by Alec, Joyce
“Good afternoon, Lord Wetherby,” she said as Miss Chalmers remained entirely silent. “You have taken Lady Frederica out for an afternoon stroll, I see.”
This was not a question but a rather obvious statement to which there was no simple reply. Miss Chalmers glanced toward him and then lowered her gaze to the ground, her head dropping forward just a little.
“I—I have, yes,” Percy replied, turning to look behind him for a moment. “The Duchess of Ellsworth is with us also, of course.”
“She is just speaking to Lady Montgomery,” Lady Frederica explained, gesturing toward her aunt.
“My son is here also,” Lady Nottingham said, looking directly at Lady Frederica rather than toward Percy. “You are acquainted with Lord Nottingham, I believe?”
Lady Frederica nodded. “We have been introduced,” she said, before looking toward Lady Chalmers. “Do you enjoy the fashionable hour, Miss Chalmers? I confess that I find it something of a crush.”
“I am surprised that you chose to step out into it, given your dislike of the crowds,” Lady Nottingham said, before her daughter could answer. “Although, given that you are walking with Lord Wetherby, perhaps you had no other choice but to do as he demands.” Her lip curled gently. “I feel that you, Lord Wetherby, are a gentleman solely inclined toward his own interests.”
This was something of a strange remark and Percy found himself frowning and glancing toward Lady Frederica, who also appeared to be very confused, given the way her brow furrowed.
“I—it was I who suggested it, Lady Nottingham,” she told the older lady, who let out a small exclamation of evident disbelief. “As much as I might dislike the crush of the fashionable hour, there is always some interest in attending, is there not?” Her frown lifted and her smile returned, although Percy was quite certain it was forced. “And are you to attend the ball this evening, Miss Chalmers?” she continued quickly, obviously trying to change the subject of their conversation. “Lord Blakely has told me that it is to be an exceptional evening.”
Lady Nottingham tilted her head, ignoring her daughter entirely. “Lord Blakely is an excellent gentleman, Lady Frederica,” she said, without so much as glancing at Percy. “I had wondered if there might be anything of particular note between you both, but it seems now that I was mistaken.”
Lady Frederica laughed as Percy’s stomach tightened, wondering whether or not Lady Nottingham spoke the truth. If it was true, that meant that he had pulled Lady Frederica away from what could have been a very happy situation for her indeed. His mind began to turn over the possibility that Lady Frederica might have been interested in furthering her acquaintance with Lord Blakely and now had given that up for the present, so that she might come to his aid instead. She had such a good heart that it was entirely the sort of thing that Percy knew she would have done willingly but would never have told him about. His heart grew all the heavier as he looked back at the lady and saw that her smile still did not reach her eyes. Perhaps Lady Nottingham was right.
“I am sure we shall meet again this evening,” he heard Lady Frederica say, realizing that their conversation with Lady Nottingham and Miss Chalmers was now at an end. “Do excuse us, Lady Nottingham. I should return to the duchess.”
Percy quickly took his leave of the two ladies and made his way across to where the duchess stood, although they were only a few paces away and very easily able to converse quietly together.
“Lady Frederica?”
She turned and smiled up at him, making his heart ache all the more. “Yes?”
“Lord Blakely,” he said, without even thinking about what he was attempting to express and realizing that he was not managing to do so very well at all. “That is to say, what Lady Nottingham suggested, I…” Scowling, he looked away for a moment, taking in a breath and letting it out slowly. “What I mean to ask is whether or not I have pulled you from something that might well have brought you a lot of joy?” His eyes turned back to hers, searching her face carefully. “If there was ever any interest between you and Lord Blakely, which I have clearly interrupted, then I must beg of you to throw aside any concern for me and, instead, return to whatever it was that was beginning to grow between you.”
Lady Frederica smiled gently, her eyes glowing with a tenderness that Percy felt flood his entire being.
