Chapter 16
Louisa planned to use the same tactic at the Henderson ball that was so successful before. Within ten minutes of arrival, her dance card was full. At least two men were talking with her at any given time. Stafford and Percy would accompany her to dinner.
The ball started out well. Emma and Louisa eyed the gowns and had plenty to say to each other about colour, style, and fit. They talked about Rose’s attempts to settle in.
Emma told Louisa that Rose was thrilled her new husband wanted very little to do with her. He wasn’t at present in need of an heir. They would deal with that later.
Percy watched Stafford’s movements. He wished he trusted the man, but he couldn’t. Stafford left the ballroom and walked down the hall, but not in the direction of the card room.
Shortly after, he saw Barton walk the same way, looking back before ducking out of sight. Percy’s eyes were focused on that hall, waiting.
He waited longer than he thought possible for the two men to exchange pleasantries and swap information. They were arguing; Percy was sure. Why else would they be gone so long?
At last, Stafford stomped back into the ballroom, a scowl on his red face. Percy saw him remember himself and put a smile on his face as well as slow and lighten his walk.
Then Barton came out and stood still, watching the room. He pulled down on his waistcoat in one quick tug. He had a smug smile. Whatever Stafford and Barton discussed, Barton was clearly the winner.
By the time Stafford reached Louisa, he was his usual jovial self, checking Louisa’s dance card to see where they were in the dancing portion of the evening.
Cecil bowed, and Louisa curtsied, then he led her out to the dance floor. Percy and Stafford stood on the sidelines.
“The ladies told me you went on an unusual carriage ride. Amelia said she saw places she’d never seen in London after having lived here a long time. Is that what you do in your barouche? Ride down narrower streets?”
Stafford continued to look out on the dance floor as he answered, “Sometimes. I think they enjoyed the change of scenery. I certainly did.”
“Tell me, Stafford. Do you mind terribly helping us keep Louisa away from Barton?”
Stafford’s head moved from the ballroom floor to Percy as if he’d been slapped hard on his cheek. “Of course not. That man shouldn’t be anywhere near Louisa. I worry he’ll get Louisa alone on the patio outside and compromise her. If he speaks to her, I plan to stand by the patio doors.”
“What makes you think he could get her alone?”
Stafford shook his head. “He’ll try. That man should never be underestimated.”
“I agree. I’ve decided to watch him. If he tries to cut in during a dance like he tried at the last ball, I’ll get between him and Louisa. If he’s strong-arming any of her dance partners, I won’t allow it.”
Stafford turned to face Percy. “What makes you think he is strong-arming someone? You don’t believe she’s safe with the plan we have in place?”
“No, Stafford, I don’t. Something is wrong. I have had a prickle in the back of my neck since we walked in here. He didn’t get away with cutting in at the last ball. I expect he’s thought of ways to ensure he gets to talk with her alone this time. I may take up residence in front of the patio doors with you. She and Barton on that patio would be a disaster.”
Louisa came back from her dance, cheeks flushed and a smile on her face. “Would you care for some lemonade My Lady?”
She looked at Percy and tilted her head. It was an unusual request at this point in the ball, but she agreed to go wondering if something was wrong.
They stood together, lemonade in hand. “I’m concerned Barton is going to try to talk with you tonight. During dances, I am going to be close by in case he tries to cut in.
“I believe he will be more insistent tonight. He has had time to think about how to thwart our attempts to keeping you from him.”
“Percy, is it so important that he and I don’t speak?” Louisa said.
“Yes. He will try to manipulate you. What if he tells you he will hurt Amelia unless you go with him? He can’t get what he wants unless he can get close enough to manipulate you.”
“What if he hurts Mother without talking to me first?”
“He won’t do that. He doesn’t really want to hurt her; he just wants to threaten you.”
“Percy, don’t take this the wrong way, but I think you’re being dramatic.”
“Louisa, you’ve known me a long time? Please just help me. I’ve got a bad feeling.”
