Behind the Rake's Wicked Wager

by Sarah Mallory

  ‘I shall take my leave of Mrs Gifford and our guests, and join you outside.’

  Jasper stood on the drive and breathed deeply, taking the cold, clear air into his lungs. She had not seen his message. She did not know he had intended to make her an offer. The mixture of frustration and rage that had consumed him during his headlong dash to Florence House was still simmering within him. She was the most infuriating woman he had ever met. He could not pin her down, she was constantly surprising him.

  Perhaps he should not propose to her. He never knew where he stood with Susannah from one moment to the next. And the emotions she aroused in him—would he ever be in control if he allowed her into his life? He turned in time to see her coming out of the house, tying the ribbons of her bonnet beneath her chin as she walked towards him. The bonnet was not the frivolous, over-decorated confection preferred by most fashionable ladies, but its stylish simplicity was very becoming. The pale satin lining of the wide brim gave her countenance an added glow, and the jaunty angle of the bow drew attention to the dainty chin and those cherry lips, just waiting to be kissed.

  No! After what she had told him yesterday he dare not indulge in such fantasies. No wonder she was so afraid of his embraces. He schooled his features into what he hoped was a polite smile and waited to help her into the curricle. The hesitation she showed before allowing those slender fingers in their kid glove to touch his hand was confirmation that she was still wary of him.

  He set the team in motion, waiting for Morton to scramble up behind him before settling them into the swift, comfortable pace that would carry them all the way to Bath. She made an innocuous comment about the weather. He responded with a monosyllable. Jasper kept himself rigidly upright, trying not to react when the jolting of the curricle threw her against him. The silence between them seemed to grow more awkward as the miles passed. Finally he cleared his throat.

  ‘I shall be leaving Bath tomorrow.’

  ‘I am surprised you have stayed so long, my lord.’

  Her cold response disappointed him. Not even a polite word of regret. He retorted bitterly, ‘It was not my original intention.’

  ‘I hope you do not blame me for that.’

  ‘Who else should I blame? It was my cousin’s interest in you that brought me here in the first place.’

  She stared at him.

  ‘I told you at the outset I had no intention of marrying Gerald.’

  ‘And then you became engaged to him.’

  She turned away again, but not before he had seen the shock in her eyes. He might as well have struck her. Remorse flayed him, but it only added to his frustration.

  ‘You know that was an error.’ She added, with something of her old spirit, ‘But it is not one I intend to repeat.’

  ‘I am glad to hear it. I pity any man who falls into your clutches.’

  He regretted the words immediately, but they had reached the old bridge leading into Bath and the sudden appearance of a barouche made his team shy. He was obliged to give his attention to preventing a collision before he could reply.

  ‘I beg your pardon, Susannah. I—’

  ‘Do not speak to me,’ she commanded him in arctic tones. ‘I will not spend another moment in your company. You will set me down immediately, if you please.’

  ‘The devil I will. You cannot walk alone through this part of the town.’

  ‘I can do whatever I want!’

  ‘Do not be so foolish. No lady should walk near the docks, and beyond that are the poorest stews of Bath. Heaven knows what would become of you if I set you down here.’

  ‘If you will not stop I will jump down.’

  ‘Oh, no, you won’t.’ He reached out and grabbed her wrist. ‘You are in my care and I shall deliver you to your house.’

  ‘Your care, my lord, has almost resulted in my ruin on at least two occasions.’

  Jasper glanced behind. Morton was sitting in the rumble seat, wooden-faced. He would stake his life on Morton’s discretion, but she must be very angry with him, to speak so in front of a servant.

  Susannah tried to shake off his iron grip.

  ‘Let go of me!’

  His hold on her wrist did not weaken. The heat from his fingers burned through her sleeve.

  ‘Only if you promise that you will not try to jump down. Quickly,’ he growled. ‘I cannot control this team with one hand and if you will not give me your word then I shall instruct Morton to hold you in your seat.’ He showed his teeth. ‘Only think how that would look.’

  ‘You wouldn’t dare!’

