Page 71 of Wagering for Miss Blake (Lords and Ladies in Love 4)

“You can begin by calling me Miss Blake, sir.” She raised her chin and continued to stare straight ahead as they walked along. While he tried to think of what to say, she turned to him. “What are you doing here? How did you end up at this dinner party? Why would Lady Montford invite you? And I thought you were in the country.”

She added, “At least, that is where I heard you had gone, since I had no word from you. It was only because I happened to see my cousin and Bedford at a ball that I even knew you had left London.”

He could see she was working herself into a tizzy, and the last thing he wanted to do was make her angry enough to stalk off. This was his chance to save their relationship, and he was not going to fumble it.

“I was wrong, and I should never have run off when I saw you and Pemberton hugging in the garden. Now I suspect things were not as they appeared.”

Her jaw dropped. “You saw us?”

“Yes.”

Suzanna shook her head, tears shimmering in her eyes. “You fool. You stupid, stupid fool.”

…

Suzanna had never considered that her time in the garden with Lord Pemberton had a connection to Giles’s disappearance. Now she recalled that she’d exclaimed how happy Lord Pemberton had made her. It was possible that Giles had misinterpreted her statement.

“Why didn’t you approach us? I was merely thanking Lord Pemberton for agreeing to withdraw his suit. I had tried to tell my parents that I did not want to marry him, but they stood firm. The only chance I had was to explain to Lord Pemberton that there was a reason I did not want to marry him.”

Giles stiffened and turned to her with a tentative, hopeful smile. “And the reason?”

She sniffed. “Never mind. Suffice it to say the reason had been good enough—at the time.” She cast a sideways glance at him. “He agreed to my request. Father accepted it quite well, but Mother was furious. In fact, she took to her bed and refused to accompany me to events for more than a week.”

Giles glanced around as another couple began to circle the room. “We need privacy, Suzanna. There are many things I want—need—to say that I don’t want overheard.”

“Lady Montford will never allow me to go off with you.”

He slowed their steps as they approached two couples conversing. He leaned in close to her ear. “When everyone is abed later, unlock the back door for me. Then light a candle in your bedchamber window, and I will join you.”

Suzanna sucked in a breath. “That is so dangerous! Suppose you get caught? I will be ruined.”

“And forced to marry me,” he said. Then he turned serious. “I do not want you to marry me to avoid a scandal. But we do need time together. I promise I will not be caught.”

“Had a bit of practice sneaking into ladies’ bedchambers, Mr. Templeton?”

“I have never snuck into a lady’s bedchamber before. But I won’t get caught. Trust me.”

“You two look so serious over there. Come join us, we are discussing the new play that just opened on Drury Lane.” Lady Montford beckoned to them from a grouping of men and women sipping tea and eating cakes.

She hadn’t even noticed the rest of the men had joined the women, so intent was she on speaking with Giles. “Yes, certainly, cousin. I am looking forward to seeing the play and would love to know the opinion of those who already have.”

They both joined the group and passed the next hour discussing the new play, Parliament, and the gloomy London weather.

…

Hours later, Suzanna paced in her bedchamber. She’d dismissed Bessie some time ago, and occasionally eased her door opened to listen for voices or other indications any household members were still up and about.

Father and Mother had returned from the theater, and she hadn’t heard anything from their chamber for a while. She would check one more time and then go downstairs and unlock the back door.

She must be truly addlepated to go along with this scheme of Giles. There was no reason why he couldn’t have called on her the next day and spoken with her. Though they did need some time alone to straighten this out, and Mother had begun to watch her carefully once again.

She sighed and padded over to the door. If Giles decided to approach her father again, he must do it soon, before Mother began to negotiate another betrothal. Suzanna had hoped, based on Father’s demeanor when Lord Pemberton had withdrawn his suit, that he might take her side in a conflict with Mother.

But did she want to accept Giles? She’d been rattled when he disappeared, but it seemed he had a good reason. However, was he here in London to offer an actual proposal? Was he prepared to face her father and fight for them?

She confirmed the corridor was empty, and carrying a single candle, made her way down the back stairs, stopping occasionally to listen. The only sound in her ears was the pounding of her heart and her rapid breaths.

With a dry mouth, she approached the back door and unlatched the lock. She hurried back up the stairs, covering the candle with her cupped palm so it would not blow out.