Page 74 of The Scholar's Key
They had arrived with Ashford and had all agreed to meet for a drink in the billiards room before dinner. Ashford’s sister and Covington were not arriving for another few days, which meant that it was only Ashford’s parents who were also in the country home, and they had declined the dinner invitation, as they typically did when the duke was not in his right mind.
“Are your rooms comfortable?” Ashford asked when he walked in, a paper folded in his hand.
“Yes, as always,” Eric said before Ashford sat on the large leather chesterfield, crossing one leg over the other.
“Good,” Ashford said. “Hopefully, someday shortly, we will be able to update them. Someday when my coffers are filled again.”
A longing filled his eyes, and Noah and Eric exchanged a look as Noah shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He knew how much Ashford was counting on all of them now to help find this treasure, and he didn’t want to let his friend down – even if there might be nothing they could do to ensure that it would be found.
“Anyway, it appears some news has reached us.”
“Oh?”
“My mother received word from one of her friends in Bath that she was going to attend an engagement party. It must have been held by now.”
Noah, not one to ever be much interested in gossip, was not particularly listening to this turn of conversation – until he heard just who was hosting the party.
“The party was at the Assembly Rooms and was to be hosted by Lord Fairfax.”
“Lord Fairfax – Lady Percy’s father?” Eric murmured, his gaze upon Noah. “How interesting. Was it Lady Percy’s engagement?”
“She didn’t say, but I would assume so. I had heard a betrothal with Lord Stephen was forthcoming.” He paused. “I am not sure what to make of that. I know the man, and I cannot see him being a good husband to Lady Percy. We shall have to see what Cassandra has to say about it once she arrives. She will certainly not contain her opinion, and I know she spent time with Lady Percy in Bath. I am sure she would have attended the party.”
All the blood seemed to be draining from Noah’s head as he sat there, ringing filling his ears and panic bubbling through his chest. He had known that it was likely Percy would become betrothed to Lord Stephen, but now that he knew the truth of it, it was more than he could bear.
“Rowley? Are you all right?”
Ashford was speaking, but his voice seemed far away as Noah stood, stumbling backward a step.
“Fine,” he said. “Just need some air.”
He rushed from the room as quickly as he was able, down the corridor and out the closest door, taking deep breaths.
Percy was right. He was a fool. He could have had her as his wife. He could have made her happy. Sure, maybe he wasn’t exactly what she had thought she wanted, but he would never have hurt her, would always have been faithful, and would have shown her every day just how wonderful she was.
He had thought she would find another man — a better man. But Lord Stephen would do none of those things. He would marry her, then leave her to wonder if she was good enough, while he spent time with other women, not realizing just how lucky he was to have a woman like her.
Noah never should have said farewell.
Now he no longer had the decision to make. It was a decision that he realized he should have madewithPercy – notforher.
And there was nothing he could do about it anymore.
* * *
“I am sopleased that you chose to accompany us,” Cassandra said as the carriage turned up the drive toward Castleton. Through the carriage window, the estate rose behind Lord Covington, Cassandra’s husband, who was riding beside them.
“Thank you for inviting me,” Percy said. “I needed to leave Bath. Thank goodness my mother allowed me to accompany you, now that you are a married woman and, therefore, a proper companion. She would have escorted us, but she said she needed to clean up the mess I left behind.”
Cassandra patted Percy’s knee when she pulled a face. “At least she is allowing you to do as you please. How did your father accept your decision?”
“Not well,” Percy said, shaking her head as she remembered her father’s blustering. He had tried every threat, but in the end, Percy hadn’t cared about any of them. She would not be marrying Lord Stephen, and it was best to stop it now before it went too far. Her father had intoned on and on about the family’s humiliation, but what was Percy to do?
“Thankfully, Richard and Mother intervened and calmed Father down. Richard promised that I would always have a home with him. Lady Jane agreed although I sensed she wasn’t quite as pleased about it.”
“You know that any of us would also welcome you. Even now, Gideon is pleased to have you at Castleton. I wonder when he arrived,” Cassandra mused. “He left a few days before us, saying he had much to attend to. He is still desperately trying to turn our family fortunes around and is helping Lord Ferrington prepare for his journey to Spain.”
Percy absently nodded. Cassandra’s father had become ill and spent all of their fortunes, and now Lord Ashford had to do his utmost to try to pay back their debts. He had placed a great deal of hope in this treasure hunt that she wasn’t sure would amount to anything.
