Page 21 of A Duchess to Fight For
“Has she met him?” Percy asked.
“No. And she won’t meet him until Wednesday. She thinks her father is keeping them apart because if Rose met him, she would run away.”
“Too bad we couldn’t find someone to haul her off to Gretna Green. Her life sounds like it will be miserable,” Percy said.
“Remember Jordan Cummings was forced to marry Jenny somebody – or – other? It must have been a while ago now because she’s pregnant, and he left her at his estate and moved back to town,” Jack said.
“It’s Stevens, Jenny Stevens. And I heard he ran right back into his mistress’s arms when he moved back here.”
Percy laughed. “Jack was probably trying to keep details like that from your sensitive ears, Louisa.”
Jack nodded. “No comment. But think about it. What a mess.”
“And a mess that lasts a lifetime,” Percy said.
*****
Jack had his doubts about the relationship between Percy and Louisa. On one hand, Percy welcomed Jack with open arms as Louisa’s courter and possible betrothed, but on the other hand, Jack sometimes felt like a third wheel when with them.
They finished each other’s sentences. They tasted each other’s food. They had their own little jokes and personal language. They didn’t purposely leave him out of their little club for two, but he couldn’t compete with their relationship.
Did he need to compete with it? No. They weren’t mooning over each other, and they very rarely touched each other. They said they were like brother and sister. To a certain extent, that seemed to be true.
But did brother and sister take such an active role in who each other were courting? He got Percy’s seal of approval, but what if he hadn’t? Would he not be courting Louisa?
Marriage was between a man and a woman. Not between a man, a woman and another man. How often would he and Louisa see Percy? Every day? What would they discuss about Jack when they were together without him? If he was well endowed? Their sex life? His performance?
Was it possible that Percy and Louisa could wake up one day to find their sexuality awakened?
Jack had strong feelings for Louisa, and he knew Louisa had strong feelings for him. Their relationship was everything he dreamed of. A beautiful woman on his arm, a smart, vibrant conversationalist, and a darling of the ton with her perfect manners. The only thing missing was love, but that was missing from most marriages, so he was not concerned about that. He was concerned Percy and Louisa loved each other, and Louisa would never love Jack.
His rival was out in the open and a good friend, not a lover.
