Percy’s nostrils flared in vexation, but he hid it behind a smile. “Yes, of course, my lord.”
Lord Blackstone beckoned him forward with a wave, and the two men started toward the door. Isaac exhaled the tension in his shoulders. He had no idea why Lord Blackstone had pulled Percy aside, but their conversation had come at the perfect time.
Isaac tried to catch Sophia’s gaze. They had left too much of their plan unorganized. He was supposed to orchestrate a moment for Prudence to overhear Percy’s confession, but he wasn’t certain when or if the opportune moment would come.At the moment, Isaac was expected to remain in the ballroom to dance the next two sets with Prudence.
With her stepfather gone, Sophia moved toward Isaac and the two women. She didn’t seem quite as uncertain as he was. When he caught her mischievous gaze, he felt an instant sense of relief.
She most certainly had a plan.
“My stepfather agreed to confront Percy about his intentions.” Her voice barely carried over the sound of the violins. “You might go to the corridor to find them. When the next set is about to begin, I’ll lead Prudence out to fetch you for the dance. We will stay out of sight as we listen. He might not confess, but it’s worth a try.”
Isaac glanced at the door. He didn’t like the fact that Blackstone was involved, but there was no way around it. Isaac had only meant to keep Percy away from Prudence—not to ruin his relationship with the viscount in the process. But hadn’t the friendship only been formed because of Percy’s dishonesty? He had been using the viscount to grow close to Prudence. His end goal had always been to obtain Lanveneth. It all seemed so elaborate for a man who already had a country house of his own. What would Percy even do with an old Cornish estate?
Isaac put his questions aside as he followed Sophia’s instructions, weaving his way through the ballroom and out the door.
Chapter Fourteen
The corridor was dim, but Isaac could hear Lord Blackstone’s voice from around the corner.
“I must confess I am relieved to hear it, Mr. Ellington. I didn’t want to believe the speculation, but I do trust my dear Sophia’s intuition. I had to make an inquiry of my own. I hope you will forgive me for entertaining the idea even for the briefest moment.”
Percy’s voice came next, confident and unwavering. “I fully understand your duty to protect your stepdaughters. I would do the same.”
“And I trust you will protect and love Miss Prudence for the rest of your lives together?”
“With all my heart.”
“Excellent. I shall hold you to it.” Lord Blackstone’s voice grew louder. A shadow of his lopsided hair flickered across the wall as he rounded the corner. Isaac stepped behind a tall table with a bust and vase. In the shadows, it managed to conceal him for long enough for Lord Blackstone to pass. Percy followed closely behind him on their way to the ballroom.
Isaac gritted his teeth. How was he going to catch Percy alone? He would never confess in front of Blackstone. The man had already believed each and every one of his lies.
Isaac fell into pace behind Percy, his feet soundless on the dense marble floors. As Lord Blackstone stepped into the noise of the ballroom, Isaac lunged forward, gripping Percy by the back of the shoulder.
He whirled around, stopping just outside the threshold. Lord Blackstone plunged into the crowd, shuffling back to where he had left Mrs. Liddle and his stepdaughters on the other side of the room.
“May I have a word?” Isaac asked.
In the shadows, Percy’s features were smug, laced with unmasked animosity. He seemed to think he had won already. He jerked his shoulder from Isaac’s grasp and straightened his jacket. “I should hate to keep you from your next two dances.”
“It will be brief.” Isaac caught Sophia’s gaze in the space between two ladies as they crossed the room. He was fairly certain she saw him lead Percy back into the corridor.
Isaac drew a deep breath as he stepped around the corner where Lord Blackstone had been conversing with Percy a few minutes before. “I gave you a chance to withdraw your advances on Prudence,” he said.
Percy held perfectly still, his mouth curled in distaste. And then he laughed, his eyes flashing with amusement in the dimness. “Do you realize how many marriages come about for reasons other than love? You must stop acting like I’m some great villain for taking advantage of an opportunity.”
Isaac held his breath. He needed to keep the conversation on the right course. He didn’t know when Sophia would lead her sister out to the corridor, but these were the details she needed to overhear.
“You already have an estate,” Isaac said. “I don’t understand why you are so determined to obtain Lanveneth. You might at least help me understand.”
Percy groaned. “At what point did you begin making my business your own? It is none of your concern.”
“You would marry a woman you don’t love in order to obtain an old, rotting house on the very edge of England? It seems like madness.”
“And that is the beauty of it. Everyone, including Prudence and her stepfather, believe that I am madly in love with her. Because who would want an old house in Cornwall?” His eyes darkened. “You wouldn’t.”
“Is this about Morvoren?” Isaac took a step toward him.
“Well, you did take it from me.” Percy’s harsh voice echoed in the corridor. “And now you are trying to take away my chance at obtaining Lanveneth.”
