chapter Fourteen
Jasper did not go back upstairs. He was in no mood for company so he let himself out of the house and walked back to his hotel. He was promised to escort the dowager to the Abbey in the morning, but after that he would quit Bath. He had spent far too long here already and there was work on his estates that needed his attention. That should help to keep his mind from dwelling on Susannah Prentess. He should be glad to be leaving her behind. He had found her a patroness for Florence House, he had even endured an uncomfortable night in a chair there, to say nothing of slaving away in the kitchen to feed everyone, and for what? She was not even grateful. He shook his head and swung his cane at a clump of weeds pushing up at the roadside. He did not want her gratitude, he wanted to protect her, to make her comfortable—to make her happy. And if that meant he had to disappear from her life then so be it.
* * *
Susannah and her aunt did not attend the Abbey service the following morning. Jasper sat beside Lady Gisburne during the long sermon, impatiently waiting for the service to end so that he could get back to his rooms, where Peters was packing up everything in readiness for an early start in the morning. It was not until he was helping Lady Gisburne back into her carriage that Jasper told her he was leaving, hoping to fend off any questions by adding that he had business at Markham.
‘No doubt it can wait a few more days.’
‘I regret it cannot. My stay in Bath has been far longer than intended.’
‘Because of Susannah Prentess.’
Her shrewd gaze was on his face but he kept his countenance impassive as he took his seat beside her.
‘She was a distraction, I admit.’
‘Hmm. I wondered how you would take it when you learned that she was to marry. What happened last night?’
He raised his brows.
‘Last night, ma’am?’
The slight note of hauteur in his tone had no effect on the dowager.
‘It was obvious to me that the two of you have been playing cat and mouse. Then you both disappeared last night. What did she say to you?’
He decided not to deny it. The old lady was too astute to be fobbed off.
‘She intends to marry Barnabus.’ He added bitterly, ‘She feels safe with him. Safe! What she means is she thinks she can keep him under her thumb, poor devil!’
‘Yes, I thought as much.’
He shifted his eyes to her face.
‘You knew she was engaged to Barnabus, didn’t you? You knew it that night, at the ball, before I went off to Markham. For pity’s sake, why did you not tell me?’
‘Would it have made any difference?’
‘Yes! I might have reasoned with her—’
‘As you did last night? When Susannah came back upstairs she looked positively distraught.’
A dull flush crept into his cheek.
‘She inflames me,’ he admitted. ‘I find myself attracted to her like no other, and she feels the same, though she will not admit it. That is why I am going home in the morning. There is nothing here for me now.’
‘Much as it pains me to contradict you, Markham,’ replied the dowager untruthfully, ‘you are not leaving Bath tomorrow. Dominic and his family are on their way, and he will expect you to be here to meet him.’
‘I don’t believe it!’
Ignoring his exclamation, the dowager continued impassively, ‘I had an express from my godson this morning, telling me they will be arriving tomorrow.’
Jasper found a similar note waiting for him when he returned to York House. Peters received the change of plan with unimpaired calm, merely enquiring if he should instruct the hotel to prepare rooms in readiness for their arrival.
‘No need. The dowager has invited them to stay with her at Laura Place.’ He crumpled the note in his fist. ‘It means we will not be returning to Markham tomorrow after all. I must at least stay to welcome them.’
* * *
‘So tell me all about your engagement to Mr Barnabus.’
Susannah was strolling through Sydney Gardens with Kate, and was half-expecting the question. She had managed to avoid the subject since Kate’s return to Bath, but had known that at some point she would have to explain.
‘Oh well, he has been very persistent, you know, and he is such a sweet boy.’
‘I thought you had turned your face against marriage.’
‘No more than you, Kate,’ she countered. ‘I have heard you say many times that nothing would persuade you to take another husband.’
‘I know.’ Kate looked down, and Susannah saw the tell-tale blush mantle her cheeks. She could not remember Kate ever being out of countenance before Charles Camerton appeared, but recently she had changed, become much...softer, somehow. Now she gave a self-conscious laugh. ‘I thought myself too old, too embittered to risk marrying again, but meeting Charles has changed my mind.’ She glanced up. ‘I am afraid he rather swept me off my feet, so much so that I confided in him about Florence House.’
‘You did?’