“My dear Lord Wetherby, you are so very concerned for my welfare, are you not?” she said, her hand reaching out to brush down his arm for just a moment, so quickly so that no one else would notice. “In answer to your question, no, there is nothing between Lord Blakely and me. I will not pretend that he was not eager to call upon me at one time, but such an interest had evidently ceased.”
“That may be because he had very little encouragement,” Percy replied quickly. “If you were holding yourself back for my sake, I—”
Her hand squeezed his fingers before she finally let go entirely. “I assure you, I have not done anything of the sort,” she answered as Percy nodded slowly, wanting to believe her and yet fearful that she was keeping the truth of her feelings and intentions from him so that he would not feel at all guilty for it. “Lord Blakely is not someone who ever occupies my thoughts, Lord Wetherby. I can assure you of that.”
Percy looked back into her eyes and found himself lost. All manner of warmth was in her expression, her clear desire that he believe what she had to say shining out from her eyes. His heart was thumping a little more quickly than before, the urge to take her hand once more in his growing steadily within him. Everything around him seemed to fade, as though the crowds, the laughter, and the conversations about him were no longer there. All there was before him was Lady Frederica, her beauty calling out to him so that he could not turn away.
“Lord Wetherby?”
He dropped Lady Frederica’s hand at once, pulled back to the present abruptly. Clearing his throat, he bowed hastily toward Lady Preston.
“Whatever are you doing with Lady Frederica?” she asked, her brows knotting together as anger filled her voice. “Are you attempting to coerce her in some way?”
Percy blinked rapidly, astonished at the red heat that poured into the older lady’s cheeks as she glared up at him, one hand on her hip as her unfortunate daughter, Miss Addington, stood a step or two behind her mother.
“I do not know what you mean, Lady Preston,” he said, as quietly as he could, fearful that there would be some sort of scene created by the lady’s obvious fury toward him. “Forgive me if I have upset you. I—”
“Lady Frederica, you must come away from this gentleman at once.”
Lady Preston beckoned to Lady Frederica, who remained precisely where she was, one eyebrow lifting.
“I am sure that the duchess would not be—”
“Lady Preston?”
The duchess turned around from where she had been finishing her conversation with Lady Montgomery, seeming to startle Lady Preston by her presence.
“I am here,” she said, coming to stand by Lady Frederica as Percy looked on, feeling more and more confused by the situation at hand. “Is there something the matter?”
Lady Frederica shook her head. “No, there is not,” she said as Percy looked at the duchess with wide eyes, lifting both hands in a gesture of uncertainty. “Lady Preston was, I believe, concerned for my welfare, but there is truly no need for it, Lady Preston, although you are very kind indeed to be so watchful.”
Lady Preston lifted her chin and turned her head toward Percy, her eyes glinting angrily. “That gentleman,” she said sharply, pointing one long finger in Percy’s direction, “was taking Lady Frederica’s hand in his own.” She glared at him for another moment before turning her head back triumphantly toward the duchess. “No doubt he wished to encourage her into some ill-thought-out scheme and right behind your back, Your Grace.” She smiled in evident satisfaction, clearly believing herself to be in the right in this situation, whilst Lady Frederica frowned hard, her eyes narrowing. Percy looked at Miss Addington, who had droppe
d her head so low that it appeared as though she was trying to hide herself away. Clearly the girl was embarrassed by her mother’s outburst but could do nothing about it.
“Lady Preston,” the duchess began, speaking gently but with a great firmness to her words. “You are treating Lord Wetherby with the greatest unfairness. He is not, as you might have thought, attempting to take Lady Frederica anywhere. As you can see, I was standing just behind Lady Frederica and would have noticed if she had decided to leave my side. Lady Frederica herself would not have done so, for she knows what is expected and would never have stepped outside the bounds of propriety.”
This seemed to embarrass Lady Preston somewhat, for her anger faded just a little and she dropped her hand from her hip. “But of course,” she mumbled. “Although,” she continued, her head lifting once more, “just because Lady Frederica would have been so very wise does not mean that Lord Wetherby was not intending to cajole her in the most improper manner.”
