Page 37 of A Duchess to Fight For
“Good job.”
Percy turned to find Frederick at the parlour door.
“I wasn’t sure it would happen, but we’ll see how she does.”
“Just getting her out is a miracle.”
Percy nodded then asked, “Any news?”
Frederick looked behind him to make sure the ladies weren’t coming down the stairs. “Hobart’s people are in place. Joey is in place. Now we have to let it play out.
“The transaction will be requested this week. We’ll be watching and listening.”
Frederick turned again. “Here are your beautiful young ladies. Percy, with these ladies on your arms, you will be the envy of every flower that you pass in Hyde Park.”
He laughed and turned to the ladies, “Shall we go?”
Louisa sat back in Percy’s carriage, closed her eyes, and breathed in the warm air. The slight breeze wafting through the open windows of the carriage gave her a hint of the flowers planted along the route to Hyde Park.
She opened her eyes. “Thank you, Percy. Being outdoors on such a beautiful day is refreshing.”
Percy grinned. “Louisa, we haven’t even arrived at the park. The best is yet to come.”
When they finally hit solid ground, both Louisa and Amelia grinned. It occurred to Percy that not only had Louisa been in the parlour for what seemed like weeks, but so had her mother.
Percy took a lady on each arm. “I have a surprise for you,” he said. He immediately wished he had phrased his declaration differently. Both ladies had tightened their grip on his arm as a response.
He went on as if he hadn’t noticed. “I carry within my waistcoat, a small pouch of birdseed. Maybe down the path further we’ll see a bench and help the birds to a meal?”
Their grips loosened. Percy let out a breath. He knew he needed to be careful of what he said and how he said it. Sometimes he forgot to weigh every word out of his mouth.
Amelia’s head swiveled. “Look at those flowers, Louisa. Come, let’s get a closer look.”
The ladies spent most of their stroll on the outer edges of the path bent down admiring the different species of flowers and plants. Percy stood back and watched them. They were delighting in such a small, natural thing. Louisa’s face had colour and a smile.
As they inched along, Percy kept an eye out for anyone familiar. He saw no one. The park wasn’t as crowded as he expected, so they seemed to have the run of the place.
Amelia looked up at Percy. She grinned. “Percy, come here and look at this beautiful ground cover.”
He walked over and remarked about its particular shade of blue. He stepped back, looked at the sky, and closed his eyes. He felt the sun on his face. It was a beautiful day in more ways than one.
They slowly turned a corner, and Percy spotted a row of benches. “Ladies, shall we sit for a moment and catch our breath?”
Amelia and Louisa looked at each other and laughed. Amelia said, “Percy, do you need to rest?”
“No, I just thought maybe you would want a chance to—”
“Never mind, Percy. We know what you meant. Let’s sit. And while we’re at it, let’s feed the birds.”
Percy sat on a bench connected to the bench Amelia and Louisa sat on. He pulled out his pouch and handed it over.
The ladies threw the birdseed and waited for the birds to join them.
Amelia said, “Percy, this park is a hidden gem. Are there more flowers around the bend?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “But we’ll find out.”
The birds had caught on to the food littering the ground and were clustered on the path in front of them.
