Behind the Rake's Wicked Wager - By Sarah Mallory Page 0,67

orchestra began tuning up. He too cast an appraising eye over her.

‘I have never seen you looking lovelier,’ he declared, pressing a fervent kiss upon her gloved fingers.

Susannah laughed.

‘I am immune to your compliments, Gerald, you give me too many of them.’

‘That is because I am violently in love with you,’ he replied gallantly.

‘I fear you have just fallen into the habit of saying so,’ she retorted, shaking her head at him.

‘How can you say so? I have been your most loyal suitor.’ A faint frown marred his boyish countenance when he spotted a group of gentlemen at the far side of the room and he added quietly, ‘At least I am not one of those fairweather suitors, who abandon you at the first hint of adversity. Most of that crowd over there have not been to one of your card parties since it was known that you are the patroness of Florence House.’

‘We are grateful for your constant support, and Lord Markham’s,’ she added conscientiously. ‘Is, um, is the viscount coming tonight, by the bye?’

‘Oh, yes, we dined together. He is here somewhere,’ said Gerald carelessly. ‘He agrees with me, your support for Florence House is to be applauded.’

‘Thank you, I am glad to know that. However, we have another patroness now, although she does not wish to be named yet. It means the house’s future is much more secure. Our card parties are less important now. We may even discontinue them.’

‘I should be glad of it,’ he replied earnestly. ‘While I understand the necessity I have always thought—’ He broke off, flushing. ‘But never mind that. The first set is forming. Shall we join them?’

Susannah stood up for the first two dances with Gerald, and after that there was no lack of partners. The music lifted her spirits. She no longer needed to worry about Florence House, she could relax and enjoy herself. As she was waiting for another dance to begin she saw Jasper at the side of the room. He looked very handsome in his dark coat, his black hair gleaming in the candlelight. Perhaps she was being unfair to him. Mayhap he had not intended to tell anyone about Florence House. Surely she could forgive such a slip?

* * *

By the end of the dance she had made up her mind she would speak to him. She gracefully excused herself and moved off the dance floor. The crowd was so thick it was impossible to see very far and Jasper’s dark head was not visible in any direction. On one of the higher tiers of benches she could see her aunt, part of a large crowd gathered around Lady Gisburne. Susannah had no desire to join that throng and she decided she would sit out on the lower benches until the dancing stopped and tea was served, then she would join her aunt in the tea room. Perhaps she would find Jasper there. She began to make her way through the crowd. Ahead of her she could see Mrs Bulstrode and Mrs Farthing at the centre of a little group of ladies. Susannah had no wish to push past them and endure their insincere greetings so she stepped to one side, where she was shielded from their view by two large gentlemen deep in conversation. However, she was close enough to hear Mrs Farthing’s sneering tones.

‘I see Miss Prentess is wearing yet another new gown. I wonder she can afford so many, with her little “interest” to keep up.’

Her cronies laughed. Susannah’s lip curled slightly and she was about to move away when she heard Mrs Bulstrode give an angry titter.

‘My dear, she can afford anything she wants now she has Markham in her pocket. I wager we will be calling her “Viscountess” before the end of the summer.’

Susannah froze. She folded her arms across her breast, hugging herself. Markham in her pocket? Nothing was further from the truth and yet...perhaps that is how it looked, to those who had been watching them at the last ball. Jasper had been very attentive. The blood that had earlier drained from her body now returned in an angry rush. How dare they! How dare they couple her name with anyone, least of all the viscount?

She remembered their last meeting. His insouciance, his confident assertion that he would come about. Perhaps Jasper himself had started these rumours, perhaps he was misguided enough to think that the hint of such a liaison would protect her from the disapproval of