Louisa nodded. “If you say so, Percy. But only because I have known you a long time. The next dance will start at any moment. I need to find Stafford.”
“Is something wrong, Stafford?” Louisa asked, enjoying her dance.
“Not at all Louisa. Why do you ask?”
“You’re craning your neck and scanning the room.”
Louisa looked up and saw Barton approaching Stafford. “Stafford, Barton’s coming.”
“I’m sorry, Louisa,” Stafford said.
Barton tapped Stafford on the shoulder. “May I cut in?”
Stafford let go of Louisa’s hands and stepped back. Barton stepped in. Louisa was so surprised she stood still with her hands by her sides.
Barton went to pick up her hands so they could start dancing when Percy stepped between them, his back to Barton. He picked up Louisa’s hands and began to dance, leading her away from Barton.
“Don’t say anything,” Percy said in a low voice. “We’ll talk after the dance.”
Louisa nodded.
Percy smiled at her. “Smile and pretend you are enjoying your dance,” he said.
She did. Throughout the dance, she smiled and moved her feet without a misstep. Unfortunately for Percy, she was gripping his hand so tight his fingers were turning white.
When Percy and Louisa walked back to the group after the dance, Cecil said, “I’ve called for the Haddington carriage.”
“Thank you, Cecil,” Percy said. “I’ll walk them out and come back. Stay here.”
Cecil nodded.
They waited near the front door with their cloaks on, peering out the window for a view of the carriage.
Louisa turned to Percy. “Why are you staying? I thought you would escort us home.”
“Would you feel safer if I joined you?”
“We’ll be fine, Percy,” Amelia said. “I understand your need to stay.”
Their carriage arrived, and Percy bowed, watched them climb into the carriage then turned to the ballroom.
“Do you see him?” Percy asked Cecil. Cecil knew without asking that Percy meant Stafford.
“No. Barton’s not here either. Kent went to the card room and down the hall past it, but he was nowhere to be found. He’s outside looking at the crests of the carriages to see if Stafford’s still here. I doubt it.”
“I agree with you,” Percy said, then told Cecil about what he saw earlier. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he wasn’t being blackmailed. That seems to be Barton’s style.”
“Is there no one in this town we can trust with Louisa?”
Percy almost laughed. She could trust him. But she wouldn’t, she told him a long time ago. She considered him a friend and nothing more.
Kent walked up to Cecil and Percy. “He’s gone.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he leaves town tomorrow morning for business on his estate,” Percy said in disgust.
“At least he won’t hover around Louisa anymore. She doesn’t need to worry about him. Imagine. She could have married him without knowing his true colours,” Cecil said.
Percy nodded. “She told me she could never get anything out of him about his family or friends. His answers to her questions were always vague. Hopefully, it will help her take his betrayal a little easier.”
“Really?” Kent said.
“No, not really.” Percy shrugged. “Thank you for your help. I’m going to see if she’s still awake.”
*****
“Shall we have tea before we retire, Louisa?”
“Yes. I’m not sure I would be able to sleep just yet,” Louisa said.
Mendon arranged to have tea brought in, and Amelia and Louisa sat in the parlour in silence. Neither quite knew what to say. The tea was brought, and Louisa poured. When both sat back, teacups in hand, Louisa spoke.
“I don’t want to sound obtuse, Mother, but did Stafford fail to protect me from Barton?”
Amelia gave Louisa a small smile. “That seems to be what happened.”
“But why?” Louisa asked. “He was there when we discussed it. He agreed to the plan.”
Amelia said, “Percy will get to the bottom of it. I like Stafford, but I agree that he is very difficult to get to know. I would like to know more about him if he continues to court you.”
“Continues to court me? Do I want him to continue to court me? I don’t want anything to do with Barton, and Stafford knew that yet he ignored it and almost let Barton have the chance for an un-chaperoned conversation with me.
“If Percy didn’t see it coming, I would have been forced to converse with a man I want nothing to do with. Is Percy the only gentleman in London I can count on?”
