Behind the Rake's Wicked Wager

by Sarah Mallory

  * * *

  The news that the rich Miss Prentess and Mr Gerald Barnabus were not to be married spread even faster than the rumours of their engagement. Gossip-mongers like Mrs Farthing and Mrs Bulstrode might disapprove of Miss Prentess’s fickleness, but mothers with daughters to dispose of were very happy that a genial young gentleman of independent means was once more on the marriage market.

  Jasper was dining at Laura Place when the dowager countess announced the news as they commenced upon their soup.

  ‘This is not Pump Room gossip,’ she declared, looking around the dining table. ‘I saw Miss Prentess myself today, to discuss Florence House. She told me she and Mr Barnabus had agreed they should not suit.’

  Her sharp eyes flickered over Jasper, who maintained his outward calm.

  ‘Will you call upon her?’ Zelah was sitting beside him and she took advantage of the dowager’s conversation with Dominic to ask her question.

  ‘No. I have no reason to do so.’

  She laid down her spoon.

  ‘Jasper, I declare you are even more stubborn than your brother! As soon as I saw you and Miss Prentess together I knew you were in love.’

  ‘You are right in so many cases, my dear Sister-in-law, but not in this.’

  ‘Am I not? I think—’

  ‘No.’ He gave her a warning glance. ‘Pray do not meddle in what you do not understand!’

  He was thankful that no more was said and engaged to join them the following day for a party of pleasure, to drive out to Lansdown.

  * * *

  However, when he called the next morning he was met with the news that the children were too fractious to go out, and Lady Gisburne had bethought herself of urgent business to discuss with Dominic.

  ‘Which leaves me at a loose end,’ explained Zelah, buttoning her spencer. ‘I thought you might like to escort me to Sydney Gardens.’

  Jasper’s eyes narrowed.

  ‘I mislike that look in your eye, madam,’ he said. ‘What are you planning?’

  Zelah opened her eyes at him.

  ‘Why, nothing, Brother dear, ’tis merely that I want to see the canal. I am told it is perfectly charming with its overhanging trees and pretty iron bridges.’ She took his arm. ‘Come along, it is such a lovely morning and a walk in the fresh air will do us both good.’

  * * *

  Jasper’s suspicions were not fully allayed, but he accompanied his sister-in-law to the gardens. The fine weather had brought out many visitors and their progress up the sweeping gravelled walk was slowed by the need to stop and speak to their numerous acquaintances, but at last Zelah guided her escort off the main path towards a much quieter part of the gardens.

  ‘I believe there is a grotto down here where Sheridan courted Elizabeth Linley. He wrote verses about it, you know.’

  ‘I thought you wanted to see the canal,’ objected Jasper.

  ‘I do, of course, but let us look for the grotto first.’

  Jasper’s earlier suspicions began to stir again. They were roused fully when he saw Susannah coming towards them. She was accompanied by Charles Camerton and Mrs Logan, and a swift glance at Zelah’s countenance convinced him their meeting was not unplanned.

  Mrs Logan waved to them. ‘Mrs Coale, Lord Markham, what a surprise.’

  Susannah’s look of shock seemed real enough.

  ‘I did not know you were acquainted with Mrs Coale, Kate.’

  ‘We met at the Pump Room yesterday.’ Kate quickly passed on to introducing Mr Camerton, and Jasper took the opportunity to observe Susannah.

  She was a little pale but otherwise composed. She looked as if she would prefer to be anywhere but in his vicinity. His inner demon took a perverse satisfaction in it. If this was a ruse to throw them together then it was not going to work. However, he had reckoned without his resourceful sister-in-law. After a few moments’ conversation she clapped her hands in delight.

  ‘Well, is this not my great good fortune? Mr Camerton is taking the ladies to see the grotto, too, and he has been regaling them with all sorts of stories about Mr Sheridan’s time in Bath. It is clearly the most salacious gossip, and I am desperate to hear it!’

  ‘Can events that happened forty years ago be considered gossip?’ Jasper enquired.

  Charles Camerton had the grace to look a little guilty. ‘The ladies seem to like it.’

