A Duchess to Fight For: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 20
Harold turned to Louisa, “May I call on you tomorrow?”
Louisa gave him a small smile. “Yes, you may.”
Her friends took her mind off Barton by telling her little things they heard around the ballroom. They had her laughing before the carriage came and took her away.
*****
“Did you want to see me, Father?” Louisa asked, standing in front of his desk in his office.
“Yes, Louisa. Sit down. Your mother told me there was an incident on the dance floor. I’d like to hear the whole story from you.”
Louisa told him what happened making sure not to leave anything out. He nodded in upsetting parts of the story, encouraging her to go on.
When the story was done, Frederick sat back and didn’t say anything. He looked at the ceiling. Louisa waited. He brought his head down and looked at her.
“Where was Percy? Why wasn’t he watching you? Why didn’t he help you?”
Louisa looked at Frederick in surprise. “Father, Percy and I don’t spend any time with one another any longer. We didn’t even say ‘hello’ to one another last night. He was on one side of the room, and I was on the other.”
“Do you mean to tell me he watched Barton crush your hands while you yelled for help, and he did nothing?”
“I suppose. I don’t know. It was clear Kent and Cecil were coming to help me.”
“There’s a ball tonight. Are you going?”
“Yes. I met a man I’d like to see again. He may come during calling hours. His name is Harold Newton. He’s the Earl of Pembroke,” Louisa said.
“Well then, I’ll meet him this evening. I will join you and your mother at this evening’s ball.”
Louisa’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Father. Will you dance with me?”
Frederick laughed. “Of course I will. And don’t even think of letting this Harold person come before me.”
*****
Percy met Cecil and Kent for dinner at White’s. They were in a private room. He knew by looking into the others’ faces that something was wrong.
Cecil started, his voice oozing disgust. “What’s going on? You stayed on the sidelines last night when Louisa needed you? You have now officially taken this ‘feeling sorry for yourself’ too far.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, and I’m not feeling sorry for myself.”
Kent picked up the conversation, “We’ve been putting up with you and your mood swings for weeks. I’m done. When you don’t lift a finger to help Louisa when she’s in trouble, I know you’ve taken your poisonous thoughts about her too far. I don’t care how broken your heart is, that was a cold thing to do.”
Percy shook his head. “What are you talking about? What happened to Louisa? Is she all right? What?”
Cecil looked at Percy hard. “You don’t know?”
“No, I don’t. But you are scaring me. Is she all right? Should I go over there now?”
Percy stood.
“Sit down, Percy,” Kent said. “How did you miss it? Did you go home early?”
“No, I was busy in the card room losing money. When I thought I had lost enough, I went home. But it was late. Very late.”
Cecil sighed. “Barton cut in on Harold. Since Harold didn’t know about how we safeguard Louisa, he let him in.”
“Who’s Harold?”
“Lord Harold Newton, Earl of Pembroke. We told you. We met him at Tattersall’s. We get together occasionally. You haven’t been all that social lately, so you haven’t met him.”
“And he was dancing with Louisa because . . .”
Kent said, “Because he likes her. He’s constantly asking us questions about her. Where did she grow up? What are her favourite foods? Does she ride? What are her hobbies? He’s got it bad.”
Percy stood and started pacing. “Go on, go on.”
Kent continued, “When Harold walked back to the edge of the dance floor, I asked him where Louisa was. That’s when he told me someone cut in.
“I ran onto the dance floor looking for her. At first, I couldn’t find her. By then, Cecil was looking on one side, me on the other.
“I heard her yelling ‘help’ and followed the sound of her voice. She was frightened. Barton dropped her hands and casually walked off the dance floor so the crowd on the sidelines didn’t suspect anything. He didn’t run away.
“Louisa said he grasped her hands so tight she couldn’t feel them. He knew she couldn’t run from him if he grasped her hands hard enough.”
Percy looked at Kent. Then he looked over at Cecil. Then he continued to pace.
Cecil said, “I went after Barton. I wanted an explanation. He didn’t give one. I asked him why he didn’t let her go when she yelled, and he said she didn’t yell. I got nowhere with him.”
“Then what happened?”
“Amelia told her she was going home. We stayed with her by the front door until the coach came. They left. Kent and I searched for Barton, but he must’ve left.
“Why didn’t you find me? I would have gone to Louisa’s.”
Cecil shrugged. “You haven’t wanted to have anything to do with her since before she went away, and we thought you watched the whole incident and didn’t lift a finger. We thought you didn’t want to help her.”
“Have I been that bad?” he said, having stopped pacing, standing up facing Cecil and Kent.
