Wagering for Miss Blake

by Callie Hutton

  “Yes, sir.” Macon cast a confused glance in his direction, but said nothing, and continued with his work.

  Giles sprinted down the stairs, out the door, and headed to the mews to retrieve his horse. He felt as though he were being chased by demons. If he ran fast enough, and long enough, maybe the pain would not catch up with him.

  The usual afternoon crowd sat in groups of twos and threes when he entered White’s. Giles took a quick glance around, but given his mood, he didn’t spot anyone he wished to speak with. He nodded at a few men as he made his way to a corner chair, close to the fireplace, and far away from the nearest member.

  Drink in hand, and no longer able to push his thoughts from his mind, he rested his head against the back of his chair and closed his eyes. And immediately popped them open. All he could see was Suzanna throwing her arms around Lord Pemberton, smiling and exclaiming he’d made her the happiest woman in London.

  He had no doubt she’d been responding to the expected proposal.

  Perhaps having a title in front of her name had not only been her parents’ idea, after all. She probably fed him that story to not make herself appear lofty. How could he have misjudged her? Of course, his friends had tried to warn him, but he hadn’t believed them. Well, he’d gone there with the intention of finding out how Suzanna felt about the proposal. His eyes had told him what he needed to know.

  He checked his timepiece every so often, and when no one appeared whom he wished to speak with, he rose and gulped the last of his brandy. He would pen notes to Bedford, Cam, and Hawk later. For now, all he wanted was to retire to his country estate and lick his wounds.

  The evening had turned cool and rainy, a perfect complement to his mood. He pulled up the collar of his jacket and rode Gallant slowly through the slippery streets. By the time he arrived home it was fully dark, and he was soaked to his skin.

  “Mr. Templeton, I have packed everything we will need until the rest can be sent on. Will we be starting off tonight with this weather?” Macon met him at the door and helped him out of his wet outer clothing.

  As much as he wanted to be as far away from London as he could get, it would be foolhardy and dangerous to travel in the dark with the roads growing more treacherous by the minute. “No. We will set off at first light. Please have a hot bath drawn. I will be in the library.”

  Despite the dampness, no fire had been lit in the library. Giles poured a half glass of brandy and drank it while he watched the rain pour down, puddles forming throughout the garden.

  He’d lost the wager.

  Suzanna would marry Lord Pemberton, give birth to little Pembertons, and have the life her parents—or perhaps she—wanted. A title, consequence, and a solid place among the ton. Had he been born first, instead of his brother, Giles could have been the man who received hugs in the garden in response to his proposal.

  It would have been him promising to love, honor, and cherish Miss Suzanna Blake while they stood before the vicar. He tried to convince himself that if he was not good enough for her without a title, he was better off without her.

  But that didn’t work.

  “Sir, your bath is ready.” Macon stood at the doorway to the library.

  “Thank you.” Giles placed the rest of his drink on the table and headed upstairs. First thing tomorrow, he would be on the road and away from London. And Lord Pemberton. And Miss Blake. The only thing accompanying him would be his bruised and battered heart.

  …

  “I know you had something to do with this!” Suzanna’s mother glared at her with such anger that Suzanna thought she might strike her again, but with Father present, she would probably control herself. “You were outside in the garden with Lord Pemberton, and then he tells your father he no longer thinks you two will suit? Do you realize the scandal this will cause?”

  “What scandal, Mother? It isn’t as though we were betrothed.”

  Mother moved closer, fire shooting from her eyes. “You know perfectly well that everyone expected a betrothal any day now.”

  Suzanna backed up a bit. “I cannot help what everyone expected. All I know is Lord Pemberton and I had a lovely walk in the garden, and then he escorted me inside. Did it ever occur to you that perhaps he just doesn’t think we will suit?”

  Her mother turned to Father. “Do something about this.”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “What is it you want me to do, Lavinia? Lord Pemberton was quite polite, but also adamant that for as lovely as Suzanna is, he just didn’t feel as though they would suit. Perhaps it had something to do with his mother. The woman strikes me as a harridan.”

