Behind the Rake's Wicked Wager(35)

He smiled. ‘I am becoming more enamoured of the idea every minute.’

He reached out for her but she whisked herself away from him, putting her hands on the iron railings behind her for support.

‘I c-cannot marry you.’ Panic welled up inside her. ‘You—I—you frighten me.’

‘No, you have frightened yourself,’ he said gently. ‘These feeling are natural. When we are married you will see—’

‘No! I have made a vow to myself never to marry.’

‘Because of what happened to your sister? It is time to let that go, Susannah. It is time to live your own life.’

She gazed up at him. His words were gentle, but there was something in his eyes, a warm glow that promised much and threatened her self-control. It terrified her. A sudden burst of laughter echoed around them. Jasper looked down into the tea room.

‘The dancing has ended. Everyone is coming in here now. You had best go and find your aunt.’

She took a step away from him.

‘I c-can’t marry you, my lord. I c-can’t...’

‘Yes, you can.’

He reached out and touched her cheek with his fingers. The skin burned, sending white-hot shards of pleasure pulsing through her. Did he not understand this should not be happening to her? She could not allow any man such control over her.

‘I have to leave Bath for a few days,’ he said. ‘There are papers I have to sign at Markham, but I will be back on Wednesday evening. I will call on Thursday and we will discuss it further. You need not fear, everything shall be done properly. I shall ask your aunt for permission to pay my addresses.’

She shivered. It must not happen. She could not live in such a way, turning into a wanton, unrestrained wretch every time he came near her. She knew only too well the pain and heartache she would suffer if she allowed it to continue. Ladies were to be respected, worshipped—the way Gerald respected and worshipped her. Those baser instincts that Jasper unleashed in her must be controlled at all costs. Biting her lip, she began to back away, yet when he put out his hand she gave him hers, trying to ignore the little arrows of desire that darted along her arm as his thumb grazed the soft skin of her wrist.

‘Go now, then. Until Thursday.’

He let her go and she stood irresolute. She wanted to throw herself back into his arms, to surrender to that overwhelming passion he called up so easily within her, but that would mean disaster. He was the flame, she the moth. He would destroy her. Summoning up every reserve of energy she could find, she nodded to him and forced herself to turn and walk away.

Susannah did not go in search of her aunt, instead she wandered around the ballroom, which was deserted now save for little chattering groups that had no wish for refreshment. How had it happened? How had this man come into her world and turned it upside down? She did not need this, did not want it. She wanted only to go back to the safe certainties of the life she had known, where she was in control, in charge of her own happiness. She sank down on a chair, unseeing eyes staring at the empty dance floor. He did not want to marry her but he felt obliged to, because he had compromised her reputation. Despite that he would come to the Crescent, as he had promised. He would talk to Aunt Maude, he would propose. He would take her hand, look into her eyes and she would be powerless to refuse him.

‘I can’t let that happen,’ she whispered. ‘I c-cannot let myself be subjugated by him. No man shall ever be my master.’

She wrapped her arms about herself and began to rock backwards and forwards. There must be a way to prevent it.

‘Miss Prentess, are you unwell?’

General Sanstead was bending over her, his kindly face creased with concern. She forced herself to get up, to smile at him.

‘I am perfectly well, thank you General. I, um, I need to find someone...’

She walked off, her limbs feeling strangely stiff and difficult to control. She must go home immediately. She would leave Bath, go away where no one could find her. People were beginning to return to the ballroom now, and one of the first to come through the door was Gerald Barnabus. He saw her immediately.

‘Good heavens, Susannah, you are as white as a sheet. Are you unwell?’

‘Yes—no—I must get away from here.’ She clutched at his outstretched hand, trying to remain calm and not burst into tears.

‘Yes, of course, my dear. We will find Mrs Wilby. But is there anything I can do?’

‘Oh, Gerald, I have made such a mess of everything. I am afraid—’

‘Afraid of what?’

She could not bring herself to tell him about Jasper. She said distractedly, ‘Of being alone.’

