Chapter One #2
Louisa had wanted to tell him first. She felt she owed him that.
Fletcher was her oldest friend. He must have been upset that he learned news so important when everyone else did, but not from her directly.
Unfortunately, Louisa was trapped by well-wishers and couldn’t get to Fletcher to apologize.
And, sure, now he looked happy enough speaking with…
drats, what was her name? Some pretty young debutante who seemed to hang on Fletcher’s every word.
But Louisa had seen his face.
Daniel appeared at her side again. She smiled at him, which made the women around them titter. He smiled back and offered his arm. “Dance with me, my love.”
“Of course,” she said, glad to be escorted out of the crush.
She could love him, she reasoned as they waltzed. There was much to love. Even now, he danced like he’d been taught to since birth—perhaps he had, Louisa knew not the way of dukes—and she would have struggled to keep up had he not had a firm hand and the ability to lead her.
She caught Fletcher dancing with the young woman he’d been talking to. A brunette. Louisa could not remember her name. One of the Countess of Caernarfon’s friends.
The song ended. Daniel bowed politely, winked at her, and said, “Excuse me, my dear, I have some business to attend to. I’ll be back before you miss me.” He kissed her hand and left the ballroom.
Fletcher politely left the woman he’d danced with and then approached Louisa.
She braced herself for the conversation they needed to have and gestured for him to follow her.
They walked off the dance floor and into a slightly less crowded part of the ballroom.
When he stood before her, they both began speaking at once.
“You first,” said Louisa.
“Congratulations again on your betrothal.”
“Thank you.” Now that Daniel wasn’t hovering, she felt she could speak more freely. “I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you myself. I planned to this week, before the formal announcement appears in the paper, but. Daniel, apparently, could not hold back his excitement.”
Fletcher pressed his lips together. “Indeed.”
“I hope you are not too cross. I didn’t want to make a public announcement. I wanted to tell my friends directly.”
“It’s all right,” said Fletcher. “As long as you’re happy. That’s all that matters.”
“I am.”
“Then I wish you the best.”
“You say that like this is good-bye.”
Fletcher frowned. “Isn’t it?”
“I don’t see why.”
“These days, a lot of our friendship involves going places together. Won’t Rotherfeld be the one to escort you places now? Surely he would not approve of his wife socializing with an unmarried peer.”
“He knows you and I are merely friends. I’ve told him many times. He cannot control who I socialize with.”
“If he’s your husband, I’m pretty sure he can.”
Louisa crossed her arms. “Well, welcome to the nineteenth century, Fletcher. Women are allowed some measure of freedom now.”
Fletcher looked unconvinced.
“Oh, so you would keep your wife on a tight leash, should you marry? Hide her in your house and not allow her to socialize with others?”
He tilted his head. “No, but if one of her friends were an eligible bachelor, I might take issue with it.”
Louisa was surprised Fletcher was being so obstinate. “Yes, but you and I do not have a relationship that Rotherfeld need worry about.”
“You and I know that. Rotherfeld doesn’t.”
“Are you acting odd because you think once I’m married, we won’t be friends anymore.”
Fletcher let out a breath and let his tense posture go.
“I’m not acting odd, but yes. You are one of my dearest friends, and while I understand that a man and a woman being friends is perhaps unorthodox, we are like siblings.
I knew this day would come because some handsome lord was bound to snatch you up, and while I truly am thrilled for you and hope you have all the happiness life can afford, I suppose I am sad that you and I will not spend as much time together. ”
“I shall endeavor to ensure that is not the case.”
Fletcher gave her a wary look, but Louisa could not speak on it more because Daniel returned.
“Greystone,” said Daniel.
Fletcher gave him a curt nod. “Rotherfeld.”
“I suppose you were just congratulating my fiancée.”
“I was,” said Fletcher. “Congratulations are in order for you as well. You will soon marry one of the best women in the ton.”
Daniel beamed at Louisa. “Yes. I agree.”
“If you’ll excuse me.” Fletcher stepped away. Louisa wanted to grab him and pull him back, explain to him that her betrothal changed nothing, but she knew that wasn’t true.
Daniel leaned over and kissed Louisa’s cheek. “Come, my love. I’d like to introduce you to a few of my other friends.”
Louisa followed, but she looked around for Fletcher. He was tall and easy to spot; she saw him walk out of the ballroom.
She knew, deep down, that he’d been right, that Louisa’s obligations to Daniel would preclude spending as much time with Fletcher as they usually did during the Season.
But she hardly thought that should mean their friendship would end.
Surely there would be nights when Daniel was busy, and she needed an escort to some event.
Daniel didn’t care for the opera, so Fletcher could still attend with her.
Nothing had to change, at least not drastically.
So resolved, Louisa focused her attention on her future husband and allowed him to introduce her to his friends. She tried not to think about why she should feel so sad about Fletcher.