Page 15 of Wagering for Miss Blake (Lords and Ladies in Love 4)

Instead of continuing their repartee, lest someone overhear it, he smiled, attempting to disarm her. Raising his voice, he said, “I am given to understand you have received an invitation to Lady Hawkins’s house party next week.”

She opened her mouth, then closed it abruptly, apparently not expecting the change of subject. She glanced at her lap and smoothed her skirt. “Yes, I believe so.”

“Excellent. I look forward to seeing you.”

“Are you behind this?” she hissed.

He had to swallow his grin at her suspicious tone, then raised his brows and placed his palm on his chest in mock horror. “Surely you don’t think my consequence—me, a mere untitled man—is such that I can persuade Lady Hawkins to host a house party on my behalf?” He shook his head. “Undoubtedly you jest, Miss Blake.”

“It seems odd to me that your close friend’s mother is having a house party now, with the Season in full measure.”

Having ended her conversation with Miss Grant, Lady Montford directed her attention to Suzanna. “Oh, but that is what makes the house party so welcome, my dear. Right about now, many of us are looking for a break from the constant whirlwind. The chance to relax in the country before resuming the Season’s hectic pace is a splendid idea. Lady Hawkins is most clever in her timing.”

“Yes, that is an ingenious notion,” Suzanna demurred, glancing sideways at Giles. “Very clever, indeed.”

He conjured up his most innocent smile. She shook her head and lowered her voice to almost a whisper. “Perhaps you were not the catalyst for the house party, but with Lord Hawkins being your friend, the coincidence of my invitation is questionable.”

More callers came, and a few left, but Giles remained by Suzanna’s side the entire time. When he wasn’t whispering annoying things in her direction meant to vex her, he turned his charm on Lady Montford, who was slowly, but surely, falling under his spell.

Finally, he was the only visitor left. After taking in the empty room, he stood and adjusted his jacket. “I believe it is well past the time I took my leave.”

“Yes, it certainly is,” Suzanna drawled.

“Suzanna!” Lady Montford viewed her with surprise. She turned to Mr. Templeton. “It has been a pleasure visiting with you, Mr. Templeton. The time has passed so quickly, I can’t believe it is already five o’clock.”

“Yes,” Suzanna added. “’Tis quite late. I am sure we have kept you from important duties, Mr. Templeton.” She rose and began edging toward the door, no doubt preferring that he leave.

He turned to Lady Montford. “I look forward to spending time with you and Miss Blake at the Hawkins’s house party next week.”

“Lady Hawkins is an excellent hostess, and a relaxing week will refresh us all for the remainder of the Season.” Lady Montford turned to Suzanna. “Will you see our guest out? I will retire to my bedchamber for a short respite before we must dress for dinner.”

“Of course.” She took Giles’s arm and mumbled under her breath, “I doubt someone as clever as Mr. Templeton needs guidance to find his way to the front door.”

Giles choked at her words, suppressing his laughter as they strolled to the foyer. “Thank you so much for your charming company, Miss Blake.” With a short bow, he took his hat and cane from the butler and left the house.

…

The following week, before the sun even made itself known, Suzanna climbed into Lord Montford’s carriage and covered her mouth to suppress a yawn. Because his lordship preferred to make the trip to Lady Hawkins’s house party without stopping overnight in what he called a bug-infested inn, they were leaving London at the crack of dawn.

Despite the prospect of spending most of the party dodging Mr. Templeton, she was still looking forward to the event. She did, indeed, feel the need to escape London for a bit, away from the grime and noise of the city and the frenetic pace of the Season.

She’d only seen Mr. Templeton—she refused to even think of him as Giles—a couple of times since his visit to her cousin’s house—for which she was grateful. At the events they both attended, he was polite and proper, danced with her once per evening, and otherwise acted the gentleman, with no requests to walk in dark gardens, nor had he made any more intimate remarks in her ear.

Truth be known, she was disappointed and wondered if he had decided to withdraw his attentions. Which of course, is precisely what she wanted. She reminded herself of that fact several times a day. But even so, when he wasn’t watching her, she allowed herself the opportunity to study him.

Aside from being easy on the eyes and charming, he was also honest, forthright, and kindhearted. He had spent a great deal of time at the last event they’d attended listening to elderly Lady Forsythe ramble on and on about how things had been when she was young.

He’d even taken Lord Danforth to task when he’d insulted a young debutante who’d fled the room in tears. He’d danced several times with known wallflowers and brought lemonade and champagne to the elderly matrons sitting with the chaperones. It appeared his popularity with the ton was not just from his good looks and pockets of money.

Although she noticed his good side, he still came across as arrogant to her. His insistence and confidence that he would win her hand, even though she tried to discourage him, had her pushing back every time he pulled.

Although the moniker “arrogant” was generally reserved for men, Suzanna was enough under her mother’s thumb that she did not relish the idea of marrying a man who would spend his life directing hers. As the carriage moved forward, leaving the city behind, she turned her thoughts to her situation thus far into the Season. Mother had written several times, inquiring on her progress with attracting the attention of a peer. She always cringed when she read those notes, not only because she knew the man who had shown her the most interest would never receive Father’s approval, but also because Mother’s constant harping on a title made her feel imperious.

She had always held in contempt those girls who’d constantly dwelled on who the best catch was, how high of a title one could attract, and how one should never settle for less than another girl. It was all so competitive, sordid, and cold. No one ever spoke of love or respect. Giggling and blushing young girls were happy to marry an old man who was titled and rich, hoping he would die quickly, leaving them with an heir to secure the title, money, and freedom.

She knew a few couples who had married for love and had remained happy and true to each other. But as she took note, those couples were not in abundance. Her cousin Patience and the duke came to mind. Most couples living in matrimonial harmony also seemed to avoid London and spent most of their time together at country estates. That was the sort of marriage she wanted for herself.

But if she followed her mother’s desires, she had no choice. There was the possibility, of course, of finding a titled gentleman who was not old enough to be her grandfather, and also handsome, charming, loyal, faithful, and kind, who would love her, and she could love in return. Just as there was a chance of finding a pink unicorn underneath her bed tonight.