Page 36 of Wagering for Miss Blake (Lords and Ladies in Love 4)

“Oh, of course.” She held out her hand. “Thank you so much for the lovely rowboat ride, my lord.”

“I am not a lord,” he mumbled as he bent over her hand and turned on his heel, searching for Suzanna.

He questioned the few people who were still on shore, even woke up Danvers. He questioned the staff, thinking perhaps she’d had a reason to return to the house, but no one had seen her leave. Giles stood, his feet spread, hands on his hips, and surveyed the area. The only place she could have gone was into the wooded area to his left.

With no other ideas, he strode to the opening in the trees. The air was much cooler in the woods, the damp and dimness of the space casting a sinister feel over the entire area. Or perhaps that was his overactive imagination in his worry about Suzanna.

He looked left and right, moving slow enough to check the area completely, ignoring the urge to race over the pathway, calling her name. Certainly, his voice would carry, and the last thing he wanted was for everyone to know she’d wandered off by herself. A scandal would no doubt follow.

Foolish woman, to leave the safety of the group. He wasn’t even certain she was here, but with no one having any idea where she’d gone, the forest was the best place to search. Perhaps she’d decided on a walk and became lost. Or caught her foot in a small animal hole, and she had stumbled and hurt herself.

Unable to hold down the panic, he called her name, keeping his voice lowered. He stood and listened. No response. He continued over the pathway. Every few yards he stopped and called again.

Finally, he heard a slight voice. “Giles?”

Relief flooded him, along with confusion when he jogged to where he’d heard her. “Suzanna?”

“Up here.”

What the devil? He looked up at the trees in the area, turning in a full circle until his eyes settled on Suzanna huddled in a tree. Her bottom was resting on the branch, her legs dangled. She looked like a child, and anything but safe. “What the bloody hell are you doing up there?”

“Language, Mr

. Templeton.”

He cupped his hand over his forehead to block the sun from his eyes. “Well?”

“I was taking a lovely stroll in the woods when a very ferocious-looking dog attempted to make me his dinner.”

“And you climbed the tree?” His voice rose in amazement.

“My apologies, sir, but it appears I left my double-barreled flintlock pistol in my reticule, so I was unable to shoot the dog.”

Giles shook his head. “Sarcasm is not going to get you out of that tree.” He considered her for a minute. “I don’t suppose you could climb down?”

“I would not be sitting up here if I could.”

“You climbed up, didn’t you?”

“With razor sharp teeth at my heels. A woman is able to do any number of things she would not ordinarily consider when her life is flashing before her eyes.”

“Yes. That is true, I’m sure.” He walked in circles, glancing up at her every once in a while. “I don’t believe the tree is strong enough to hold both of us. You will have to push yourself to the edge of the branch and drop into my arms.”

“What?” Her eyes grew to the size of dinner plates. “My skirts are already torn from the climb. If I drop down, they will billow out.”

“So?”

“Mr. Templeton—”

“I will ignore that, since you are in distress.”

“—if I do that, you will see…”

He grinned, loving the blush on her face. “Yes. Perhaps I will. But the only other alternative is to leave you up there.” He looked into the distance, tapping his chin. “I suppose I could toss up a blanket to cover you for sleeping. But I imagine you would miss your social life.”

“This is not funny!”

“Suzanna, you have two choices. Either you drop into my arms or you stay up there until you are silver-haired and wasted away to nothing. Although I suppose I could fashion a pulley of sorts to get food to you on a regular basis.”