Page 24 of Pursued Beyond Treachery
The way Susannah kept the obviously uncomfortable woman company while the rest of the guests enjoyed cards warmed his heart. She had always been particularly attentive to the needs of others.
Bids were called and John pulled his attention back to the game. Javenia had been invited to even up the numbers and he’d been relieved when they drew the lowest cards which paired them for the game. Al sat to his right, and on the other side Al’spartner was a Miss Guthrie, who apparently was related to Her Grace through some means.
John covertly took stock of the young woman’s appearance. Oddly she reminded him of Susannah. Same golden hair and medium build, but where Susannah’s eyes were a warm brown, Miss Guthrie’s were a nondescript blue. They both possessed full cheeks and a small smattering of freckles, but the effect did not herald the same emotions in John that Susannah’s well placed sunspots did.
For starters, Miss Guthrie’s freckles were large and obtrusive rather than blending with her features. In addition, she quite clearly viewed herself as a person of importance calling out orders in the game as if she were the dealer, her competitiveness evident in the set of her shoulders and the focus of her eyes.
Not that he minded a woman of competition, but her muttered complaints when she lost a trick proved her a poor sport. After some time, he wondered how he could ever have compared her to Susannah. Their personalities were completely different.
Javenia tossed in a trump card and Al groaned. “Do you always have to win?”
She grinned at his complaint. “Only when I play against you.”
John covered his smile with his hand.
Al tossed his card down. “Someday a hard lesson in humility will come your way,Miss Harris.I only hope I am the one to give it to you.”
“Keep dreaming,Mr.Roberts.”
They had resorted to emphasis on titles, a sure sign that they were still at odds, otherwise they’d have referred to each other by given names, company or not.
Miss Guthrie grumbled something, but then requested another game.
“I am afraid not,” Javenia said. “I am going to quit while I have the upper hand onMr. Roberts.”
“Coward,” Al mumbled under his breath.
Javenia grinned and sauntered away.
“Perhaps my sister will join us,” Miss Guthrie offered, motioning to a taller version of herself. Miss Martha Guthrie echoed her sister in appearances except for her greater height and an absence of the large freckles.
She too seemed quite competitive and after a second game, John decided he was done with cards for the night, choosing instead to find his way to Susannah’s side.
Other card tables were beginning to break up, the occupants of the room finding their way to a refreshment table where tea and cakes were being served. That was where he found Susannah, a plate in each hand.
Teasing words escaped his lips before he’d had time to think better of it. “Did you miss supper?”
She smiled at him. “No, I had plenty, but lest you think both these plates are for me, I am on an errand for Her Grace.”
Of course she was; her kindness knew no ends.
“So you have found a better position than the one I offered. No wonder your father refused.” A familiar rotund woman with dark hair liberally peppered with grey approached them.
Susannah’s brow furrowed and one of the plates in her hand trembled. John quickly relieved her of it, confused by Mrs. Guthrie’s words.
The woman tsked. “And to think I could have presented you as family. Well, that is all ruined now. Tell me, how long have you been a companion to the Duchess of Bedford? She did not mention a need to employ anyone.”
John gripped the plate he held so tightly his knuckles turned white. How dare the woman imply that Susannah was not here of her own right?
He straightened, his tall frame towering over the much shorter woman, but before he could speak, Susannah cleared the air.
“You are mistaken, Aunt Guthrie. I am only showing her a kindness. I am the guest of Sir Nathaniel and his wife, who you must know is the niece of His Grace.”
Her aunt? On further inspection he recognized several features in the woman that were reminiscent of Mr. Wayland. The man did have an older sister, but John had never had the pleasure of meeting her—or rather, the displeasure by her current sour expression.
Mrs. Guthrie sniffed. “I see. Well, that is not much better. Such a scandalous marriage, you must know.”
The reminder of Nate and Melior’s rough beginning needled at his nerves. The rake Mr. Fairchild held the majority of blame for their forced marriage. How dare this woman bring up such matters, and at the duke’s house no less?
