by Abigail Agar
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Frederick Haddington, Duke of Rutland
“There you are, Percy. Happy you could make it,” Frederick said as he slapped Percy on the back.
Percy smiled and followed the maître d’ and Frederick to a private dining room.
Frederick and Percy had a drink and caught up on what was happening in London and at Haddington Hall. Percy had visited Hobart several times, but everything they were involved with before had quieted down with Louisa out of town.
Dinner came, and it didn’t slow down their genial conversation. “I enjoy your brother’s company. He is an interesting man. Fair warning: he still talks about America.”
Frederick laughed. “He will always talk about America. Don’t tell him, but I’m warming up for a trial run. I’m not quite ready yet, so if I say something to him, the ship will be leaving the harbour before I have had time to prepare myself.”
Percy laughed. “You would make him a happy man.”
Frederick nodded. “I know. And I want to be a happy man. And you Percy can help me.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. You see, my daughter has turned into a different person. Someone I hardly recognize. Gone is the fun-loving girl who made me smile. I can’t remember the last time I heard her laugh.
“She’s–”
Percy jumped in, “Frederick, I–”
Frederick put up his hand. “Now, hear me out, Percy. She misses you. Terribly. She knows she made a mistake turning down your marriage proposal, and if she had to do it over again, she’d say ‘yes.’
“I think she was overwhelmed at the time, and she wasn’t thinking straight. When we got to the estate, and she had time to clear her head, the reality of losing you sunk in.”
Percy asked, “May I speak?”
Frederick grimaced. “By all means. My apologies for cutting you off.”
Percy continued, “Quite all right. I love your daughter. You know that; Amelia knows that. Hell, Hobart knows it too. Is she of right mind now? Is she willing to accept me because she misses me every day at tea? Her friends have gentlemen who will soon ask them to marry. She has no one courting her.
“What I’m trying to say is that I don’t want to be her default partner.”
Frederick nodded. “I understand your concern, and three months ago, I might have even said you were right. But not now.
“Being away from you has been the best thing to happen to her. She took you for granted. When you stopped coming over for tea every day, it gave her a lot to think about.
“She didn’t like how she felt. She concluded that she made a big mistake, something Amelia and I already knew. Tell me, Percy, how do you feel about her now? Would you give her a second chance?”
Percy was quiet for a moment. Frederick gave him all the time he needed before he spoke.
“I was hurt. It was a difficult pill to swallow. I’m still not over it. I think I’ve learned to guard my heart, and it’s not easy to get past the wall I’ve put up.
“I’m not sure how much I can let her in. I can try, but I’m afraid I will always be wary that she’ll do what she did to me before.”
Percy shook his head. “If she thinks we can pick up where we left off, she’s wrong. She might not like the new me. I can come for tea, and see how it goes, but I’m not sure it will go well.”
Frederick said, “I understand and respect how you feel. But know this, if you went to the townhouse right now and asked her to marry you, she would say yes.”
Percy rubbed his hand on the back of his neck. “I don’t think I’ll ever ask her to marry me again.”
“That bad, huh?”
“Yeah, that bad.”
Frederick nodded. “Would you do me the favour of joining us for tea? Just once?”
“Sure. Just once.”
*****
Frederick went straight to Hobart’s apartment. He knew that the warehouse would be shut and locked up by now. He just wanted to see his brother.
“Well, well. Look who has come to visit his poor, neglected brother,” Hobart said.
“It’s nice to know you missed me,” Frederick said.
“I did,” Hobart said, then clapped Frederick on the back.
He brought two full glasses of whisky to Hobart’s parlour where he had two couches, one table with candles, and a shelf with nothing on it.
“Aren’t you going to say it, Frederick?”
“I love what you’ve done to the place. You say it every time you come into my parlour.”
“Why, thank you,” Hobart bowed, and they both laughed.
“You look tired,” Hobart said.
“Emotionally drained. I just had dinner with Percy. I let him know Louisa has changed her mind and would marry him if he asked her. He said he wouldn’t.”
“Humph. Do you think he’ll come around?” Hobart asked.
“I don’t know. Not in the near future,” Frederick said.
“He moved heaven and earth for her.”
“I know. She didn’t ask him to. He did it all on his own.”
Hobart grimaced. “Isn’t that even more reason he would be hurt? He shouldn’t have expected anything in return, and maybe he didn’t. It’s still hard. Everyone likes to be appreciated.”
“He’s coming to tea tomorrow, but he made no commitment after that. She may never see him again when tea is over and he leaves the townhouse.”
“That’s too bad,” Hobart said in a low voice.
“Yes, it is. Tell me, what’s been happening here?”
