Chapter 12
Stafford came over during calling hours every day since he arrived back in London. It lifted Louisa’s spirits, so she felt better than she had since Jack went away. So much so that she decided to go to the Slope ball on Thursday evening.
For some reason that rankled Percy. She thought he would be happy that she decided to venture out. God knows he tried to get her out several times before now.
She didn’t know how well acquainted Percy and Stafford were before Stafford left London, but she was unhappy with the way Percy treated him. It was important to her that they get along. When she tried to put her finger on it, she couldn’t. She couldn’t even come up with a single incident that proved her point.
Stafford was such an interesting man. He knew more about horses than most men, and he told interesting stories about horse breeding. He offered to host the Haddingtons when he next expected a foal.
Why didn’t she notice him earlier? He had noticed her. She must have been too infatuated with Jack to pay him much notice. Stafford could have gone to the ball, danced with a number of ladies, and chose from several. But he decided to come to her. Even before the ball.
*****
Stafford had thought about Louisa when he was pulled away from London. He thought of her so much he was worried he had built her up in his head to be more beautiful and sweeter than she really was.
But his mind didn’t play tricks on him. She was everything he remembered. And more. He wasn’t interested in starting over, going from one ball to the next, dancing with the ladies he did not intend to ever talk to again.
Thankfully, Stafford didn’t have to trample over Jack to get to Louisa. He heard about Jack from Barton. He also heard what was behind it. When Barton told him the story, he wanted to laugh. Barton with Louisa? Stafford didn’t see it.
Percy told him the plan for Thursday evening. It was a good plan. He would be more than willing to stay by Louisa’s side to buffer her from Barton.
Percy made it clear how frustrated he was that Frederick wouldn’t tell Louisa the truth. He saw Percy’s point. She had a right to know. But, on the other hand, she probably wouldn’t even go to the ball if she knew. If she went, she would probably look over her shoulder the whole time.
The season was half over. Stafford planned to spend every day and most evenings with Louisa. In a month, he would ask her to marry him. Hopefully, they would be betrothed for only a short period. Then they could put Barton behind them.
*****
“Percy,” the Duchess greeted him when he came for tea. “I asked Frederick to detain Louisa for a few minutes so we could talk.
“I know you are Louisa’s best friend, and the two of you are closer than most brothers and sisters, but now that she has a suitor, I was wondering if things could change.
“He plans to ask her to join him in the park. Of course, he would ask you also. Would you object to allowing them to go without you? They would be chaperoned, of course.”
Percy gave Amelia a small smile. “Of course. I would never stand in the way of Louisa’s happiness. I thank you for your advice. Men are the last to notice things, aren’t they?”
“Thank you, Percy. You are so good to her. I don’t know what she would do without you.”
Percy heard footsteps then saw Louisa and Stafford at the parlour door. He rose and bowed. How did he miss it before? Her eyes were shining, and she had colour in her cheeks. She was beautiful. Thanks to Stafford, she was beautiful.
“Look who I found in the foyer on my way to the parlour,” Louisa said. She gave a little melodic laugh and looked at Stafford.
‘What was I just saying?’ Percy thought. ‘Men are the last to notice things.’
Once they settled, talk turned to the Slope ball that evening.
“Is Frederick going? Will he be accompanying you to the ball, Duchess?”
“Yes, Percy. Thank you,” she said. “It’s a rare occasion that we have the pleasure of Frederick’s company. Louisa and I plan to make the most of it. In fact,” she said, turning to Louisa, “he said he plans to dance at least one dance with you this evening.”
“It’s a shame you don’t have a dance card with you now so I could fill in two dances for myself,” Stafford said.
“And you will be forced to dance with your good friend, also. Two dances I should think,” Percy said.
“That doesn’t leave many dances.” Louisa grinned.
“Knowing the gentlemen that will be at the ball tonight, I predict your dance card will be full before you hear the first strains of the orchestra,” Stafford said.
“We are willing to share, aren’t we Stafford?” Percy winked at Louisa.
Stafford gave an overdramatic sigh, “If we must, Percy. If we must.”
Louisa giggled. “I may turn both of you down for a dance if you’re not careful.”
Percy laughed and turned to Stafford. “Isn’t she getting picky?”
Stafford said in a voice meant to mimic someone crying and talking at the same time, “If she turns me down, I’ll go in the corner and curl up into a ball.”
“Gentlemen, please. Enough,” she said with a laugh.
Percy was happy to see Louisa laughing but saddened that it wasn’t he that made her so. She wouldn’t have gone to the ball at his suggestion.
*****
Louisa enjoyed dressing for the ball. Her mother came in and went through her wardrobe with her, and together they chose one of her favourites. The cornflower blue gown was free of bows and ruffles.
It had but one style statement. The gown was off the shoulder, showing off her flawless skin. Her mother’s long pearls finished the effect.