  ‘Morton—’

  ‘Very well!’ Hastily and with a burning look of reproach she made her promise. How could she have ever thought him a gentleman!

  ‘Good.’ He released her and she cradled her wrist in her other hand, convinced she would see a bruise there if she were to peel back her sleeve. ‘Now you will sit still until we reach Royal Crescent. If you move so much as a finger then Morton will lay hands on you, is that understood?’

  She sat upright, staring rigidly before her as they picked up speed. The sense of injustice was fanned by the ensuing silence.

  ‘You are a monster,’ she told him. When that elicited no reply she added, ‘A brutish beast. You should be locked up.’

  Still he did not reply. She tried again.

  ‘I have never known why everyone thinks you so charming. You are a fraud, Lord Markham. You are nothing but a rake. A—a libertine. A wolf in sheep’s clothing. A seducer of innocent females.’

  His frown grew blacker with every word she threw at him, but he said nothing until he had guided the curricle into the Crescent and pulled up at her front door.

  ‘We will continue this conversation inside.’

  ‘If you think I am going to allow you into my house after this—!’

  With a total want of decorum she scrambled out of the curricle and ran up the steps. Unfortunately Gatley had not been prepared for their approach and she was obliged to hammer upon the knocker. Behind her she heard Morton addressing his master.

  ‘I’ll take ’em back to the stables, shall I, m’lord? You’re in a fair way to ruining their mouths, the way you’ve been jerking at the ribbons.’

  Glancing back, she saw that Jasper had jumped down and was even now on the pavement. The door opened and she ran inside, but before she could order Gatley to deny him, Jasper had followed her into the hall.

  ‘I am afraid Mrs Wilby is not at home,’ offered the butler. ‘She left a message to say she is visiting Lady Gisburne today and after dinner they are going on to a concert at the Lower Rooms.’

  Ignoring him, Susannah confronted Jasper.

  ‘Get out of my house. Immediately!’

  ‘Not until we have had this out. You have hurled every insult at me and I think you owe me the opportunity to reply!’

  ‘There is a note for you, madam,’ Gatley went on. ‘The maid found it beneath the hall table when she was cleaning this morning. I have put it on the mantelshelf in the morning room.’

  She paid no heed to him but continued to glare at Jasper. It was like confronting a wild animal. If she took her eyes off him he would pounce.

  ‘Well?’ His own eyes narrowed, anger darkening them to slate-grey.

  ‘I have nothing to say to you,’ she threw at him.

  ‘But I have plenty to say to you.’ With a growl he caught her wrist and dragged her towards the nearest doorway.

  Gatley dithered beside them.

  ‘Madam—’

  The viscount turned upon him, saying imperiously, ‘We are not to be disturbed!’

  He dragged Susannah into the morning room, closed the door and turned the key in the lock.

  Chapter Seventeen

  ‘No, do not shut the door on us, Gatley,’ Mrs Logan called out to the butler as she trod up the steps to the house. ‘Mrs Coale and I have come to see if Miss Prentess has returned yet.’

  He held the door wide to admit them and as Zelah followed Kate into the hall s
he cast another glance at the butler. He was definitely looking a little flustered.

  ‘Miss Prentess has come in, madam. She is in the morning room. With Lord Markham.’ He stood before them and if he had not been a most stately personage, Zelah would have sworn he was hopping from one foot to the other. He continued, as if the words were wrenched from him, ‘They have locked the door.’

  Kate’s eyes widened and the look she cast at Zelah was positively triumphant.

  ‘Well, this is a most interesting development,’ she murmured.

  Gatley cleared his throat. ‘I was wondering if I should call Lucas...’

  ‘No, no, if you will be advised by me you will leave well alone,’ said Zelah.

  ‘I agree,’ said Kate. ‘We will come back another time, will we not, Mrs Coale?’

  Zelah was having difficulty concealing her smile.

  ‘We will indeed,’ she managed. They stepped out of the door and she paused as a final thought occurred to her. ‘And, Gatley, I suggest you fetch up a bottle or two of your finest claret. For a celebration.’

