Page 25 of A Duchess to Fight For
“I told him to give me ten days to find it, and if I don’t, I’ll pay for his loss out of my own funds. I’m able to pay, but I would prefer not to touch my accounts. I don’t want you to worry. Our financial position is solid.
“Barton ran into you and Louisa in the hallway. Remarked about how Louisa resembles you?”
“Yes, I remember.” She nodded.
“He just visited to let me know I’ll be off the hook with the money owed to him if I agree to let him marry Louisa.”
Amelia gasped. She began to shake her head. Frederick thought she didn’t even realize she was doing it.
“I said no; I wouldn’t ever agree to that. I made him aware of Jack and his interest in Louisa. He already knew of him.
“Amelia, I need to tell you something Barton told me about Jack. He may try to force Jack to back off Louisa by letting it be known that Jack has a bastard son living in Salisbury with the baby’s mother. Jack supports them financially.
“I wanted you to know all this because Louisa may need you if Jack breaks it off with her. I think Jack is a good match for Louisa even with his past indiscretion. I also think Louisa could accept him knowing his past.
“Barton may sabotage the relationship at any time with the threat of exposing Jack. Barton may insist on the breakup in exchange for his silence.
“Then he threatened to tell the ton that Hobart was a murderer.”
Amelia gasped again, this time bolting out of her chair. She realized she was standing and sat down.
“I don’t know where he would get information like that. He has no proof, or he would have told me. I threatened to let everyone in White’s know he was making up stories about my brother to blackmail me into consenting to him marrying Louisa.
“That’s when I told him to leave.”
Frederick took Amelia’s hand in his. “I am so sorry for all of this. Barton is not a good man, and he is trying to marry Louisa no matter how it is accomplished.”
Tears were running down Amelia’s cheeks, but she remained silent. Frederick deliberately waited for her to speak.
“Even if you find the policy in the next four days, Louisa’s relationship with Jack is ruined?”
Frederick nodded. “Probably. I wouldn’t be surprised if he did it just for sport.”
Amelia squirmed in her seat. “Do you have anything on him?”
Frederick gave her a small smile. “No.”
Amelia’s voice got stronger. “Then you must find something. And quickly. He’s a horrible man; he’s probably done something he would like to keep buried. Please, Frederick, find something before he ruins Hobart and Jack.”
Frederick nodded. “I’ll go see Hobart. He can get someone on it. Amelia, I’m relying on you to keep silent about this, even to Louisa. She will need you.”
Amelia stood and frowned. “I hope not. Thank you, Frederick. For telling me.”
“You’re welcome. I need you to stay silent and to stay strong.” Frederick looked at her expectantly.
“I will. Now, go see Hobart.”
*****
Hobart sat in silence, taking it all in. “I can have him followed, try to dig up something on him. That way, the kid’s reputation isn’t ruined.”
Frederick sat up straighter. “OK, he plays hardball. We’ll play hardball. He’s going to come to me and threaten me. He willneverget Louisa.”
Frederick stood and started to pace. “This man is such a miscreant. I can’t believe you won’t be able to find something on him.”
“My men will find something. They’ll find something. No one is squeaky clean, and from the way you describe him, we’ll find something.
“Listen, while you’re here, let’s go over what I think we should buy for our next passage.”
