely to retrieve the statue. Had she misunderstood everything? If so, her position now was precarious.
She gazed at the window, but it was too dark outside to see anything but distorted reflections of the room. Her aunt and uncle were sitting silently in one corner while Matt and the Viscount faced one another in the centre of the room. Flora crossed her arms, feeling slightly sick. Quentin only valued her for her lineage. She thought it perfectly possible that Matt had seen her only as a useful tool to help him recover his property. The certainty she had felt earlier faded. Her spirits now swung wildly between hope and despair at ever being free of her past.
The reflections shifted. She saw Lord Dallamire step up beside his friend.
‘Our case on the ownership of the Rysbrack is solid,’ he informed the Viscount. ‘It would be in your intereststo let Talacre buy it back from you. If the offer still stands?’
He looked a question at Matt, who nodded. ‘Yes, it still stands. But first, Lord Whilton, you will release Miss Warenne from her betrothal to you.’
Flora swung around, her heart hammering against her ribs. It was what she wanted, what she had hoped to hear, but surely the Viscount would refuse. And yet, Matt looked so calm, so confident. How could he think Quentin would release her, merely for the asking?
‘Miss Warenne is perfectly free to cry off if she wishes.’ Quentin turned towards her, a horrid little smile playing around his mouth. ‘Well, Flora, are a few unfounded rumours about me sufficient for you to make you break off our engagement?’
* * *
Silence fell over the drawing room. Matt saw that the Farnleighs were watching, horrified, and Flora was deathly pale. Whilton’s confidence that she would not defy him was as yet undented and Matt knew he needed to bring this to a head.
He said, ‘I think we have a little misunderstanding here, my lord. It isyouwho will cry off, although I am sure everyone would understand Flora’s doing so, once the truth about you is known. You see, these are not unfounded rumours. We have signed depositions from Troopers Coupe, Yardley and Purvis. They make interesting reading. Not only did you abandon yourmen, you also deserted your mistress. Did you know she was among those who perished as they crossed the mountains?’
‘A camp follower.’ Whilton dismissed this with a wave of his hand. ‘She was of no importance.’
The disgust Matt felt was reflected in Conham’s frowning face.
‘We have other names, too,’ said the Earl. ‘We have not yet found these men, but I have no doubt their testimony will be no less damning for you. However, if you release Miss Warenne from her engagement, and return her mother’s letters, wemightbe persuaded to allow the matter to drop.’
‘Air dreaming, my lord!’ exclaimed Whilton. ‘Do you think anyone is interested in what happened ten years ago?’
The Viscount was still blustering, but he sounded a little less confident now.
‘Oh, they will be,’ said Matt. ‘You see, Lord Dallamire and I remained with the army until Waterloo. We still have a number of acquaintances at Horse Guards. They will most certainly be interested in what we have to tell them.’
‘Well, sir, what is it to be?’ Conham demanded. ‘Will you risk a court martial and see the noble name of Gask brought into disrepute, or will you agree to our terms?’ He waited for a moment, then saidimpatiently, ‘Hurry, man, make your choice. It grows late and I have had enough of this now.’
Matt watched as Whilton stood in silence, considering his options. At last he nodded.
‘Very well, I agree.’
Almost trembling with relief, Flora pulled the diamond ring from her finger.
‘And my mother’s letters?’ she asked, handing the ring to the Viscount.
He studied the ring for a moment, then looked down his nose at her. ‘They are not here. I sent them to my bank for safe keeping.’
‘Now that I know is untrue!’ exclaimed Matt, as she recoiled in dismay.
