Page 87 of A Duchess to Fight For
Louisa went over to Harold, Cecil and Emma talking on the side of the ballroom. Harold was telling a funny story about his new, very young stable boy when Louisa looked up to see Percy and Nora dancing. A pang of jealousy ran through her as she watched.
Percy wore a detached expression, but Louisa thought it was a studied look. He seemed to be attempting to remove any emotion from his face. It was a shame. Percy had such an expressive face. He was not as handsome without it.
Louisa decided to stop searching for Percy in the crowd. She found it distressing, and except for Percy, she was having more fun than she expected.
The last dance before dinner was a waltz. Harold stretched his arm out for her, and she took it. She needn’t have worried about Harold’s height making their dance challenging; he was an excellent dancer, and she hardly noticed the height.
Percy was watching Louisa dance with the same man twice. He didn’t like it. Who was that man? He’d have to ask Cecil later. He couldn’t torture himself by watching her with another man. He excused himself to Nora, who was chatting with a friend and went to the card room.
Harold felt a tap on his shoulder and turned. Barton was asking if he could cut in. Louisa looked around in panic trying to find Cecil or Kent or even Percy. Surely Percy would rescue her if need be?
Harold walked to the sidelines empty-handed.
“I thought you were dancing?” Kent said.
Harold shrugged. “Someone cut in.”
Kent snapped his head to the dance floor already walking quickly. He looked through the dancers trying to remember the colour Louisa was wearing.
Cecil followed. “I’ll look to the right,” he said to Kent.
Kent heard her first. “Help me, help,” Louisa was yelling against the music.
He ran to her, and Barton let her go. He walked quickly away from the dance floor. Kent put his arm around her forearm and walked her off the dance floor.
“Breathe deep, Louisa. We are almost there. Breathe deep,” Kent whispered. Louisa sat down and closed her eyes. Her heart was pounding. She couldn’t make it slow down.
Cecil was kneeling in front of her. “Louisa, did he hurt you,” he asked gently.
“My hands. He held them too tight, so I couldn’t get away. He was crushing them,” she whispered.
Cecil nodded. “I caught up with him leaving the dance floor. He said he had no idea why you were yelling for help.”
“I told him he was hurting my hands. I told him to stop. He knew.”
Kent had been speaking with Harold while Cecil was questioning Louisa. They came over to Louisa.
“Louisa, I’m so sorry I let him cut in. I didn’t know. Cecil just told me. Please forgive me.”
Louisa looked up at him. His eyes showed his sincerity. How could he have known?
“Don’t blame yourself. I could have avoided all of this if I told you not to let anyone cut in.”
Amelia was behind Cecil and Kent, listening to them. “Louisa,” she said, prompting the men to move aside, “I think it’s time to go home. Please say your goodbyes and meet me at the front door.”
Louisa nodded.
Amelia called for her carriage and took her wrap from the butler. Her nerves were frayed. No one, including herself had been watching Louisa. Where was Percy? Surely, he hadn’t turned his back on her when she needed him.
Louisa’s friends brought her to the front and stayed.
Harold stepped forward and introduced himself to Amelia. She smiled. He seemed like a nice young man.
Harold turned to Louisa, “May I call on you tomorrow?”
Louisa gave him a small smile. “Yes, you may.”
Her friends took her mind off Barton by telling her little things they heard around the ballroom. They had her laughing before the carriage came and took her away.
