Behind the Rake's Wicked Wager - By Sarah Mallory Page 0,9

old roués,’ added Jasper.

‘It is all the rage to be in love with her.’ Gerald began to walk on, his good humour quite restored. ‘She is beautiful, and an heiress.’

‘Indeed?’

‘Aye. She is old Middlemass’s heir, don’t you know.’

‘What, the nabob?’

‘That’s right.’

‘Well, that explains the house in Royal Crescent.’

‘Aye, the old man bought it when he returned from India, but rarely used it. Susannah was his only relative. She was living with him at his place in Westbury when he died, and he left everything to her in trust until she is five-and-twenty.’

‘Then I am no longer surprised all Bath is at her feet. Yet why should Gloriana call it a disastrous attachment?’

‘Not everyone in Bath is enamoured of Miss Prentess.’

‘I would have thought her fortune would make her universally admired.’

‘Yes, well, Bath is not London, Jasper. Respectability is everything here, don’t you know. And there are some high sticklers in Bath, including those who write to my mother. And Miss Prentess does not go out of her way to flatter them.’

‘So what do they have against the lady?’

‘For one thing they do not approve of her setting herself up in Royal Crescent with her aunt—if the truth were told I suspect they are jealous that she can afford to do so. Then there is her birth. Her father was a soldier and her mother an officer’s daughter. Perfectly respectable,’ he added quickly. ‘I ascertained as much before I—’

‘Yes?’ Jasper prompted him.

‘I offered her my hand.’

There was no mistaking the rather belligerent note in Gerald’s voice. He clearly expected Jasper to be outraged. Instead Jasper said merely, ‘I am glad you had so much presence of mind. When one is...head over heels, one is inclined to forget such things.’

Gerald relaxed again and aimed a playful punch at his ribs.

‘Well, I didn’t! I am not such a looby.’ He sighed. ‘I made sure the fortune would reconcile Mama to her, and I am sure it would have done, if Susannah had accepted me.’

‘Does that matter now? Since the lady has refused you...’

‘I hope she will be persuaded to change her mind.’ They had reached George Street and the entrance to York House. Jasper stood back for Gerald to precede him but the young man turned to him, saying earnestly, ‘You have met her, Jasper. You could speak to Mama for me. Susannah—Miss Prentess—is infinitely superior to every other woman I have ever met, you must see that.’

‘Ah...’ Jasper gave him a rueful smile ‘...but I have met rather more women than you, Cousin. Now, shall we go in out of the cold?’

* * *

Gerald took his leave a couple of hours later, but instead of retiring immediately, Jasper poured himself another brandy and settled himself into the chair beside the fire. He had done his duty by his cousin and warned him against proposing marriage again without careful thought, but Gerald had merely laughed at his concerns and asked him what fault he could find with Susannah Prentess. And indeed, Jasper could not find any, but something nagged at him.

He had spent the evening in Royal Crescent, watching and listening. The card party appeared to be quite innocuous and everyone enjoyed themselves, especially the numerous gentlemen who vied with each other for the opportunity to play cards with Miss Prentess, but he would be surprised if many of them left the house richer than they entered it. Both his hostess and her niece were excellent card players. He had observed them closely during the evening—their assessment of their opponents’ hands was shrewd and the play was as clever as anything he had seen in town. Then there was the widow, Mrs Logan. She appeared to be very thick with Miss Prentess, and when the two ladies sat down together at the whist table they were unbeatable.

Jasper frowned, cupping his brandy glass between his hands. He had seen no evidence of sharp practice, and he noted that Miss Prentess kept the stakes deliberately low and gently turned away any gentleman who was losing too much. She was very clever, winning small amounts, not enough to cause the loser distress, or to arouse suspicion. And as Gerald said, they were safer playing there than in some gambling hell. But there were at least a dozen gentlemen present, and fifty guineas from each....

‘Hell and confound it, she is an heiress,’ he muttered. ‘She cannot want the money!’

Perhaps they needed the extra funds for their lifestyle. But there had been nothing too lavish about the supper