‘Yes, and I am very sorry for it. It is entirely my fault that your secret is known. You know how it is when you meet someone and you just want to talk and talk for ever? I am afraid I was not very discreet, and since I did not impress upon Charles that it was a secret he spoke of it in the Pump Room and—well, it went on from there. I suspected as much when we were so thin of company at your card party, and when I asked Charles he said he had mentioned it to Mrs Bulstrode, although thankfully he said nothing about the connection with Odesse. I know I should have told you immediately, but I did not want you to be cross with Charles. I hoped it might soon be forgotten. I beg your pardon, Susannah. Can you ever forgive me?’
So Jasper had not betrayed her. A dozen disjointed thoughts raced through her brain. If she had not been so quick to condemn him they might still be friends—more than friends. No. He roused in her such uncontrollable passions that friendship was not possible. She was engaged to Gerald now. Safe, dependable Gerald. That was what she wanted. She summoned up a smile.
‘Of course I can forgive you, Kate. In fact, it has all turned out very well. If it had remained a secret then Lady Gisburne would not have learned of it and wanted to become our patroness. What I find it harder to understand is your sudden decision to marry.’
Kate’s mouth twisted into a rueful smile.
‘I was very strident, was I not, in my condemnation of all men? It comes from my years married to one who...’
Susannah squeezed her arm.
‘You do not need to tell me, Kate. I knew you then, I saw what you went through, even though I was very young and everyone did their best to keep these things from the children. Infidelity was rife in Gibraltar. Even my own father was not above taking advantage of the camp followers.’
‘How do you know that?’ asked Kate quickly. ‘I do not believe he would tell you such a thing, nor your mother.’
‘I heard them arguing one night.’ Susannah blushed at the memory. ‘He said if Mama would not let him into her bed then he had to relieve his—his passions elsewhere.’
‘Oh my dear, I am so sorry.’ Kate squeezed her arm. ‘Your mother had become very religious, had she not?’
‘Yes, like her sister, although not quite such a zealot.’ Susannah shivered. ‘But that does not excuse his behaviour.’
‘Do not be too hard on your father, my dear. He was a good man, in his way. Certainly not vicious, like Logan.’
‘That is why I was so shocked when you told me about you and Charles Camerton.’
Kate sighed.
‘I did not mean to fall in love with him, but I could not help it.’ She laughed suddenly. ‘I have broken all the rules I set for myself, have I not? I have listened to my heart, and not my head. But you must have done the same, my dear. Why else would you have decided to marry— Susannah, why do you look like that?
Susannah shook her head, suddenly tears were crowding her eyes.
‘Oh, Kate,’ she whispered. ‘I think I have made a terrible mistake.’
* * *
‘Dom.’ Jasper touched his brother’s shoulder. ‘I was told I would find you in the Pump Room, but I didn’t believe it.’
Dominic turned, grinning. It was like looking into a mirror, thought Jasper. He still felt it, despite the livid scar that stretched across his twin’s cheek.
‘My godmother must drink the waters and my wife wants to gossip.’ Dominic gripped his hand. ‘How are you, Brother?’
‘Well enough, thank you. I received your note yesterday, but I thought you would need the evening to recover.’
‘Aye, after a whole day on the road the children were fractious and Zelah and I too tired to be good company.’
‘I am pleased I did not take up your invitation to join you for dinner then! What brings you to Bath?’
Dominic’s hard eyes flickered towards Lady Gisburne.
‘Summoned. She told us you have been here for some time.’
‘I came here after visiting Gloriana. She was afraid Gerald had fallen into the clutches of some harpy.’
‘And had he?’
‘Not at all.’ Jasper spotted a speck of dust on his sleeve and flicked it away. ‘The lady is an heiress. Considerably richer than Gerald, I believe.’
A soft voice called his name. Zelah was beside him, holding out her hands.
‘Welcome to Bath, Sister.’ He kissed her cheek. ‘What brings you here? Your glowing looks tell me it is not for your health.’
‘No, of course not.’ She tucked her arm in his. ‘Take me for a promenade about the room, Jasper.’
He glanced at Dominic, who nodded his approval.
‘Aye, off you go, but don’t keep her too long. I won’t spend all day here.’
‘Surly as ever,’ commented Jasper as he led his sister-in-law away.
She laughed. ‘No, no, he is much better now. When I met him he would not have dreamed of attending an assembly such as this. Now he is completely at his ease, and is not even conscious of his scars.’
‘That is down to you, Zelah. We are all grateful for that.’
