Behind the Rake's Wicked Wager

by Sarah Mallory

  ‘Of course I can forgive you, Kate. In fact, it has all turned out very well. If it had remained a secret then Lady Gisburne would not have learned of it and wanted to become our patroness. What I find it harder to understand is your sudden decision to marry.’

  Kate’s mouth twisted into a rueful smile.

  ‘I was very strident, was I not, in my condemnation of all men? It comes from my years married to one who...’

  Susannah squeezed her arm.

  ‘You do not need to tell me, Kate. I knew you then, I saw what you went through, even though I was very young and everyone did their best to keep these things from the children. Infidelity was rife in Gibraltar. Even my own father was not above taking advantage of the camp followers.’

  ‘How do you know that?’ asked Kate quickly. ‘I do not believe he would tell you such a thing, nor your mother.’

  ‘I heard them arguing one night.’ Susannah blushed at the memory. ‘He said if Mama would not let him into her bed then he had to relieve his—his passions elsewhere.’

  ‘Oh my dear, I am so sorry.’ Kate squeezed her arm. ‘Your mother had become very religious, had she not?’

  ‘Yes, like her sister, although not quite such a zealot.’ Susannah shivered. ‘But that does not excuse his behaviour.’

  ‘Do not be too hard on your father, my dear. He was a good man, in his way. Certainly not vicious, like Logan.’

  ‘That is why I was so shocked when you told me about you and Charles Camerton.’

  Kate sighed.

  ‘I did not mean to fall in love with him, but I could not help it.’ She laughed suddenly. ‘I have broken all the rules I set for myself, have I not? I have listened to my heart, and not my head. But you must have done the same, my dear. Why else would you have decided to marry— Susannah, why do you look like that?

  Susannah shook her head, suddenly tears were crowding her eyes.

  ‘Oh, Kate,’ she whispered. ‘I think I have made a terrible mistake.’

  * * *

  ‘Dom.’ Jasper touched his brother’s shoulder. ‘I was told I would find you in the Pump Room, but I didn’t believe it.’

  Dominic turned, grinning. It was like looking into a mirror, thought Jasper. He still felt it, despite the livid scar that stretched across his twin’s cheek.

  ‘My godmother must drink the waters and my wife wants to gossip.’ Dominic gripped his hand. ‘How are you, Brother?’

  ‘Well enough, thank you. I received your note yesterday, but I thought you would need the evening to recover.’

  ‘Aye, after a whole day on the road the children were fractious and Zelah and I too tired to be good company.’

  ‘I am pleased I did not take up your invitation to join you for dinner then! What brings you to Bath?’

  Dominic’s hard eyes flickered towards Lady Gisburne.

  ‘Summoned. She told us you have been here for some time.’

  ‘I came here after visiting Gloriana. She was afraid Gerald had fallen into the clutches of some harpy.’

  ‘And had he?’

  ‘Not at all.’ Jasper spotted a speck of dust on his sleeve and flicked it away. ‘The lady is an heiress. Considerably richer than Gerald, I believe.’

  A soft voice called his name. Zelah was beside him, holding out her hands.

  ‘Welcome to Bath, Sister.’ He kissed her cheek. ‘What brings you here? Your glowing looks tell me it is not for your health.’

  ‘No, of course not.’ She tucked her arm in his. ‘Take me for a promenade about the room, Jasper.’

  He glanced at Dominic, who nodded his approval.

  ‘Aye, off you go, but don’t keep her too long. I won’t spend all day here.’

  ‘Surly as ever,’ commented Jasper as he led his sister-in-law away.

  She laughed. ‘No, no, he is much better now. When I met him he would not have dreamed of attending an assembly such as this. Now he is completely at his ease, and is not even conscious of his scars.’

  ‘That is down to you, Zelah. We are all grateful for that.’

  ‘Nonsense.’ She blushed. ‘He would have come about, in time. But this not why I wanted you to myself. Tell me about this lady who has stolen your heart.’

  He stopped, exclaiming explosively, ‘Who the devil—!’

  ‘Lady Gisburne told us all about it last night.’

  ‘Then she has been a great deal too busy!’

