Page 121 of A Duchess to Fight For
Percy laughed. “Do you really think she will care? She’ll be so happy it won’t matter. Although why she would be happy marrying you I can’t figure out.”
Kent shook his head. “And this from a man who was rejected by the very same girl.”
Percy sighed. “I know. She paused when I asked her. I thought she might reject me again.”
Cecil moaned. “You would have been a mess, and we would have had to pick up the pieces again. Thank God she said yes.”
Percy cleared his throat. “Are you going to Harold and Inez’s wedding Friday?”
Both nodded and said yes.
“It’s important to Emma. Inez is a good friend. I’ll have to put up with it.” Cecil opened his eyes wide, “Don’t tell me you are going.”
“I couldn’t get out of it. I won’t be leaving before Friday, and she wants to wish Inez well.”
Kent groaned. “I thought it would be hard for me, but you? Louisa’s a lucky girl if you would do that for her.”
“Yeah, there was no way out without upsetting her, and the last thing I want to do before I leave is upset her. I don’t want to talk about it.
“I have a question for you, Cecil. Now that Harold’s out of the picture, Barton is back to looking for a wife. Inez made the right choice for husbands, but I’m not comfortable with Barton still trying to find someone.
“Frederick's planning to go to old man Tattersall to tell him what’s been going on. He’s going to recommend the old man fire Victor and banish Barton from the property.
“Frederick wants to ask Donny to come down and run the place. Victor would need replacing, and quickly. If he won’t agree to that, Frederick hopes he’ll take over until he can find someone to take Victor’s place.
“You know him better than anyone else. Could the old man convince him to come to London?”
Cecil breathed out and thought. “It’s a good plan except that Donny loves the country, and London is not his favourite place.”
Percy nodded. “He did make that clear. He and Hobart hit it off well the last time he was down here. He’s going to visit him in Essex. If anyone can talk him into it, I give Hobart the best chance.
“Frederick is going to wait for Donny’s answer before he goes to the old man. What do you think?”
Cecil shrugged. “It’s worth a shot. He might not want the job, but he might know someone who would.”
*****
“You have heard from Winters?”
“Yes. I’ve ordered everything he needs, and Jakes is packing my trunk as we speak.”
Percy and Louisa were riding in Percy’s carriage on the way to Harold and Inez’s wedding. Louisa hoped her first public appearance, newly engaged, would be an exciting time with friends celebrating their happiness.
But it was overshadowed by Percy’s departure. He would be gone two long months. That was nothing to smile about.
“When will you leave?”
“Two days. If you want, we can keep that information to ourselves until after Harold and Inez’s wedding.”
“No. Then the guests will wonder if I’m truly happy to be betrothed.”
Percy nodded. “True enough. I don’t believe I’ve told you how beautiful you look this morning. I look at you now, and I think about how you will look on our wedding morning.”
He shook his head. “How will I live without you for two months? I’ve never been away from you for that long.”
“We are here. Please stop, or I’ll cry and ruin everything.”
Percy kissed her forehead. “Let’s put smiles on our faces and look like we are having fun.”
