by Abigail Agar
“If her season is over, with Barton lurking around, should she be in London?
“I’m sorry, Frederick, but it’s time to go over her options. Should she marry now to avoid Barton? Yes, it’s a marriage of convenience, but it’s better than Barton.
“There’s a lot to consider. While the waiting is driving you mad, strategize. It’s difficult to make the right decision when you’re under pressure and have little time.”
*****
Mendon entered the parlour. “My Lady, you have a caller. The Earl of Wessex.”
Louisa looked at her mother.
Amelia said, “Ah, I remember him. He showed great interest at the beginning of the season. But then he disappeared.”
Percy said, “His father died. How convenient the nobility has such truncated mourning.”
“Percy,” Amelia said. She turned to Mendon. “Show him in.”
The ladies curtsied, and the men bowed. “Stafford,” Percy said.
“Percy.”
Amelia swept her arm toward a chair. “Please sit, My Lord.”
Stafford sat and allowed Louisa to pour him tea.
“My condolences on your father, Stafford,” Percy said.
“Yes, My Lord. Accept our condolences,” Amelia said.
“Thank you. His health faltered near the end, so it came as no great surprise to the family. My sisters are still working on coming to terms.
“I was needed in London by my man of business. It seems he will keep me busy for quite a while. Father didn’t have the strength to travel to London near the end.” He shrugged. “Please, let’s talk of happier topics. I just got back. Tell me what I have missed over the past few months.”
Louisa did her best to fill Stafford in on the season. It became evident from her knowledge of the goings on of the season that her knowledge ended short of the present day.
“And, I must ask, have you a suitor? I would enjoy calling again, but I don’t want to stand in your way.”
“No, My Lord. There is no longer a suitor.”
“Will you be at the Slope ball on Thursday? I should ask for a dance now to make sure I will have a turn.”
Amelia jumped in. “We have not yet decided about the ball on Thursday, My Lord. I am just now getting over a cold and must wait until then to decide.”
“I see. Well, I hope to see you there in improved health, Your Grace. If I don’t see you, may I call again?”
Amelia spoke first. “That would be lovely.”
Once the Earl left, Amelia looked at Louisa. “What do you think? I remember he was by your side during most of the early balls. He certainly had his eye on you.”
“Yes, Mother. But wait until he hears that Jack dumped me. I won’t look so interesting to him then.”
Percy shook his head. “That won’t sway him in the least. He’ll call again. I just wonder about him.”
“Why?” Amelia asked.
“No reason. I’m sure it’s nothing.” He looked at Louisa. “What do you think?”
She shrugged. “I’m surprised. I am flattered that he would remember me from the start of the season and come to call.”
Amelia said, “You should be flattered. Louisa, you must consider going to the ball Thursday evening. You would have Emma, Lord Daniels, and Percy surrounding you. You would not be alone.” Amelia turned to Percy, “Would she Percy?”
Percy smiled. “No, you would not, Louisa. What a great way to ease back into the ball circuit. I don’t think Stafford has any intention of abandoning you.”
Louisa said, “I’ll think on it. Maybe Father could come?”
Amelia smiled. “I’m sure I can arrange it.”
*****
Percy didn’t know how to feel about Louisa and Stafford. On one hand, it was a boost for her knowing there was a man interested in her. Percy did think Stafford was truly interested in her.
On the other hand, he wondered if there was an ulterior motive. Would it be such a bad thing if he were also interested in her dowry? Marriages had been built on less.
Percy ticked down the list of concerns one would have with a marriage of convenience. Would he hit her? No, Percy didn’t think so. Would he stray and leave her alone? No, not that either. Percy would research whether or not he drank or gambled.
Other than that, it might work. She could do worse. Barton. Oh, no. Would Barton be at Thursday night’s ball? If he asked her, she would have to dance with him.
We could fill her dance card. Me, Stafford, Cecil, and Kent. Two dances each. Even so, it would ruin her evening to have him ogling her from across the ballroom.
Barton could ruin it for all her future outings. If he went to balls and plays and anywhere else the ton congregated, Louisa wouldn’t go.
Louisa really needed to be married. If Stafford didn’t do it, he would. And fast. They had all been sitting around waiting for something bad to happen. He needed to talk Frederick into letting him take her to Gretna Green. Now.
Why didn’t he think of this before? The minute she stepped into a ballroom, Barton would be there.
Frederick and Hobart had to watch their backs every minute of every day. This problem could be solved in one ride over the Scottish border. No one knew Louisa better than him. And she knew him just as well. He wasn’t attached. She wasn’t attached.
Why didn’t he think of this before?
Percy knocked on Frederick’s office door.
“Come.”