“When you left town, things settled down fast. Barton has been pursuing other girls at the balls. Apparently, his interest level coincides with the young lady’s dowry size. Being a peer of the realm has been good for Barton. All his sins slide off his back. No one could prove he was trying to kidnap Louisa, so life goes on as usual for him.
“Xavier Abernathy is almost never seen. He doesn’t attend ton events and rarely leaves the Earl’s townhouse when in London.”
“Are Barton and Victor horse trading?”
“Yes. Barton can raise the price of a horse by as much as ten thousand. I’ve heard he’s making headway in settling that bad investment.”
“Good for him. The better he does financially, the less I worry about Louisa.”
“I wrote you that our last run was the best yet. I want a run where you and I are the only investors.”
“Done, Hobart. My investors will be so happy with this payout; they will let a ship go without complaining. Should we try my investors in America?”
“Yes,” Hobart jumped up. He settled down then poured Frederick more whisky. Frederick cooperated more when the whisky was flowing.
“You need to promise me a full hold of salable goods on the return trip. Under that condition, I’ll do it.”
Hobart laughed. “It’s always been about the return trip.”
Frederick gave Hobart a broad smile. “Yes, it has.”
*****
Emma came early for tea. She wanted to leave the townhouse before Percy came, but she wanted to see Louisa. She repeated what she wrote in her letter, downplaying what she said about Percy and Nora. If both Percy and Nora were at tonight’s ball, Emma didn’t know how much interaction they might have.
That news lifted Louisa’s spirits. If Percy wasn’t spending so much time with Nora, she had a chance.
Her father had told her at breakfast that he saw Percy. He asked him to tea, and Percy accepted. But he wasn’t hopeful that Percy would pick up where they left off. Louisa may have lost her best friend.
So, when Emma told her about Nora, Louisa grabbed the news with both hands. She tried to keep her expectations low, but she couldn’t. After all, this was Percy they were talking about. Her best friend. The person she knew above all others.
When he entered the parlour and bowed, Louisa knew right away that Percy was a different person. Before a word came out of his mouth.
He sat in his usual seat and took hi
s tea the same way and ate the same cookies. That’s where the similarities ended.
He was cool to her. His eyes didn’t dance and sparkle. His voice was no longer animated. They shared generalities of what had happened over time since they saw each other last.
Instead of lingering and having a second cup of tea, he rose and made excuses for his early departure.
When he walked out of the parlour, Louisa looked over at Amelia. Her eyes showed how hurt she was at Percy’s cold social call.
Louisa rose, ran into the hallway and caught up with Percy just as Mendon was about to open the door.
She hurried over, “Percy?”
Mendon walked away.
Percy turned, “Yes?”
“I want to apologize to you. Every day I regret my actions towards you. It’s no way to treat the person most important in your life.”
Louisa’s eyes filled with unshed tears, “Please, please forgive me, Percy.”
Percy looked down at her; his face hadn’t softened at all. He bowed.
“You are forgiven.” He turned, opened the door, and left.
Louisa stood transfixed. The tears decided to break free and fall.
Chapter 22
Louisa was nervous about tonight’s ball. It had been over a month since her last ball, and that gathering had drawn the attention of the ton.
Now she wouldn’t have Percy with her to help her through it. Nothing could have prepared her for when Percy came to tea. The shock of it had not worn off, and Louisa thought it might not for a long time to come.
Emma had agreed to be at their usual spot and stay close to Louisa for the evening so she wouldn’t be alone. Cecil and Kent could be counted on to dance with her.
Louisa spotted Emma, Inez, and Gertie, and sighed in relief. They all gathered in a circle and began laughing and talking about gentlemen. Louisa was pleased her entry back from exile had started so smoothly.
It became apparent early on that Emma wasn’t exaggerating. Kent and Gertie looked like a serious couple. Cecil and Emma did too except Cecil projected a more laissez-faire attitude that Louisa didn’t believe for a minute.
Cecil approached Louisa, “May I have this dance?”
Louisa put up her hand for Cecil to take and said, “I would love to dance.”
On the dance floor, Cecil said, “You know, Louisa, you need to be very patient. Percy needs time to get his head on straight. He’s not there yet.”
Louisa’s face fell into a serious expression. “I wish that wasn’t so. I miss him.”
He smiled down at her, “Be patient.”
Louisa nodded.
When the dance was over, and they were on the sidelines again, Harold walked up.
“Cecil, could you introduce me to your lovely friend?”
“Certainly,” he said. “Lord Harold Newton, Earl of Pembroke, I would like you to meet Lady Louisa Haddington.”