“Yes, Percy you have.”
Percy turned to Cecil, “You think so too?”
“Yeah, I do. You’ve been cold. We’ve talked about stopping our dinners if you didn’t snap out of it. Our sympathy for you is gone, Percy.”
Percy sat across from them. “You’ve been thinking of stopping our dinners? Why didn’t you tell me? You’re my best friends; you should have been honest with me.”
Cecil snorted. “Louisa is your best friend. Don’t you remember? And we tried to tell you, and you wouldn’t listen. There’s only so much we can take.”
“Humph. I keep making a bad situation worse, don’t I?”
“Yes,” Cecil said.
“But how is Louisa? Is she all right? Are any of her fingers broken?”
Cecil shrugged. “She left so fast it’s hard to tell. She was still in shock when she left the ball.”
Percy sat. He put his elbows on the table and his head in his hands. “I’m a heel, aren’t I?”
Cecil laughed. “Yes, you are. But you can change back to the other Percy that we like.”
Percy nodded. “I’ll try.”
Chapter 23
The next day during calling hours, Percy had a banking appointment. He hadn’t called on Louisa for so long that he regularly scheduled appointments during that time. He found he got a lot done during that part of the day.
Harold called. “Come in My Lord,” Louisa said, getting an empty teacup. “How do you take your tea?”
When Harold sat back with his tea, he asked Louisa, “How are you today? Have your nerves settled down since last evening?”
“Yes, thank you. Barton St John has interest in making me his wife by whatever means he can. We usually do a good job of keeping him at bay, but I slipped and didn’t tell you not to let him cut in.” She shrugged. “Now you know.”
“What a relief. Please tell me you will continue to go to the balls and other ton activities.”
Louisa grinned. “I will. The plan to keep Barton away worked well except for last night. I’m not going to hide in my bedchamber because Barton is out there.”
“Good for you. Now that I know, I will keep my eyes on you all night. And that won’t be a hardship.”
Louisa smiled and blushed.
*****
“Hello, Louisa,” Percy said with a bow.
“Hello,” Louisa curtsied then turned to say something to Emma.
‘This isn’t going to be easy,’ Percy thought.
Cecil walked up and stood next to Emma. He whispered hello to her, his lips close to her ear. She looked up at him.
Cecil looked around and assesse
d what was going on. He wanted to roll his eyes but said, “Percy, nice to see you again. I’ve missed having you around during the balls.”
Louisa jumped in, “Cecil, that’s because he has been entertaining Nora.”
Cecil turned to Percy. “Ah, you’ve finally figured out that Louisa doesn’t want to be entertained by you, so you’ve moved on to Nora. Good man.”
Emma gasped, “Cecil.”
“What? You’re going to chastise me for telling the truth?”
Percy stopped gritting his teeth long enough to say, “Maybe we should change the subject. I was in the card room last night. I didn’t win by the way. Did I miss anything?”
Cecil said, “You didn’t hear?”
“Hear what, Cecil?”
“Barton had Louisa on the dance floor by the hands. She couldn’t tug them away. If Kent hadn’t intervened, we don’t know what would have happened.
Percy turned to Louisa, “Is that true? Are you all right?”
Louisa look at him, “Yes, thank you.”
“I don’t understand. We had a system to keep him away. One he couldn’t get around.”
Cecil said, “We have a friend, Harold Newton. He danced with Louisa before any of us could think to tell him about Barton. I blame myself.”
Louisa looked at Cecil, “Oh, Cecil, don’t blame yourself. There were five of us, and none of us remembered.”
“Now you know. If you dance with anyone else, make sure someone tells your dance partner there are no cut-ins allowed.”
Kent came into the conversation. “You would have remembered if you were here last night.”
“Thanks, Kent. I was busy in the card room giving my money away,” Percy said.
“Ah, that’s why you didn’t save her,” Kent said.
Percy was tired of needing to explain why he didn’t save Louisa. He would make sure he was there for her if she needed him from now on, but he couldn’t change the past.
“Emma, how is Rose?” Percy asked.
Emma moved over to stand by Percy. “Not bad. She is in London. She and her mother-in-law keep each other company in the country.”
“Has she invited you to visit yet?”
Emma smiled. “Yes, she has. I’m going when the season is over. I’m trying to talk Louisa into going also.”
Percy grinned, “Wouldn’t that be a fun trip. Rose is going to be so grateful for your visit.”
Emma nodded. “I think so.”
“Next time you write, tell her I’m thinking of her,” he said.
“I will. She will be happy to hear she still has friends in London.”
