“And I am glad that I did,” Frederick stated, coldly. “Listen to me, Wellbridge.” Leaning closer to the gentleman, Frederick stuck one finger into the man’s chest. “You arenotto go near to Miss Fairley again. In fact, you are not to draw near to either Miss Emma FairleyorMiss Martha Fairley. Your acquaintance with them must come to an end.”
Lord Wellbridge shook his head no.
“I will not. I care about Miss Fairley. I will not let you–”
“Yes, you will.” Straightening, Frederick stood tall as Lord Pleasance moved to stand beside him, presenting a united front against Lord Wellbridge. “And if you do not, then there will be great and heavy consequences.”
“Such as?” Lord Wellbridge laughed aloud as though he was quite certain that, anything which Frederick and Lord Pleasance threatened, he would be more than easily able to brush off. “There is nothing that you can do. I–”
“I will call you out if you do not heed me.”
Frederick’s voice thundered around the room, making Lord Wellbridge’s eyes flare wide.
“And I will be his second,” Lord Pleasance said hastily, as Frederick kept his gaze steadily fixed on Lord Wellbridge. “No doubt many in thetonwill wonder why such a duel is taking place.”
The shock ran from Lord Wellbridge’s face as he smiled darkly.
“Ah, but then you shall have to tell them all about Miss Fairley and think about what damage that will do to her!”
Frederick did not hesitate.
“I will,” he said, slowly, “and what will thetonthink when they discover that you attempted to steal away my betrothed?” He kept his gaze fixed on Lord Wellbridge, though he caught, out of the corner of his eye, the way that Lord Pleasance looked at him. Yes, he had not had any real intention of pursuing betrothal to Miss Fairley so soon, but if this was the way to protect her from Lord Wellbridge, then he was more than willing to do that. In fact, the more he considered it, the happier his heart became, despite the present situation.
“Your… your betrothed?” Lord Wellbridge began to stammer, pushing himself up straight in his seat. “Your betrothed?”
“Yes.” Frederick lifted his chin. “My intention is now to propose to Miss Fairley and I have every expectation that she will agree and accept my offer. You see, Lord Wellbridge, what you have attempted to do has, in fact, only pushed Miss Fairley and I closer. It will not be that we are torn apart, not that we are set back from each other but instead, we are seeking to draw closer than ever before. My intention now is to propose to her so that she is secure, that she is safe, and that she is loved.”
Lord Wellbridge swallowed hard. He did not look in the least bit pleased any longer and did not appear to be delighted withhis intentions and plans. His eyes were fixed on Frederick, his face going a shade of red before he finally closed his eyes and then shook his head.
“No. She is meant to be courtingme, not you.”
“We are to be betrothed,” Frederick stated, firmly. “You will not be able to come near her any longer, Lord Wellbridge. And because I care about her, I must also care about her sister – which means that you are now to consider your acquaintance with that family at an end. Otherwise, Iwillcall you out and thetonwill know of what it is that you have done.”
Turning on his heel, Frederick made his way to the door, finding himself satisfied with all that he had said and all that he had done. Lord Wellbridge had not said a single word and, even as Frederick opened the door and stepped out, he still said nothing. Lord Pleasance followed Frederick, the door slamming closed behind them and Frederick let out a long, slow breath, pausing for a moment as he closed his eyes.
“That was done well.” Lord Pleasance set a hand on Frederick’s shoulder for a moment. “I think that Lord Wellbridge has been convinced.”
“Do you think so?”
Lord Pleasance nodded as they made their way to the door.
“Certainly. He may not have been at first, but after you spoke about your expected betrothal, I think that he understood the significance of your determination as regards calling him out should he go near Miss Fairley.”
“Good.”
As they stepped outside, Lord Pleasance turned again to Frederick, his eyes sharp.
“Did you mean what you said?”
Frederick frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“About proposing to Miss Fairley. After all,” he continued, still looking a little concerned, “you have only just begun courting, and now… now you are thinking about proposing?”
Considering this, Frederick took a few moments before he nodded, and then, as his heart filled all over again with a great and profound happiness, he smiled.
“Yes, I am entirely serious. It is as I have said to Lord Wellbridge; I want to propose so that she is protected, she is safe but also so that she is loved.” That sentence caused him to take a great deep breath, his chest expanding. “I am tired of seeing her being treated as though she is lesser, even though she has done nothing wrong. I am sorrowful at seeing her own family set her apart from her sister – again, because she has done nothing wrong. All these clumsy accidents, all these supposed awkward moments, have not come from her – and I will take her away from all of that and love her, care for her, and consider her in the ways she always ought to have been.”
