Page 51 of A Duchess to Fight For
Frederick laughed. “Nothing, my dear. Nothing. Are you happy you came out?”
“Yes, I am. Very. We’ll have fun this evening, I think.”
“We will. I see Stafford has made it.” Louisa looked over her shoulder. “He is a nice young man.”
“He is. He talked me into coming out tonight. He said I need to join the human race again.”
Frederick laughed. “I’ll have to thank him. And ask him for his secret. He got you out when Percy and I couldn’t make you budge. He likes you.”
“And I like him. He came around at just the right time for me.” Louisa smiled.
Louisa and Frederick walked back to their group. After greetings to Stafford, Frederick excused himself to join his peers on the other side of the ballroom floor.
Emma and Louisa had their heads together talking of Rose. The men were having a lively discussion about the carriage full of whisky that was stolen the previous evening. Amelia and a few other matrons were going over the ton activities for the coming week.
And there he was. In front of her bowing. “Good evening, Lady Louisa, Lady Emma. You both look lovely this evening.”
The girls curtsied, and Louisa looked around. “Good evening, Your Grace,” Emma responded.
Louisa looked around again. “Good evening, Your Grace.”
“Lady Louisa, I would like the honour of a dance with you this evening,” Barton said.
Percy was beside Louisa. “Lady Louisa’s dance card is full. Now, if you will excuse us,” Percy bowed, took both girls by the elbows, and walked them to Amelia. He placed them in front of her so they were facing the group of matrons, and he and the other gentlemen in his group stood as a buffer between them and the dance floor.
He noticed Barton glowering at him from a short distance away. Percy was sure he wasn’t through making trouble.
The strings of the orchestra strained signalling the beginning of another dance. Kent led Louisa, and Cecil led Emma to the floor. Percy and Stafford stood on the sidelines scanning the room, looking for Barton.
“Over there, northwest of us,” Stafford said.
Percy nodded. “He’s going to go in. Luckily, Kent is twice his size and twice as tough.”
Stafford said, “That may be true, but if he relinquishes her to Barton, I’m charging the dance floor.”
Percy shook his head. “He won’t.”
Both Percy and Stafford were surprised when the dance ended without Barton making a move to cut in. If he intended to get her to talk to him alone, dancing was his only choice.
She came back to her group laughing at something Kent said, cheeks flushed from dancing, looking stunning. Percy once again wondered how Stafford convinced her to go to the ball when he had tried everything but could not. He wondered why it hurt his male pride.
Stafford led Louisa to the dance floor. She tilted her head up to better see his face, her eyes shining. They weren’t into the waltz forty-five seconds before Barton tapped Stafford on the shoulder and asked to cut in.
Louisa began to remove her hands from Stafford in preparation for dancing with Barton, but Stafford held onto her tight.
“No, Your Grace. I will be dancing with Lady Louisa throughout this waltz.”
Barton leaned close to Stafford and clenching his teeth, he said, “Do you mean to tell me you won’t relinquish this dance to me?”
Stafford gave a short laugh and said, “That’s exactly what I mean. He turned to Louisa and began to dance again. She was so shocked; he had to drag her the first few steps until her steps fell in line.
“Excuse me, My Lord. What was that about?” she said.
“I have heard he has great interest in courting you. Well, I have just as much interest in courting you. Why would I hand you over to a rival?”
“It was in bad form, that’s why,” she said.
“I don’t care. Barton St John is a disreputable thief who preys on ladies enjoying their first season. He deserves no consideration for bad form.”