  ‘Dom says he has never known you to take so much trouble over a woman.’

  ‘Hell and damnation, I won’t have my affairs discussed in this way,’ he muttered in a furious undertone.

  Zelah was not noticeably abashed, and merely made him walk on.

  ‘So is it true? I do hope so, Jasper, because I never liked the idea of your pining over me. Tell me all about her.’

  That drew a reluctant smile from him.

  ‘You have grown very forward since you married my brother. But there is nothing to tell you, since she is going to marry Gerald Barnabus.’

  ‘He is some sort of cousin of yours, is he not? And does she love him?’

  ‘She will drive him to distraction.’

  ‘That does not answer my question.’

  ‘Does it matter?’ he said impatiently. ‘They are to be married. Barnabus has gone off to see his mother to arrange everything. There is nothing to be done.’ Zelah’s questioning gaze goaded him to add, ‘Yes, I had some hopes there, but nothing serious.’

  ‘Everyone tells me she is a great beauty.’

  ‘Matchless.’

  ‘But you have known many beauties, Jasper. What makes this one so different?’

  He considered the question.

  ‘Her spirit,’ he said at last. ‘She saw an injustice and has fought to do something about it, even at the expense of her own good name. She is very courageous...’ he remembered the alarm in Susannah’s hazel eyes when he had reached out for her ‘...at least, in some things.’

  ‘Then I hope I shall meet this paragon, very soon.’

  Jasper looked up.

  ‘You shall do so now. Gerald is here, and he has Miss Prentess on his arm.’

  Introductions were performed and Jasper sensed an air of unhappiness about Susannah. There was nothing in her manner to suggest she was melancholy, she smiled and conversed with her usual ease, save that she would not look at him. Perhaps it was his imagination, perhaps he merely wished to believe she was regretting her choice.

  He was too distracted to take note of the conversation and suddenly realised that Zelah had left his side and was walking away with Susannah, declaring with a smile that they were off to talk of fashion and furbelows.

  ‘We shall not see them again for some time,’ he remarked, turning to Gerald. ‘When did you get back from Hotwells?’

  ‘Yesterday.’

  ‘And how is Gloriana? How did she take your news?’

  Gerald’s eyes were fixed on the ladies as they walked away and he did not answer immediately.

  ‘Very much as I expected. She was overset at first, but she saw I was not to be moved, and after a night’s reflection she came round. I am to take Susannah to meet her next week.’

  ‘That is good news then.’ Jasper hoped his reply was sufficiently cheerful, but his companion did not respond. ‘You do not seem particularly elated by your success.’

  ‘Hmm? Oh, I am tired, I suppose.’

  Jasper gave a crack of laughter.

  ‘Tired, after a journey of just over a dozen miles? My dear boy, you should go and drink a cup of that foul-tasting water immediately.’

  Gerald’s smile was perfunctory.

  ‘No need for that, it is just...’ He sighed. ‘I don’t know if I can explain it to you. You will say that a fellow cannot be euphoric for ever, but...oh, you know how it is, Jasper. You want something so badly for a long time, then when you eventually achieve it, it is a trifle—’ He broke off and gave a self-conscious laugh. ‘This is all nonsense, of course. Susannah is everything I ever dre
amed she would be.’ He looked past Jasper. ‘By Jove, is that your twin over there? I didn’t know Dominic was here, too, that is famous, I must speak to him immediately.’

  He dashed off, leaving Jasper to follow more slowly in his wake.

  * * *

  Susannah was never quite sure how Mrs Coale had managed to carry her off. One minute she was holding Gerald’s arm and trying to steel herself to meet Jasper, who was watching her approach with a dark, unfathomable look in his hard eyes, the next she was promenading around the Pump Room with the slight, dark-haired lady that was Jasper’s sister-in-law, telling her all about Florence House. At first she was a little wary, but Zelah’s gentle manner and genuine interest soon had its effect and she found herself answering her questions quite freely.

  ‘The dowager countess is most impressed with your efforts there,’ remarked Zelah. ‘That is no small compliment, believe me.’

  ‘I am only too thankful that she thought the cause worthy of her attention.’

  ‘Lady Gisburne loathes being bored and she was most thankful that Jasper brought your project to her attention.’

