Page 65 of A Duchess to Fight For
“Really?” Kent said.
“No, not really.” Percy shrugged. “Thank you for your help. I’m going to see if she’s still awake.”
*****
“Shall we have tea before we retire, Louisa?”
“Yes. I’m not sure I would be able to sleep just yet,” Louisa said.
Mendon arranged to have tea brought in, and Amelia and Louisa sat in the parlour in silence. Neither quite knew what to say. The tea was brought, and Louisa poured. When both sat back, teacups in hand, Louisa spoke.
“I don’t want to sound obtuse, Mother, but did Stafford fail to protect me from Barton?”
Amelia gave Louisa a small smile. “That seems to be what happened.”
“But why?” Louisa asked. “He was there when we discussed it. He agreed to the plan.”
Amelia said, “Percy will get to the bottom of it. I like Stafford, but I agree that he is very difficult to get to know. I would like to know more about him if he continues to court you.”
“Continues to court me? Do I want him to continue to court me? I don’t want anything to do with Barton, and Stafford knew that yet he ignored it and almost let Barton have the chance for an un-chaperoned conversation with me.
“If Percy didn’t see it coming, I would have been forced to converse with a man I want nothing to do with. Is Percy the only gentleman in London I can count on?”
“Pardon, Mother. Did you say something?”
Amelia looked at Louisa, scanning her face, wondering what was going on in her mind. “Louisa, did you hear me? I asked you a question.”
Louisa shook her head and looked up at her mother. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
“I asked you how you feel about Stafford. How upset would you be if you broke it off?”
“Mother, surely we are not at the point where I should consider breaking it off,” Louisa said, her voice hard.
Amelia sighed. “You don’t know much about him. Do you want to try to know him well enough to keep it going?”
Louisa frowned. “I don’t know. Let’s see what happens now. He may never come see me after tonight.”
“Why can’t I find someone like Percy? Someone reliable. Someone who wants to spend time with me. Someone who won’t let me down.
“Percy told me he could only feel friendship for me. If he didn’t feel that way, I’d say ‘yes’ before all the words were out of his mouth.
“He is everything I want. Attentive. Fun to be around. Sensitive. There is no other man who can surpass him. I am doomed to settle for second best because I can’t have him.”
Percy knocked on the doorjamb and bowed, “Hello, ladies. May I come in or were you about to retire?”
Amelia smiled, “Please come in. It’s late, but neither of us thought we would be able to fall asleep so we stayed up. Would you like tea or a drink?”
“I’ll pour myself. Frederick hasn’t started hiding the whisky from me yet.” He went to the sideboard and poured two fingers into his glass.
Percy sat and leaned back in his chair. “I too knew I couldn’t sleep. My mind is racing.”
Louisa sighed. “Percy, thank you for coming to my rescue. I was so surprised about what was happening that I think I was frozen in place.”
Percy nodded. “You are welcome. I must admit I too was surprised. And disappointed in Stafford. I tried to locate him after our dance was over, but he left the ball early. I would like to understand what got into him.”
Amelia leaned forward. “Tell me, Percy. What do you know about Stafford?”
“Nothing that I didn’t hear here or at White’s. He shares very little information about himself. No one’s quite sure about what he does. I’m asking around. Someone must know him.”
