Page 111 of A Duchess to Fight For
Chapter 29
“How is she doing?” Cecil asked when they sat down for dinner.
“About the same from what the doctor tells me. Amelia says she’s much better, but I think that’s wishful thinking on her part. Meanwhile, Amelia looks worse every day. Frederick says she refuses to leave Louisa’s side. She’s not going to be any help to Louisa when she starts to recover if she doesn’t take care of herself.”
Kent asked, “And you?”
“Me? I’m fine. I get an update in the morning and in the evening. I’m running sometimes twice a day, but I cut it down to once a day if I do eight to ten miles at a time.”
Cecil laughed. “So does that mean you’re not pacing?”
Percy barked a laugh. “Hardly.”
Cecil shook his head. “Is Hobart back?”
“No,” Percy said, “and I’m a little worried that he hasn’t returned yet. He doesn’t like to be away from his warehouse this long.”
Kent said, “You know, there may be no need for Hobart to find anything up there. It seems Harold doesn’t have the time to wait for Louisa’s recovery. He is pursuing Inez aggressively.”
“Why her?” Percy asked.
“She’s beautiful, and she has a large dowry. That seems to be his only criteria. And he is in a hurry.”
“That would be great for Hobart, but not so great for Inez. Are her eyes open?”
“Emma talked to her,” Cecil said, “and she seems to understand. You will like this part, Percy. Barton is pursuing her also. She’s having a hard time figuring out whom to go to.”
“What?” Percy said. “She didn’t strike me as a stupid girl.”
“She’s not. She’s lonely and scared. Most of the season has gone by, and no one has noticed her. She had no prospects. Then Harold and Barton came along. They are nice to her and give her a lot of attention. She actually gets visits during calling hours.
“For her, it’s a new feeling and a nice feeling. Can you blame her?”
“But Cecil, if what you say is true, she’s going to end up married to one of them.”
Cecil nodded, “Yes, she is.”
Percy groaned. “Even though I’m relieved by their waning interest in Louisa, I don’t get a good feeling about this. Another foolish marriage of convenience.”
*****
The Sunday auction at Tattersall’s was filled to capacity. It was a beautiful day to stroll out of doors. Many chose to stroll the gardens and pastures of Tattersall’s, hearing the barking of the auctioneer ricochet off the stables out into the wide paths surrounding the buildings.
Cecil and Kent took Emma and Gertie. They looked into each stall and remarked on the horse then travelled to the next. They made a slow circle around then watched a few auctions.
“Let’s stroll the gardens,” Cecil said.
They strolled through the gardens until they were well out of view of others, then Cecil took Emma’s hand, and they held hands while they walked. Kent and Gertie were behind them and moved to holding hands.
The path took a wide arc through the Tattersall’s lands then came in again on the other side of the pasture. Cecil held out his arm so Emma could take it, as did Kent. The intimacy of holding hands while walking was over.
On the way back to the stables, coming in on the backside, Cecil spotted Barton talking up a horse to a small group of people. He got Kent’s attention and pointed his chin in Barton’s direction. Kent nodded. Then his eyes widened. Cecil gave him a look, and then Emma looked up and said, “What are you doing Cecil?”
He looked down at her and laughed. “I was making stupid faces at Kent to see if I could get him to laugh. I know, I know, I’m immature.”
Emma rolled her eyes and kept walking.
That evening at dinner, Cecil and Kent told Percy about seeing Barton at Tattersall’s.