  “It has nothing to do with his mother. And everything to do with your daughter!” Mother’s outrage continued to grow. She swung around and pointed her finger at Suzanna. “I know you had something to do with it. You are entirely too happy!”

  “Lavinia, that is enough!” For the first time ever, Father spoke to Mother like a man. If Suzanna was surprised, it was nothing compared to the look on her mother’s face.

  “Well!” She narrowed her eyes, but her voice lowered. “I see from where our daughter gets her defiance. If you will both excuse me, I find a megrim coming on.” She spun around, and shoulders stiffened with her head held high, she swept from the room.

  Father collapsed back into his seat, and Suzanna released a deep breath. The silence after Mother’s tirade was overwhelming.

  “I agree with your mother, poppet. You had something to do with this.”

  Suzanna’s eyes widened. “Papa, you haven’t called me poppet in years.”

  He gave her a slight smile. “And you haven’t called me Papa in years.” He held his arms out, and Suzanna made her way around the desk. Father tugged her down until she sat on his lap.

  She laid her head on his shoulder. “Father, I am much too old for this.” Despite her shock, she grinned.

  He kissed her on the cheek and looked into her eyes. “Let me offer you one bit of advice. When you do marry, and whoever it is you marry, love him, if you must, but don’t love him too much.”

  She pushed herself away from his chest. “I don’t understand.”

  “I have allowed your mother to run roughshod over the both of us for years. For one reason only. Because I love her and want to make her happy. But I am afraid in my quest to make her happy, I have sacrificed your happiness.”

  Suzanna shook her head. “No, you haven’t.” Then she stopped and tapped her lips and glanced at him sideways. “Perhaps a bit.”

  “Minx!” He pinched her cheek and made a move to get up. “Now I must go and calm your mother down.”

  …

  The next day, Suzanna thought about the Bensons’ rout with more enthusiasm than she had in weeks. Most certainly Giles would be there, and she would speak with him and let him know that Lord Pemberton had withdrawn his attentions.

  Mother had decided to give her the silent treatment, which served Suzanna quite well. ’Twas much better than the constant criticism she had been subjected to recently. In fact, claiming another megrim, Mother had decided to forego the rout and had requested a dinner tray in her room. Cousin Eunice was accompanying Suzanna to the event.

  Father had left for one of his clubs once dinner had ended. She’d heard mumbling coming from their bedchamber the night before, but no more tirades from her mother. Dare she hope that Father was able to convince Mother that she should be allowed to choose her own husband?

  As for her and Giles, she had no idea what the future held, but at least she would see Giles tonight and assure him that Lord Pemberton had withdrawn his attentions. She smiled to herself and hummed a light tune while she enjoyed her bath.

  Bessie entered the room, Suzanna’s pale peach gown resting over her arm. “I just pressed your gown, Miss. It’s time to get ready.”

  Once she was dried, dressed, and seated at the dressing table, with Bessie chatting away as she fixed her hair, Lady Montford tapped lightly and entered her room. She was dressed in a deep blue
gown. “Don’t you look especially lovely this evening, Suzanna. It must be that conversation you had with Mr. Templeton yesterday that has put that glow on your cheeks.”

  Suzanna’s eyes flew to her cousin. “Mr. Templeton? I didn’t see him yesterday.”

  “Oh. How very odd. I sent him out to see you. He was here for tea yesterday. He arrived shortly after you and Lord Pemberton left to stroll in the garden.”

  Suzanna frowned and stared at Cousin Eunice through the mirror as Bessie put the finishing touches on her hair. “No. I did not see him.”

  “Well, perhaps you and Lord Pemberton had already returned.”

  “Yes. That must be what happened.” That was certainly strange. Why would Giles not speak with her? She shrugged. He must have gone into the garden after she and Lord Pemberton had returned to the house, as Eunice said.

  But it would all be cleared up this evening when she saw him. She took one final look in the mirror and stood. “Thank you, Bessie. As usual, you have done a wonderful job.”

  “It is a pleasure to serve you, Miss Blake.” She gathered up a few items and left the room.

