Page 101 of A Duchess to Fight For
Chapter 26
“Percy. What a nice surprise. Mendon, send for tea, please.”
He bowed and left the parlour. “Sit, sit. I’m so glad you are here.”
“I am too. You may or may not have heard, but I took a few days alone in my townhouse to contemplate what you and what Cecil and Kent had to say. Cecil and Kent had many of the same concerns as you. It was an eye-opening experience, and I learned some very valuable points about my behaviour from it. I thank you for helping me.”
Amelia gave a small laugh. “That’s kind of you to say. Since we talked, I’ve wondered if I did the right thing. I told Louisa, and she doesn’t think I did. She’s been hard on me.”
“I’m sorry to hear it. Is she at home?”
“She is, but she is not feeling well today. She will be sorry she missed you.”
Percy smiled. If she had been crying as much as Frederick said she had, she would be in no condition to greet guests.
“If I may, I will come back tomorrow and the following day to see if she is feeling any better?”
Amelia smiled. “I think she would like that very much.”
*****
Louisa tried to dress herself but gave up and asked for help from her mother’s maid. Hers had been sent to her room with a bad cough. After two days of self-imposed exile in her room, Louisa couldn’t stand hearing Abby’s hacking any longer.
Her mother’s maid, Maisie, did wonders. Her face and eyes didn’t look swollen, and her hair looked beautiful.
“I’ve wanted to style your hair this way for a long time. I’ll show Abby how to do it if you want.”
“I’d love it if you would.”
Louisa knew she looked the best she could under the circumstances. There were circles under her eyes that Maisie couldn’t quite cover up, and her gown was loose on her body from the weight loss from not having an appetite.
She walked into the parlour to see her mother chatting with Percy. He stood and bowed; she curtsied. A shadow passed over his eyes that only she would notice because she knew him so well. Apparently, she didn’t look as good as she had hoped.
“Hello, Louisa. I’m so happy you are able to join us for tea today. Are you feeling better?”
“I am. My strength is returning more every day, wouldn’t you say Mother?”
“Yes, I would. Percy, tell Louisa a little bit about what you have been doing lately.”
Percy turned to Louisa and gave a short version of his choice to stay in his townhouse for three days because his friends Cecil and Kent sat him down and said he was not the same person he used to be.
When he contemplated what they had to say, he realized they were right. He came out of his townhouse resolved to be a better person.
He looked into Louisa’s eyes. “I’m sorry I hurt you. I walked around with anger that made me a person I don’t want to be. I vowed I would work on being a better person. I don’t have the right to ask, but will you forgive me?”
“Of course I will. I’ve known you too long to know that wasn’t the real you.”
“You are so special to me; do you know that?” He knew he sounded sappy, but it was true, and he wanted to make sure she knew it.
“I do, sometimes.”
Percy laughed. “I’m going to make sure you know it all the time.”
“What are you laughing about, Percy?”
“Frederick,” Percy rose and bowed. “Are you joining us for tea?”
“I can’t. I’m on my way to see Hobart. I just wanted to see what was going on in here. There hasn’t been laughter in this room for a long time.”
