Behind the Rake's Wicked Wager - By Sarah Mallory Page 0,38

do you say to the wager, Miss Susannah Prentess? A diamond worth thousands against a night with me?’

Susannah stared down at the glittering gem. She had beaten him once, and only lost the third game by ill luck. She had his measure now. Surely it was worth the risk. She realised that she was more of a gambler than she had ever known.

Slowly and deliberately she unwrapped a new pack.

* * *

‘My trick, I believe, Miss Prentess. And my game.’

Susannah put down her cards. It had not even been close. The viscount had started with the strongest hand, and although she had recovered a couple of tricks the outcome had never been in doubt. She swallowed, suddenly feeling very numb. When she managed to speak, her voice seemed to belong to some other creature, someone calm and not at all shaken by the thought of what she had agreed.

‘What time do you want me to join you on Thursday?’

‘Shall we say seven o’clock? My man will meet you at the entrance, you will not need to announce yourself at the desk.’

She raised her chin.

‘What if I do not come? What if I refuse to honour the wager?’

His eyes rested upon her. There was no hint of blue in them now. They were slate grey, dark and implacable.

‘You will come. It is not in your nature to go back on your word.’

The little flicker of defiance died.

‘You are right.’ She put her hands on the table to steady herself as she rose to her feet. ‘If you will excuse me, I have neglected my other guests long enough.’

‘Of course.’ He stood, his bow the perfect mix of deference and respect. ‘Until Thursday, Miss Prentess.’

* * *

When she had gone Jasper resumed his seat. He took up the diamond pin and carefully secured it amongst the folds of his neckcloth. He had never before pursued a woman who was so reluctant to succumb to his advances. For an instant his conscience pricked him. He could be ruining an innocent woman.

No. He was saving his innocent cousin. Susannah

Prentess must never marry Gerald. How that came about was up to her—if she refused to give him up, then Jasper would make sure Gerald knew about her visit to York House. His cousin might be naïve, but he would not countenance marriage to a woman who had been unfaithful to him.

* * *

‘Your visitor, my lord.’

Peters ushered the veiled figure into the small parlour that doubled as a dining room and went out again, shutting the door behind him.

‘Welcome, ma’am.’

Jasper went towards her. She stood unmoving, and at last he reached out and lifted the veil from her face. She allowed him to remove her cloak and bonnet. He noted the pleated muslin around her shoulders, ending in a fashionable neck ruff. Chosen deliberately, he suspected, to hide her charms. Her gown was a deep sea-green silk, with a matching silk cord tied in a bow beneath her breasts. The ends of the cord hung down almost to the hem and were decorated with silk tassels that bobbed and shimmered whenever she moved, drawing the eye towards the matching shoes and the occasional glimpse of a dainty ankle. Her hair was caught up in a knot on her head, from which a few golden curls dangled enticingly over her ears and glinted in the candlelight. She had never looked more beautiful, or more frightened.

He took her hand.

‘You are ice-cold,’ he remarked, drawing her down on to a sofa before the fire.

‘I took a chair. I did not want any of my people to know my destination.’

‘What of Mrs Wilby?’

‘My aunt has gone to the Fancy Ball at the Upper Rooms with Mrs Logan. I told them I was...unwell.’

Again he was obliged to crush a prickle of conscience. He was doing this for Gerald. There need be no adverse consequences of this evening, as long as the lady agreed to his terms.

‘There is no need for anyone to know you are here, except my man, Peters, and I can vouch for his discretion.’ He smiled, hoping to dispel some of the anxiety in her face. ‘I have sent him off for the night. There will be no one to disturb us.’ He pointed to the table on the far side of the room. ‘You see your dinner; everything is there so we may serve ourselves, when you are ready.’

‘I am ready now. Let us get on.’ She tugged off her gloves. ‘I have urgent business that