The Eligible Earl: Heirs of London Book Five

by Alec, Joyce

  “This is truly magnificent,” he murmured, looking all about him and taking in the sheer splendor of the ballroom itself. Of course, he should have expected as much given that this townhouse belonged to a duke and duchess, but the additional decorative touches added to the opulence. Percy was quite certain that no expense had been spared. There would be no watered-down wine this evening, he was sure of that.

  “I am sure that the duchess will be glad to hear that you approve of all that she has planned,” Lady Frederica replied as he smiled back at her, making sure to remain in sight of the duchess herself. “It is a wonderful evening.” She sighed contentedly, as though she had forgotten all that was to occur. Percy looked back at her and felt his worry begin to drift away, realizing just how truly blessed he was to have her by his side. When she had offered to walk with him to the door two nights ago, he could do nothing but accept without hesitation, finding himself overwhelmingly delighted at the prospect of being alone with her for even a few minutes.

  What had come from those few minutes had made him want to leap for joy. He had spoken to her of what was in his heart, having realized that the thought of leaving her side and stepping back from their courtship was more than he could tolerate. There was an awareness in him that Lady Frederica was unlike any other young lady of his acquaintance and that to step away from her would be one of the most foolish things he could do. On top of which, having been so overcome by her kind nature, generous spirit, and beauty of both face and character, Percy had realized just how much he cared for her.

  He did not want to be without her. He wanted her to be a part of his life. No longer did he see their acquaintance as being simply that. Instead, there was now a consideration of their future, of what could be for himself and Lady Frederica, if she would agree to consider their courtship again. And the moment she had done so, the moment she had looked into his eyes and smiled with such vibrancy, he had felt his heart lift with a renewed happiness that he was certain could never be taken from him.

  All that had to be done now was to remove this burden from his shoulders and then he would be free to court Lady Frederica without any worry about what might happen next. As much as Percy wished for it all to be at an end, he was also a little anxious about whether or not all would go to plan. If it did, then by the end of the evening, he might know the truth in its entirety. If it did not, then nothing would change and they would have to start looking at things all over again.

  “Are we to dance this evening, Lord Wetherby?” Lady Frederica asked, her eyes twinkling at him as he quickly fumbled for her dance card, which she held out to him.

  “Of course,” he said, quickly putting his name down for the supper dance at the end of the evening, as well as for the quadrille which would begin very soon. “You know that I would take all of your dances for myself, if I could.”

  “But that would be entirely selfish, Lord Wetherby.” Lord Greenford came to join them, greeting them both warmly before begging to peruse Lady Frederica’s dance card. Glad that there was no animosity between them due to Percy’s now pointed interest in Lady Frederica, Percy fell into easy conversation and the next few minutes passed easily enough.

  “Ah, it is to be our dance, Lady Frederica,” Lord Greenford cried as the announcement came for the country dance. “Shall we go?”

  Lady Frederica laughed and accepted Lord Greenford’s arm, although she threw Percy a warm smile as she did so, leaving him to watch her stepping out onto the dance floor with Lord Greenford. A small niggle of envy settled within him, but Percy pushed it away with an effort. Lady Frederica had no interest in Lord Greenford, and he was certain that Lord Greenford had now moved on to consider Lady Prudence. A sigh escaped him as he watched them take their position on the floor, glad that Lady Frederica would soon be returned to him.

  “You do not deserve that young lady’s acquaintance.”

  Percy turned sharply, looking to see Lady Nottingham standing there, glaring at him with hard eyes.

  “I beg your pardon, Lady Nottingham,” he said with a tight smile, “but I do not believe that I have asked for your opinion. Lady Frederica is more than contented to court me and I am very glad for it.”

  Lady Nottingham’s eyes glittered. “I witnessed just how poorly you treated her that night,” she said, making Percy realize she spoke of the night he had been so foxed that he had practically demanded that Lady Frederica dance with him, despite his inebriated state. “My son would never behave so.”

