Page 62 of Wagering for Miss Blake (Lords and Ladies in Love 4)

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