Sarah Mallory - Behind the Rake's Wicked Wager

‘But you must admit he is devilishly handsome,’ murmured Kate.

Susannah thought of those hard eyes boring into her. Something inside fluttered again when she thought of Viscount Markham, but she would not admit it to be attraction.

‘Devilish, yes, I’ll agree to that.’

‘Well, for my part I like him,’ declared Mrs Wilby, coming up. She cast an anxious look at her niece. ‘That is, he has never been anything but charming to me.’

‘Hah!’ Susannah found two pairs of eyes upon her. Her aunt’s held merely a question at her vehement exclamation, but Kate Logan’s glance was brimful of merriment and a knowing look that brought an angry flush to Susannah’s cheek. She said haughtily, ‘Charm is the viscount’s second nature, but it will not work with me!’

Thus, when she spied Lord Markham approaching in Milsom Street the following morning she determined to give him no more than a distant nod. She said as much to her companion, Mrs Logan, who gave a tiny shake of her head.

‘I fear you will catch cold at that, Susannah. You see he has Mr Barnabus with him, and he will hardly be fobbed off with so slight a greeting.’

She was right. Gerald hailed them cheerfully and immediately enquired their direction. Kate responded even while Susannah was trying to frame an answer that would send the gentlemen in the opposite direction.

‘We are going to the Pump Room to meet up with Mrs Wilby.’

‘Then we will accompany you, will we not, Jasper?’

‘Oh, but we do not want to take you out of your way.’

Susannah’s protest was overruled.

‘It is no trouble,’ replied Gerald. ‘I dragged my cousin from his bed for an early walk before breakfast, and we may as well go to the Pump Room as anywhere. Come, now, let us be moving!’

She was not sure how it happened, but moments later Susannah found the viscount beside her. He had said very little, but such was his address that somehow he had inveigled Gerald into escorting Kate and Susannah was left with no option but to accept his arm. She placed her fingers carefully on his sleeve, as if afraid the contact might burn.

‘I remember you telling me how busy you are, Miss Prentess.’

‘I am.’

Nerves made her respond more curtly than she intended.

‘And is this the nature of your busyness, to be shopping all day?’

Her sense of the ridiculous put flight to her tension and a laugh escaped her.

‘Not all day, my lord.’ She held up her free hand, displaying the tight-fitting covering of fine kid leather. ‘Besides, a lady always needs new gloves.’

‘Undoubtedly. How did you enjoy the ball last night?’

‘Very much. I suspect the company was a little provincial for you, sir, since you did not dance.’

‘You noticed.’

The laughter in his voice brought a tell-tale flush to her cheeks, but she recovered quickly.

‘No, my aunt told me as much. I take no interest in you at all.’

Too late she realised she should not have added those final words. She waited for him to tease her and could only be grateful that he changed the subject.

‘Mrs Logan tells me you spent your early years following the drum.’

‘Yes, my father was a captain in an infantry regiment.’

‘You lived in Gibraltar, I believe.’

‘Yes. That is where I met Mrs Logan.’

‘And did she accompany you home to England?’

‘No. I returned here when my father died nine years ago. Mama brought us back to live with her sister. Mrs Logan and I met again when I came to Bath last year. I was fortunate to find her here. She has been a good friend to me.’ She added, in response to the question in his eyes, ‘She is a soldier’s widow, I am a soldier’s daughter. We have similar interests.’

‘And why did you come to Bath, Miss Prentess?’

‘Why not?’ she countered.

‘It seems an odd choice for a young lady of means.’

‘My Uncle Middlemass left me the house in the Crescent. It is not within my power to sell it.’

‘But it is such a choice property, you could let it out and go where you will. Why not London?’

There was a heartbeat’s hesitation before she replied.

‘Bath suits me very well. And my aunt, too. She likes to take the waters. Ah, we are here.’

Susannah was never more glad to reach her destination. She was finding it far too easy to talk to the viscount, but it did not suit her to share her history with him. She released his arm as they entered the Pump Room and led the way towards Mrs Wilby. Her aunt was part of a lively group standing in the curved recess at one end of the room but as Susannah approached the crowd dispersed, leaving Aunt Maude alone to receive them.

‘There you are, Aunt. I hope we have not kept you waiting.’

‘In no wise.’ Mrs Wilby’s smile encompassed them all. ‘I have had a delightful time with my friends.’

‘And drinking the waters, ma’am?’ suggested the viscount.

Mrs Wilby made a face.

‘Ugh, nasty stuff. I never touch it. Tea is my favoured drink here, my lord.’

‘Indeed?’ Lord Markham raised his brows as his glance flickered over Susannah. ‘I thought—’

‘Oh heavens, is that the time?’ Susannah interrupted him hurriedly, looking at the long-case clock by the wall. ‘I hope I do not rush you, Aunt, but Kate and I have an appointment in Henrietta Street later, so we should be on our way back to the Crescent to take breakfast. It is quite a long walk.’

‘We will accompany you!’ declared Gerald promptly.

‘No, no, I will not hear of it,’ replied Susannah firmly. ‘There can be no need of a gentleman’s escort when there are three of us and besides,’ she added with an arch look, ‘how are we to discuss our little secrets if you come with us?’ She held out her hand. ‘We will say goodbye here, if you please.’

‘But I have barely had time to exchange a word with you,’ objected Gerald.

‘Nor have you,’ agreed Mrs Wilby, her kind heart touched by the young man’s despondent look. ‘Perhaps you would like to join us for tea tomorrow afternoon? It is nothing special, of course. We stand on no ceremony, just a few close friends who drop by for a comfortable coze, but you are very welcome to come. And Lord Markham, too, if he would like.’

‘Lord Markham would like, very much,’ said Jasper, amused by Susannah’s obvious disapproval. Those hazel eyes of hers darkened to brown and he read objection in every line of her body, although of course she could not contradict her aunt. He took her hand. ‘Adieu , Miss Prentess. I shall look forward to taking tea with you tomorrow.’

‘Not if you are going to cut me out,’ declared Gerald, half-laughing, half-serious.

‘He will not do that, you may be sure, Ger … Mr Barnabus.’ Susannah’s soft words and warm look killed Jasper’s amusement in an instant. He was still holding her hand and his fingers tightened angrily. She looked up at him, her eyes wide and innocent. ‘My lord?’

Jasper caught his breath. That remark was not for Gerald’s benefit but for his . So the minx wanted to cross swords, did she? A touch of uncertainty entered her gaze. Jasper bowed over her hand in his most courtly style. As his lips brushed her fingers they trembled in his grasp. The lady was not as confident as she would have him believe.

Jasper waited for the spurt of triumph to accompany the thought. It did not come. Instead he was aware of a sudden tenderness, a desire to press that little hand against his heart and assure her of his protection. Shaken, he straightened and released her.

‘That worked out very well,’ commented Gerald, as they watched the ladies walk away. ‘This must be down to you, Jasper. Mrs Wilby has never invited me to take tea before.’