  Suzanna picked up her gloves and shawl and, after linking arms with her cousin, they both descended the stairs where Lord Montford awaited them.

  “Well, it seems I get to escort two beautiful ladies this evening.”

  With a light heart, and looking forward to the evening ahead, Suzanna accepted his arm, and they left the house.

  …

  Giles stared morosely into his cup of tea. He’d had enough brandy of late to knock out a strong horse, but for some reason the liquor was not having the desired effect, so he’d opted for tea when he’d reached the inn where he planned to spend the night on his way home.

  Home.

  The place where he’d planned to bring Suzanna as his bride. To begin their life together, making love all day and night, taking long walks, having picnics by the pond, creating children to run and laugh and cause him and Suzanna gray hairs as the little ones grew to adulthood.

  “This is one time I am not happy to be right.” Startled out of his misery, Giles looked up at Hawk as he grabbed the chair across from him and sat, resting his hand on the table. “I assume you are on your way to Bedfordshire to wallow in self-pity?”

  “Sod off, Hawk. I’m not in the mood.”

  Hawk leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “I’m surprised at you, Templeton. I thought you were the man who never gave up?”

  “She wants Pemberton. It was difficult enough when I was fighting her parents, but once Suzanna decided a title was what she wanted, there didn’t seem to be any reason to continue.”

  “My understanding is that her parents haven’t even allowed you to talk to her. How do you know she changed her mind?”

  “I saw it with my own eyes.” He stood and pushed his chair out. “What are you doing here, anyway?”

  “Escaping. Like you.”

  “From what? Or should I say who? Another overwrought opera dancer?”

  Hawk leaned back, crossing his arms. “London, in general, and Mrs. Ambrose, in particular.”

  “Ah. Another dalliance gone bad.” He shook his head. “Hawk, it’s time you quit chasing opera dancers and took your title seriously.”

  “Bloody hell. You sound like my mother. I am merely one and thirty and have plenty of time to stick my neck into the parson’s noose. Just because you thought it was a good idea for you—which it turned out not to be—doesn’t mean the rest of us are ready to surrender.”

  “May I remind you that your country estate is the other direction?”

  “I’m visiting my cousin. He and his wife have four offspring, which will more than convince me that putting up with the Mrs. Ambroses of the world is far better than sniveling, crying urchins tugging on your breeches.”

  Funny how Giles’s idea of marital bliss had envisioned children who would be the center of his and Suzanna’s world. He shook his head. No Suzanna. She’d made her choice, and he hoped she would be happy with it.

  “I am off for the night. I hope to make it home by the end of the day tomorrow, so I must leave at first light. Good luck with your cousin’s urchins.” Giles gave Hawk a slight salute and left the private dining room.

  Despite his desire to retire early enough to be refreshed in the morning, Giles tossed for quite a while before he fell into a fitful sleep. He dreamed he was chasing someone on a foggy street in London who was always just out of his reach. When he awoke, he didn’t need a lot of pondering to understand what those dreams meant.

  Hawk had already left by the time Giles entered the private dining room for breakfast. He mused for a while on his friend’s demeanor. He seemed almost as forlorn as Giles. Perhaps a visit to his cousin was just what the man needed.

  After a quick breakfast of porridge, eggs, trout, and toast, he mounted Gallant and was on his way. He would reach home before his carriage did.

  It was with a heavy heart that he broke through the wooded area that lined his estate. The grounds were well-kept by his staff, the windows of the large house gleaming in the setting sun. He loved his home, and always felt joy in his heart as he approached it.

  This time the joy was still there, but with an emptiness that would never be filled again. He tugged on Gallant’s reins as he reached the stable. His head groom came out of the stable door and tugged on his cap. “Good evening, Mr. Templeton.”

