Page 3 of A Duchess to Fight For
Chapter 1
The music started up and Louisa, Emma, and Rose began to laugh.
“Finally, after all these years, we can dance for real,” Emma said.
“Where are the other boys?” Rose said, trying to see through the crowd.
“Ladies, we are trying to meet real gentlemen. It won’t happen in the hallway. We need to get inside. Besides, it might keep the gentlemen from us if we are with the boys. We need to be by ourselves, or they won’t approach.”
The three turned towards the ballroom and began to walk when they heard a voice.
“Not yet, ladies. Don’t be in such a rush,” Percy said. “You haven’t had the pleasure of our company.”
The ladies curtsied, and Percy, Cecil, and Kent bowed.
“We are headed inside to try to find gentlemen,” Emma said.
Yes, well maybe we can help?” Kent said.
The girls laughed. “How many times have we asked you if you could introduce us around? We met all your friends. You can’t help,” Louisa said.
Cecil tilted his head to the ceiling. “It would be so much easier if we weren’t your friends. Then we wouldn’t have to get in there and introduce ourselves to strangers.”
Rose said, “Yes, it would be. However, we should get in there.”
Over the last four years, all of them had become close friends. Louisa didn’t think it was possible, but she liked the three boys she got to know through ballroom dancing lessons.
They came in sullen and unprepared for the lessons Mr Downs gave. Lessons in etiquette when asking a woman to dance. Lessons in how to speak, what topics were recommended, what topics were not recommended. The six of them couldn’t help getting to know each other well.
Now she knew what it was like to have a brother. Percy made her laugh; he listened to her fears for the future, and he squirmed in his seat when she asked questions about men.
They readily admitted there was no physical attraction to one another. Louisa liked it that way. She thought intimacy of any kind would make their friendship different – and not in a good way.
Percy would walk over at teatime to keep the Duchess and Louisa company. Percy’s townhouse was empty except for staff. His parents liked to spend their time at their country estate. Unlike in most formal settings, the three put aside social constructs and talked about everything. Percy told hilarious stories about growing up in Gordon Castle, a draughty crumbling dinosaur that moaned on windy nights.
The Duke of Gordon seemed oblivious to his crumbling castle and his wayward son. Even Percy couldn’t understand why the kitchen staff didn’t check their apron pockets for frogs every time he walked through.
“It was lonely. I had to find my own entertainment. Making mischief kept me busy. I don’t know if there will be a time when I outgrow it.”
“Since the day we met, you have been causing trouble. I’m not sure you will ever outgrow that part of you. Luckily for you, it makes me laugh,” Louisa said.
The Duchess smiled indulgently at Percy. “Men can get away with little pranks. Women cannot. Keep that in mind when you are attempting to corrupt my little Louisa.”
Both Louisa and Percy laughed loudly. “Duchess, I think your daughter corrupts me more often than not.”
*****
There were one to two balls a week. In any given month, a gentleman might approach and dance with a lady up to sixteen times. A gentleman could dance with the same lady twice per ball. The young ladies trying to develop relationships cursed the two-dance per ball rule.
At every ball, the three girls and the three boys went their separate ways lest they discourage others from approaching.
The boys huddled; one would look up in the direction of a girl he had interest in then huddle some more.
Finally, one of them would walk over to her, bow to her mother or her male relative and ask for a dance. He was then presented to the young lady, and after a curtsy and a bow, he would take her to the dance floor.
The three girls, having watched the whole transaction smiled broadly while they watched the dance. Sisters, proud of their brother.
Louisa danced two dances at each ball with Jack Duggan, the Earl of Salisbury. Jack also visited Louisa during calling hours when there wasn’t an evening ton event.
