Page 64 of Wagering for Miss Blake (Lords and Ladies in Love 4)

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?”