Chapter 15
Louisa decided she would go on a carriage ride with Stafford and that she would prefer to be chaperoned by Amelia. Percy, who sat in the parlour with the ladies thought that was a good idea.
Percy said, “Not that he would kidnap you for ransom, but he might try to compromise you. It’s better if your mother goes along.”
Louisa looked into Percy’s eyes. “You really don’t like Stafford, do you?”
“No. I do like him. I just don’t trust him. I can’t shake a bad feeling I have about him. Your uncle is going to put my fears to rest.”
Amelia asked, “How is Hobart? I haven’t seen him since the last time he came here to dine. I need to ask him over again.”
Percy grinned. “He’s the same. I can’t believe he and Frederick are brothers.”
“Who are brothers?” Stafford asked, standing in the doorway. Louisa and Percy rose and greeted him.
Percy said, “Good afternoon, Stafford. Have you met Frederick’s brother, Hobart? You would remember if you had. They are so different.”
Stafford sat, and Louisa handed him tea. “No, I didn’t know Louisa had an uncle. Do you have cousins?”
Louisa laughed. “No. Uncle Hobart never married. He’s a free spirit.”
“Ah. Have you decided if you would like to take a carriage ride today? The weather did hold out for us.”
“Yes, I did,” Louisa said. “I’d love to go on a carriage ride.” Percy watched Stafford’s face open up with a large smile. He put down his teacup.
He said, “Well then, call your maid, and we’ll be on our way.”
Amelia stood and placed her teacup on the tray. “No need. I’ve decided to join you.”
Stafford’s face fell. His eyes darted from Louisa to Amelia and back again. He composed himself.
“No need to put you out. One chaperone is as good as another is. You really don’t need to go.”
Amelia smiled broadly. “But I want to go. I am looking forward to it.”
Louisa said, “Mother, let’s go get our shawls. Shall we meet you at the door, My Lord?”
Stafford nodded absently.
Percy said, “It won’t be so bad, Stafford. Amelia is a very nice woman. You’ll enjoy her company.”
“You don’t understand,” Stafford said. “I have to find a way to undo what I was planning to do.”
“Pardon?”
Stafford waved his hand. “Never mind, Percy.” Then he stomped out of the parlour.
The carriage ride was wonderful. The barouche fit the three of them with no problem. Looking at a barouche when standing on the ground, it seemed deceptively smaller.
The weather was perfect. A light breeze with the sky just dotted with clouds. After Louisa and Amelia remarked about a planter of bright flowers, Louisa turned to Stafford.
“Is everything all right, My Lord? You seem off today.”
He turned and gave her a fake smile.
“Everything is fine,” he answered. “I’ve changed my mind on the route we’ll take. I hope you ladies don’t mind.”
“Not at all. Wherever you want to go is fine. We’re enjoying the ride, aren’t we Mother?”
“Yes, thank you, Lord Daniels. It’s lovely.”
Stafford rode through the streets of London haphazardly, staying away from the parks and the main roads. Traffic was light, and the barouche maneuvered easily.
Louisa got the ridiculous feeling that Stafford didn’t want to be seen in public with her. He dodged any street that might find members of the ton walking or shopping.
After the silence seemed to stretch on too long, Louisa asked, “Will you be attending any of the balls scheduled for next week, My Lord?”
Stafford seemed to remember himself. He turned to Louisa before looking back to the road, “I’m not sure. Do you happen to know what is scheduled?”
Louisa smiled. “Yes, I do. On Monday evening, the Olivers are having a ball. Wednesday evening,” Louisa turned to her mother, “is it Wednesday evening?”
“Which one, dear?”
“The Henderson ball.”
“Yes, Wednesday.”
Louisa turned back to Stafford. “As you just heard, the Hendersons are holding a ball on Wednesday evening. Then Thursday evening the Abbotts are having a dinner and musicale.”
Stafford laughed. “I am not fond of musicales. I can assure you I will not attend. But the balls on Monday and Wednesday will fit in my schedule.”
“How nice. We will see you there. I must admit, I’m not overly fond of musicales myself, but Father knows the family so well, we must go.”
“Nonsense, Louisa. I’ve heard that Emily is an extraordinary pianist. You may be surprised to find you will enjoy yourself,” Amelia said.
“I hope that is true, Mother.”
“I must be getting you ladies back before we find Mendon searching the streets of London for you.”
“This has been a lovely ride, My Lord. Thank you for taking us. I’ve lived in London my whole life, and I haven’t been down some of these streets. What a treat,” Louisa said.
“When you’re riding in a barouche, you can go down streets that might be too tight for carriages. I think that is my favourite part of driving a barouche.”
The ladies came in through the door opened by Mendon.
“Good afternoon, Your Grace. Lady Louisa.”
They returned his greeting and asked for tea. They entered the parlour to find Percy sitting in his usual chair, reading the newspaper.
“Hello, Percy. I didn’t think you would still be here,” Amelia said.
Percy got up, put down the newspaper, and bowed.
“I’ve just called for tea. You might as well stay,” Amelia said.
“It would be my pleasure,” he said, then sat down. “I find great pleasure in reading the news. Did you know deer have been seen in Hyde Park eating the flowers?
“They are very fond of peonies. There are sections of the park that have trampled flower beds devoid of flowers. We will have to go back just to see the unsightly flower beds.”
“And how was your ride in the barouche?”
Louisa thought for a moment. “It was unusual. Stafford’s mind seemed to be elsewhere. We were to drive through St. James’s Park, but he changed his mind. Instead, we went down one side street after another. I didn’t know where we were from one minute to the next. Did you, Mother?”
“No, I didn’t. I thought I knew how to navigate London. Stafford knew where he was going, but he was the only one.”
“Were the side streets quaint? Picturesque? Unusual? Tell me about where he took you to see,” Percy asked.
Louisa looked at her mother. “I think they all looked the same. What did you think, Mother?”
Amelia nodded. “All similar. One grey building after another. Storefronts on the bottom with living quarters above. Cobblestones. No pavements. Too narrow for a carriage. I doubt they see many barouches driving by. Similar to the street we shop to get our ribbons, wouldn’t you say?”
“Yes. That street looked similar,” Louisa said.
Percy narrowed his eyes. “Far be it for me to question your lovely afternoon in the barouche, but I’m not sure that would have been my route.
“Did he say anything like, ‘I’m fond of streets like this’ or ‘I need to pick up something in a shop on this street?’ I don’t get it.
“Were you going too fast? Did he look over his shoulder often? Maybe he was concerned for your safety.”
Amelia sat straighter in her chair. “That may be it. He did seem to take turns onto different streets for no reason, but he may have had a reason. His turns seemed to be taken at the last minute. Could we have been followed? But why?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t like it. Thank God he got you back in one piece,” Percy said.