“You look lovely, my dear,” her father said when she descended the stairs. And she even had to admit to herself that she did.
“Thank you,” she said with her brightest smile meant only for him.
“You’re sure you want to go?” he asked.
“Very,” she said, although it wasn’t true. She hadn’t been out in weeks, and breaking the ice would be difficult. She didn’t know what to expect.
He took her arm and led her to the carriage. He helped Amelia and Louisa and then sat next to his wife, holding her hand.
“As soon as you are given your dance card, I shall take the first dance.”
“Thank you, Father,” Louisa said gratefully.
They entered the ball, still filling with guests. She looked for Emma but didn’t immediately see her. Percy, Cecil, and Kent came to her.
They bowed so seriously, she thought something must be wrong, but they quickly allayed her fears by elbowing each other out of the way to get to her dance card.
She shook her head at Percy while Cecil and Kent were writing. He shrugged then took his turn.
“Stafford wants two dances this evening so don’t allow anyone else to write in your card. In fact, let me see that again. There. He has a waltz and a country dance. You will be exhausted by the end of the evening,” Percy said.
Louisa pulled him aside. “What is this all about, Percy?”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“Why are you all clamouring to fill my card?”
Percy looked around, then bent down. “Truthfully? You haven’t been out in some time, and we want the entire ballroom to see you happy and enjoying yourself. Is that so bad?”
“No. I suppose not. Thank you,” she said. She gave Percy that look that he had learned to hate. That ‘you are my best friend’ look.
Frederick, Amelia, and Louisa were clustered around Emma, Stafford, Percy, Cecil, and Kent. Percy watched to his left and right to make sure no one was approaching. Cecil and Kent were doing the same. Louisa noticed and began to look around herself.
Percy was making her nervous. She watched him out of the corner of her eye. He was acting like a bodyguard, not a friend.
“Louisa, shall we dance?” her father said.
She smiled and took his arm. They waltzed well together, having done it many times before.
“Father, something seems off. Percy looks as though a gunfight is imminent. What is happening?”
Frederick laughed. “Nothing, my dear. Nothing. Are you happy you came out?”
“Yes, I am. Very. We’ll have fun this evening, I think.”
“We will. I see Stafford has made it.” Louisa looked over her shoulder. “He is a nice young man.”
“He is. He talked me into coming out tonight. He said I need to join the human race again.”
Frederick laughed. “I’ll have to thank him. And ask him for his secret. He got you out when Percy and I couldn’t make you budge. He likes you.”
“And I like him. He came around at just the right time for me.” Louisa smiled.
Louisa and Frederick walked back to their group. After greetings to Stafford, Frederick excused himself to join his peers on the other side of the ballroom floor.
Emma and Louisa had their heads together talking of Rose. The men were having a lively discussion about the carriage full of whisky that was stolen the previous evening. Amelia and a few other matrons were going over the ton activities for the coming week.
And there he was. In front of her bowing. “Good evening, Lady Louisa, Lady Emma. You both look lovely this evening.”
The girls curtsied, and Louisa looked around. “Good evening, Your Grace,” Emma responded.
Louisa looked around again. “Good evening, Your Grace.”
“Lady Louisa, I would like the honour of a dance with you this evening,” Barton said.
Percy was beside Louisa. “Lady Louisa’s dance card is full. Now, if you will excuse us,” Percy bowed, took both girls by the elbows, and walked them to Amelia. He placed them in front of her so they were facing the group of matrons, and he and the other gentlemen in his group stood as a buffer between them and the dance floor.
He noticed Barton glowering at him from a short distance away. Percy was sure he wasn’t through making trouble.
The strings of the orchestra strained signalling the beginning of another dance. Kent led Louisa, and Cecil led Emma to the floor. Percy and Stafford stood on the sidelines scanning the room, looking for Barton.
“Over there, northwest of us,” Stafford said.
Percy nodded. “He’s going to go in. Luckily, Kent is twice his size and twice as tough.”
Stafford said, “That may be true, but if he relinquishes her to Barton, I’m charging the dance floor.”
Percy shook his head. “He won’t.”
Both Percy and Stafford were surprised when the dance ended without Barton making a move to cut in. If he intended to get her to talk to him alone, dancing was his only choice.
She came back to her group laughing at something Kent said, cheeks flushed from dancing, looking stunning. Percy once again wondered how Stafford convinced her to go to the ball when he had tried everything but could not. He wondered why it hurt his male pride.
Stafford led Louisa to the dance floor. She tilted her head up to better see his face, her eyes shining. They weren’t into the waltz forty-five seconds before Barton tapped Stafford on the shoulder and asked to cut in.
Louisa began to remove her hands from Stafford in preparation for dancing with Barton, but Stafford held onto her tight.
“No, Your Grace. I will be dancing with Lady Louisa throughout this waltz.”
