Page 28 of A Duchess to Fight For
I am more than pleased to inform you that your insurance policy has been recovered and sits at the First London Insurance Partnership.
You may go there when convenient to recover the funds from your investment.
I believe you and I can agree that this closes all business between us and any potential repercussions from those business dealings are not necessary.
Frederick Haddington, Duke of Pemberton
Frederick was melting wax over his letter to Barton when he heard the knock on the door.
“Come,” he answered.
“Ah, Percy. Come in.” Frederick took off his signet ring and pushed the top into the soft wax.
He stood and pulled the bell. “Sit. Drink?”
Percy nodded.
“Mendon,” Frederick said. “Please have a footman deliver this to the Duke of Hamilton as soon as possible. It is vital he receives it immediately. When he returns, talk with him to follow up.”
Mendon took the folded parchment and bowed.
Frederick turned to the sideboard and poured two whiskys. He sat next to Percy, offering one of the glasses.
“How are you, Percy? You haven’t dined with us lately.”
“No, Your Grace. But I accept every offer given,” Percy smiled.
“I heard you had an unfortunate end to a lady you pursued?”
Percy laughed. “I suppose everyone has. Yes, I was thrown over for someone wealthier.” Percy shook his head, “Women. I have yet to figure them out.”
“Good luck with that,” Frederick snorted.
Percy smiled but sat silently, patiently.
Frederick got to the point. “I need to talk with you about a distressing situation that has come to affect Louisa although she is unaware of it. I would like to keep it that way. You may soon be the only young man who can stay by her side to help her.”
Percy kept silent but adjusted himself in the chair. He took a large gulp of his drink.
“You know I spearhead investments for certain gentlemen of the ton?”
Percy nodded. “Yes, I do.”
“I made the grave error of opening an investment to someone outside of my usual sphere. The Duke of Hamilton. Do you know him?”
Percy nodded slowly. “Only from the season. I’ve seen him at a few balls. He doesn’t quite fit the mould of what a lady might seek in a marriage.”
Frederick laughed. “No, I suppose not. He’s under the misguided thought that the best way to find a new wife is through balls designed for younger members of the ton.
“The investment Barton was a part of didn’t work out. The ship carrying our cargo sank. I had taken out insurance policies on all the investors’ money, including Barton’s. His insurance policy ended up elsewhere. He needed to be set up in my ledger, so it was put aside.
“I couldn’t find it. I took over a week searching for it. Barton visited a number of times, a skittish investor afraid he would never get his money back. I would have paid him out of my own funds if I didn’t find the bloody thing.
“During one of his visits, he met the Duchess and Louisa. He was immediately smitten with Louisa and began to negotiate his unpaid insurance policy for her hand.”
Percy put his drink on the end table closest to him. He adjusted himself in the chair, crossed one knee over the other and put his clasped hands on his thighs. His colour had risen.
“I refused. He threatened to break up Louisa and Jack in order to leave her open for a new courter. Apparently, Jack has a bastard with a woman in the village near his estate in Salisbury. He supports them, but it is unclear if many know of this,” he said shaking his head then rolling his eyes.
