‘And when you do?’ Percy did not move.
‘That will be up to Louisa,’ he said.
Percy continued to glare. ‘Supposing you fail? What will happen then?’
That also should be up to Louisa. But he could not seem to get the words out. ‘We can’t leave her there,’ he said, frowning.
‘We?’ Percy echoed, still not smiling.
‘Well, you have talked about taking her in haven’t you?’
‘There are some things I can help with and there are others I definitely can’t. I can take her in, of course. But in the matter of marriage? I would be no help at all,’ Percy said, giving him an expectant look.
He didn’t dare tell him Louisa’s plan to pretend to be a pregnant widow while raising his bastard. That was both dishonourable and embarrassing. There was no way around it other than to admit the truth. He sighed. ‘I made her an offer Percy. She refused me.’
‘The little idiot,’ Percy snapped and pushed himself up out of his seat. ‘We will soon take care of that.’
Thomas held out a warning hand. ‘Weare not settling anything. As I said before, what happens next is up to Louisa. I am hoping she will be easier to persuade once we have dealt with your grandfather.’
‘And how long do you estimate that might take?’ his friend demanded, eyes narrowed.
‘It might be finished tomorrow,’ Thomas assured him. But what if it went wrong? ‘Perhaps a few days. A week at most.’ At least, he hoped that was all it would take.
‘And if you are wrong?’
If she could not find the will and decided to remain with her grandfather he was not sure what he would do. Beg her to try again? Wait until the old man died?
He’d gladly do it. He’d come up with this ridiculous plan because he hadn’t wanted to lose his friend, Louisa. But now that she was his lover? And his one true love?
A wave of panic struck him. Percy was right. He was a pompous ass. That would be the last memory she had of him.What if they were never alone together again? What if she got her money and still wanted nothing to do with him? He might have ruined his chances with the only woman he could ever love!
He stared at Percy, confused. ‘I confess I have not thought that far ahead.’
‘I have known you for years. You have always shown unfailingly good judgement,’ Percy said, still not happy.
‘Recently, that has not been the case,’ he admitted gruffly.
‘Do you include your involvement in my sister’s business in this recent poor judgement?’
The question was far more complicated than Percy knew. As was the answer. He thought for a moment before saying, ‘I regret the way I went about it. But in the end, I expect it will be the best decision I’ve ever made.’
Percy considered this, staring at him as if searching for answers Thomas was not ready to give. Then, he sighed. ‘How long will it take for you to settle on a way forward? We may not have too many months before the reasons you must marry my sister become obvious.’
Surprisingly, the thought was more exciting than worrisome. In less than a year, he could have a child with Louisa. He smiled at Percy, amazed by the idea. ‘I assure you that I have only the best and most honourable intentions towards Louisa.’
‘Who is my sister,’ Percy reminded him, still stern. ‘Thus, my responsibility. Let me help you come to your decision.’ His normally amiable friend leaned forward and stared at Thomas with murder in his heart. ‘If the matter is not settled by week’s end, I am taking her from the house and out of your presence. When I see you again, your title will not protect you. I will not stand by and watch you break her heart or besmirch her honour.’
‘Break her heart?’
From where he stood, it was quite likely to be the other way around, especially if her brother spirited her away for her own good before they could make things right between them.
‘She has given me no sign that her heart is involved.’
‘No sign?’ Percy cried and slammed the table with a fist. ‘She has been in love with you since we were schoolboys.’
‘She has?’ He searched his mind for what he might have missed. Even a single word would give him some hope that he hadn’t doomed his chances this morning.
‘If she hadn’t wasted so much time mooning over you, I’d have had her married off at least two years ago. She has sabotaged every attempt at a match, hoping you would finally realise she existed. But you never did.’
