Page 19 of A Duchess to Fight For
With his elbow on the desk, Frederick cradled his head in his hand. “Tell him to tell Hobart I will write him tomorrow or visit him if the weather improves.”
Mendon bowed and left.
After the footman left, Louisa pulled the bell for Mendon.
Mendon entered the parlour and bowed. “Your Grace, Lady Haddington.”
“Mendon is there something wrong?” Louisa asked.
“I don’t know, Lady Harrington. I believe His Grace received bad news from his brother, but he didn’t say.”
“Thank you, Mendon,” Louisa said.
Mendon left, and Louisa turned to her mother. “Uncle Hobart?”
“Cargo,” Amelia said.
“Do you think it was stolen when all of London was inside their homes?” Louisa asked.
The Duchess thought. “Could be. But I thought the ship left the dock already. Do you suppose the ship sank in this weather?
“Louisa. Promise me you won’t ask your father about this. He’ll have enough on his mind.”
Louisa nodded. “I understand.”
*****
Frederick didn’t leave his office that day or for the next two days. Mendon brought him enough bedding to keep him comfortable on his couch, and he instructed Mendon to instruct the kitchen to bring him meals and a maid to clean up after him.
On the third day, he ordered a bath be brought into his office and had his valet fetch him fresh clothes and his razor. Mendon told the valet to stay in there until His Grace looked presentable. Frederick knew he had to meet with Hobart then face his investors. He looked out the window. It still rained, but not as hard. He would visit Hobart today.
Frederick told Mendon to instruct a footman to find out if Hobart was at his house or the warehouse. To tell Hobart he was on his way and to stay put.
“What do you know?” Frederick asked.
“No more than what I told you in my letter. No other ship has come into the dock, so there’s no one else to talk to. I heard so quickly because the other ship turned around and came back to shore rather than ride out the storm at sea.”
Frederick shifted in his chair. “Is there any chance it’s another ship?”
Hobart shook his head. “These men know each other and their ships. The chances they have the wrong ship is next to zero.”
“You have the names of the crew?”
Hobart blew out a breath. “Yeah. I’ll go out and notify the families today. You’re going to take care of the investors?”
Frederick nodded.
*****
In the history of balls, Louisa thought no other was as highly anticipated as the Douglas ball. Getting out from spending four days in the parlour working on her embroidery caused her to be giddy with excitement.
She had spent days wondering. What if Jack didn’t want her anymore like Nora didn’t want Percy? Why did she have that feeling? She would be crushed. The longer she knew Jack, the more she liked him. He wasn’t as playful as Percy, Louisa thought. She never heard him tell a joke, but that trait wasn’t a requirement for her.
She needed him to be attentive, thoughtful, and interested in her mind. She wasn’t stupid. She loved joining conversations that were about things besides dresses, hats, and gloves.
Louisa had stopped looking for other gentlemen at ton social events. Maybe that wasn’t prudent, but she wanted Jack, and she saw no other that compared with him. Except, of course, Percy. But that was different.
Louisa’s smile was dazzling as she curtsied.”Good evening, Lord Duggan.”
