Behind the Rake's Wicked Wager - By Sarah Mallory Page 0,23

get it today. He shrugged.

‘Believe me, Gerald, I have never intended mischief towards any young lady. Let us take our leave. I have had enough tea for one day.’

* * *

‘Oh heavens, I have never been so uncomfortable in all my life.’

Mrs Wilby sank back in her chair and fanned herself vigorously once the last of their visitors was shown out. Susannah was standing by the window but she turned at this.

‘No, ma’am, and why should that be?’

‘My dear, I never thought to hear such things in our drawing room. The talk of, of fallen women and by-blows—and with gentlemen present, too! I am sure General Sanstead did not know where to look.’

‘I thought the General took it rather well,’ mused Susannah.

‘But what of Mr Barnabus, and Lord Markham? I am sure they must have overheard the conversation.’

Susannah frowned.

‘If it were not for gentlemen such as they, many of these girls would not be in such dire straits, and girls like Miss Anstruther would not be thrown on to the streets.’

‘Ah, yes.’ Mrs Wilby sighed. ‘That poor child. I do hope she is safe.’

‘There at least I can put your mind at rest.’ Susannah came away from the window, smiling slightly as Mrs Wilby’s mouth dropped open.

‘What! Never say she is...’

‘Yes, she is our newest client. I took her to Florence House this morning.’

Chapter Five

Jasper spent the following week doing everything he could to distract his cousin’s thoughts from Susannah. It seemed to work—he even persuaded Gerald to accompany him to the theatre rather than attend the card party in Royal Crescent. Gerald was happy enough to go with him and he never once mentioned Miss Prentess. Perversely, she was rarely out of Jasper’s thoughts. He told himself it was the unanswered questions he had about the woman and nothing to do with their last exchange, the way she had boldly returned his gaze, challenged him to flirt with her. That merely showed how dangerous she was to innocents like Gerald.

He sent his valet off to make discreet enquiries about Miss Prentess. Peters was a loyal, intelligent employee who had proved his worth over the years in ferreting out secrets others would prefer to keep hidden. But on this occasion he was unsuccessful.

‘No one will say a word against the lady,’ he reported back. ‘The men know nothing, and the women—the maidservants I have spoken with—they have nothing but praise for her.’ The valet shook his head. ‘Odd, very odd, if you asks me, m’lord. There’s usually some juicy gossip to be had.’ He coughed. ‘There was one thing, though.’

‘Yes?’

‘Friday morning, my lord. You asked me to lay out your riding dress because you was going riding with Mr Barnabus, but then you had a message from the young gentleman, sir, saying as how he was indisposed.’

‘Yes, I remember that,’ said Jasper, a touch impatiently. ‘What of it?’

Peters fixed his eyes on some spot on the wall and said woodenly, ‘I saw him walking with Miss Prentess that self-same morning. They was in Henrietta Street. I didn’t think anything of it at the time, and wouldn’t have mentioned it, only you wanted to know about the young lady, and I thought that mighty odd...’

Yes, very odd indeed, thought Jasper, and when he had tackled Gerald, his cousin looked sheepish and laughed it off.

‘Oh, well, you know how it is, cos,’ he said. ‘I thought you’d be a trifle vexed if you knew why I had cried off, but Miss Prentess asked me particularly to come with her.’

Gerald apologised and they left it at that, but Jasper didn’t like to think his cousin was keeping secrets from him, and even less did he like the thought that Susannah was encouraging him to do so.

Jasper had even taken to walking out every morning and keeping a watch for Miss Prentess’s carriage. He had been rewarded just once, on a misty morning when he saw the vehicle bowling along Horse Street. He had quickened his pace and was just in time to see it sweep across the bridge and turn on to the Wells Road. He did not know if Miss Prentess was inside on that occasion, nor did he have any idea of its destination. All he knew was that both Miss Prentess and her aunt were in Bath for the concert the same evening.

He had seen her almost as soon as he entered the Assembly Rooms. Her gown of kingfisher-blue satin was an unusual choice for an unmarried lady,