  A rare gleam entered in the butler’s eye and a smile broke over his usually austere features.

  ‘I will indeed, madam!’

  * * *

  Susannah tore herself free, saying furiously, ‘You cannot give my staff orders!’

  He stripped off his gloves and threw them on a side table.

  ‘You could have told him to throw me out.’

  ‘I should not need to. It should be perfectly clear to him that you are unwelcome in this house.’

  The angry light faded and he grinned.

  ‘I doubt if your butler has ever been called upon to eject a peer before.’

  She bit her lip, fighting back an answering smile. He was standing in front of the door so she could not escape, but she was not prepared to forgive him so easily.

  ‘Very well, my lord, say what you have to and be gone.’ Rather than look at him she removed her bonnet and cloak and set them carefully over a chair.

  ‘When I heard you had left town with Warwick I thought you were running away from me again.’

  ‘I never run away,’ she told him haughtily, then spoiled the effect by adding, ‘but it would be understandable if I should do so, after the way you have treated me. You tried to seduce me. You used me shamelessly.’

  ‘I did,’ he agreed. ‘And you gave me my own again for that, did you not, madam? Leaving me tied to the bedpost.’

  She grew hot at the memory. Her cheeks burned.

  ‘I am not proud of my actions that night.’

  ‘You should be.’ He paused. ‘You are a woman to be reckoned with, Miss Prentess.’

  Embarrassed by his praise she turned away.

  ‘Nonsense. I did what was necessary to protect myself.’ As she was doing now, closing her mind to the attraction she felt for him. After all, he would soon be gone and she would be alone again. She had a vision of the bleak, cold years stretching ahead of her and felt the sudden sting of tears.

  Susannah rubbed her eyes. She felt incredibly despondent. If Jasper did not leave soon she knew she would begin to cry. She summoned up every ounce of energy to say angrily, ‘If that is all, perhaps you will go now, and leave me in peace.’

  ‘No, it is not all,’ he retorted. ‘You have thrown a great many accusations at my head, madam. I demand the right to defend myself.’ He walked to the window and stood looking out, his hands clasped behind his back. ‘You accused me of being a rake. I am not, madam. I admit I have indulged in many a flirtation, but the women have never been unwilling.’

  ‘Hah!’ She curled her lip. ‘Would they have been quite so willing if you had not had a title, and a fortune?’

  ‘I would like to think there is more to me than that, but you are right, Miss Prentess, I cannot be sure.’ He added quietly, ‘Since meeting you, madam, I am not sure of anything.’

  She had to steel herself not to crumble at this sudden diffidence. To distract herself she went to the mantelpiece and picked up the note that was resting against the clock. She said, as her fingers broke the seal, ‘Your doubts will fade once you are gone from Bath.’

  ‘Oh, you may be sure I shall do my best to forget this,’ he retorted.

  She paid no heed to his words, her attention given to the paper in her hands.

  ‘This is the note you sent me yesterday?’

  He gave a quick look over his shoulder. ‘Yes, I—’

  ‘Oh, heavens.’ One hand crept to her cheek, she could feel the colour draining from her face. ‘You were

  g-going to, to—’

  ‘Yes,’ he interrupted her. ‘I was going to offer for you.’

  ‘B-but why?’ She felt almost dizzy.

  ‘I have already told you, I love you.’

  She lifted her hand.

  ‘No, no, that was an error. You don’t even like me.’

  He laughed harshly.

  ‘You are quite right. You are the most maddening, exasperating woman I have ever encountered, but it has not stopped me falling in love with you.’

  She could only stare at his back, groping for words that would not come. After an uncomfortable silence he continued.

  ‘Oh, pray, don’t be alarmed, madam. I may love you to distraction but after what has passed this morning I will not put you to the trouble of refusing me. You have made your sentiments perfectly clear.’

  She shook her head.

  ‘No. You do not understand. I—I cannot allow you to be near me...’

