Page 64 of A Duchess to Fight For
Louisa nodded. “If you say so, Percy. But only because I have known you a long time. The next dance will start at any moment. I need to find Stafford.”
“Is something wrong, Stafford?” Louisa asked, enjoying her dance.
“Not at all Louisa. Why do you ask?”
“You’re craning your neck and scanning the room.”
Louisa looked up and saw Barton approaching Stafford. “Stafford, Barton’s coming.”
“I’m sorry, Louisa,” Stafford said.
Barton tapped Stafford on the shoulder. “May I cut in?”
Stafford let go of Louisa’s hands and stepped back. Barton stepped in. Louisa was so surprised she stood still with her hands by her sides.
Barton went to pick up her hands so they could start dancing when Percy stepped between them, his back to Barton. He picked up Louisa’s hands and began to dance, leading her away from Barton.
“Don’t say anything,” Percy said in a low voice. “We’ll talk after the dance.”
Louisa nodded.
Percy smiled at her. “Smile and pretend you are enjoying your dance,” he said.
She did. Throughout the dance, she smiled and moved her feet without a misstep. Unfortunately for Percy, she was gripping his hand so tight his fingers were turning white.
When Percy and Louisa walked back to the group after the dance, Cecil said, “I’ve called for the Haddington carriage.”
“Thank you, Cecil,” Percy said. “I’ll walk them out and come back. Stay here.”
Cecil nodded.
They waited near the front door with their cloaks on, peering out the window for a view of the carriage.
Louisa turned to Percy. “Why are you staying? I thought you would escort us home.”
“Would you feel safer if I joined you?”
“We’ll be fine, Percy,” Amelia said. “I understand your need to stay.”
Their carriage arrived, and Percy bowed, watched them climb into the carriage then turned to the ballroom.
“Do you see him?” Percy asked Cecil. Cecil knew without asking that Percy meant Stafford.
“No. Barton’s not here either. Kent went to the card room and down the hall past it, but he was nowhere to be found. He’s outside looking at the crests of the carriages to see if Stafford’s still here. I doubt it.”
“I agree with you,” Percy said, then told Cecil about what he saw earlier. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he wasn’t being blackmailed. That seems to be Barton’s style.”
“Is there no one in this town we can trust with Louisa?”
Percy almost laughed. She could trust him. But she wouldn’t, she told him a long time ago. She considered him a friend and nothing more.
Kent walked up to Cecil and Percy. “He’s gone.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he leaves town tomorrow morning for business on his estate,” Percy said in disgust.
“At least he won’t hover around Louisa anymore. She doesn’t need to worry about him. Imagine. She could have married him without knowing his true colours,” Cecil said.
Percy nodded. “She told me she could never get anything out of him about his family or friends. His answers to her questions were always vague. Hopefully, it will help her take his betrayal a little easier.”