  Susannah blinked.

  ‘I did not know it was the viscount who told her about Florence House. I thought she had merely heard the gossip.’

  ‘Oh, no, she told me Jasper argued the case very strongly. And I believe there is a good modiste here that I must visit,’ added Zelah, with a twinkling look. ‘I intend to order at least one gown from Odesse while I am in Bath.’

  The conversation turned towards fashion and in no time at all they had completed another full promenade of the room.

  ‘Oh dear, I can see my husband is looking out for me.’ Zelah chuckled as they came within sight of Lady Gisburne’s party. ‘Come along, let us join them.’

  ‘Oh, but there is no need for me to come with you,’ declared Susannah, hanging back. She could see Jasper standing beside his equally tall brother and was reluctant to go any closer.

  ‘Nonsense, I must make you known to Dominic, and I can see Mr Barnabus is with them, too, so where else would you want to go?’

  Unable to withstand the pressure of that small, determined hand on her sleeve Susannah accompanied Zelah to join the little group and said all that was proper when she was introduced to Dominic Coale. She resolutely kept her eyes averted from Jasper, but it was impossible not to think of him when she looked at his twin.

  Even with the livid scar dissecting his cheek, she thought Dominic Coale as heart-stoppingly handsome as his brother. They shared the same thick, glossy black hair, the same regular features, the lean cheek and finely carved jawline, and if she fancied Jasper’s smile a shade warmer and the glint in his blue-grey eyes a trifle more wicked, that was surely her imagination. While Dominic spoke to her she did her best to ignore Jasper, standing so close and silent, almost within touching distance. She could feel his presence, like a tangible force drawing her closer. She told herself that since Gerald was distantly related to the brothers she would have to grow accustomed to meeting Jasper. And she would do so. She had told Kate as much when they were strolling in the gardens yesterday.

  * * *

  Her tears had taken her by surprise and she had found herself admitting to Kate that she did not love Gerald.

  ‘But he loves me,’ she had said, wiping her eyes with the handkerchief Kate supplied. ‘I cannot cry off, it would break his heart.’

  ‘Better that he should be disappointed now than he should discover it later.’

  ‘He shall not be disappointed,’ Susannah declared. ‘I will be a good wife to him. I will.’

  ‘You are in love with someone else.’ Kate’s shrewd eyes did not miss the tell-tale flush that immediately coloured Susannah’s cheek. ‘Is it Markham? Are you in love with the viscount?’

  ‘No.’ Susannah knew her hasty denial was too vehement. She added quickly, ‘And if I were it would make no odds. He cares nothing for me.’

  ‘Oh, my poor girl, you have lost your heart to a rake!’ Kate’s sympathy had almost overset Susannah again. ‘I can see how one might easily fall in love with such a man, but it will not do. He is too much a flirt, universally charming to any pretty woman, but you could never be happy for long with such a man. He is far too insubstantial for you.’

  Susannah thought back to the night she had spent with Jasper at Florence House. There had been nothing insubstantial about him there when he took charge of the cooking, his orders to Bessie echoing around the cavernous kitchen. Nor had there been anything rakish in his manner when they were sitting together later, in the parlour. Not that it made any difference now.

  She raised her head and said again, ‘I shall make Gerald a good wife, I promise you.’

  * * *

  ‘...my love, shall we go? We arranged to meet your aunt at the circulating library.’

  Gerald touched her elbow. Susannah turned to look at him, 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 m
aking 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 seen him in the Pump Room. ‘Lord Markham no longer cares for me. So I will marry Gerald, and at least one of us will be happy.’

  ‘Your happiness is important, too!’ Kate gave her a little shake. ‘Promise me you will at least talk to Gerald. You are rich. You have no need to marry to secure your future comfort.’

  Susannah gave a dispirited shrug. ‘Loneliness is not comfortable.’

  ‘It can be a great deal better than marriage to the wrong man,’ returned Kate. She glanced out of the window. ‘Barnabus is approaching now, another minute and he will be here.’ She swept up her bonnet. ‘I will leave you to talk to him alone. But remember, Susannah, treat him honestly now, or face a lifetime of regret.’