Behind the Rake's Wicked Wager - By Sarah Mallory Page 0,81

yesterday’s words still ringing in her head.

‘Yes, of course.’ She waited until they were out in the sunshine before she spoke again and when she did it was with studied coolness. ‘I thought Lord Markham and Mr Coale were only distant relations of yours, Gerald. Do you...do you expect to see much of them, when we are married?’

‘Oh, I shouldn’t think so,’ he replied carelessly. ‘Dominic rarely leaves Exmoor and Jasper divides his time between Markham and London. By Jove, I never thought!’ He stopped, clapping his hand to his head. ‘Should we look around for a country house, Susannah? It had not occurred to me that you might want to live elsewhere.’

‘No, I would rather stay in Bath,’ she said quickly. ‘I have the house in Royal Crescent, after all. My aunt has already told me she intends to find a little place for herself once we are wed.’

‘That will suit me very well, although perhaps we will make the occasional jaunt to town.’

‘Of course, whatever will make you happy, Gerald.’

‘Good heavens, marrying you will make me the happiest of men, my dear.’ He kissed her hand. ‘Now, here we are at Duffields—shall we go in and find your aunt?’

Chapter Fifteen

Jasper was glad to get up after a restless night and he was putting the finishing touches to his cravat when Peters announced that Mr Barnabus wished to see him.

‘So early?’ He took out his watch. ‘You had best send him up.’

Jasper did not turn round when Gerald came in, but one glance in the mirror showed him that the young man was looking unusually serious.

‘What is it, my young friend?’ Jasper fastened his diamond pin into the snowy folds before turning away from the mirror. ‘Are you in dun territory, perhaps? Do you need money?’

‘Good heavens, no.’ Gerald looked suitably shocked. ‘My fortune ain’t nearly as large as yours, Jasper, but it is sufficient for my needs. No, I need some advice.’

Jasper took another look at Gerald and knew a craven desire to fob him off.

‘I am engaged to ride out with Dominic this morning,’ he said, picking up his coat. ‘Walk with me and tell me what is troubling you.’

They were out on the street before Gerald began.

‘I think I have been a little rash in asking Miss

Prentess to be my wife.’

‘Oh?’

‘I wonder if it is a mistake, for both of us. After all, as Mama pointed out to me, Susannah is a couple of years older than I.’

‘That is no reason to cry off,’ objected Jasper. ‘You have chosen a lady who is both beautiful and rich. An ideal choice, most people would think.’

Gerald looked even more tortured.

‘I know and she is. I have even convinced my mother that Susannah is the perfect partner for me.’

‘Then what is the problem?’

‘I thought I was in love with her, but recently, I am not so sure. She is the kindest, most generous of women, but there is not that grand passion that I expected to feel with the woman I intend to make my wife.’ He looked up, his blue eyes troubled. ‘I am afraid I am making a mistake, Jasper. I am very much afraid we shall both be rendered unhappy. What shall I do?’

Jasper regarded him steadily. This was his moment. One word from him and Gerald would break off his engagement. Susannah would be free again. The temptation was extreme, but Jasper knew he could not do it. At last he said abruptly, ‘I am not the person to advise you on this, Gerald. You must make up your own mind. At the very least you should talk to Miss Prentess about it.’

With that he turned on his heel and walked away.

* * *

Susannah was gazing out of the drawing-room window. The snow had mostly disappeared from the Crescent, but there was still a covering of snow on Crescent Fields. Kate stood at her shoulder. They had been going over the same subject for more than an hour.

‘If you are unsure then you must talk to Gerald,’ said Kate firmly.

‘I cannot do that. It would wreck his dreams.’

‘So you would marry him without love.’

Susannah turned away from the window.

‘You are forgetting he loves me,’ she said with a sad little smile. ‘That must count for something.’

‘But if you are in love with Markham—’

Susannah stopped her.

‘Even if I were not to marry Gerald there is no hope for me there.’ She thought of Jasper’s frowning looks, the hard silence he maintained when she had