“I was not doing anything of the sort, Lady Preston,” Percy replied firmly. “I can assure you of that.”
“Then why did you have her hand in yours?” she demanded, her voice catching the attention of one or two others who stood nearby. “I cannot imagine—”
“Because we are courting, Lady Preston,” Percy interrupted loudly. “Forgive me for showing a little of the affection I feel for Lady Frederica. It was not meant to be noticed by any, but given that you have seen it, and felt it was your duty to come and demand that Lady Frederica depart from me, I can only apologize for doing so.” He spoke freely, his voice louder than he had intended but with no hesitation whatsoever. “Does that now satisfy you, Lady Preston? Are you now quite convinced that I have no intention of stealing Lady Frederica away from her aunt? I assure you, I am not that sort of gentleman.”
Lady Preston stared back at him, her eyes wide and her mouth a little ajar. The color pulled itself from her face just as hastily as it had arrived, leaving her looking rather tired. The anger had gone entirely, the fury fading from her eyes as she continued to look at him, as though she could not believe what she had heard.
“As I have said, Lady Preston,” the duchess added gently, “I think you misjudge Lord Wetherby a little too harshly. He is not a cad or a rogue or any such thing as that. Both the duke and I are quite certain of it.”
Blinking rapidly, Lady Preston turned back to the duchess and, as Percy watched, dropped into a very deep curtsy.
“I can only apologize, Your Grace,” she said, her voice very quiet. “I thought the worst and—”
“And you came to the aid of Lady Frederica, which is not something to be dismissed lightly,” the duchess replied, showing more grace than Percy himself might have done, had he been in her place. “Please, Lady Preston, think nothing more of it. I am grateful to you for your willingness to step forward in such a situation, but as I have assured you, there is nothing to be set to rights here.” She smiled but Lady Preston did not return it. Instead, the lady nodded, begged to be excused, and stepped away from them almost at once, leaving her daughter, who had remained precisely as she had been when Percy had first looked at her, to follow after.
Percy watched the lady depart, noticing that she made her way directly to Lady Nottingham, who had, evidently, been watching the situation with great interest. He could almost feel the sharpness of her gaze when she looked back at him, although he deliberately turned his head away so that she would not have the impression that he had any real interest in what was being said.
“Most extraordinary,” the duchess murmured, turning her back on Lady Preston and Lady Nottingham as she began to walk once more, clearly eager to step away from the situation and from those who had overheard what had been said. “I am afraid all manner of whispers will be starting about you both now.”
Lady Frederica laughed, though Percy wanted to groan aloud over what had occurred. Startled, he looked across at her, only for her to slip her hand into the crook of his arm and smile up into his eyes.
“But that is what is to be expected, is it not?” she reminded him as Percy tried his best to throw aside his frustration and upset at what had just taken place. “I will not pretend that the conversation was a pleasant one, however. You must have been a little insulted, Lord Wetherby—but at least the story will make its way through the ton.” Her smile was a satisfied one and Percy found that his own heart began to lose some of the anger that had filled him only minutes before.
“I suppose you are right, Lady Frederica,” he said as she walked alongside him. “Although whomever we are to speak to next, might they be someone who does not think so ill of me?” His lips twitched with wry humor as Lady Frederica looked up at him sharply, only for her to stop walking entirely.
“Why do they think so ill of you, Lord Wetherby?” she asked as the duchess came to stand beside Percy so that their conversation remained as private as they could manage. “Lady Nottingham and Lady Preston both seem equally inclined to think very badly of your character. Is there some reason that they might do so?”
Percy considered the question, recalling what had occurred with Lady Preston and her daughter at the ball some time ago. “You will remember that Lady Preston was most upset that I had danced with you rather than her daughter, Lady Frederica?” he asked, and she nodded slowly, her eyes searching his. “For whatever reason, even though I stood up to dance with her daughter at a later time, she has never thought well of me since.”
“But that is a ridiculous reason to hold any sort of grudge,” the duchess said as Lady Frederica nodded in agreement. “It was a mistake, was it not?”
