Page 1 of A Duchess to Fight For
Prologue
Percy, Cecil, and Kent shuffled their feet, shoulders slumped, head down when they walked into the Duke’s ballroom. At fifteen, the boys could think of hundreds of things they’d rather do than learn how to dance.
Emma and Rose had come early to giggle with Louisa about the three boys.
“Cecil is the cutest. I hope I’m paired with him,” Rose said.
“We switch around. You won’t be with one boy the whole time,” Louisa said. “Besides, Kent is the nicest of the three. I might step on a toe or two. I’d rather dance with someone who would be nice about it.”
Her Grace, the Duchess of Rutland and Louisa’s mother, clapped her hands like a schoolteacher to get the teens’ attention.
“This is Mr Downs.” The girls curtsied, and the boys bowed. “He is your instructor. I have told him I want a full report on the progress and behaviour of this, this . . .” she waved her hand around, “group.”
She smiled. “Enjoy. I have fond memories of learning to dance.”
Louisa’s mother left, and Mr Downs lined them up, boys on one side and the girls facing them about three feet away from one another.
No sooner had the stepping in and out begun than Percy started laughing and couldn’t stop.
“Lord Pemberton. Is there a problem?”
Percy tried to sober, “No, sir, Mr Downs.” He laughed again.
“I apologize. May I take a moment to collect myself?”
“Please do.”
Percy turned his back on the group and breathed deeply. He closed his eyes, managing to finally breathe steadily, and turned.
“Shall we continue?”
The group took a break halfway through the lesson for lemonade a kitchen server had left on the table against the wall. The boys stood together out of hearing distance of the girls while Mr Downs left the townhouse for fresh air.
“Why were you laughing, Percy?” Kent said.
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “I was finally able to stop when I looked at the girls. Their faces showed they were horrified. I felt like an eight-year-old.”
The remainder of the lesson went along without any outbursts. They curtsied and bowed, and the boys left to go home.
The girls stayed for tea. “What do you know of Percy?” Emma said. “He seems either fun-loving or immature.”
Louisa waved her hand as if swatting a fly. “He’s both. His family lives within walking distance of here, and we all dine together every so often. He and I joke around, roll our eyes, make fun of our parents, but he usually doesn’t laugh until he can’t stop. He’s usually not the way he was today.”
At the next lesson, the boys shuffled in and stood in a line facing the girls. Percy breathed deeply, trying to stay serious. He looked at Louisa. She rolled her eyes at him, something she had frequently done at the last dinner party.
He burst into laughter but got it under control, mostly because of the angry look Mr Downs sent his way.
“Lord Pemberton. Please take a seat,” he said, sweeping his hand to the wall where a row of chairs waited.
As he turned to leave, Louisa turned her back on Mr Downs and stuck out her tongue. Percy sobered instantly. As he walked by her, he whispered in her ear, “You have just declared war.”
Her small smile told him she intended to rise to the challenge.
When Percy was sprung from his ballroom seat jail, his plan was fully developed.
Mr Downs paired them off for the new country dance he planned to teach them.
He started with the boys, standing in front of them demonstrating the steps a few times until they got it. Then he hummed so the boys could dance to the rhythm and speed of the music.
