Behind the Rake's Wicked Wager - By Sarah Mallory Page 0,77

service the following morning. Jasper sat beside Lady Gisburne during the long sermon, impatiently waiting for the service to end so that he could get back to his rooms, where Peters was packing up everything in readiness for an early start in the morning. It was not until he was helping Lady Gisburne back into her carriage that Jasper told her he was leaving, hoping to fend off any questions by adding that he had business at Markham.

‘No doubt it can wait a few more days.’

‘I regret it cannot. My stay in Bath has been far longer than intended.’

‘Because of Susannah Prentess.’

Her shrewd gaze was on his face but he kept his countenance impassive as he took his seat beside her.

‘She was a distraction, I admit.’

‘Hmm. I wondered how you would take it when you learned that she was to marry. What happened last night?’

He raised his brows.

‘Last night, ma’am?’

The slight note of hauteur in his tone had no effect on the dowager.

‘It was obvious to me that the two of you have been playing cat and mouse. Then you both disappeared last night. What did she say to you?’

He decided not to deny it. The old lady was too astute to be fobbed off.

‘She intends to marry Barnabus.’ He added bitterly, ‘She feels safe with him. Safe! What she means is she thinks she can keep him under her thumb, poor devil!’

‘Yes, I thought as much.’

He shifted his eyes to her face.

‘You knew she was engaged to Barnabus, didn’t you? You knew it that night, at the ball, before I went off to Markham. For pity’s sake, why did you not tell me?’

‘Would it have made any difference?’

‘Yes! I might have reasoned with her—’

‘As you did last night? When Susannah came back upstairs she looked positively distraught.’

A dull flush crept into his cheek.

‘She inflames me,’ he admitted. ‘I find myself attracted to her like no other, and she feels the same, though she will not admit it. That is why I am going home in the morning. There is nothing here for me now.’

‘Much as it pains me to contradict you, Markham,’ replied the dowager untruthfully, ‘you are not leaving Bath tomorrow. Dominic and his family are on their way, and he will expect you to be here to meet him.’

‘I don’t believe it!’

Ignoring his exclamation, the dowager continued impassively, ‘I had an express from my godson this morning, telling me they will be arriving tomorrow.’

Jasper found a similar note waiting for him when he returned to York House. Peters received the change of plan with unimpaired calm, merely enquiring if he should instruct the hotel to prepare rooms in readiness for their arrival.

‘No need. The dowager has invited them to stay with her at Laura Place.’ He crumpled the note in his fist. ‘It means we will not be returning to Markham tomorrow after all. I must at least stay to welcome them.’

* * *

‘So tell me all about your engagement to Mr Barnabus.’

Susannah was strolling through Sydney Gardens with Kate, and was half-expecting the question. She had managed to avoid the subject since Kate’s return to Bath, but had known that at some point she would have to explain.

‘Oh well, he has been very persistent, you know, and he is such a sweet boy.’

‘I thought you had turned your face against marriage.’

‘No more than you, Kate,’ she countered. ‘I have heard you say many times that nothing would persuade you to take another husband.’

‘I know.’ Kate looked down, and Susannah saw the tell-tale blush mantle her cheeks. She could not remember Kate ever being out of countenance before Charles Camerton appeared, but recently she had changed, become much...softer, somehow. Now she gave a self-conscious laugh. ‘I thought myself too old, too embittered to risk marrying again, but meeting Charles has changed my mind.’ She glanced up. ‘I am afraid he rather swept me off my feet, so much so that I confided in him about Florence House.’

‘You did?’

‘Yes, and I am very sorry for it. It is entirely my fault that your secret is known. You know how it is when you meet someone and you just want to talk and talk for ever? I am afraid I was not very discreet, and since I did not impress upon Charles that it was a secret he spoke of it in the Pump Room and—well, it went on from there. I suspected as much when we were so thin of company at your card party, and when I