Frederick stood and bowed. Percy did the same.
He was now so accustomed to joining Frederick in his office that he just sat in his usual chair while Frederick got the drinks.
“I’m no longer sure we are going about this in the right way,” Percy started. He put his drink down and stood. His nervous energy was on high alert. He started pacing.
“Can you be a little more specific, Percy? I think you may have started the conversation in the middle.”
“Oh. Sorry. Yes, well, I was thinking about the ball Stafford mentioned. What if Barton is there? So, I thought we could fill up Louisa’s dance card. You, me, Stafford, Cecil, and Kent. But still, he could glare at her from across the room and ruin her evening.
“The only way she is going to be free of this madness is if she marries.”
Percy’s pacing sped up. He stopped for a moment, lifted his head so his eyes were on the ceiling and breathed out.
He turned to Frederick. “She has to marry.” Percy started pacing again. “Why are we waiting for him to strike or for us to find something on him?
“Now that she has started going out, he could corner her and compromise her. It wouldn’t take him ten minutes to ruin her life.
“I’m taking her to Gretna Green. I don’t see any other way. Since she decided to go to the ball, I thought there is only so much we can do to protect her. This is the only way. This is the only way to protect her.”
“So, Percy, she should rush into a marriage she may or may not want because of Barton? I understand your concern, and I certainly see your logic, but I’m not sure Louisa needs to enter a marriage of convenience to thwart Barton. You complain you hate being impulsive. I think you’re being impulsive now.”
Percy sat and took in half of his drink. He sat the glass down again.
“Frederick, I think it’s time. She can’t make a decision like this not knowing why we think it might be a good idea. She really needs to know. Especially if she will be in a public setting where she will be talking with members of the ton.”
Frederick thought for a moment. “I think we can handle him. If he can’t talk to her alone on the dance floor or on the sidelines, he will be neutralized.
“Amelia can escort her to the ladies retiring room, and you and Stafford can stick to her like glue. There will be no opportunity for him to compromise her.”
Frederick paused. “Why now, Percy? Why are you so concerned now when we’ve been following a plan that you were in agreement with?”
“She hadn’t decided to go
out in public until now. She wouldn’t even accept my invitation to the theatre, a much safer venue I might add.”
“Except for the inconvenience of Barton, do you have any objection to her going to the ball?”
“Like what?” Percy said, not understanding.
“That’s what I’m wondering, Percy. Like what?”
“I’m sorry, Frederick. I am not following you.”
“Does any of this have to do with Stafford?”
“No,” Percy answered. “Not at all. I think he’s perfectly safe and not a threat to Louisa in any way.”
“I see,” said Frederick. He paused again before speaking.
“So we will fill her dance card, keep by her side, have Amelia, not her friends, accompany her to wherever we are not allowed.
“I think the gentlemen who dance with her should not allow another gentleman to cut into the dance. I don’t care if it’s bad form.
“We will promise you to her for the meal. If he can’t get a dance, he might try to dine with her. I’m not sure what else we can do.”
Percy finished his drink in one gulp. He stood and started pacing again. “We need to tell her about Jack and about Barton before the dance. If she doesn’t know about Barton, she may agree to a dance or to get refreshments with him. You know, if an ax murderer asked her to dance, she would say yes so as not to hurt his feelings.”
“And if she knows, she won’t go out, or if she did, she would not have a good time.” Frederick shook his head. “No, I don’t think now is the time.”
“Then, I have to tell you, Frederick, if I see anything threatening, I’m taking her to Gretna Green, and I’ll explain it in the carriage on the way. Marriage of convenience or not, I won’t allow Barton to get his hands on her. I care about her too much for that to happen.”
“I can’t argue with that, Percy. Let’s all hope it never comes to that. I want to be clear with you, though. I told Louisa that she could choose her husband. Barton’s actions aside, she will marry by her choice alone. Not mine, not yours. Unless you want to marry her yourself, and she agrees to it, you do not have my blessing. Gretna Green is a last resort under dire circumstances. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I do. I’m afraid the circumstances are heading towards dire,” Percy said.
“Let’s hope not,” Frederick countered.
Chapter 12
Stafford came over during calling hours every day since he arrived back in London. It lifted Louisa’s spirits, so she felt better than she had since Jack went away. So much so that she decided to go to the Slope ball on Thursday evening.
For some reason that rankled Percy. She thought he would be happy that she decided to venture out. God knows he tried to get her out several times before now.
She didn’t know how well acquainted Percy and Stafford were before Stafford left London, but she was unhappy with the way Percy treated him. It was important to her that they get along. When she tried to put her finger on it, she couldn’t. She couldn’t even come up with a single incident that proved her point.