‘Nonsense.’ She blushed. ‘He would have come about, in time. But this not why I wanted you to myself. Tell me about this lady who has stolen your heart.’
He stopped, exclaiming explosively, ‘Who the devil—!’
‘Lady Gisburne told us all about it last night.’
‘Then she has been a great deal too busy!’
‘Dom says he has never known you to take so much trouble over a woman.’
‘Hell and damnation, I won’t have my affairs discussed in this way,’ he muttered in a furious undertone.
Zelah was not noticeably abashed, and merely made him walk on.
‘So is it true? I do hope so, Jasper, because I never liked the idea of your pining over me. Tell me all about her.’
That drew a reluctant smile from him.
‘You have grown very forward since you married my brother. But there is nothing to tell you, since she is going to marry Gerald Barnabus.’
‘He is some sort of cousin of yours, is he not? And does she love him?’
‘She will drive him to distraction.’
‘That does not answer my question.’
‘Does it matter?’ he said impatiently. ‘They are to be married. Barnabus has gone off to see his mother to arrange everything. There is nothing to be done.’ Zelah’s questioning gaze goaded him to add, ‘Yes, I had some hopes there, but nothing serious.’
‘Everyone tells me she is a great beauty.’
‘Matchless.’
‘But you have known many beauties, Jasper. What makes this one so different?’
He considered the question.
‘Her spirit,’ he said at last. ‘She saw an injustice and has fought to do something about it, even at the expense of her own good name. She is very courageous...’ he remembered the alarm in Susannah’s hazel eyes when he had reached out for her ‘...at least, in some things.’
‘Then I hope I shall meet this paragon, very soon.’
Jasper looked up.
‘You shall do so now. Gerald is here, and he has Miss Prentess on his arm.’
Introductions were performed and Jasper sensed an air of unhappiness about Susannah. There was nothing in her manner to suggest she was melancholy, she smiled and conversed with her usual ease, save that she would not look at him. Perhaps it was his imagination, perhaps he merely wished to believe she was regretting her choice.
He was too distracted to take note of the conversation and suddenly realised that Zelah had left his side and was walking away with Susannah, declaring with a smile that they were off to talk of fashion and furbelows.
‘We shall not see them again for some time,’ he remarked, turning to Gerald. ‘When did you get back from Hotwells?’
‘Yesterday.’
‘And how is Gloriana? How did she take your news?’
Gerald’s eyes were fixed on the ladies as they walked away and he did not answer immediately.
‘Very much as I expected. She was overset at first, but she saw I was not to be moved, and after a night’s reflection she came round. I am to take Susannah to meet her next week.’
‘That is good news then.’ Jasper hoped his reply was sufficiently cheerful, but his companion did not respond. ‘You do not seem particularly elated by your success.’
‘Hmm? Oh, I am tired, I suppose.’
Jasper gave a crack of laughter.
‘Tired, after a journey of just over a dozen miles? My dear boy, you should go and drink a cup of that foul-tasting water immediately.’
Gerald’s smile was perfunctory.
‘No need for that, it is just...’ He sighed. ‘I don’t know if I can explain it to you. You will say that a fellow cannot be euphoric for ever, but...oh, you know how it is, Jasper. You want something so badly for a long time, then when you eventually achieve it, it is a trifle—’ He broke off and gave a self-conscious laugh. ‘This is all nonsense, of course. Susannah is everything I ever dreamed she would be.’ He looked past Jasper. ‘By Jove, is that your twin over there? I didn’t know Dominic was here, too, that is famous, I must speak to him immediately.’
He dashed off, leaving Jasper to follow more slowly in his wake.
* * *
Susannah was never quite sure how Mrs Coale had managed to carry her off. One minute she was holding Gerald’s arm and trying to steel herself to meet Jasper, who was watching her approach with a dark, unfathomable look in his hard eyes, the next she was promenading around the Pump Room with the slight, dark-haired lady that was Jasper’s sister-in-law, telling her all about Florence House. At first she was a little wary, but Zelah’s gentle manner and genuine interest soon had its effect and she found herself answering her questions quite freely.
‘The dowager countess is most impressed with your efforts there,’ remarked Zelah. ‘That is no small compliment, believe me.’
‘I am only too thankful that she thought the cause worthy of her attention.’
‘Lady Gisburne loathes being bored and she was most thankful that Jasper brought your project to her attention.’
Susannah blinked.