  Giles dismounted and handed the reins to Sampson. The man was well up in years, but still ran the stables, and the young grooms under him, with a heavy hand. Giles had oftentimes thought of offering him a pension, but just the thought of how that offer would be received kept him from doing so. “Good evening, Sampson. I rode him hard, so give him some extra oats tonight.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Giles turned and stared at the house. A few candles burned inside, but the warmth did not reach him. It was simply too cold inside his body. With a heavy heart, he trudged up the pathway as his butler, Stevens, opened the door. “Good evening, Mr. Templeton. Welcome home, sir.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Suzanna’s eyes skimmed the ballroom as she descended the stairs with Lord and Lady Montford at the Comerford ballroom.

  No Giles.

  Her shoulders slumped. It had been a week since she’d convinced Lord Pemberton to withdraw his attentions. She’d been to the Davenport musicale, the theater, the Dankins’ card party, a rout, and now the Comerford ball. Giles had not been at any of the events.

  She was confused and concerned. She hadn’t seen Lord Hawkins, either. Lord Campbell had been at the Benson rout, but he had no idea if Giles had planned on attending. She hadn’t seen him or Bedford or Hawkins since then. It was almost as if they’d all disappeared from London.

  To her relief, no sooner had Mr. Darling returned her to Cousin Eunice’s side after a rousing country dance than the Duke and Duchess of Bedford were announced. Suzanna hurried over to her cousin and her husband, grateful to finally have the opportunity to discover to where Giles had disappeared.

  “Suzanna, don’t you look lovely this evening.” Patience took both of Suzanna’s hands and leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek. “I haven’t seen you in forever, it seems.”

  “I agree. Where have you been?”

  “Alex had some business to take care of at the Abbey, and I accompanied him.”

  “So, all is well between the two of you now?”

  Patience beamed as only a happy bride could. “Yes, things are wonderful.” She leaned in close. “We are expecting an heir in about six months.”

  “Oh, Patience, that is truly good news.”

  Bedford turned to Suzanna once his conversation with Mr. Belton had finished. “Good evening, Miss Blake. I agree with Patience, you are looking quite lovely.”

  “Thank you.” Suzanna hesitated for a moment, but her unease refused to allow her to remain silent. “Your Grace, have you seen Mr. Templeton of late?”

  “Strange
you should ask. I received a note from him a few days ago but, since we were at the Abbey for a week, I did not read it until we returned. He has retired to his estate in Bedfordshire. The one next to mine.”

  Suzanna stared at him as if he had spoken to her in a foreign tongue. “Retired to his estate?” Her words were barely above a whisper.

  “Yes.” He shrugged. “He said he would be there for the remainder of the Season, and possibly the rest of the year.”

  How very strange. An uncomfortable feeling settled in her middle. What about their wager? What about his insistence that he was in love with her and wanted them to marry? For heaven’s sake, he had even confronted her father with a request to court her. She placed her hand against her belly. For all he knew, she could be carrying his child.

  “Did he say why he decided to do that?” Although embarrassed at asking such questions of Giles’s friend, something was not right.

  “No. I’m afraid not.” Bedford turned as his attention was sought by a gentleman Suzanna did not know.

  Patience linked her arm in Suzanna’s. “Come, I could use a visit to the ladies’ retiring room. Would you join me?”

  Stunned by what Bedford had told her, Suzanna nodded and allowed Patience to direct her through the throng of guests and to the stairs leading to the retiring room.

  Once they were in the room, Patience led her to a lounge where they both sat. She asked the maid for a glass of water, then turned her attention to Suzanna. “Is something amiss? You seem quite disturbed.”

  Suzanna blinked furiously and then gave way to her tears and covered her face with her hands. “I don’t know what is wrong, but something definitely is.”

  Patience took a handkerchief from the maid’s hand and handed it to Suzanna. “Perhaps you should start at the beginning.”

  Taking a deep breath, Suzanna recounted the story of the wager with Giles, the ensuing problem with her parents, and his disappearance just as she’d told Lord Pemberton she did not want to marry him, and he had agreed to withdraw his suit.

  “That is rather odd,” Patience said. “I know Mr. Templeton only through Alex, and he was helpful when I had that problem with Alex and Lord Loverly. He did seem to be an honorable person who did not give up easily.”