  “Forgive me, but I am not particularly well acquainted with your son, Lady Nottingham,” Percy replied, growing a little angry. “Therefore, I cannot make a comment as to whether or not he has ever been inebriated before. Thankfully, however, Lady Frederica is inclined toward forgiveness and I am very grateful to her for being so.” Glancing behind Lady Nottingham, he saw the duchess quickly approaching, and bowing quickly, made to take his leave. “Do excuse me, Lady Nottingham,” he said, speaking a little more sharply than before. “I do believe there is nothing more for us to say.”

  He turned and took a few steps away from Lady Nottingham so that he could await Lady Frederica’s return. He did not need to look over his shoulder to know that the duchess had taken this opportunity to speak to Lady Nottingham, given that the sharp tone of Lady Nottingham’s voice could be clearly heard. Percy gave himself a slight shake, forcing his anger to die away as he waited for Lady Frederica’s return, knowing that now was their opportunity to find Lady Preston and speak to her also. His eyes strayed across the remaining dancers, wondering if Miss Addington would be dancing this evening.

  There!

  He spied the lady curtsying to her partner as the dance came to an end. Rather than look to Lady Frederica, he trained his gaze on Miss Addington, recognizing the gentleman that she had been dancing with and watching her carefully as she was returned to her mother.

  “I thank you, Lord Greenford,” Lady Frederica said as she came back to join Percy. “That was most enjoyable.”

  It took a few minutes for Lord Greenford to extricate himself from their conversation, with Percy’s eagerness and tension rising steadily. The moment Lord Greenford stepped away, he turned to Lady Frederica, reaching out to grasp her gloved hand in his own.

  “Lady Preston is just over there,” he said, indicating her with a nod of his head. “The duchess is already speaking to Lady Nottingham.” He wanted to tell her what had been said but knew that there was not much time. “Might you be able to make your way to Lady Preston at this very moment? I will come to join you and state that it is to be our dance.”

  Lady Frederica nodded, her smile gone and replaced instead with a look of great determination.

  “Let us hope that all goes to plan,” she said softly. “Know that I care deeply for you, Lord Wetherby.” Her fingers tightened in his. “I can only pray that this will soon be at an end.”

  He nodded, pressed her hand once more, and then released her, watching her as she turned on her heel and made her way toward Lady Preston. Percy turned to glance back at the duchess, seeing how her eyes darted toward Lady Frederica for a moment, only to return to Lady Nottingham. He drew in a long breath, settling his shoulders and pushing aside his apprehension. In a few minutes, he would have to make his way to Lady Frederica’s side and begin to act out their plan. He could only hope that everything would go as they anticipated.

  * * *

  The parlor was very quiet, pulling Percy away from the noise of the ballroom. He walked up and down for a few minutes, the action helping push away the lingering tension and the anger that had filled him. Lady Preston had spoken with great frankness and clear dislike, telling him directly that he ought not to be courting a lady who was so uncertain about his character. Lady Frederica had played her part well, dropping her gaze and looking very uncomfortable, whilst Lady Preston was almost overcome with delight at the chasm that seemed to be growing between him and Lady Frederica. It had been Lady Frederica who suggested that he might wish to calm his tempe
r a little before they spoke any further and who had directed him to the parlor where, she said, she might consider joining him for a discussion, so long as she had either the duke or the duchess with her. Percy had turned on his heel and left her side at once, stalking away with great anger burning in him—not at what Lady Frederica had said but at Lady Preston’s remarks.

  When he had made his way past the duchess, she had spoken his name in a manner that had made it appear as though it was not to be overheard, but he had stopped, turned, and demanded to know what she was saying of him. Lady Nottingham had done precisely as he had expected and had told him the truth about what she thought of him, stating, as she had done so many times before, that her son would never behave as he had done. She had then turned to the duchess, taken her hand in her own, and, with a sympathetic look in her eyes, told her explicitly that she thought the match between Percy and Lady Frederica was a mistake. A mistake that both Lady Frederica and the duchess herself would come to regret.