  ‘Well, since you do not wish to listen you may give your arm to Miss Prentess for a little while,’ said Zelah. ‘She will not want to hear the stories again. There, now we can all be comfortable. Shall we walk on?’

  The party thus rearranged they began to move, Jasper and Susannah following the others. Jasper sought for something to say to break the awkward silence.

  ‘I fear we are the victims of two extremely managing female minds. I acquit Charles of being anything more than a pawn in their hands.’

  ‘I beg your pardon.’

  Her despondent manner wrenched at his heart.

  ‘Come now, this is not like you,’ he said in a rallying tone. ‘You are more like to rip up at me.’

  She gave a little shake of her head, keeping her face averted.

  ‘I have treated you very badly. Kate told me it was Mr Camerton, and not you, who divulged the secret of Florence House.’

  ‘To good effect, since you now have a patroness.’

  She looked round at that.

  ‘I am aware that I have you to thank for that, too.’

  He raised his hand and touched her pale cheek.

  ‘You have had a very horrid time of it recently, I think. Were you sorry to terminate your engagement?’

  ‘No. I was more concerned for Gerald, but when he told me the true state of his feelings I knew we must call it off.’

  Jasper hesitated before saying slowly, ‘Perhaps you are afraid of marriage.’

  ‘Perhaps I am, a little.’

  ‘Because of what happened to your sister.’

  ‘Not just that.’

  Her fingers trembled against the crook of his arm and he brought his hand up to cover them.

  ‘Will you not tell me?’

  ‘I have tried for so long to blot it out,’ she whispered. ‘I have told no one.’

  Jasper looked up. They had fallen some way behind the others.

  ‘There is no one to hear us, only the trees.’ He pressed her fingers. ‘Have we not shared enough for you to know you can trust me with your confidences?’

  ‘Every experience I have had has shown me that men are not to be trusted.’

  ‘You trusted Gerald enough to become betrothed.’

  ‘Gerald was never a town beau.’

  ‘Yet still you cannot bring yourself to marry him.’

  ‘I began to think, to realise. At some stage he would want to— I would have to...’ She shuddered. ‘I could not bear the thought of it.’

  ‘Tell me, Susannah.’

  They walked on in silence. Jasper kept his hand over hers where it rested on his sleeve. He wanted to pull her into his arms, to kiss away her sadness, but she was tense, like a filly on the edge of bolting. She began to speak.

  ‘My Uncle Middlemass took me to London when I was eighteen. You know his money came from trade, so there was no formal presentation at court, but he had many acquaintances in town, so our society was not limited. On one evening at a party I recognised the young man who had courted Florence. He did not recognise me—even when we were introduced he did not remember the name. I was incensed. I followed him and his friends to the card room. I told him what had happened to Florence—’ She broke off. A gentle wind was sighing through the trees and making the spring flowers dance around them, but she did not notice any of it, her eyes fixed upon some unseen point in the distance.

  ‘He laughed. He said if she had been foolish enough to give herself to him then she deserved her fate. They were all laughing, all those fashionable young men with their windswept hair and elegant neckties, laughing at the fate of my poor sister. Then he gr
abbed me and began to...to kiss me. He said he’d wager I was as wanton as my sister. If it had not been for the timely entrance of a servant I do not think he would have stopped. And the others were standing by, watching.’ She shivered. ‘I managed to make my escape but I will never forget. He was laughing as I fled down the stairs. He saw women as nothing but playthings for his pleasure.’

  ‘And then?’ demanded Jasper, his temper rising. ‘Surely Middlemass took action against this man?’

  ‘No, I never told him of it. My uncle had a weak heart. I was afraid if he knew, it would make him ill.’

  * * *

  Susannah looked back over the years. It was all such a long time ago. She had never spoken of it, not even to Kate, but somehow, telling Jasper was a relief. Now perhaps he would understand her panic. Suddenly, walking with him here in Sydney Gardens with the spring sunshine warm on their backs, the past did not seem quite so horrific. She stole a glance at Jasper. He was scowling as he digested all she had told him. He, a man of fashion with a reputation as a breaker of hearts, was part of that set that she despised, but somehow he did not quite fit. Perhaps she was wrong. Perhaps not all men were the same.

