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He spun around. It was Freddie, of course. His friend stared at the bottle of whisky on the small table beside him.
“Mind if I join you?” His friend’s voice was even. “It is never good to drink alone.”
Percy shrugged. “Find yourself a glass, and you can join me. But I warn you, I am not going to be very good company.”
Freddie wandered off, then reappeared with a glass. Percy poured him a whisky. Freddie sat down beside him, sipping his drink reflectively. The silence stretched on between them for five full minutes before Freddie placed down his glass.
“What is it, Carlisle? You need to tell me.” Freddie’s voice sounded firm. “You look like death.”
Percy smiled wryly. “That is always good to hear.” He took a deep breath. “I feel like it, as well. My life feels like it is about to end. As if there is a guillotine just above my head, ready to slice into my neck.”
“Oh, dear,” said Freddie, shuddering. “That is rather a grisly image.”
Percy laughed. “I am being blackmailed, my friend. By Lady Lucy Metcalfe. It seems I am being forced to marry the lady.”
Freddie’s jaw dropped. “I beg your pardon? How did that happen?”
Percy drained his glass, then poured himself another drink. “She caught me kissing Jane. She knows Jane would rather be hung, drawn, and quartered than marry me or anyone. So, she arranged things to her own satisfaction.” His face twisted. “The deal being she will keep quiet about what she saw if I agree to marry her. And Jane agreed.”
Freddie let out a low whistle. “That is devious work indeed. I always thought her ambitious but didn’t realise quite how serious she was about you.” He shook his head in disbelief. “And you agreed as well?”
“What else could I do?” Percy’s voice was pained. “She gave me little choice. She threatened to tell Jane’s father and then force Jane to marry me, and I cannot do that to her. Apart from the fact that she can whip up a scandal and ruin Jane’s reputation.”
Freddie was silent for a moment. “You really do love Jane, don’t you?”
Percy’s heart lurched. “God help me, I do. You have finally gotten me to admit it, old chap. Not that it is doing me any good. In fact, it rather seems to have ruined my life.” He shuddered. “The thought of being married to Lucy Metcalfe is hateful. We will be utterly miserable together. I truly do not understand how the lady can believe she will be living a charmed life when her own husband despises her.”
“She is very young,” said Freddie, sighing heavily. “Young and obstinate. She is not looking any further ahead than the triumph of her wedding day when you slip the ring onto her finger, and she becomes a countess.”
Percy shuddered again. “God help me.”
“And Jane agreed to this?” Freddie raised his eyebrows. “I honestly thought she cared for you. She actually let Lucy dictate the terms just so she can remain unmarried?”
Percy nodded glumly. “Yes, that’s exactly what happened.”
Freddie shook his head again. “That is quite a pickle you have found yourself in, my friend. No wonder you decided to have a drink. I probably would do the same myself.”
“But it doesn’t help, does it?” Percy’s voice was grim. “No matter how many drinks I have, the problem is still there. I have turned it over in my mind a hundred times and still cannot think of any solution.”
“Have you told Jane how you feel about her?” asked Freddie. “If she knew that you love her, perhaps she would let go of her resolve to remain a spinster.”
Percy shrugged. “Somehow, I do not think so,” he said, sounding a little bitter. “She is committed to it. Besides, just because I declare my love doesn’t mean that she will agree. She has never told me she loves me, either.”
Freddie swore underneath his breath. “Both of you are as stubborn as mules about it. Why cannot you both not just accept your love and be done with it? Why all this fight about it? Everyone will end up miserable. And for what purpose?”
“I have accepted it, for all the good it has done me,” said Percy, his heart flipping.
“But you have not told her,” said Freddie, leaning forward, his eyes earnest. “Carlisle, this is your last chance. You must tell her before it is too late. Yes, she might still wish to remain a spinster anyway. She may not love you as you love her. But how will you ever know if you do not try?”
Percy drained his glass, staring out at the sea. He knew his friend was telling the truth. But he was scared. What would happen if he declared his love, put his heart on the line, and she still rejected him?
What if she didn’t love him the way he loved her?
It went beyond just not wanting to marry Lucy Metcalfe. It went to the very core of the problems between him and Jane. Both of them were so distrustful of love for their own reasons that they had been fighting the truth of what was between them right from the start. Could Jane ever surrender the fight and love him? Was it possible?
“You must tell her,” repeated Freddie. “You see that, do you not?”
Percy sighed heavily. “I do not know how I can even see her, my friend. If I call upon her and request an audience, she will probably refuse. Or if she accepts, Lucy shall intervene in some way to make sure that I do not have a chance to persuade Jane to change her mind.”