  The way the duchess had listened and then turned her head toward him and looked at him thoughtfully before sighing and shaking her head had almost made Percy believe that she had taken in what Lady Nottingham had suggested without hesitation. He had stated to the duchess that he thought it best that they speak privately about any matters pertaining to Lady Frederica, and she had suggested that he wait in the parlor where he might first calm his temper before she even thought of coming to speak to him.

  And now, all he had to do was wait. His heart was quickening with every minute that passed, half hopeful, half in fear. If someone did come to the parlor, then what would he say to them? That he knew what they had been trying to do? That their scheme was now at an end? Would he demand the truth or simply ask quietly why they had done such a thing?

  Before he could think of anything more, the door opened slowly, and as Percy rose, he saw none other than Lady Frederica step inside, with the duchess close behind her.

  “We made certain to come quickly,” Lady Frederica said, hurrying toward him and taking his hands in hers. “Lady Preston believes that I am now with my uncle, feeling quite bereft and heartbroken.”

  “And Lady Nottingham believes that I will leave you here for the rest of the evening, if I must,” the duchess added, picking up a lit candle and using it to light a few more. “She has had me agree that to engage your company any further would be nothing more than a mistake. I have conceded that she may be right in her consideration of you.” Her head tilted as she looked from Percy to Lady Frederica. “Although my suspicions are that it shall not be Lady Nottingham who arrives, Lord Wetherby.”

  “Oh?”

  “I believe Lady Nottingham has intentions for her son and Lady Frederica,” she stated, choosing to sit in a chair far from where the lit candles now illuminated the room. “That is why she has been attempting to push Lady Frederica from you, Lord Wetherby. She seeks to compare you to her son, in the hope that Frederica might realize that he is a much greater prospect.”

  Percy blinked rapidly as Lady Frederica murmured her astonishment.

  The duchess chuckled. “A mother’s motivation, I think,” she said as Percy shook his head to clear some of his astonishment away. “Come, Lady Frederica. You must seat yourself and wait.”

  Lady Frederica reached up and brushed her fingers lightly down Percy’s cheek, making his breath shudder out of him at the way her touch seemed to ignite his heart all over again.

  “I am sorry for what was said and for what you had to listen to,” she murmured as he shook his head.

  “It was what was required,” he told her softly. “You played your part very well, Lady Frederica.”

  “I hated every moment of it,” she replied, a wry smile on her lips. “Let us hope it was not in vain.”

  Pulling her hand from his, she made her way past him and sat down somewhere near to the back of the room, leaving Percy to sit alone again. Minutes ticked by and a great tension began to flood the room, forcing Percy to his feet as he began to walk up and down in front of the empty fireplace.

  And then, the door opened.

  “Lord Wetherby.”

  Lady Preston swept into the room, pulling her daughter behind her before slamming it shut again.

  “You will be glad to know that I have asked my dear friend, Lady Pettigrew, to come to the parlor in only a few minutes’ time,” she said as Percy stared at her in shock. “My word will be no good, of course, for you could easily state that I am being utterly ridiculous and attempting to force your hand. However, if you are discovered not only by me but by Lady Pettigrew also, then you will have no choice but to do as you have promised.”

  “I have no knowledge of what you speak!” Percy exclaimed as Miss Addington came a little closer to him.

  No longer was she the quiet, reserved young lady that he thought he knew. Instead, her lips were pulled into a curling smile that spoke of nothing but triumph and satisfaction, her eyes fixed to his as she came all the nearer. Percy expected her to stop at once but instead, she flung her arms about his neck and pulled herself close to him. It was only when the door closed that he realized that Lady Preston had stepped outside again. Evidently, her plan was to walk in with Lady Pettigrew by her side, only to come across this particular scene. He attempted to push Miss Addington away again, but she continued to come toward him, until he was trapped against the wall, with no means of escape.

  Percy unwrapped her arms from his neck for what was now the fourth time and shook his head.

  “Enough, Miss Addington,” he said, all too aware that both Lady Frederica and the duchess were witnessing this. “Whatever are you doing?”