Percy bent over and whispered in Emma’s ear, “Is he still going slowly?
Emma burst out laughing. “Yes.”
Percy laughed too.
“Excuse me. Emma, how about you come back and stand next to me.”
“Cecil, you can’t possibly be jealous of me. No one likes me,” Percy said.
“Except maybe Emma. And I’m going to put a stop to that right now.”
Percy sighed. “Be right back.”
He walked down the sidelines of the ballroom floor until he got to Amelia and Frederick. He bowed and said hello.
Amelia said, “Percy, how nice to see you. I see you are socializing with your group of friends. Are they welcoming?”
Percy laughed. “Some. How are you both?”
Frederick answered, “We are well. Coming back to London has meant Hobart and I are up to no good.” Frederick grinned.
Amelia shook her head. “I wouldn’t want to any other way.”
“I was in the card room last night until the early hours of the morning. Losing, I might add. I know better than to play. Anyway, I heard there was an unfortunate incident?”
Amelia frowned. “Very unfortunate. There was a communication breakdown, and Barton took advantage of it. I’m just glad it hasn’t stopped her from coming out tonight or any other night.”
“Yes, how true. Duchess. I would like to come for tea tomorrow, and I wonder if that would be acceptable to you?”
Amelia smiled. “Percy, you are always welcome.”
Frederick said the same. ”I don’t know if Louisa will be welcoming, but I suppose we’ll have to wait and see. Won’t we?”
“Yes, we will,” Percy said and bowed.
“Goodbye, Percy dear.”
*****
Percy walked back to the group and met Harold. He thought Harold seemed like a nice man except that he seemed quite possessive of Louisa.
It didn’t escape him that everyone was paired off except him. He and Nora weren’t clicking in any way, and the longer they were together, the more obvious it became. He wasn’t going to explain that to anyone. It would become apparent over time that he was no longer in her company.
When Percy heard the strains of music signalling the dancing was about to begin, he froze. He didn’t have a dance partner. Frederick came and took Louisa to the dance floor.
Percy’s friends also went to the dance floor as the music started. Surprisingly, an old Cambridge friend, Sam came to him with his sister in tow. After reintroducing himself and talking about their time at Cambridge, he introduced Percy to his sister Marietta.
Marietta was gorgeous, and her smile was broad and warm. He bowed. She curtsied. He asked her to dance.
He felt like he was floating on the dance floor, she was so light on her feet.
“Tell me, Marietta, do you live in London?”
“I do. I live with my brother.”
“Where do you live?”
“In a townhouse.”
“Oh, I meant where is your townhouse located?”
“In London,” she said.
He smiled at her. This was a joke. He hadn’t seen Sam since Cambridge, so why would he pull a prank on him now?
“Did Sam put you up to this? Is he playing a prank on me?”
Marietta looked up at Percy. “I don’t know what you mean?”
“Did Sam tell you to give me nonsensical answers to my questions?”
She tilted her head at him, “I don’t know what you mean. Sam said he would introduce me to someone he used to know that was nice. Not everyone has been nice. People here aren’t very friendly.”
“Pardon me, Marietta. I hope you didn’t find me rude.”
The music stopped, and Percy brought Marietta back to Sam.
Percy bowed. “Marietta, it was a pleasure meeting you.”
He bowed again, “Sam.”
Cecil walked over to Percy. “That girl was gorgeous. You are dancing with her again later this evening?”
“No. She is a beautiful woman, and she has a sweet, gentle soul. She is also, by far, the most simpleminded person I’ve ever met.”
“More’s the pity.”
“So true. I wish I could live with someone like that, but I can’t. One conversation, and I need whisky. I thought her brother was pulling a prank on me.”
“Did you say whisky?”
“I did.”
“Let me get the boys.”
Percy, Cecil, Kent, and Harold headed for the liquor table on the far wall. Of course, they couldn’t go through the dance floor, so it took longer to make their way through the crowds on the sidelines.
They each got a drink and stood on the edge of the dance floor across from the girls.
Where was Louisa? Harold was with him, so she wasn’t on the dance floor. The girls looked relaxed, so they weren’t worried about her. He drew his gaze to Amelia. Louisa wasn’t with her.
“Look for Louisa. She’s missing. Left, middle, middle, right,” Percy said, pointing assignments at his friends. Percy had the right area to scan.
Percy’s glass shattered on the floor, and he was running. The other three were behind him, albeit at a distance.
Barton had Louisa by her upper arm and was leading her out to the patio. She was dragging her feet but not screaming. He said something to her that kept her quiet, Percy couldn’t imagine what.