‘I did not know it was the viscount who told her about Florence House. I thought she had merely heard the gossip.’
‘Oh, no, she told me Jasper argued the case very strongly. And I believe there is a good modiste here that I must visit,’ added Zelah, with a twinkling look. ‘I intend to order at least one gown from Odesse while I am in Bath.’
The conversation turned towards fashion and in no time at all they had completed another full promenade of the room.
‘Oh dear, I can see my husband is looking out for me.’ Zelah chuckled as they came within sight of Lady Gisburne’s party. ‘Come along, let us join them.’
‘Oh, but there is no need for me to come with you,’ declared Susannah, hanging back. She could see Jasper standing beside his equally tall brother and was reluctant to go any closer.
‘Nonsense, I must make you known to Dominic, and I can see Mr Barnabus is with them, too, so where else would you want to go?’
Unable to withstand the pressure of that small, determined hand on her sleeve Susannah accompanied Zelah to join the little group and said all that was proper when she was introduced to Dominic Coale. She resolutely kept her eyes averted from Jasper, but it was impossible not to think of him when she looked at his twin.
Even with the livid scar dissecting his cheek, she thought Dominic Coale as heart-stoppingly handsome as his brother. They shared the same thick, glossy black hair, the same regular features, the lean cheek and finely carved jawline, and if she fancied Jasper’s smile a shade warmer and the glint in his blue-grey eyes a trifle more wicked, that was surely her imagination. While Dominic spoke to her she did her best to ignore Jasper, standing so close and silent, almost within touching distance. She could feel his presence, like a tangible force drawing her closer. She told herself that since Gerald was distantly related to the brothers she would have to grow accustomed to meeting Jasper. And she would do so. She had told Kate as much when they were strolling in the gardens yesterday.
* * *
Her tears had taken her by surprise and she had found herself admitting to Kate that she did not love Gerald.
‘But he loves me,’ she had said, wiping her eyes with the handkerchief Kate supplied. ‘I cannot cry off, it would break his heart.’
‘Better that he should be disappointed now than he should discover it later.’
‘He shall not be disappointed,’ Susannah declared. ‘I will be a good wife to him. I will.’
‘You are in love with someone else.’ Kate’s shrewd eyes did not miss the tell-tale flush that immediately coloured Susannah’s cheek. ‘Is it Markham? Are you in love with the viscount?’
‘No.’ Susannah knew her hasty denial was too vehement. She added quickly, ‘And if I were it would make no odds. He cares nothing for me.’
‘Oh, my poor girl, you have lost your heart to a rake!’ Kate’s sympathy had almost overset Susannah again. ‘I can see how one might easily fall in love with such a man, but it will not do. He is too much a flirt, universally charming to any pretty woman, but you could never be happy for long with such a man. He is far too insubstantial for you.’
Susannah thought back to the night she had spent with Jasper at Florence House. There had been nothing insubstantial about him there when he took charge of the cooking, his orders to Bessie echoing around the cavernous kitchen. Nor had there been anything rakish in his manner when they were sitting together later, in the parlour. Not that it made any difference now.
She raised her head and said again, ‘I shall make Gerald a good wife, I promise you.’
* * *
‘...my love, shall we go? We arranged to meet your aunt at the circulating library.’
Gerald touched her elbow. Susannah turned to look at him, yesterday’s words still ringing in her head.
‘Yes, of course.’ She waited until they were out in the sunshine before she spoke again and when she did it was with studied coolness. ‘I thought Lord Markham and Mr Coale were only distant relations of yours, Gerald. Do you...do you expect to see much of them, when we are married?’
‘Oh, I shouldn’t think so,’ he replied carelessly. ‘Dominic rarely leaves Exmoor and Jasper divides his time between Markham and London. By Jove, I never thought!’ He stopped, clapping his hand to his head. ‘Should we look around for a country house, Susannah? It had not occurred to me that you might want to live elsewhere.’
‘No, I would rather stay in Bath,’ she said quickly. ‘I have the house in Royal Crescent, after all. My aunt has already told me she intends to find a little place for herself once we are wed.’
‘That will suit me very well, although perhaps we will make the occasional jaunt to town.’
‘Of course, whatever will make you happy, Gerald.’
‘Good heavens, marrying you will make me the happiest of men, my dear.’ He kissed her hand. ‘Now, here we are at Duffields—shall we go in and find your aunt?’