  She tipped her head and smiled at him, her eyes burning with a dark light. “What I must,” she said plainly. “I am not a particularly beautiful young lady. My father was a drunkard and a gambler. Rumors about him continue to this day. There is no dowry to speak of. My mother insists on treating me as though I am a delicate creature with not even a single thought in my head. She speaks over me, speaks for me, and had every intention of making certain that I wed a gentleman of her choosing. But I have never once agreed to such a thing.”

  Percy caught his breath, realizing in an instant that Lady Preston was not the one to have been manipulating the situation. Whether she had realized it or not, it was none other than Miss Addington who had done it all.

  “My mother and Lady Pettigrew will enter in only a few minutes,” Miss Addington continued, standing near to him but no longer attempting to embrace him. “There is no opportunity for you to escape this time, Lord Wetherby. Although I shall strike you, as I did before.” Her lip curled. “Something my mother was not expecting, I confess.”

  “Why should you have done such a thing?” Percy asked, knowing that the duchess and Lady Frederica were listening. “What have I done to you that would force you to behave in this manner?”

  Miss Addington laughed. “Because you did the very same to me, Lord Wetherby,” she said firmly. “The night you were so very foxed, you stole kisses and promised that you would wed me. I may have encouraged you a little but, of course, when I told my mother, she was caught between anger and elation. However, when you did not come to announce our engagement, I knew then that I would have to do whatever I had to in order to force your hand. After all,” she continued, one hand trailing up over his shoulder again, “it is not your fault that you were so very drunk and, therefore, cannot recall what you did or said.”

  “That is quite enough, Miss Addington.”

  The sharpness of Lady Frederica’s voice caught Miss Addington entirely off guard. She gasped and turned to stare at her, allowing Percy free of her attempts to entangle herself with him. He made his way toward Lady Frederica, who slipped her arm though his, just as the duchess came to join them. Miss Addington’s eyes widened, her hands falling to her sides as she stared at Lady Frederica.

  The door then flew open, slamming hard against the wall as Lady Preston and another lady whom Percy took to be Lady Pet
tigrew stood there. The smile on Lady Preston’s face shattered in an instant as she took in the scene, clearly astonished to see both Lady Frederica and the duchess present.

  “Lady Pettigrew, if you might leave us.” The duchess stepped forward and gestured for Lady Preston to sit down. “We have much to discuss.”

  Lady Preston stared in utter shock at her daughter, clearly horrified to realize that the duchess herself had overheard what had been said.

  “Sit down, Lady Preston.”

  The duchess’ voice was a little harder now and, after a moment, the lady did as she was asked, just as Lady Pettigrew left the room, pulling the door closed behind her.

  “We heard everything, Miss Addington,” Lady Frederica said as Lady Preston closed her eyes tightly, her pallor very grey indeed. “You and your mother sought to entrap Lord Wetherby into matrimony. However,” she continued, looking to Lady Preston, “it seems that your daughter has been manipulating you more than you might realize.” She arched one eyebrow at Miss Addington, who, it seemed, had now returned to her quiet, demure persona.

  “It is you who are entirely to blame in this, Lord Wetherby,” Lady Preston lifted her head and tried to speak with great firmness in her voice, only to glance at the duchess and drop her head a little. “I believed my daughter to be in the company of her friend and her chaperone, only to discover that, in the interim, she had somehow lost her and instead had been taken into the gardens and treated most improperly.” She looked up at Percy, her eyes hard. “You were the one to do so, Lord Weatherby. And then to promise matrimony, only to brush my daughter aside!”

  “Lady Preston,” Percy interrupted, speaking with great firmness. “I have done nothing of the sort. Lord Greenford will confirm it. The night I spoke to Lady Frederica with such a lack of decorum, he took it upon himself as my friend to remain near to me to make certain I did nothing more. I never once stole away with your daughter.” A sudden thought struck him and he turned to look at Miss Addington. “Although,” he said slowly, “I do recall that Lord Greenford stated that Lord Blakely disappeared from my company for some minutes.”