  He turned his head suddenly, his blue-grey eyes locking with hers and she was aware of that familiar breathlessness, but the panic she had felt before did not engulf her. Instead she was relieved that he was beside her. She was comfortable in his company. Thinking back, she realised it had been the same when they had been together at Florence House. Perhaps...

  ‘I am honoured by your confidences, Miss Prentess, but I think we should catch up with the others. Mrs Logan will be anxious about you.’

  How formal he was, how polite. He lengthened his stride and she was obliged to quicken her own step to keep up with him.

  ‘I am quite capable of looking after myself, my lord.’ She uttered the words almost as a challenge, hoping he would contradict her. When he did not, she tried again. ‘I think you were correct, sir, when you surmised that Mrs Logan and your sister-in-law engineered this meeting to throw us together.’

  ‘Yes, but you need have no fear, madam. I have no intention of importuning you.’

  ‘Oh.’

  Susannah’s spirits swooped even further. He threw her a quick smile.

  ‘I am well aware of your low opinion of me, madam. My actions in the past have only reinforced that, but I do not intend to repeat them.’

  Susannah swallowed her disappointment. They had caught up with the others so there was no time to reply. Jasper offered his arm to Zelah as they approached the secluded grotto and did not address Susannah again until the two parties split up. Then he took her hand and saluted it before walking off with his sister-in-law on his arm.

  ‘Well?’ Kate waited only until the viscount was out of earshot before turning to Susannah, an eager question in her eyes. Susannah merely returned her look and Kate almost stamped her foot. ‘What did he say to you?’

  Susannah gave an exaggerated shiver.

  ‘The wind is growing a little chill. Perhaps, Mr Camerton, you would escort us back to town now?’

  ‘Susannah!’

  Mr Camerton chuckled as he offered both ladies an arm.

  ‘You had best tell her, Miss Prentess. She can be extraordinarily tenacious.’

  ‘There is nothing to tell.’

  ‘You mean he did not make you an offer?’

  Susannah shook her head.

  ‘No. He behaved like a perfect gentleman.’

  * * *

  Zelah was less complimentary about her brother-in-law.

  ‘You are a complete nodcock,’ she told him bluntly as they strolled back through the gardens. ‘We gave you every opportunity to put things right with Susannah Prentess—’

  ‘There is nothing to put right,’ he argued. ‘And I am shocked that you and the lady’s so-called friends should design to place her into such a position, alone with a man and unchaperoned.’

  ‘The lady was clearly not averse to your company,’ she observed. ‘You had your heads together for most of the time you were together.’

  ‘She confided in me. I understand perfectly now why she does not wish to marry.’

  ‘Why not, when she is clearly in love with you?’

  ‘Do you think so?’

  Zelah laughed.

  ‘Of course. Why, her eyes followed you from the moment we met. Dear heavens, Jasper, you have never doubted your attraction before!’

  It was true, but it had never mattered so much to him before. The knowledge that he was in love with Susannah Prentess had shaken him badly. Until he had actually uttered the words at Lady Gisburne’s party he had not realised it.

  And for once in his life he was not sure how to proceed.

  ‘She has been hurt,’ he said at last. ‘Frightened very badly. I must go gently, give her time to recover. Besides...’ another objection reared its head ‘...I am not convinced she and Gerald are not in love.’

  * * *

  However, a chance meeting with that young man later that day put all doubts to flight. They met in Stall Street and Gerald explained that he was off to the theatre with friends that evening.

  ‘You are not regretting your new-found freedom then?’ said Jasper, smiling.

  Gerald grinned.

  ‘Not at all, I am supremely happy about it. And the added bonus is that I don’t have to go to the Upper Rooms tonight.’ He took Jasper’s arm and began to walk with him. ‘You know I had my doubts about the betrothal, and I went to Royal Crescent to discuss it with Susannah, as you suggested, but I had hardly begun when she interrupted me to say that she had changed her mind, that we would always be friends but that she could never love me. I cannot tell you how relieved I was. In fact, we laughed over it, once we had agreed to part. She is such a darling girl, but I can see clearly now that we would never suit. The hardest part will be telling my mother. After working so hard to convince her that Susannah was the only woman for me I now have to tell her it was all a hum!’ They had reached Stall Street and prepared to part. ‘I am going to see her tomorrow,’ said Gerald, moving away. ‘Wish me luck!’