Stafford was such an interesting man. He knew more about horses than most men, and he told interesting stories about horse breeding. He offered to host the Haddingtons when he next expected a foal.
Why didn’t she notice him earlier? He had noticed her. She must have been too infatuated with Jack to pay him much notice. Stafford could have gone to the ball, danced with a number of ladies, and chose from several. But he decided to come to her. Even before the ball.
*****
Stafford had thought about Louisa when he was pulled away from London. He thought of her so much he was worried he had built her up in his head to be more beautiful and sweeter than she really was.
But his mind didn’t play tricks on him. She was everything he remembered. And more. He wasn’t interested in starting over, going from one ball to the next, dancing with the ladies he did not intend to ever talk to again.
Thankfully, Stafford didn’t have to trample over Jack to get to Louisa. He heard about Jack from Barton. He also heard what was behind it. When Barton told him the story, he wanted to laugh. Barton with Louisa? Stafford didn’t see it.
Percy told him the plan for Thursday evening. It was a good plan. He would be more than willing to stay by Louisa’s side to buffer her from Barton.
Percy made it clear how frustrated he was that Frederick wouldn’t tell Louisa the truth. He saw Percy’s point. She had a right to know. But, on the other hand, she probably wouldn’t even go to the ball if she knew. If she went, she would probably look over her shoulder the whole time.
The season was half over. Stafford planned to spend every day and most evenings with Louisa. In a month, he would ask her to marry him. Hopefully, they would be betrothed for only a short period. Then they could put Barton behind them.
*****
“Percy,” the Duchess greeted him when he came for tea. “I asked Frederick to detain Louisa for a few minutes so we could talk.
“I know you are Louisa’s best friend, and the two of you are closer than most brothers and sisters, but now that she has a suitor, I was wondering if things could change.
“He plans to ask her to join him in the park. Of course, he would ask you also. Would you object to allowing them to go without you? They would be chaperoned, of course.”
Percy gave Amelia a small smile. “Of course. I would never stand in the way of Louisa’s happiness. I thank you for your advice. Men are the last to notice things, aren’t they?”
“Thank you, Percy. You are so good to her. I don’t know what she would do without you.”
Percy heard footsteps then saw Louisa and Stafford at the parlour door. He rose and bowed. How did he miss it before? Her eyes were shining, and she had colour in her cheeks. She was beautiful. Thanks to Stafford, she was beautiful.
“Look who I found in the foyer on my way to the parlour,” Louisa said. She gave a little melodic laugh and looked at Stafford.
‘What was I just saying?’ Percy thought. ‘Men are the last to notice things.’
Once they settled, talk turned to the Slope ball that evening.
“Is Frederick going? Will he be accompanying you to the ball, Duchess?”
“Yes, Percy. Thank you,” she said. “It’s a rare occasion that we have the pleasure of Frederick’s company. Louisa and I plan to make the most of it. In fact,” she said, turning to Louisa, “he said he plans to dance at least one dance with you this evening.”
“It’s a shame you don’t have a dance card with you now so I could fill in two dances for myself,” Stafford said.
“And you will be forced to dance with your good friend, also. Two dances I should think,” Percy said.
“That doesn’t leave many dances.” Louisa grinned.
“Knowing the gentlemen that will be at the ball tonight, I predict your dance card will be full before you hear the first strains of the orchestra,” Stafford said.
“We are willing to share, aren’t we Stafford?” Percy winked at Louisa.
Stafford gave an overdramatic sigh, “If we must, Percy. If we must.”
Louisa giggled. “I may turn both of you down for a dance if you’re not careful.”
Percy laughed and turned to Stafford. “Isn’t she getting picky?”
Stafford said in a voice meant to mimic someone crying and talking at the same time, “If she turns me down, I’ll go in the corner and curl up into a ball.”
“Gentlemen, please. Enough,” she said with a laugh.
Percy was happy to see Louisa laughing but saddened that it wasn’t he that made her so. She wouldn’t have gone to the ball at his suggestion.
*****
Louisa enjoyed dressing for the ball. Her mother came in and went through her wardrobe with her, and together they chose one of her favourites. The cornflower blue gown was free of bows and ruffles.
It had but one style statement. The gown was off the shoulder, showing off her flawless skin. Her mother’s long pearls f
inished the effect.
“You look lovely, my dear,” her father said when she descended the stairs. And she even had to admit to herself that she did.
“Thank you,” she said with her brightest smile meant only for him.
“You’re sure you want to go?” he asked.
“Very,” she said, although it wasn’t true. She hadn’t been out in weeks, and breaking the ice would be difficult. She didn’t know what to expect.