Page 34 of A Duchess to Fight For
When they were finally alone and away from the crowd, Percy said, “The auctioneer is the voice I heard at White’s talking to Barton. Whatever they discuss here when the place is closed will be easy to pick up.
“I’ll give Frederick and Hobart the information you and I gathered, and they can do with it what they will. Frederick will have to give some thought to what he wants to do about Tattersall’s good name and his business.
*****
“Hello, Mendon,” Percy said.
Mendon bowed, “Your Grace.”
“Before I visit the ladies, can you tell me if the Duke is at home?”
“He is. Would you like to see him first?”
“For a quick moment.”
Frederick stood from his desk, came forward, and bowed. “Percy.”
“Frederick,” Percy bowed.
“Please sit,” Frederick said while gesturing to a chair nearby.
“No, thank you. I wanted to let you know I went to Tattersall’s this morning and had an interesting time of it. Could we set a time to meet with your brother Hobart as well?”
“Certainly. Why don’t you meet with the women, and I’ll call for him.”
He entered the parlour to see Emma at Louisa’s side. Both Louisa and Emma looked grief-stricken. He couldn’t read their faces when they looked up at him.
“Ladies,” Percy bowed. “Am I interrupting? I can come back another time if that is the case.”
He cast his eyes toward Louisa’s mother.
Amelia said, “Please sit, Percy. You remember Emma? Of course you do. Louisa, pour Percy some tea, please.”
Percy made small talk and asked Emma basic questions about her health and family. Both Louisa and Emma looked at each other and then at Percy and Amelia. The girls seemed unsure what to do.
“Louisa, dear,” her mother said, “maybe Percy can give perspective on the situation Rose finds herself in.”
Louisa cleared her throat and turned to Percy. “Rose was married last Wednesday. She never met the groom until she was at the church. As soon as the ceremony was over, the couple went to Plymouth. They won’t be returning to London.”
Louisa’s eyes started to tear up but no tears fell. She put her head down and continued.
“She wrote Emma, “Louisa turned and looked at Emma. “ Her husband doesn’t like her, and she doesn’t like him. They live in separate parts of the house. He avoids her, never takes meals with her, and never joins her in the parlour. The only contact they have is of a marital nature.”
She looked up at Percy. “What, if anything would you suggest she do?”
Percy shifted in his chair. “Another marriage of convenience gone wrong. Are there other members of the house? A sister or a mother she can befriend?
Can she do charity work for the village? Does she know how to sew? Will her husband allow her to buy a bolt of wool? She could get some volunteers in the village to help her make winter coats.
“She needs to busy herself. She can’t count on him for anything, apparently, so she shouldn’t count on him at all. Tell her to think of what kind of life she wants to have, and then make it happen.”
Louisa smiled at Percy. “That’s wonderful. Isn’t it, Emma?”
“Yes. Thank you, Your Grace. I will write her today. I think she will like your ideas.”
Percy smiled and gave a little bow. “Glad I could help.”
Louisa and Emma looked at one another every few minutes during tea. Percy could tell they weren’t interested in sitting still. He put his cup down and opened his mouth to tell the ladies he was leaving, when Louisa’s mother spoke.
