Page 118 of A Duchess to Fight For
“Could you arrange for champagne for us?”
He bowed, “Your Grace,” then turned.
“Don’t you want to ask me why we want champagne?”
Mendon looked at Percy then at Louisa and smiled. He cleared his throat.
“Your private affairs should not be my concern.”
“That’s right, Mendon. Never mind.”
Louisa beckoned Percy over. She whispered, “I saw him smile while he left the room.”
Percy put the pillows back and sat next to Louisa. “How are you feeling?”
She smiled up at him. “Better now.”
“It is very important you don’t have a relapse. Can we go over a plan? I have other obligations, so I want your thoughts on the plan.”
Mendon came back with the champagne and hummed while he opened the bottle and poured some in each glass.
“May I get you anything else?”
Percy smiled. “No, thank you, Mendon. Louisa has yet to tell her mother of her great news, so we’ll want to keep our celebration to ourselves for now.”
Mendon bowed, “Yes, Your Grace. Of course.”
Percy and Louisa clinked classes and took a long sip.
“Is it me, or does this champagne taste extra delicious?”
“It tastes extra delicious. Let me taste you again. You tasted extra delicious when we first kissed.”
Louisa laughed. Percy could not ever remember being happier in his life. Sitting on the settee in Louisa’s parlour, drinking champagne, watching Louisa’s ring catch the light of the candles.
“We have to talk about wedding plans. Let me tell you a few things before you jump in. I want to hear every idea you have on how you want to get married, but I need to explain a few things first.”
Louisa liked the plan Percy had developed. She didn’t like that he would be gone so long and that they could only communicate by letter, but it was otherwise a good plan. Louisa was sure her mother would be fully recovered in two months.
She couldn’t believe her good luck. She had total say over the wedding. Percy wanted to keep informed, and if he really hated something, he wanted her to consider his opinion, but Louisa knew Percy wouldn’t. She knew where he had strong opinions, and none of them had anything to do with wedding ideas.
Louisa knew her father would pay for anything she wanted. She only cared that she married Percy and that she and her mother looked beautiful. The rest was window dressing to her.
“We should probably agree on a wedding date before you leave,” Louisa said, practicality kicking in out of nowhere.
Percy thought. “Shall we get out a calendar with Frederick and Amelia? Count out around two months and choose a day?”
“Yes,” she said to him readily. Louisa couldn’t believe herself. She had known this man longer and more deeply than any other. Yet she still couldn’t breathe regularly.
Percy called for Mendon.
“Could you please find out if Amelia is awake?”
He came back a short time later. “She is, and if you would like, she can see you for a short time.”
Louisa sprang from the couch and started for the door before she forgot to wait for Percy. They climbed the stairs together and softly entered her sick room.
Percy was surprised to see how ordinary the room looked. If it weren’t for Amelia on her back, face pale, Percy wouldn’t know anything was amiss.
