Chapter 18
“Nothing on my end either,” Percy said, “which leads me to believe he is either an inspector for the crown or a private investigator.”
Hobart, Frederick, Cecil, and Kent all groaned. They could all talk freely at Hobart’s office, throwing out any theories they had about Stafford.
“Hear me out. You don’t have anything better to go on. In fact, I am not impressed with any theories thrown out tonight. We know next to nothing about this man. His whereabouts on any given day are suspect. He slithers in and out of town on one flimsy excuse after another.”
“What does he want with Louisa?” Frederick asked.
Percy said, “She’s peripheral to this. Barton is the key. She’s caught up in the Barton thing with Jack and Barton’s interest in her. I don’t believe Stafford is courting her sincerely. I think he’s keeping close to Barton that way. Or Barton has something on him.”
“Pardon me for saying, Percy, but you don’t want anyone courting Louisa sincerely. Could it be wishful thinking?”
Hobart let out a noise of disgust then said, “Percy would you get on with it with Louisa? We are all so tired of this crap about how you don’t care. Put us all out of our misery.”
“She doesn’t want me,” Percy spat out. “Leave it alone.”
“Let’s not get off track by Percy’s love life. What would he be investigating? Are we sure it’s Barton he’s interested in?”
Cecil said, “It’s better than anything else we’ve got. But it’s all conjecture. Hobart, weren’t you planning on looking into Stafford?”
“I was. I’ll get on it in the morning. This is the best we’ve got?”
“I think so. For now. Let’s sleep on it and see what we can come up with when we have clear minds.”
*****
Percy dragged his feet on the way to tea. He had nothing to tell Louisa. Stafford was as tightlipped as ever, and Barton and Victor had a complicated association the men hadn’t yet figured out.
Amelia greeted Percy when he walked into the parlour. After his bow, he said, “Is Louisa joining us?”
Amelia was grim. “No. She has chosen to stay in her chamber today. She received a note from the Earl of Wessex this morning.”
Percy adjusted himself in his chair. “Oh?”
“Yes. He wrote her that he would be very busy over the coming months, coming in and out of London at unpredictable intervals. He suggested it might be in her best interest to explore companionship elsewhere. He actually named you as someone she might want to consider.”
“Really. That’s odd. I wonder why he would say such a thing?”
Amelia grimaced. “Why would he say such a thing? You are here every day; you are her protector during ton events, she turns to you for help. The list goes on.”
“We are best friends. I couldn’t live without her, and I think she feels the same way, but we agreed long ago that we would ruin our friendship by courting. If the courting didn’t work out, we would part. Neither of us wanted to take that chance.”
Amelia nodded. “I know, Percy. God knows I have heard it enough through the years. But what I want to know is if you didn’t have the ‘no courting’ agreement, and you weren’t afraid you would ruin her friendship, would you court her?”
Percy laughed. “I’d marry her today if she asked me.”
Amelia looked puzzled, “Then why don’t you ask her?”
“She has given me no indication that she feels that way toward me. She would turn me down and then feel uncomfortable around me. Don’t you see? It won’t work.”
“Humph. Then tell me Percy, why aren’t you courting anyone? You’re handsome, smart, personable, and wealthy. Why aren’t the young ladies of the ton batting their eyelashes at you?”
Percy turned red and changed his position in the chair. “I courted a lady earlier this season. She threw me over for someone else.”
Amelia said, “Why did she do a thing like that?”
“The gentleman was wealthier and had more holdings. Pardon me, but could we please change the subject?”
“Not yet,” Amelia said in a firm voice. “Would it be possible that Nora felt she was competing with Louisa for your affections?”
Percy closed his eyes for a moment. After counting to ten, he said, “No, I gave Nora my undivided attention while I was in her company. Now,” he put his palms on his thighs, “I must go.”
Percy stood and bowed. “Please give my best to Louisa. Until tomorrow, Duchess.”
*****
“I’m afraid I have bad news, Frederick,” Hobart said as he walked into Frederick’s office.
Frederick looked up from his paperwork and took a long breath out.
Hobart got out the glasses and decanter then walked a glass of whisky to Frederick. He sat, put his feet up on the stool, and took a healthy sip of his drink.
“Get on with it, man,” Frederick said, annoyed.
“It seems Barton is strapped for funds. Very strapped for funds. An investment of his went bad. He had put too much money into it.”
Frederick asked, “Which investment? I know most of them.”
Hobart said, “Something about a fire in a mill?”
