Page 88 of A Duchess to Fight For
*****
“Did you want to see me, Father?” Louisa asked, standing in front of his desk in his office.
“Yes, Louisa. Sit down. Your mother told me there was an incident on the dance floor. I’d like to hear the whole story from you.”
Louisa told him what happened making sure not to leave anything out. He nodded in upsetting parts of the story, encouraging her to go on.
When the story was done, Frederick sat back and didn’t say anything. He looked at the ceiling. Louisa waited. He brought his head down and looked at her.
“Where was Percy? Why wasn’t he watching you? Why didn’t he help you?”
Louisa looked at Frederick in surprise. “Father, Percy and I don’t spend any time with one another any longer. We didn’t even say ‘hello’ to one another last night. He was on one side of the room, and I was on the other.”
“Do you mean to tell me he watched Barton crush your hands while you yelled for help, and he did nothing?”
“I suppose. I don’t know. It was clear Kent and Cecil were coming to help me.”
“There’s a ball tonight. Are you going?”
“Yes. I met a man I’d like to see again. He may come during calling hours. His name is Harold Newton. He’s the Earl of Pembroke,” Louisa said.
“Well then, I’ll meet him this evening. I will join you and your mother at this evening’s ball.”
Louisa’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Father. Will you dance with me?”
Frederick laughed. “Of course I will. And don’t even think of letting this Harold person come before me.”
*****
Percy met Cecil and Kent for dinner at White’s. They were in a private room. He knew by looking into the others’ faces that something was wrong.
Cecil started, his voice oozing disgust. “What’s going on? You stayed on the sidelines last night when Louisa needed you? You have now officially taken this ‘feeling sorry for yourself’ too far.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, and I’m not feeling sorry for myself.”
Kent picked up the conversation, “We’ve been putting up with you and your mood swings for weeks. I’m done. When you don’t lift a finger to help Louisa when she’s in trouble, I know you’ve taken your poisonous thoughts about her too far. I don’t care how broken your heart is, that was a cold thing to do.”
Percy shook his head. “What are you talking about? What happened to Louisa? Is she all right? What?”
Cecil looked at Percy hard. “You don’t know?”
“No, I don’t. But you are scaring me. Is she all right? Should I go over there now?”
Percy stood.
“Sit down, Percy,” Kent said. “How did you miss it? Did you go home early?”
“No, I was busy in the card room losing money. When I thought I had lost enough, I went home. But it was late. Very late.”
Cecil sighed. “Barton cut in on Harold. Since Harold didn’t know about how we safeguard Louisa, he let him in.”
“Who’s Harold?”
“Lord Harold Newton, Earl of Pembroke. We told you. We met him at Tattersall’s. We get together occasionally. You haven’t been all that social lately, so you haven’t met him.”
“And he was dancing with Louisa because . . .”
Kent said, “Because he likes her. He’s constantly asking us questions about her. Where did she grow up? What are her favourite foods? Does she ride? What are her hobbies? He’s got it bad.”
