Page 112 of A Duchess to Fight For
“Whatever happened with the horse-trading research you were doing?”
“It was totally derailed by Louisa’s sickness. As soon as we can focus on it again, we’ll be right back on him. He might think he’s in the clear, but he isn’t.
“Frederick wants Tattersall to know what is going on in his business. He is sure Tattersall will be heartbroken his business has been used like this.
“Frederick thinks it best if the old man sells his business, along with his name, to someone reputable who won’t stoop to making profits from questionable horses. It would be a good solution all the way around.”
*****
Percy was in the parlour pacing. Frederick came in and told him to sit. Frederick hated to be in the same room as Percy when he was pacing.
They sat across from each other drinking tea, with a plate of scones sitting lonely on the tray. Percy let the scones wallow in their loneliness only because Frederick was about to tell him news of Louisa.
“The doctor thinks she’s much improved. She started eating solid food yesterday and has tolerated it well. The better her appetite, the better her health, according to James.
“She is taking steps from the bed to the chair at the fireplace and back. It might not sound like much, but she’s weak, and that’s about all the exertion James wants for her right now.
“I’m thrilled, Amelia is thrilled, but best of all Louisa is thrilled. I think we’ve turned the corner, Percy.”
“I don’t know what to say. This is so, so wonderful. She is out of the woods?”
Frederick grinned. “Yes, she’s out of the woods.” Percy thought it might be time to have a scone.
“Does this mean Amelia might be able to get some sleep?”
Frederick looked into Percy’s eyes. “James and I talked about her and what we could do that she wouldn’t fight us about. He plans to give her a compound that will help her appetite and will also make her drowsy.”
“What a wonderful day. I’m going to Bond Street and look until I find something special for her.”
“She liked the daffodil miniature,” Frederick said. “I’m sure she’ll like whatever you get.”
Percy spent the better part of the afternoon on Bond Street looking for the perfect gift for Louisa. He would have enjoyed buying her a necklace with the large Ruby stone or an emerald bracelet, but he knew he couldn’t.
So he settled for a beautiful sapphire, emerald and amethyst hair comb that would perfectly match her sapphire gown, his favourite.
Louisa loved the colours of peacocks so he knew the colours he chose for the comb would be right. He thought to buy her peacock feathers for her hair but decided against it. He had never seen her wear feathers in her hair.
*****
He went home to take a run and found Hobart in his parlour.
“Hobart, it’s good to see you. Have you been waiting long?”
“Not too long. I have a drink, and I caught up on your newspapers, so I am up to speed on what has happened in London during my absence.”
Percy barked a laugh aloud and poured himself a drink, “Yeah, but that’s not the good stuff. You’ve seen Frederick?”
“Yes. He told me you’d be on Bond Street, and I might have to wait. Let’s see it.”
Percy unwrapped the delicate pink paper surrounding it and handed it to Hobart. “Too much? I wanted to buy the five-carat Ruby and make a necklace from it, but I had to rein myself in.”
Hobart handed it back to Percy. “No, it’s not too much. She’ll love it. Not yet on the rubies, though.”
Percy nodded. “So, tell me what’s new with you? You were gone too long. It made us nervous you wouldn’t find anything. We all missed you.”
“Remind me never to go to Portsmouth again. Not that I’ll need reminding. There was no record of my release and no record that the charges went any further, so my friends and I were able to talk that magistrate into drawing up something saying that the charges were dropped and I had an alibi. Unfortunately, it took some time convincing him to see the light.”
“Money or strong-arms.”