“Pardon, Mother. Did you say something?”
Amelia looked at Louisa, scanning her face, wondering what was going on in her mind. “Louisa, did you hear me? I asked you a question.”
Louisa shook her head and looked up at her mother. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
“I asked you how you feel about Stafford. How upset would you be if you broke it off?”
“Mother, surely we are not at the point where I should consider breaking it off,” Louisa said, her voice hard.
Amelia sighed. “You don’t know much about him. Do you want to try to know him well enough to keep it going?”
Louisa frowned. “I don’t know. Let’s see what happens now. He may never come see me after tonight.”
“Why can’t I find someone like Percy? Someone reliable. Someone who wants to spend time with me. Someone who won’t let me down.
“Percy told me he could only feel friendship for me. If he didn’t feel that way, I’d say ‘yes’ before all the words were out of his mouth.
“He is everything I want. Attentive. Fun to be around. Sensitive. There is no other man who can surpass him. I am doomed to settle for second best because I can’t have him.”
Percy knocked on the doorjamb and bowed, “Hello, ladies. May I come in or were you about to retire?”
Amelia smiled, “Please come in. It’s late, but neither of us thought we would be able to fall asleep so we stayed up. Would you like tea or a drink?”
“I’ll pour myself. Frederick hasn’t started hiding the whisky from me yet.” He went to the sideboard and poured two fingers into his glass.
Percy sat and leaned back in his chair. “I too knew I couldn’t sleep. My mind is racing.”
Louisa sighed. “Percy, thank you for coming to my rescue. I was so surprised about what was happening that I think I was frozen in place.”
Percy nodded. “You are welcome. I must admit I too was surprised. And disappointed in Stafford. I tried to locate him after our dance was over, but he left the ball early. I would like to understand what got into him.”
Amelia leaned forward. “Tell me, Percy. What do you know about Stafford?”
“Nothing that I didn’t hear here or at White’s. He shares very little information about himself. No one’s quite sure about what he does. I’m asking around. Someone must know him.”
Amelia looked Percy in the eyes. She spoke in a no-nonsense, serious tone, “I told Louisa to break it off if she doesn’t get to know more about him. She can’t walk into a marriage not knowing the man.”
Louisa growled then said, “And I told Mother that I wouldn’t break it off because the man let someone cut in on the ballroom floor.”
Percy nodded. “Both good points. Get to know him better, and find out why he didn’t protect you. Once you have that information, you can decide what you want to do.
“I’m beginning to think I’m the best man for the job,” Percy said only half joking.
“To find out more about Stafford?”
“No, Louisa. To court and marry you.”
Amelia laughed. “You can skip the courting, Percy. I think we all know you well enough.”
Louisa smiled then became serious. “You know you’ve ruined me for every other man. I’ll never know another man as well as I know you. I will go into any marriage knowing far less. It will be a gamble.”
Percy and Amelia exchanged glances. ‘Yes, Amelia knows how I feel. I’m certain of it,’ Percy thought.
Percy put his hands on his thighs and rose from his seat. “Well, ladies, it’s late. I will go into the cool night, soak in the brisk air, and arrive home refreshed.”
Percy bowed and left the parlour. When Amelia heard the front door close, she turned to Louisa.
“Louisa, you owe it to yourself to consider Percy as your marriage partner. He is everything you want and need. There would be an easy transition and—”
“Mother, please. He has always told me we would never marry.”
Amelia rose, “He’s changed his mind. If you listen to him, you would hear it.” She paused. Louisa thought she looked tired. “I must say good night. Are you staying up?”
“For a few minutes. Go along.”
Amelia gave Louisa a small smile. “Don’t lose track of the time. I will see you in the morning.”
When Amelia was upstairs, Louisa stretched out on the settee. She stared at the design in the tent ceiling. She was afraid. What if Percy courted her, and it didn’t work out? She would lose the best friends she ever had. She didn’t think she could live without Percy.