He nodded. “Of course. The investment manager didn’t secure insurance, or the insurance was too high. For whatever reason, there was no insurance when the mill burned down.
“It was to be the largest woollen mill in England. It was almost complete.
“Would have been a great investment, otherwise. I know a few of the investors. Luckily, they can absorb the loss.”
Hobart whistled. “I don’t get the impression Barton can absorb the loss.”
Frederick shook his head.
“What?”
“Hobart, crazy as it’s going to sound, I feel for him. This is a big blow.”
“Yeah, well you know what another big blow will be? When he has his hands on Louisa’s dowry. That will cover his losses.”
“Hobart, he must have other avenues besides Louisa’s dowry. That can’t possibly be his only option.”
“Frederick, he can kill two birds with one stone here. Marry her, have her for his own, and get her dowry. What could be better than that? Not any alternative he might have.”
“I’ve seen him since the fire. He doesn’t look distraught.”
Hobart laughed. “Would you want to go to White’s looking distraught if you just lost that kind of money?”
“So, what do I do?”
“Take her to your estate. Face it, the season is over now that Stafford has dropped out. Keep her safe. Better still, marry her off to Percy. Once she’s married, Barton will lose interest in her.”
“Hobart, how many times have I told you that I told Louisa she could marry whoever she chooses? I’m not making her marry because some eejit’s investment didn’t succeed.”
“At least get her out of town.”
“I’ll talk to Amelia.”
Shortly after Hobart left, Frederick heard a soft knock on the door.
“Come.”
He looked up to see Amelia in the doorway.
“Hobart said you wished to see me?”
Frederick loved his brother except the times when he despised his brother. He wasn’t quite ready to have this conversation about Barton and Louisa’s dowry. He despised his brother right now.
“Yes, shut the door, please. Come, take a seat.”
“Hobart and I have been keeping our eyes on Barton. We want to make sure that he never has the opportunity to get near Louisa again. We all agree that we don’t want them to have any contact. Not even a conversation.
“You and I need to talk about Barton, Amelia. I feel like we just had the same conversation yesterday. But we need to have it again.
“Barton has lost a great deal of money in an investment that went wrong. Hobart believes, and I happen to agree, that one of Barton’s alternatives to get out of his poor financial position is to marry Louisa and use her dowry.”
Amelia put her hand to her mouth. Her eyes were wide, and she didn’t move.
“This gentleman, Stafford, is a mystery in the mix that Hobart and I are still trying to figure out. Since he has notified Louisa that he will not pursue her, I feel it might best to go to Haddington Hall until we know the threat to Louisa is clear.
“She would be safe there. Her season is in disarray as it is. She can start anew next season without this threat over her head. That’s what I’m thinking. What is your opinion on this matter?”
Amelia sat still for a moment. “Let me collect my thoughts. This is a shock to me.”
Frederick waited silently for his wife. He stood and went to the sideboard. He poured Amelia one finger of whisky, poured himself three fingers, then brought the glasses back to the desk.
She took the glass, “Thank you.”
Amelia took a sip of the whisky, and her eyes watered. She cleared her throat.
Amelia started slowly, “I think Louisa needs to be part of this conversation. She needs to decide if she wants to cut her season short.
“I agree her well-being would be more manageable in the country, but city or country, I think it’s time for bodyguards.
“If she would agree to marry Percy, this problem would go away. There is nothing Barton wants from her except her dowry.”
“Actually, Amelia, that’s not true. Louisa is a very beautiful young lady, and Barton is attracted to her. I don’t think she is safe from him, dowry or not.”
Amelia put her elbow on the chair’s armrest then cradled her head in her hand.
Frederick swirled his whisky around in his glass. “Tell me the truth, Amelia. Do you think Louisa wants to finish out her season?”
“We haven’t talked about it, but she has been in her bedchamber since the letter came. I think she’s more embarrassed than anything else. With Barton at the balls, Louisa is stuck dancing with Percy, Cecil, and Kent. She has no real chance of meeting anyone new.”
“What about Percy?”
“Frederick, you and I and most of London know they belong together. But forcing them could backfire.”
“I promised her she could marry the man of her choosing. Percy would marry her this afternoon if she wanted it, but what does she want?”
“She’s not sure it wouldn’t ruin the great friendship they now have.”
Frederick leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. “It’s hard to believe we are having this conversation again. We’re lucky Barton hasn’t been able to get her.
He brought his head down to eye level with Amelia. “Should we have this conversation with Louisa?”
Amelia grimaced. “Would you mind if I took care of it?”
Frederick barked out a laugh. “Not at all.”