  * * *

  Smiling at the memory, Jasper made his way back to York House. It would appear Miss Prentess was indeed free. If Zelah was correct and Susannah did feel something for him, then why wait to put it to the touch again? He thought back to what she had told him in Sydney Gardens, the confidences she had shared. What if she was not warning him off but merely trying to explain to him her previous actions? The thought raised his spirits. He must talk to her.

  Jasper took out his watch. It was nearly dinnertime, he would write to her, making his intentions perfectly clear and telling her he would call tomorrow morning. He would send the message tonight, so that it would be waiting for her when she returned from the Assembly Rooms. That would give her time to make up her mind. If she did not wish to see him a short note by return would spare her the pain of a meeting, although it would be sufficient to end his hopes. But that would be her choice. Perhaps all was not yet lost.

  * * *

  Susannah had no inclination for dancing, but they had promised to attend the Fancy Ball and she must keep her word. The Upper Rooms were as full as ever, and there was no shortage of partners, but she did not enjoy herself. By the time the interval came to take tea she had given up all hope of seeing Jasper, which made the evening even more dull and she was relieved when eleven o’clock struck and she could go home.

  Susannah and Aunt Maude took chairs to Royal Crescent, but being a fine night they alighted on the pavement and shook out their skirts before ascending the scrubbed steps to the front door. They had barely entered the house when a body hurled itself off the street and into the hall, causing panic. Mrs Wilby shrieked as Gatley laid hands on the intruder. In the ensuing struggle they fell against the hall table, sending the silver tray clattering to the floor. Above the mayhem Susannah heard the man call out to her.

  ‘Miss Prentess, a minute of your time, I beg yo
u!’

  She peered through the gloom.

  ‘Mr Warwick? What in heaven’s name is the meaning of this?’

  ‘I must speak to you.’

  The young man gazed at her. His hair was dishevelled and there was a wild look in his eyes, but when the butler tried to hustle him out of the door she put out her hand to stop him.

  ‘Wait, Gatley. Let him speak.’

  ‘I called earlier, but you were out.’

  ‘Aye, that he did, miss,’ averred the butler, panting slightly. ‘About eight o’clock.’

  ‘Goodness, and you have been waiting outside ever since?’

  ‘Yes.’ He raked his hand through his hair. ‘I have been walking up and down, waiting for you to return. You are my last hope.’

  Mrs Wilby tutted loudly. ‘I hardly think this is the time—’

  ‘Hush, Aunt.’

  Susannah regarded her visitor with some concern. With his crumpled neckcloth and haggard eyes he looked more like a ragged schoolboy than the fashionable gentleman she had welcomed into her drawing room on countless occasions.

  ‘Come along into the morning room, Mr Warwick. We will talk there.’ She observed the shocked faces around her. ‘You must come, too, Aunt, and Gatley shall remain in the hall, where we may call him if necessary.’

  She handed her cloak to the goggling footman and ushered her unexpected guest into the morning room. He allowed himself to be pushed down gently into a chair and once Susannah had made sure that the door was closed and Aunt Maude was comfortably seated, she took a seat opposite Mr Warwick and asked him the reason for his visit.

  Immediately he jumped up and began to stride about the room, wringing his hands together. She waited patiently. At last he stopped and turned to her.

  ‘Miss Prentess. I want to see Miss Anstruther!’

  Aunt Maude gave a little gasp, but Susannah said merely, ‘Go on.’

  ‘I have treated her abominably.’ He began to pace the room. ‘I cannot eat, cannot sleep—I cannot forget her. She has been on my conscience ever since I knew—’ He broke off and returned to his chair, burying his face in his hands.

  ‘I have been to Shropshire, to visit her parents, but they told me they have no idea where she is.’ He pushed his fist against his mouth. ‘They abandoned her. She might be dying in a gutter for all they know! How could they be so cruel?’