Barton leaned close to Stafford and clenching his teeth, he said, “Do you mean to tell me you won’t relinquish this dance to me?”
Stafford gave a short laugh and said, “That’s exactly what I mean. He turned to Louisa and began to dance again. She was so shocked; he had to drag her the first few steps until her steps fell in line.
“Excuse me, My Lord. What was that about?” she said.
“I have heard he has great interest in courting you. Well, I have just as much interest in courting you. Why would I hand you over to a rival?”
“It was in bad form, that’s why,” she said.
“I don’t care. Barton St John is a disreputable thief who preys on ladies enjoying their first season. He deserves no consideration for bad form.”
Louisa nodded. “Then I suppose I should thank you. I met him once before. He was visiting our townhouse on some sort of business with Father. We were introduced on his way out. He didn’t leave me with a good opinion although I don’t know why.”
“Your first impression was correct. I don’t trust him with my family dog.”
Louisa laughed. “Your dog would thank you if he could.”
Louisa went through the evening in a blissful fog. She sat between Stafford and Percy during dinner. Although she thought they were being entirely too protective of her, she laughed and gossiped and danced to the point of fatigue.
When Louisa wanted to visit the ladies retiring room, Amelia escorted her. Inside, Amelia stood by the door while Louisa went behind one of the screens to the back of the room.
“I wasn’t sure she would show her face again this season,” a voice came through the screen. Was it Priscilla Thompson? Or maybe Alessandra Elliott?
“She must know we know the truth of why he left her like that. I didn’t take Jack as a liar. Imagine, fires in the village. Do you think she believed that nonsense?”
Louisa’s heart sank. They were talking about her. About her and Jack. Jack lied to her. Why?
Louisa peeked around the screen. Alessandra Elliott and Missy Rawlings.
“Stafford seems nice. He seems very attentive to her. After Jack, maybe she’ll have better luck with him,” Missy said.
“Maybe. I still don’t understand how he could be missing from town for months then come back and go straight to Louisa. Yes, she’s beautiful. But isn’t it odd? I heard he was at her door the day after he returned to London. Does she have a large dowry?” Alessandra asked.
Louisa thought Alessandra a little too caustic for her liking. She wasn’t sure what, if anything, she should believe.
Missy answered, “Yes, but lots of the girls here do. If I were her, my biggest concern wouldn’t be the size of her dowry. It would be that degenerate trying to court her. Barton St John is the most disgusting man in that ballroom. He’s probably drunk by now.”
Tears formed in Louisa’s eyes. How did Missy and Alessandra and probably everyone else in the ballroom know about Barton St John and yet she didn’t? She closed her eyes. She felt like a fool. Jack? Then Barton St John?
Louisa felt betrayed by her family. And she felt betrayed by Percy. She thought she could count on him.
“Missy, you must have seen how they surrounded her to keep her away from that vile man. They wouldn’t even let him cut in,” Alessandra said.
Louisa felt foolish. How could she be the only one in the ballroom who didn’t know her friends and family were trying to protect her? To think she protested when Stafford wouldn’t let Barton cut in.
Missy gasped, “I didn’t see that. They refused to let him cut in. Was it Percy? Everyone says he’s her lapdog, but I think he loves her and keeps her company just to be near her. Isn’t that romantic?”
Alessandra laughed. “You think everything is romantic. Oh, no.”
“What?”
“I see the Duchess of Haddington at the door. Louisa won’t be far behind.”
Louisa stayed behind the screen for several minutes to compose herself then peeked around the corner to make sure Missy and Alessandra were gone. She moved toward the door.
Amelia saw Louisa walking toward her and knew something was wrong.
“Louisa, are you ill?”
“Yes, Mother. I would like to go home at once.”
“Come, I’ll call for the carriage and have Percy find your father.”
Louisa stood next to the butler and closed her eyes. Percy. Mother would find Percy. She shook her head.
Why did Percy lie to her? That hurt the most. She thought she could count on him. Well, she thought a lot of things that weren’t true it seems. How could she be so stupid?
She heard footsteps and opened her eyes.
"Louisa, I've summoned your father. Are you all right? Amelia said you were ill," Percy was frantic.
Louisa looked into his eyes. “Nothing is all right. Nothing will ever be all right again. I counted on you. I believed you. I didn’t ever think there was any reason not to believe you. I am in shock. Of all the people I know, you would be the last one I would guess to let me down. I still can’t believe—”
"Louisa, I’m here. Has the carriage arrived?”
"Not yet,” Percy answered in almost a whisper.
"Percy said you are ill?"
"Yes, my stomach is turning, and there is bile in my throat,” she said, staring at Percy.
"Here you are, Amelia. I see it’s pulling up." He turned, “Percy, are you coming with us?”
"No," Louisa said quickly. "He is certainly not coming with us.”
Amelia looked at Percy. Percy's face showed his feelings. 'She knows, and she’s not going to forgive you for betraying her.'