  ‘I do understand,’ he said gently. ‘You honoured me with your confidences and they made me realise how repugnant my advances must have been to you.’

  He still had his back to her, his gaze fixed on the view over Crescent Fields. Her heart was beating so hard it was difficult to speak, even to think, but she knew she had to try, and she must get it right, or she would never see him again.

  ‘N-not repugnant,’ she whispered, moving closer. ‘I cannot allow you to touch me because of what happens to me when you do.’ She reached out and put her hand on his shoulder. ‘I want you so much it terrifies me.’ He turned at that and with his eyes upon her it was twice as hard to go on, but continue she must. ‘I have never felt such an overwhelming desire for anyone, for anything in my life before. When you kiss me I am in danger of forgetting everything, my fear of men, of losing control, of falling in love...’ her voice faded until it was little more than a breath ‘...of you breaking my heart.’

  He raked his fingers through his gleaming black hair, saying unsteadily, ‘Oh my dear, I swear I will never do that. But you have to trust me.’

  ‘I do, Jasper, I do trust you.’ She put her hand up and touched his cheek. ‘Do you see what this means, Jasper, do you know what I am asking? I want you to seduce me.’

  Still he did not move. Placing her hands on his shoulders, she reached up and touched her lips against his. Immediately his arms came round her and with a sigh she leaned against him, twining her arms about his neck. Their kiss was long and languorous and incredibly gentle, but when at last he broke away she rested her head on his shoulder, aware that not one of her bones felt strong enough to support her.

  ‘Oh dear.’ She clung to him, murmuring the words into his neckcloth. ‘I do not think I can stand.’

  With a laugh he swept her up and carried her across to the sofa, where he sat down with her on his lap and began kissing her again. She responded eagerly, her lips parting to allow his tongue to roam wherever it would. She drove her fingers through his hair, revelling in the silky feel of it. Every nerve was alive and aching for his touch. She wanted to feel his skin against hers and she began to tug at his cravat. He stopped kissing her and put his hand up over her fingers.

  ‘Susannah, I cannot do this.’

  Cold fear clutched at her heart.

  ‘Have I offended you, have I been too forward? I know some men do not like that in a woman...’

  He gathered her into his arms and held her close, his cheek res
ting against her curls.

  ‘No, sweetheart, that is not it, but I do not want to do anything you might later regret.’

  ‘No...’ she ran her tongue over her lips ‘...I won’t regret this. It is what I want. Truly.’

  ‘Then I won’t seduce you.’ His smile was warm. ‘But I will make love to you, if you will let me?’

  The burning look in his eyes sent a shiver of anticipation through her.

  ‘Oh yes, yes, please.’

  With a look that promised everything he slid her from his lap on to the sofa and knelt on the floor beside her.

  ‘First we must dispose of some of these garments.’

  He divested himself of his driving coat and jacket then slowly, and with infinite gentleness, he removed her walking dress, pausing occasionally to kiss the newly exposed skin.

  Susannah lay back against the satin cushions, her eyes closed, revelling in the touch of his hands as they roamed over her body. He pressed kisses on her breasts where they rose up from the confining corset, his tongue flicking over the soft flesh and causing her to moan softly. When he stopped she opened her eyes and saw that he had transferred his attention to her feet. Gently he untied her ribbon garters and rolled down each stocking, caressing her calves as he did so. He kissed her ankles and toes, nibbling at their rosy tips while his hands slid up to her thighs. Her body tightened as his fingers moved upwards and immediately he stopped.

  ‘Tell me if you don’t want this,’ he murmured.

  In response she reached out for him, pulling him down on the sofa with her, capturing his mouth and kissing him with a ferocity that left them both gasping. Susannah kissed him again while his gently roving fingers caressed her inner thighs until she was arching against his hand. She heard him groan and even as she was swooning with the new and delightful sensations he was rousing in her, he covered her with his body. Her hips rose up to welcome him. She gave a little cry but when he hesitated she gripped him even tighter.

  ‘No, no, don’t stop,’ she murmured, her mouth against his cheek. ‘I want this, I want this.’