Harold bowed, and Louisa curtsied.
“May I have this dance, Lady Haddington?”
“Yes,” she said as she lifted her hand to his.
Louisa had to crane her neck to look at Harold, but otherwise, she found him appealing. He was interesting, handsome, and had beautiful straight white teeth that she couldn’t keep her eyes off. His smile was mesmerizing.
Harold told Louisa about meeting Cecil and Kent at Tattersall’s and about joining them at White’s occasionally.
Harold and Louisa seemed to hit it off from the start. When the dance was over, Harold walked Louisa back to the sidelines and stayed next to her to prolong their conversation.
Louisa was laughing at something Harold said when she saw Emma stiffen out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head toward Emma. Emma was looking across the floor. Louisa followed her gaze. Percy and Nora. My, they looked cosy.
To keep Percy from distracting her, Louisa adjusted her stance so that Percy was at her back. Harold didn’t seem to notice because his demeanour didn’t change. Did Percy even know Harold?
Harold asked her to dine with him. She was thrilled. Kent approached her, “Let’s go; my turn.”
She turned to Harold and said, “I’ll be right back.”
“Kent, do you know Lord Newton well?”
“I think so. Cecil and I met him at Tattersall’s, and we’ve met at White’s for drinks or dinner a few times. Percy has yet to meet him, but Cecil and I like him.”
“So you approve of him?”
“Yes, I do. Cecil would say the same thing.”
“Thank you, Kent,” Louisa said when the dance was over. “I’ll let you get back to Gertie.”
Louisa went over to Harold, Cecil and Emma talking on the side of the ballroom. Harold was telling a funny story about his new, very young stable boy when Louisa looked up to see Percy and Nora dancing. A pang of jealousy ran through her as she watched.
Percy wore a detached expression, but Louisa thought it was a studied look. He seemed to be attempting to remove any emotion from his face. It was a shame. Percy had such an expressive face. He was not as handsome without it.
Louisa decided to stop searching for Percy in the crowd. She found it distressing, and except for Percy, she was having more fun than she expected.
The last dance before dinner was a waltz. Harold stretched his arm out for her, and she took it. She needn’t have worried about Harold’s height making their dance challenging; he was an excellent dancer, and she hardly noticed the height.
Percy was watching Louisa dance with the same man twice. He didn’t like it. Who was that man? He’d have to ask Cecil later. He couldn’t torture himself by watching her with another man. He excused himself to Nora, who was chatting with a friend and went to the card room.
Harold felt a tap on his shoulder and turned. Barton was asking if he could cut in. Louisa looked around in panic trying to find Cecil or Kent or even Percy. Surely Percy would rescue her if need be?
Harold walked to the sidelines empty-handed.
“I thought you were dancing?” Kent said.
Harold shrugged. “Someone cut in.”
Kent snapped his head to the dance floor already walking quickly. He looked through the dancers trying to remember the colour Louisa was wearing.
Cecil followed. “I’ll look to the right,” he said to Kent.
Kent heard her first. “Help me, help,” Louisa was yelling against the music.
He ran to her, and Barton let her go. He walked quickly away from the dance floor. Kent put his arm around her forearm and walked her off the dance floor.
“Breathe deep, Louisa. We are almost there. Breathe deep,” Kent whispered. Louisa sat down and closed her eyes. Her heart was pounding. She couldn’t make it slow down.
Cecil was kneeling in front of her. “Louisa, did he hurt you,” he asked gently.
“My hands. He held them too tight, so I couldn’t get away. He was crushing them,” she whispered.
Cecil nodded. “I caught up with him leaving the dance floor. He said he had no idea why you were yelling for help.”
“I told him he was hurting my hands. I told him to stop. He knew.”
Kent had been speaking with Harold while Cecil was questioning Louisa. They came over to Louisa.
“Louisa, I’m so sorry I let him cut in. I didn’t know. Cecil just told me. Please forgive me.”
Louisa looked up at him. His eyes showed his sincerity. How could he have known?
“Don’t blame yourself. I could have avoided all of this if I told you not to let anyone cut in.”
Amelia was behind Cecil and Kent, listening to them. “Louisa,” she said, prompting the men to move aside, “I think it’s time to go home. Please say your goodbyes and meet me at the front door.”
Louisa nodded.
Amelia called for her carriage and took her wrap from the butler. Her nerves were frayed. No one, including herself had been watching Louisa. Where was Percy? Surely, he hadn’t turned his back on her when she needed him.
Louisa’s friends br
ought her to the front and stayed.
Harold stepped forward and introduced himself to Amelia. She smiled. He seemed like a nice young man.