His grip on her hand tightened.

‘Well that is easily resolved,’ he said cheerfully. ‘Have I not asked you to marry me countless times? You only have to say the word and you need never be alone again. I will protect you from everything.’

She stared up into his smiling face. Good, kind Gerald, who had been a friend to her and had never asked more than to be allowed to kiss her hand. He would protect her.

‘Oh, yes, Gerald,’ she said quickly. ‘I will marry you. And as soon as possible.’





Chapter Thirteen

Gerald stared at her for a long, long moment before a grin of delight broke over his face. ‘Truly? Why, Susannah, you have made me the happiest of men.’

He pressed a kiss upon her fingers and she waited for the reaction, for her skin to tingle and burn, for that ache deep in her body. It did not come. She was safe.

‘We must tell my aunt,’ she said.

‘By all means, let us go and find her.’

Mrs Wilby was sitting beside Lady Gisburne on the first row of benches. Susannah was inclined to hold back, but Gerald was eager to impart the good news, so she stood silently beside him as he made his announcement.

Mrs Wilby looked a little startled at first, but then she smiled and held out her hand for him to kiss. Lady Gisburne’s congratulations were more restrained, and she gave Susannah a quizzical look.

‘I did not know you were considering matrimony, Miss Prentess.’

‘I have been pestering her to marry me for months now,’ said Gerald happily. He turned his smile towards Susannah. ‘And at last my persistence has been rewarded.’

‘And when will the engagement be announced?’ the dowager enquired. ‘Or is it to be a private affair?’

‘Of course it will be made public,’ replied Susannah, frowning a little. ‘Everything shall be done properly.’

The words reminded her of the encounter with Jasper and she had to force her wandering mind to concentrate upon the dowager’s next words.

‘And will this affect our plans for the charity?’

‘Not at all, except...’ Susannah hesitated as she thought of a way to delay her next meeting with the viscount. ‘Perhaps we could put off our visit to Florence House until Thursday morning?’

‘Very well, my dear, Thursday it shall be.’

‘Thank you, ma’am.’ The sudden scrape of the fiddles caught Susannah’s attention. She wanted very much to go home, but to leave so suddenly after the announcement would cause comment, Instead she turned to Gerald.

‘The dancing will be starting again very soon. Shall we join them?’

‘Why not?’ He grinned. ‘And now we are betrothed I need not give you up for the rest of the evening!’

* * *

Jasper stood back, watching the dancers. He could not keep his eyes from Susannah, who skipped and twirled about the room, her bouncing curls gleaming in the candlelight. She was going down the dance with Gerald, and although she was smiling Jasper thought her enjoyment a trifle forced. He considered seeking her out for the next dance but decided against it. Their earlier meeting had flustered her. He grinned to himself. It had thrown him, too, to discover just how much he wanted her. His inner smile grew and he shook his head a little, thinking of the mull he had made of his proposal. For once his charming address had deserted him, so it was no wonder he had startled her. But she was no fool. She would know he was in earnest, so he would leave her to become accustomed to the idea of being Lady Markham.

A movement nearby caught his attention. Lady Gisburne was making her way towards the door.

‘Going so soon, ma’am?’

‘I am. These late hours no longer agree with me.’ She paused, her eyes following his gaze to the centre of the room.

‘Are you hoping to dance with Miss Prentess? You will be disappointed, I think.’

‘No, let Barnabus enjoy himself. I shall be calling upon Miss Prentess on Thursday.’

‘Will you now?’ She paused. ‘And does the lady know of it?’

He smiled.

‘She does indeed.’ He dragged his eyes away from the dancers and fixed them upon the old lady’s face. ‘Why do you ask?’

She did not reply and for an instant Jasper wanted to take her into his confidence, to tell her he intended to make Susannah Prentess his wife. But no. She was Dominic’s godmother, not his. His family must be informed first, and he would tell them just as soon as he had made his formal proposal to Susannah.