“A mistake on her part,” Lady Frederica said firmly, before Percy could say anything. “She seemed to think that Lord Wetherby had promised to dance the cotillion with Miss Addington, even though he had only just written his name on my dance card.” She shook her head, waving one hand as though dismissing Lady Preston’s concerns entirely. “As you have said, Louisa, it is a foolish reason indeed to now think so poorly of Lord Wetherby, which does make me wonder…” She said nothing more, her lips twisting for a moment before she looked back at him. “And Lady Nottingham?”
A little embarrassed, Percy shook his head. “I am afraid I do not recall,” he said honestly. “Lady Nottingham and I spoke some days ago where she informed me that I had behaved in a most improper manner toward her daughter.”
Lady Frederica caught her breath, her eyes wide. “When did this occur?”
“The night that I so badly insulted you also,” Percy told her, closing his eyes for a moment in an attempt to clear the embarrassment from himself. “But Lord Greenford had assured me that I did nothing to shame any other young lady in any other way. He was with me beforehand and then, once I had done such inordinate damage to our acquaintance, he felt he had no other choice but to remain near to me for the rest of the evening. I have asked him repeatedly whether or not I went near to Miss Chalmers, whether I did something or said anything that might have caused her distress, but he is certain I did not.”
This seemed to bring a great deal of satisfaction to Lady Frederica, for she smiled triumphantly and settled one hand on his shoulder for only a moment.
“Then might I suggest that we consider both Lady Nottingham and Lady Preston a little more?” she asked, her hand now back by her side. “If Lady Preston has no real anger against you, and as she did today and on other occasions, sought to push me far from you, then what is the reason for that?”
“I—” Percy stopped speaking almost at once, realizing with a frown that he had no real understanding as to why Lady Preston considered him so poorly, or why she was attempting to push Lady Frederica from him.
The duchess took a small step closer, leaning forward as she spoke. “And Lady Nottingham?”
“Why does she seem to despise you so?” Lady Frederica asked as Percy shook his head. “She speaks of an insult to her daughter that you do not recall. What was it? And is she attempting to improve matters between her da
ughter and you in the belief that you are the one who insulted her in some manner, even though you do not believe you did?”
Percy rubbed one hand over his eyes. “They are both eager to keep their daughters away from me, Lady Frederica,” he said, opening his eyes to see her looking back at him with that small smile still on her face. “Why, then, would they seek to set up a situation where I would be forced to wed one of them?”
Lady Frederica tilted her head. “Because as much as they may dislike you for what they believe you have done, there may be more to their disfavor than we recognize at present.” She moved a little closer to him. “What if Lady Preston believes that you stole her daughter into the gardens at the ball, promised her matrimony, and then did not fulfill it? What if Lady Nottingham believes that she saw you encouraging her daughter in some improper manner and then promising to wed the girl in order to bring a satisfactory conclusion to the matter? Despite their dislike and distrust of you, they view their daughters now as being somewhat spoiled. Therefore, regardless of how they themselves might feel, they will seek to force marriage upon you for fear of what might occur otherwise.”
The duchess spoke up. “They may fear that someone will have seen their daughters and you—I mean, whichever gentleman was with them—and are merely biding their time before they speak of it,” she said quickly. “In attempting to encourage you away from Lord Wetherby, Frederica, they do so in order to make certain that it is their daughter that will end up marrying him.”
Percy considered this and found himself suddenly a little more convinced than he had expected. Lady Frederica’s suggestion made sense. The night he had been in the gardens with Lord Greenford, had not the young lady spoken of what he had promised her? Had she not made it seem as though this was not the first time they had been in such a situation?
And then a sudden recollection had him shaking his head.
“It cannot be either of them,” he said heavily as Lady Frederica looked at him in surprise. “The young lady that spoke to me in the gardens that evening was confident, well spoken, and had a great deal of determination.” His eyes lifted sorrowfully to Lady Frederica’s. “Neither of which would describe Miss Addington or Miss Chalmers.”