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

He nodded, frowned, and tsked at what he hoped were all the appropriate places while keeping his attention on Miss Blake. Most times she was engaged in conversation with Lady Patience or Alex. She was quite lively, waving her hands about as she talked. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

For the first time ever, he looked forward to the London Season. Since he’d spent so much time dodging the mamas of the ton, he had no idea how to court a lady. However, he didn’t think it would take much time or effort, based on his conquests in the past.

The meal dragged on interminably, and his dinner partner seemed to never run out of complaints. She batted her eyelashes so vigorously he was at the point of suggesting she retire to her bedchamber and have her maid remove whatever was bothering her eyes.

Lady Natalie was exactly the type of woman he’d been avoiding for years. Self-centered, spoiled and demanding, and not too bright—or pretending so. Certain to drive the unfortunate man she married to seek his comforts elsewhere and make him miserable his entire life.

Thankfully, the dinner came to an end, and in deference to the ladies, Alex announced the men would not partake of port in the dining room but would join the ladies in the drawing room for tea.

Giles escorted Lady Natalie from the dining room and gladly plopped her into a seat near the fireplace, and across from the Dowager Duchess of Bedford. Bowing in the young girl’s direction, he said, “Thank you for a lovely time, my lady. If you will excuse me, Lord Hawkins is requesting my presence.” He bowed to the Dowager. “Your Grace.”

Lady Natalie’s frown and tight lips made his escape even more welcome. He turned on his heels and strode across the room to where Miss Blake, Lady Patience, and two other women had just poured tea. “Ladies, may I join you?”

Lady Patience raised her eyebrows. “Of course, you may join us, but wouldn’t you prefer port and conversation with Bedford and the others?”

“What, my lady? Spend time with those miscreants when I could be honored by such gracious and beautiful ladies’ attention?”

“Oh, dear.” Lady Patience turned to Miss Blake. “Alex did tell me Mr. Templeton was a bit of a rake.” She grinned at him. “It seems he was correct.”

Damn. He didn’t want Miss Blake to think of him as a libertine. Even though his reputation was well-earned, it was not something he wanted to drag out before the group. “Not to dispute your intended, Lady Patience, but I fear he has painted me with too wide a brush.”

…

Suzanna studied Mr. Templeton as he sipped his tea and conversed with the ladies. Yes, Lord Bedford was correct, and Mr. Templeton was indeed a rake. Words of flattery flowed from his lips as easy as smooth honey. The way he held his body and the riveted attention paid to whichever woman he spoke with were all telling signs.

She’d been taken with him when he’d first entered the room. He was tall and handsome, with light brown eyes, and a devilish smile. Her heart had beaten an extra thump as he’d closed the distance between them to join their group. However, she’d been quite disappointed when he’d been introduced as Mr. Templeton. She sighed inwardly. Mother would never approve, and Father would go along with whatever Mother wanted.

And her mother wanted a title for her only daughter.

A title. She’d heard those words practically ever since she’d been out of nappies. Her mother had never quite gotten over the fact that her parents had arranged the marriage between her and Father. Her papa was the third son of a viscount, and to Suzanna’s way of thinking, a wonderful man. He adored her mother and was a doting father.

However, if Suzanna wanted something of which Mother did not approve, Father’s indulgence toward his daughter ended. Since a title was what Mother wanted, it did not serve Suzanna well to encourage any man without one. She dismissed Mr. Templeton from her mind.

“Miss Blake, may I interest you in a walk around the room?” Mr. Templeton might have a rake’s reputation, but he knew propriety. Patience had told her, at her inquiry, that Mr. Templeton was the son of the Earl of Wexford—unfortunately, not his first son—and therefore, would be familiar with propriety, and the unseemliness of asking a young lady to stroll outside in the gardens. ’Twas better to keep them in view of the entire group.

She really should not encourage him, but what harm could come from a stroll around the room? There was nothing scandalous about that, and she certainly found him attractive and charming. “Yes, I do believe after that lovely dinner, I could use a bit of exercise.” She stood, smoothed her gown, and accepted his arm.

His nearness did something strange to her insides. Warmth, along with the scent of starched linen and bergamot, radiated from him as they began their stroll. Their steps matched perfectly as they left the murmurs of conversation behind to the quietness of the outer part of the room.

“I am quite surprised I have not met you before, Miss Blake. Although I haven’t attended a great many Society’s events, I am sure I would have remembered meeting you.”

“Perhaps not. I have had only one Season, since my debut was delayed due to the death of a close friend.”

“I am sorry to hear that.” His voice was gentle, caring.

She dipped her head in acknowledgment. “Thank you.” She stared straight ahead, still not able to speak of Edward’s death without the oh-so-familiar knot forming in her chest. He’d been her best friend as a child, and she’d never been as close to anyone in her life as she’d been to him. His drowning had devastated her, and she had gladly forfeited the Season to mourn his loss. It had been the only time she’d stood up to her mother, who had insisted on her having a Season anyway.

“Are you quite close to Lady Patience?”

“There was a time when we were almost like sisters. We spent our summers together at my late grandparents’ country home

. Her mother and my father are siblings.” She nodded an acknowledgment to the dowager duchess as they made their way past her. “We had lovely summers together. We did many of the things girls were not supposed to do.”

“Ah, I sense a bit of rebel in you.”

She grinned. “Yes. We climbed trees, scaled—in our minds, at least—hills, rode bareback, and swam in the pond. Grandmama wanted us to have the freedom our parents denied us. Patience had a rather strict upbringing. Aunt Harriet was such a stickler for proper comportment and accomplishments that Patience was plagued with lessons for hours each day. My mother was also quite rigid. The list of things I could and could not do was as long as your arm. I’m afraid when we were at Grandmama and Grandpapa’s house we were quite the devils.”

“Two little girls creating havoc across the countryside. I would have loved to witness it.” They wandered past the settee where Patience spoke with Alex, their heads bent together.